Governor Terry Branstad is attending the Iowa Agriculture meeting, hosted by the Iowa Soybean Association this week, and is discussing the most recent legislative water-quality initiative with attendees. Branstad said his idea to extend the one cent sales tax that goes to school infrastructure for 20 years would allow them to use some of the growth from that source of revenue for water quality.
This, Branstad says, will meet the financial needs outlined for the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, outlined by Iowa Agriculture Secretary, Bill Northey.
The initiative was recently approved by the House subcommittee and Branstad says he is hoping it will pass through the full Ag committee before the end of the week. After that, it will still need to go through the Ways and Means committee and pass through the House and into the Senate. Branstad stressed the critical need is now and legislators have the opportunity to pass a major initiative that benefits both school infrastructure and water quality before they adjourn for the year. Cedar Rapids Mayor and founder of the conservative Iowa think tank, Engage Iowa, has also introduced solutions for funding of water quality initiatives. We will hear more about Engage Iowa’s ideas in an upcoming broadcast.
