(Des Moines) Iowa District #11 State Senator Tom Shipley, of Nodaway, says the past 11 days in the Iowa Legislature have been “bizarre”. Lawmakers re-convened on June 3, after COVID-19 forced the suspension of the session in Mid-March. “These past 10-days are about the longest six months I’ve ever put in,” said Shipley.
Senator Shipley says the legislature covered a lot of ground, including a budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Shipley says the budget spends less than projected revenue, leaves a healthy surplus, and doesn’t include a rainy day or reserve funds. “No, we did not, and part of that is because of some of the federal money that came through,” said Shipley. “The Governor is allocating those funds throughout the system in areas to keep things moving along.”
Senator Shipley thinks it’s good to keep the reserves intact in case COVID-19 should flare up again. “Because if we had another increase in COVID-19 cases this fall limiting business once again, that money would be available,” said Shipley. “We want to keep our powder dry and make sure we’re able to patch things up and continue to move things along without dipping into any those funds. I think that’s a wise move.”
A couple of bills passed earlier in the session include; a K-12 education funding plan that provides schools with an additional $100 million next school year. Additionally, lawmakers passed legislation to ensure Iowa School-age kids can access mental health treatment with parent involvement while at school through telehealth.
