Holly Brink – Update From the House for District 80 – March 3rd, 2022
by Holly Brink
Week 8 Update
Hello Friends,
It was a great week here at the Capitol building with beautiful weather alongside various beneficial legislation passed through the Iowa House of Representatives. Extensive progress was made this week for Iowans as Governor Kim Reynolds signed a historic tax cut for all Iowans into law. Thanks to the Governor’s leadership and House Republicans’ responsible budgeting, Iowa’s economy remains strong – so strong that we have the opportunity to deliver the largest tax cut in Iowa history while continuing to fund Iowans’ priorities.
Diving further into the tax plan, this historical legislation reduces individual income tax for all Iowans to a fair and flat rate of 3.9%. It exempts retirement income from taxes and includes a new income exemption for retired farmers so we can keep more folks in Iowa after they retire. This tax plan makes the corporate tax rate more competitive while reducing refundability on the state’s most expensive Refundable Corporate Tax Credits. All of this puts Iowa at the fourth lowest income tax rate in the country.
Addressing the workforce crisis in Iowa is one of our top priorities this session, and a big part of tackling the workforce crisis means increasing access to child care, but child care facilities have a workforce crisis of their own. This week, we passed two bills to help child care providers increase access to care for more families. HF 2127 allows parents to pay the difference between Child Care Assistance rates and the rates charged to families to do not receive CCA. This bill will allow flexibility between parents and child care providers to help raise the income of child care providers, and it will allow more providers to accept Child Care Assistance. HF 2198 allows sixteen and seventeen-year-olds to provide child care to school-aged children in a child care center without supervision. This bill can help fill the workforce gap facing our child care industry. This is not a requirement but an additional option for our child care providers. Many sixteen-year-olds are more than capable of caring for school-aged children. Allowing them to take on this responsibility will not only increase access to child care but give those young adults valuable experience in a much-needed profession. Both bills came as recommendations from the Governor’s Child Care Task Force. The Governor’s child care task force includes representatives of businesses, local elected officials, in-home and in-center providers, and nonprofit organizations. Additionally, last year the Governor signed legislation to address the cliff effect in child care assistance, double the income eligibility for the child care tax credit, increase child care assistance rates by $13.4 million, and expand access for families through non-registered homes.
In regards to additional legislation that was passed in the Iowa House this week, there was a unanimous vote to further support Iowa veterans. The bill allows for greater flexibility in the state’s investment strategy to help grow the Veterans Trust Fund, a fund used to improve the quality of life for our Iowa veterans. Our Iowa veterans stepped up to serve our country well, and they deserve our support when they return back home. This bill will allow the state to help more veterans by increasing the funds available to help them.
Furthermore, Iowa House Republicans passed HF 2298. This bill says licensed child care centers, elementary, secondary, or postsecondary schools are not allowed to require the COVID-19 vaccine for enrollment. Iowans have reached out to their elected officials, expressing their concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccine requirements. The issue is even more heightened when it comes to children. This legislation will ensure Iowa parents can make their own decisions based on what’s best for their child and that every child can get the access to education and child care that they deserve.
Wrapping up, Iowa House Republicans passed a bill to protect girls’ sports in Iowa. This is an issue that members in every district hear from Iowans about. Iowans have been asking for action to protect girls’ athletics, and sports organizations and school districts have been asking for guidance on the issue of transgender girls playing girls’ sports. Under this bill, only athletes assigned as female on their birth certificate are allowed to participate in school-sponsored girls’ athletics. Every athlete has an equal opportunity to play sports. It does not tell any child that they can’t participate in sports. It simply says they must participate in the sport under the gender on their birth certificate. Women fought hard to secure their own level playing field because males quite simply have a biological advantage. Girls deserve equal opportunity in athletics and the chance to gain all of the important life skills that come with playing sports.
Thank you for your encouragement and prayers. There is never an off week, and it is your support that keeps me excited every day to come to work. I always enjoy hearing from you! My contact information is below:
Holly Brink
State Representative, Iowa District 80
