Hager: Work remains on state budget agreement

As this session of the Iowa Legislature heads into its final weeks, Dorchester State Representative Bob Hager says the legislature's most important task still remains--designing and agreeing on a state budget.  :

The House, coming off a $5.99 billion budget of the previous year, has proposed a one percent increase that sets the budget at $6.06 billion.  Hager says House members are worried that even though Iowa's economy is showing growth, that growth is still slow, even with agriculture as the bright spot. 

Governor Terry Branstad is proposing a budget that spends $6.244 billion.  Says Hager, "It is my feeling that both the House and the Senate will move closer towards the Governor's spending levels.  In moving that direction, House Republicans would still adhere to our principles of sound budgeting.   We see the need for quality services from our state government, but we also recognize the need to not spend more than we take in.  Our state's budget should be supported with ongoing revenue only, just like the family's budget."