Iowa House Republicans have released their spending plan for fiscal year 2021 which aligns with last year’s numbers given the expected decrease in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

House District 20 Representative Ray Sorensen (R) says conservative spending by the legislature in the last few years has kept them in good financial health in spite of COVID-19, and adds that Iowa won’t be forced to make deep cuts to critical programs unlike other states, “The House put out a budget plan that provides increases to K-12 education, Medicaid, and children’s health insurance, while maintaining (the) status quo for other line items like community colleges, regents, courts, prisons, and other priorities. We’re still trying to find agreement with the Senate but I think we’re getting close.”

The approximate $7.85 billion budget proposed by the House would fund most state departments and agencies at the same level as the current fiscal year. More information can be found here.