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Iowa lawmakers release budget targets, though details vague

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April 6th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Leaders in the split Iowa Legislature have announced a compromise on spending targets for the next state budget, though details remain vague. Lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled Senate and Republican-majority House released joint budget targets Wednesday that propose the state spend about $7.34 billion in the fiscal year that begins in July. That is slightly below an earlier estimate.

The set of overall spending targets will allow legislative subcommittees to begin work on bills that will make up the state budget. Most targets propose slightly higher spending for the different areas of state government, but there’s no additional information on the real financial impact.

House Republicans say details will be ironed out. A key Senate Democrat said in a statement his chamber attempted to find common ground to avoid “gridlock.”