(Le Mars) — Last Thursday was the first funnel date for the Iowa legislature, which means all bills, unless they were tied to an appropriations and spending, needed to be introduced and through the various legislative committees. State Senator Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, says the state senate has been busy with bills relating to felons voter restoration
privileges, and with the newly introduced abortion bill. The abortion bill was split down party lines last week. Feenstra explains the state senate’s objectives with the bill.
As for restoring the voting privileges for felons, Feenstra says he is in favor of such action, with the exception of serious felonies such as murder, and kidnapping, sexual predator, and other egregious crimes.
Governor Kim Reynolds introduced a measure during her “Condition of the State” address calling for an increase of a one-percent sales tax to help fund water quality projects and provide money for mental health. Feenstra says he isn’t in favor of any tax increase, and believes those programs can be funded with available money.
Feenstra is a member of the State Senate Ways and Means Committee, having served as the committee chair until this legislative session. Feenstra says he gave up the chairman position to focus more attention on his campaign
running for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District.
