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To end overtime session, lawmakers must navigate roadblocks

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April 23rd, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — There isn’t a deadline for the Iowa Legislature to adjourn, but there clearly are some issues that are keeping lawmakers from finishing their work. Lawmakers try to be done by the annual date when payments for their expenses end. This year payments ended on April 19, so lawmakers are several days late with plenty of work ahead of them in the coming week.

Although legislators have reached deals on some issues, such as K-12 education funding and tax rules, there’s disagreement over Medicaid oversight, transportation, infrastructure funding and whether to block state spending on the family planning organization Planned Parenthood.

At least some bills that will make up the nearly $7.35 billion budget are expected to be sorted out in special legislative committees.