(Griswold) On Monday, Iowa lawmakers convene at the state capital for the 89th General Assembly. One business item standing front and center deals with the state’s $1.2 billion budget surplus.
Iowa House District 21 Republican Representative Tom Moore, entering into his 7th year in office, says the tax debate between the House and the Senate regarding this excess money will take a while to shake out.
“The Senate would like to eliminate the state income tax,” said Moore. “We in the house are a little more guarded in our approach because we don’t know what that looks like five years down the road.”
Moore says both emergency funds have over $300 million, with $1.5 billion in the taxpayer relief fund. “By law, this money has to be returned to the people,” says Moore. “It doesn’t specify how, but one way or another the money has to go back to the people. That’s going to be the debate between the House and the Senate.”
Moore says the House Ways and Means committee heads, Lee Hein in the House, and Dan Dawson in the Senate will be putting their plans forward. “It will be a huge conversation.”
