Jeneary Comments On Legislative Action
(Le Mars) — The Iowa legislature has its eyes on Saturday, April 27th as hopefully being the last day of the general session. However, lawmakers still have some major bills to discuss and debate before the self-imposed deadline. State House Representative Dr. Tom Jeneary of Le Mars says the state’s budget will need to be resolved, and a property tax reform bill will need to be decided on before legislators can call it quits. Jeneary says he has had several people visit with him relating to the proposed tax reform bill. Many who have had questions relating to retirement pensions.
Jeneary says he has heard from several city government and school officials asking him about the proposed tax levy cap that is being introduced with the bill.
The Republican lawmaker isn’t certain if the changes in the manner property taxes are figured with assessments will be done within this week, or if it will be delayed to the next legislative session, but he is certain sometime in the future a change will occur.
Jeneary says both chambers still need to resolve the budget for the Health and Human Services Department. He says once that is passed, the rest of the budget bills will fall into line fairly quickly.
The Iowa House of Representatives passed the controversial
sports betting bill late Monday night, following the passage in the State Senate. The vote was split with a two-thirds to one-third approval, with Republicans and Democrats voting on both sides of the sports betting bill.
Dr. Jeneary says he supported the bill.
Jeneary says you need to be over 21 years of age in order to participate in sports betting. Wagers will be accepted at state run casinos, or through an electronic app.
King Says He Can Relate To The Persecution of Christ
CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Republican Steve King says the criticism he has faced from fellow members of Congress over his offensive remarks gives him “better insight” into what Jesus Christ experienced when he was persecuted for his beliefs.
The Sioux City Journal reports that King was attending a town hall meeting Tuesday in his home district in northeast Iowa when someone attending voiced concern about Christianity being persecuted in the U.S. King answered by drawing a comparison to facing his “accusers” on the House floor.
The House voted 421-1 in January to rebuke King for remarks he made to the New York Times in which he asked why the terms white nationalist and white supremacist came to be considered offensive. King was also stripped of his committee assignments.
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Oxford Assistant Fire Chief Suspected Of Arson
OXFORD, Iowa (AP) – An assistant fire chief has been accused of starting several grass fires in eastern Iowa’s Johnson County.
Court records say 30-year-old Timothy Hora is charged with five counts of arson and one of operating while intoxicated. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for Hora, who’s assistant fire chief for the city of Oxford.
Investigators say Hora was found at one of the fires earlier this month.
He told deputies he came upon the blaze as he patrolled the area for an arsonist. Hora says he stopped and tried to stomp out the flames, but he was unable to say why he didn’t use his cellphone to call for assistance.
Crop Report Shows Delayed Planting In Iowa And Nebraska
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Officials say late-winter moisture, flooding and low temperatures have delayed corn and other plantings in Nebraska and in some parts of Iowa.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture report for the week ending Sunday says just 2% of the expected corn crop has been planted in Nebraska, compared with the five-year average of 8% by the date. Officials say 4% of the Iowa crop has been planted, compared with the 10% averaged over the past five years.
Nebraska oats planted was 30%, well short of the 72% average. The USDA says 48% of the expected Iowa oat crop has been planted, six days ahead of last year’s pace but five days behind the average pace over the past five years.
Associate Nebraska climatologist Al Dutcher told The Grand Island Independent that the spring flooding is still affecting ag producers.
Republicans Want Universities To Raise Money For New Buildings
(Des Moines) — Republican lawmakers are setting new financing requirements for construction on the public university campuses in Ames, Cedar Falls and Iowa City. Under
the plan, the state will provide just 60 percent of the cost for building projects at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. Officials at those universities will have to raise the remaining 40 percent of the cost from federal grants or private sources. Republican Representative Gary Mohr
(MOR, like “more”) of Bettendorf, a retired college administrator, says the universities can ask their 50-thousand graduates for more money
“I’ve done this for 40 years,” Mohr said. “In this economy and in
this world, you can raise 40 percent.” The University of Northern Iowa would be required to raise 20 percent of the construction costs from sources other than state tax dollars. Representative Mary Mascher (MASH-er), a Democrat from Iowa City, says it’ll be hard to raise private donations for some vital
projects, like power plants and steam tunnels.
“This has enormous ramifications to our universities in Iowa and I don’t understand why you would spring this on us at the last minute,” Mascher said. Lawmakers are hoping to complete the work of the 2019 legislative session by this weekend. The proposal on private fundraising for construction at the public universities is included in a budget bill that’s been approved
by the Senate AND the House, but senators must vote again on some adjustments House members made.
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