Deadline looms for state budget agreement

The Iowa Legislature is facing a Thursday deadline for reaching agreement on a new state budget.

Lawmakers say a plan to reduce property taxes on commercial property remains the biggest obstacle to passing a budget.  Senate Democrats have been negotiating with Republic Governor Terry Branstad, but the two sides apparently remain far apart in their proposals, and a compromise is unclear.

State Representative Bob Hager of Dorchester says the budget disagreement boils down to "Democrats want to spend more money. Their own budgets blow past the targets they set for themselves. They want to continue the status quo and they appear ready to threaten a government shutdown to do so."

Hager says Iowans have asked lawmakers to stop spending more than the state takes in.  He says the House Republicans budget spends less than the state takes in, meets priority needs, and brings fiscal responsibility and sustainability back to the statehouse.