DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is proposing the Legislature pass a constitutional amendment that would no longer allow the state to strip convicted felons of their right to vote. The proposal was made today as part of Reynolds’ Condition of the State address to lawmakers. Reynolds also made a budget request that includes $93 million more in funding for education, $20 million for her Future Ready Iowa jobs training program, additional money for children’s mental health, state universities and funding for rural broadband and housing programs.
WASHINGTON, IA (IRN) – Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King was removed from his House committees Monday. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of California said Sunday he would take action after King told the New York Times: “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?” The decision by the Republican Steering Committee to remove King from the judiciary, agriculture and small business committees was unanimous. King denies he’s a racist.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The long process of adding gun rights to the Iowa Constitution must begin again due to a mistake at the Iowa Secretary of State’s office. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said Monday that his office forgot to publish official details of the Legislature’s plan to amend the Iowa Constitution. Pate, a Republican, apologized.
IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Protesters took to the benches at the downtown Ped Mall in Iowa City Monday, according KCRG-TV. They are protesting new benches that have bars that prevent homeless people from sleeping on them. Protesters want the old benches back.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa is now ranked eighth for growth in the number of women-owned businesses as well as their own growth in employment and revenues, according to an American Express report. Three years ago, the state was in last place. Local business owners said one of the reasons for the change is the network of women who support each other has grown as well as access to resources.