Thread by @ErinDMurphy

At the @AP 2018 legislative session preview forum with #ialegis leaders and #iagov.

Leaders up first.

Tweet thread threat warning: Long.

#ialegis Leader @janet4iowa says @IowaSenate Dem priorities are job growth, retirement security (see: IPERS), health care access and mental health care.

#ialegis @SenateMajority leader @SenatorDix says top priority is picking up where Senate Republicans left off last year, promoting growth, making Iowa more competitive/desirable to live and work. (He's talking about tax reform/cuts.)

Mini-debate between @SpeakerUpmeyer and @marksmithiowa regarding lawsuit over #iagov transfer of emergency funds to balance budget. Smith says move was illegal; Upmeyer says it fit the spirit of the law.

#ialegis @SenateMajority leader @SenatorDix says goal of tax reform/cuts is to expand taxpaying base to increase state revenue. That is followed by the first "Kansas!" warnings of the session, from @janet4iowa
and @marksmithiowa.

To what they refer:
qctimes.com/news/local/gov…

#ialegis House @SpeakerUpmeyer re: "Kansas!" warnings on tax cuts/reform: "For heaven's sakes, we're not going to put the state in jeopardy in any fashion."

#ialegis Republican leaders @SenatorDix and @SpeakerUpmeyer say the chambers are working together on tax cuts/reform, and when a bill is introduced it will have support from both chambers. (The two chambers not going their own way, then hashing out differences.)

#ialegis @SenateMajority leader @SenatorDix says the most important thing re: tax cuts/reform is to reduce income tax rates and make sure Iowans don't pay a tax increase as a result of federal tax cuts/reform.

#ialegis @IowaSenate Dem leader @janet4iowa says tax reform discussion should include analysis of state's tax credits programs, ensure they are providing Iowans a return on the investment.

I asked all four #ialegis leaders what specifically their caucuses can support to increase access to mental health care services in the state. Plenty of responses, too much to tweet. I think I just got my Sunday column.

#staytuned
#sweetpromotion

What's coming on water quality? #ialegis leaders sound like they're still in their respective corners on competing proposals.

On state funding to local governments to backfill 2013 commercial/industrial property tax cuts, what we didn't hear: "That's off the table, will be funded 100%."
@SpeakerUpmeyer: I've been telling cities/counties to move away from that $
@dix: view same as any other state funding

The #ialegis leaders are done. We move now to our time with #iagov @IAGovernor Reynolds.

#iagov @IAGovernor Reynolds in opening comments talks about her hope to boost programs designed to increase the number of skilled workers for the state workforce. She'll talk about her Future Ready Iowa program during next week's condition of the state address.

#iagov @IAGovernor Reynolds says tax cuts/reform must be responsible and sustainable so state can honor the commitment. She actually said "We don't want to be Kansas." Somewhere, a Democrat is smiling and doesn't know why.

#iagov @IAGovernor Reynolds says recent federal tax cuts/reform may provide financial space for Iowa to do the same. Says she'll also talk her goals for tax cuts/reform during COS address next week.

#iagov @IAGovernor Reynolds says she hopes a water quality bill is one of the first to reach her desk this year, does not say which of House or Senate bills that passed each chamber last year that she prefers.

#iagov @IAGovernor Reynolds on privately managed Medicaid: "We've made mistakes. The rollout was not perfect. But it’s the right thing to do." Says she's open to making changes, working with #ialegis, getting recommendations.

On mental health care, #iagov @IAGovernor says she will talk about that in COS next week, notes #ialegis came together in 2013 to create regional delivery system, need more of that bipartisan work. Says "We need to look at health care from a system perspective."

On recent lawsuit filed by @HallForIowa regarding #iagov @IAGovernor Reynolds' transfer of emergency funds to balance previous year's budget, Reynolds says she feels her action "operated within the intent of the law." She reiterated the law is outdated and #ialegis should change.

Little different answer from #iagov @IAGovernor Reynolds on the commercial/industrial property tax backfill. She says that will be in her budget in full.

#ialegis leaders sounded open to trimming that funding.

And fin.

Thanks for following along/sorry for flooding your timeline.

The 2018 #ialegis session starts Monday. Our preview coverage continues daily.