The leaders of Iowa’s two major political parties had a face-to-face discussion of state government finances. It’s a debate likely to continue for months among the 2018 candidates for governor and the legislature. Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann says Republican Governor Kim Reynolds showed “steady management” by withdrawing 13 million dollars from the state’s economic emergency fund to cover the state budget deficit.

 

Iowa Democratic Party chairman Troy Price says Republicans opposed the use of “one time money for ongoing expenses” when Democrat Chet Culver was governor.

Price says former Governor Terry Branstad and Reynolds have drained “about half” of the billion dollars in the state’s cash reserve and “rainy day” fund.

 

The two chairmen discussed a variety of other issues, including health care policy. Kaufmann — the Republican leader — suggested a G-O-P-sponsored bill pending in the U.S. Senate that would repeal ObamaCare would be a “starting point” for negotiations on replacing ObamaCare.

Price notes the Democratic Party platform “supports a single payer” health care system.