The Iowa Legislative session has been on temporary recess since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

District 47 Representative Phil Thompson of Jefferson says they will resume the session June 3rd. The biggest issue for lawmakers to tackle is the state’s budget before the start of the next fiscal year on July 1st. Thompson notes they have called on the Revenue Estimating Conference to project the financial impact that COVID-19 has had on state revenues so they can accurately set up the budget. 

Thompson says there is enough funding in the state’s revenue reserves to be able to run state government for three additional months, while also allowing the governor to allocated additional funding during these uncertain times.

“It’s really tough to prioritize the needs of Iowans while still being fiscally responsible and saving for times like this. So we put money away, we spend significantly less than our ongoing revenue, so that if we run into a difficult situation like we’re in right now we can get by; we can survive this tough time.”

Thompson feels confident the Legislature will finalize the state’s budget by mid-June, ahead of the start of the next fiscal year. To hear more from Thompson, listen to tomorrow’s Community State Bank in Paton Let’s Talk Greene County program.