The Thompson Times

The past week was short, but rather intense. Whenever veterans and FFA students show up on the same day, the capitol is packed. I led a subcommittee on Veterans issues relating to local veterans’ service officers (VSO) and state veterans’ affairs implementation of services.

In the local government arena, I led a subcommittee regarding a proposal to alert taxpayers more effectively regarding changes in tax rates and bonds. The proposal was tabled. I was in favor of tabling due to feedback last year in which small counties (like ours) were forced to spend their own funds to send out additional statements that ultimately (in many cases) did not clarify how our taxes were being spent.

There are several pictures of the FFA students that were taken in the well of the House Chambers. Unfortunately, I was only able to take one group to the top of the Capitol, due to other meetings that day. Hopefully in the future, such large groups are deconflicted. 

We also held our first subcommittee meeting on justice appropriations. While that sounds rather bland, I discovered it has significant potential since resources for victims of human trafficking and other violent crimes originate from this subcommittee. Victims (and survivors) are a key component of future human trafficking legislation and this was a valuable meeting to understand the process to pay for such assistance as well as the investigative and prosecutorial elements. 

There has been a deluge of bills being introduced, some more impactful and meaningful than others. I remain committed to being part of meaningful legislation. 

First-Ever Federal & Other Funds Budget Subcommittee Meeting

The newly-formed Federal and Other funds Budget Subcommittee also met for the first time this week.

Historically, any money allocated to the state of Iowa from the federal government comes with many strings attached. 

Federal programs too often treat states like Iowa exactly the same as California, even though our needs are very different. The reality is that states are much better equipped to react to situations and know what is best for their citizens. But too often, the federal government stands in our way. 

The current administration has expressed a willingness to work with states to make these programs better tailored to each state’s needs. 

With this new committee, Iowa will be one of the leaders in the country on how to best use this new flexibility from the federal government. 

Newly Formed Higher Education Committee’s Agenda Takes Shape

This week, the newly formed “Higher Education” committee released 14 bills for consideration. These bills give a good idea of what’s on the table for this committee this year.

These bills include ideas to make college more affordable, review academic programs’ alignment with the state’s workforce needs, ensure students are free from indoctrination, and eliminate DEI from all institutes of higher education, among other ideas.  

ESA Funding 

Recently, it was posted on Facebook that the state’s ESA program will cost Iowa taxpayers $1 billion.” The actual number expected to be spent on ESAs during this school year is $218 million.

In the FY 2025 budget, state aid to public schools’ accounts for 43.62% of the entire state budget. That’s the biggest piece of the pie by far. ESAs, meanwhile, account for 2.01% of the total state budget.