The Dickey Dispatch – April 8th, 2022
by Senator Adrian Dickey
This week was the first real sign that things in the Capitol are starting to slow down. While there are a lot of major issues yet to be resolved, this week provided a feeling that the House and the Senate are starting to position themselves to negotiate through some of these key issues. As we moved towards the scheduled adjournment of April 19, the Senate addressed a number of issues to try to keep things moving along.
The final weeks of session are also the time for state budgets for the next fiscal year to be developed, negotiated, and adopted. Senate Republicans have been and remain committed to passing conservative, sustainable budgets, carefully providing funding to areas like mental health, public safety, and education, while ensuring the largest income tax cuts in Iowa history remain sustainable.
On Tuesday the Senate passed Senate File 2383, another proposal from Governor Reynolds to address the workforce shortage. It addresses our workforce needs by eliminating regulations, reducing barriers to licensure, and promoting career opportunities. The bill amends current healthcare loan forgiveness and recruitment programs to cover more professionals, giving greater opportunity to those in rural areas and professions of need in the medical community. Another provision ensures that work-based learning is properly structured by school districts to provide exposure to high-paying careers outside of post-secondary education.
SF 2383, which passed the Senate this week, builds upon Iowa’s existing quality of life programs for our active-duty military members, veterans, and their spouses. It fast-tracks professional and occupational licenses for military spouses and veterans and eliminates entry hurdles by waiving the application and first renewal fees. This bill also eliminates costly hurdles and regulations for workers and housing projects by prohibiting a county or city from requiring an inspection of a manufactured home that was already inspected by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. SF 2383 is another bill keeping the promises we made to implement pro-growth reforms and address to challenges Iowa faces.
This week also saw national praise for the education reform bill the Senate passed last week to empower parents to direct their children’s education. The Wall Street Journal wrote an editorial praising the legislation and the leadership of Governor Reynolds, concluding:
Reluctant Republicans in the state House can pass all the curriculum bills they want, but as public attention fades the bureaucracy will reassert control if parents have no alternative for their children. Private and public school choice (charters) is crucial for reasserting high standards and preventing ideological indoctrination that parents dislike.
Iowa’s Kim Reynolds, who has been driving the choice effort, is turning out to be a notable reform Governor. She signed a major tax cut last month, and passing the Senate bill would be an excellent way to finish this productive legislative session.
Last Thursday evening the Senate floor was opened up to the public. This occurs just once every two years. On that evening they honored all of the legislators who had served in the Iowa House or Iowa Senate at some point in their lives, and who had passed away in the previous two years. The former legislator’s family is invited to attend, and the service is conducted by current Iowa Senate and House members. It was a very neat and humbling experience to hear of the accomplishments of some of the true pioneer legislators to have served this great state.
The University of Iowa was at the Capitol last week and had the Men’s AND Women’s 2022 BIG 10 Championship trophies on display! Very cool. The only one missing was the wrestling trophy… Next year!
This past week I was surprised with a visit from a great friend, Mark Clark. He is the pastor at the Living Hope Bible Church in Eldon. I also got to spend a lot of time with representatives from our county fairs, and spend significant time with the Pekin and Fairfield FFA groups who were visiting the Capitol. If you are ever in the magnificent building, please send me a note. It is great to see some familiar faces!
As we wrap up the final days and weeks of the legislative session, I encourage you to reach out to me on issues and bills of interest. It has been a historic session. I am eager to achieve more victories and continue to make Iowa a better place.
