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Branstad delivers ‘Together we can’ message to legislators

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January 13th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Governor Terry Branstad has presented what he calls a “plan of action” to lawmakers today. Branstad delivered the annual “Condition of the State” message to legislators, with a “Together We Can” theme. Working together “matters” — Branstad said — since any bill must win approval in the Republican-led Iowa House and the Democraztically-led Iowa Senate before it reaches Branstad’s desk. Many of the governor’s priorities are hold-overs from previous years, with a few some tweaks.

Branstad’s proposes a new five-million dollar competitive grant program for communities or private sector companies that extend broadband service in rural Iowa. Ae he outlined during the campaign season, Branstad proposes a new “IowaNEXT” program for “quality of life” projects and a new public-private partnership to manage state workforce development programs.

The governor says it’s “common sense” for legislators to finally pass an anti-bullying bill, after similar proposals faltered in each of the last two years, and he’s calling for longer sentences and electronic monitoring of “habitual” domestic abusers. Branstad also released his budget plan today, outlining seven-point-three-BILLION dollars in state spending. That’s between four and five percent bigger than the current year’s budget.

Branstad did not fully embrace the Regents plan to provide more state money to the public universities so in-state tuition can remain the same for a third straight year. He recommends Iowa’s public school districts get about 50 million dollars more in general state aid for the next academic year. That’s an increase of one-and-three-quarters of a percent.

(Radio Iowa)