House Democrats propose bills to lower costs

DES MOINES — Iowa Home Democrats launched a bundle of proposals Wednesday supposed to decrease prices for Iowans — together with rising the kid care tax credit score and freezing tuition at Iowa’s public universities — as lawmakers set their sights on creating subsequent yr’s state finances.

The payments, which haven’t but been filed, are a part of Home Democrats’ “Folks Over Politics” legislative agenda they proposed originally of the legislative session. Home Democrats beforehand launched payments to legalize leisure hashish and constitutionally shield abortion rights.

“Whereas we acknowledge the state Legislature can’t management all of the ups and downs of the nationwide economic system, we are able to take motion to assist decrease prices for Iowa households and cut back the dwelling bills for on a regular basis Iowans,” Home Democratic chief Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights advised reporters Wednesday.

With Republicans holding an agenda-setting majority within the Home, the proposed payments will go nowhere with out assist from Republican leaders. A spokesperson for Home Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Throughout 5 payments and a finances modification, the proposals would:

• Present a baby care tax credit score to households incomes underneath $250,000 on a sliding scale, and improve the revenue threshold for state youngster care help

• Require medical insurance suppliers to cap insulin prices for all Iowans at $25

• Renew the Iowa Photo voltaic Tax Credit score program and supply help to offset vitality prices

• Require the labor commissioner to position a excessive precedence on investigating wage theft and permit the commissioner to analyze employers and not using a formal criticism

• Create a tax credit score program for reasonably priced housing models, increase the first-time house financial savings account and create neighborhood grant program for owners to make enhancements to their houses

• Freeze tuition at Iowa’s public universities and neighborhood faculties

Konfrst stated she hopes Republicans can assist the proposals as lawmakers work on a proposed finances, arguing they’re backed by a majority of Iowans.

“We need to have conversations with our colleagues in management, our colleagues throughout the aisle, to remind them that our job right here is to work for on a regular basis Iowans and to do the work that Iowans requested us to do,” she stated.

Youngster care

One of many proposals would improve the state youngster care tax credit score, permitting taxpayers with an revenue of as much as $250,000 to offset a portion of their youngster care prices by way of a tax credit score. The revenue restrict for state youngster care help would additionally improve.

The invoice would supply grants to individuals who begin new youngster care services or to increase current ones, and permit small companies to obtain a tax credit score for offering youngster care to their workers.

“Practically 1 / 4 of our state’s residents are estimated to stay in a baby care desert,” stated Rep. Molly Buck, D-Ankeny. “Whereas the annual price of kid care might be greater than tuition at one among our public universities, and greater than month-to-month hire or mortgage for most individuals.”

Wage theft

One other invoice would give the Iowa labor commissioner extra energy to analyze situations of employers not paying truthful wages.

Underneath the invoice, the labor commissioner would be capable to examine employers’ data and payrolls with out having a proper criticism.

Frequent Good Iowa, a liberal coverage analysis group, launched a report final yr that estimated greater than $900 million is being withheld yearly from workers by way of so-called wage theft — practices like withholding wages, ideas and extra time pay.

“A number of of us don’t need to file these complaints as a result of they don’t need to lose their job,” Konfrst stated. “So we need to make it possible for the labor commissioner is on the market looking for staff as they’re presupposed to.”

Freeze tuition

Home Democrats additionally known as for freezing tuition at Iowa’s three public universities and 15 neighborhood faculties whereas rising the quantity of state funding for increased training establishments.

On the College of Iowa, Iowa State College and the College of Northern Iowa, in-state tuition and charges ranged between $9,400 and $10,400 for the 2022-2023 college yr, a rise of about 4.4 p.c from final yr.

“Let’s give households a break,” Konfrst stated. “And let’s make it possible for the Legislature does our job to totally fund our area’s establishments and our neighborhood faculties.”