Iowa Governor Terry Branstad says he’s a “realist” and it will likely be sometime in June before he and legislators resolve their differences over a state budget plan. The governor’s also hoping lawmakers pass his anti-bullying bill as well as a bill that would boost broadband access in the state.
May 1st was the last day members of the House and Senate from around the state got a daily state allowance to cover living expenses in Des Moines, but unlike other states there is no hard-and-fast deadline for concluding the Iowa legislature’s yearly sessions. Senate President Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, says school funding is still the “big issue” to resolve, plus she says Senate Democrats, House Republicans and Republican Governor Terry Branstad all have different overall spending targets.
Republican House Speaker Kraig Paulsen of Hiawatha told reporters he’s hoping everything will get “figured out” soon.
The state senate convened Monday afternoon, but no votes are scheduled this week and only a handful of senators are at the statehouse.
