Local legislators voiced their opinions on two bills created from what they call knee-jerk reactions at Saturday’s Carroll Chamber of Commerce Legislative Forum. The first includes a mandate that local governments maintain level spending on public safety or risk losing funding. The example given, was that in one year the police department or Sherriff’s office have replacement of a vehicle in their budget. If they do not include it in the next year, future funding is reduced. Constituents want to know why local elected officials’ decisions should be subject to review by an unelected Department of Management employee in what is being viewed as a disincentive for local officials to increase public safety budgets. Iowa House District 12 Representative, Brian Best, explains his thoughts.
He adds this puts city and county management in a bad position and because the bill is fraught with problems, he is not in favor of it the way it is written. District 6 Senator, Craig Williams, agrees that this was a preemptive move after several cities defunded their police departments and they saw crime rates begin to soar.
The legislators also discussed an effort to prevent colleges and public schools from teaching and training divisive concepts-such as privilege, systemic racism and/or implied bias. Williams understands the reasoning, but is astonished it is needed in this day and age.
Best says this is another example of that knee-jerk reaction.
LGBTQ issues are included in that bill as well. Best says he will be looking into it further, but has concerns with some of the language. Carroll Broadcasting will bring you additional updates from the forum in upcoming newscasts, including the legislators’ thoughts on the permitless carry, bottle bills and more.
