Last week, Wright County’s state representatives traveled through the county, holding town hall meetings in Clarion, Eagle Grove and Belmond. District 8 representative, Terry Baxter, and District 4 senator, Dennis Guth, both Republicans, met to talk with their constituents as they have reached the midway point in the current legislative session. The Clarion event, held at the Depot, attracted over twenty people.
Both of the lawmakers first discussed various pieces of legislation that they are supporting this session. Guth spoke about a K-12 school funding bill that will result in a 2.3% increase in per-pupil state aid that passed last week. He pointed out it is important to areas like Wright County because it equalizes per pupil amounts. Guth added that part of the monies will be dedicated to transportation, which “helps put us [rural areas] on an equal basis with big schools.”
Guth also discussed a measure that would require thousands of Iowans to meet work or volunteer requirements in order to receive health coverage under the state's Medicaid expansion program. It recently advanced through the senate. Guth supported the bill. He pointed out the bill includes 18 exemptions for the work requirement, including if you care for a child under the age of 6 or have a serious medical condition or disability.
For his part, representative Baxter spoke about legislation pertaining to human trafficking that he is happy so see pass both the house and senate. One bill will disqualify a person convicted of human trafficking from having a commercial drivers license. Another bill that passed the house will incentivize training for hotels across the state on how to spot signs of human trafficking. If the hotel doesn’t do such training, the bill also stipulates that no state employees will utilize that establishment.
Baxter noted the legislation continues to address drainage district issues in Iowa. He noted, “Eventually, we’re going to have to address that entire section of the law code because the law really is archaic in that area.”
The audience was also able to ask a few questions. Various people, including McKinley Bailey of Building Families, asked about legislation to help create childcare and make it more affordable. Baxter noted that issue is a priority this year of their caucus. McKinley hoped both lawmakers would support legislation that ends the childcare “cliff” which occurs when a family begins to earn above the limits set by the state and becomes ineligible for day care assistance.
As it has at past town hall meetings in the area, the 3/8 cent sales tax was brought up, something that had been passed 10 years ago to fund the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. That fund has not come to fruition since the legislation was passed. Baxter explained that the governor has recently proposed adjusting the formula for that tax to fund that trust but also put 5/8 cent toward mental health funding, something the state sorely needs. Baxter sounded positive about the bill but wasn’t sure if it would pass this year.
In the end, both men thanked the public for their input, stressing how much they value hearing what is important to their constituents. Baxter emphasized, “After these meetings, we meet together in our quadrants and share what people are talking about back home. That’s how we decide what to focus on.”
