Government : Hello, Iowa House District 84 from the State Capitol!

Week four was shortened due to our fellow Representative Martin Graber's visitation on Monday afternoon and funeral Tuesday morning in Fort Madison. I estimate at least 50 legislators attended, including Governor Reynolds, Attorney General Brenna Bird, and Secretary of Ag Mike Naig.

The Iowa House Republicans held discussions about the SSA funding for public schools. We initially would have liked to see an increase of about 2.5%, but both the Iowa Senate and Gov. Reynolds have proposed an increase of 2%. Therefore, we have proposed a 2.25% increase, which is about $114.5 million more, along with a one-time increase of 0.6% SSA payment, amounting to about $22.6 million. The House also proposed a $10 increase in per pupil equity, about $5.8 million and increasing the statewide average cost of transportation for each school district at $430, amounting to about $5.8 million in additional funds. Hopefully we'll get these negotiations done so public schools can plan their budgets for next year.

House Study Bill 53 has passed out of the new Higher Education committee and intends to prohibit the regent institutions from requiring students to enroll in courses related to DEI or critical race theory. Currently, Iowa State University requires all undergrad students to take a course in U.S. Cultures and Communities. Students are required to analyze systemic oppression and personal prejudice and their impact on marginalized communities and the broader U.S. society. Students are also required to evaluate important aspects of DEI so they can live, work, and collaborate with others in the 21st century U.S. Even the Iowa Board of Regents are registered in favor of this bill, but Democrats on this committee voted against the bill.

Probably almost every legislator has heard from pharmacists that Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) have been harmful, especially to pharmacies in smaller communities. I've been told 29 Iowa pharmacies closed in 2024, and over 150 in the past decade. These complicated PBMs operate as middlemen between basically health care plans and the pharmacies by negotiating prices for drugs for hundreds of millions of Americans. Many pharmacies then either sell many prescriptions at a loss and too many times pharmacies are forced to close due to unfair PBM practices. House Study Bill 99 intends to help protect smaller independent pharmacies. It passed in its subcommittee and will probably be amended before it is debated on the House floor. You can go here: https://www.ftc.gov/reports/pharmacy-benefit-managers-report if you would like to read more about them. I am pushing to reform the harmful effects that PBMs are causing pharmacies, like to Van Horne Towncrest Pharmacy and too many others across Iowa.

I hope you have a safe and healthy week and support our local businesses. Happy Valentines Day!