The 2021 Iowa Legislative session ran 19 days over anticipated closing, and 12th District House Representative, Brian Best, says this is actually a good thing.
Best says one of the biggest parts of the tax bill that is more equitable for all residents is a restructuring of mental health funding, which moves it from property tax owners and puts it back on the general fund.
These changes will be phased in over a five-to-eight-year process that won’t initiate until the next fiscal year. At the close of the session, an amendment to an existing bill was passed quickly and signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds that removed all mask mandates from public and nonpublic accredited schools. Best says this made it through, in his opinion, because it really wasn’t going to make that much difference at the end of this school year. There were a lot of good things in the bill, enough of them that Best says “sometimes you just kind of hold your nose and go ahead and vote on some things that are going to be included.” There was another amended piece of legislation on voting that was approved late in the session. Best explains.
There was something new he learned from this process as well.
Best says the voter law has been argued on both sides, but he does not see it as a means to make it harder to vote. He thinks it will do the exact opposite.
Another thing Best says he learned this session is that a trifecta—having control of the House, the Senate and the governorship—does not guarantee smooth sledding. But this too is a good thing as it allowed room for the necessary debates. He adds he has been impressed over the course of the past year with the strength of the governor. He has nothing but respect and admiration for her and what she has gone through, which has included shameful and disgusting posts on social media. However, she remains a happy and optimistic person. We will bring you more from Best in upcoming newscasts, or you can listen to the full interview by following the link included below.
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Full interview with District 12 Iowa House Representative, Brian Best:
