Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver said he was pleased with the positive, optimistic picture painted by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds during her Condition of the State Address.
“This is a time that we all know we need hope, we need optimism and we need a positive message,” Whitver said. “The story of Iowa is one of a lot of challenges the last year, but it’s also one of strength and resiliency.”
Whitver said Reynolds did a good job of telling the story of where Iowa has been, but more importantly told the story of where Iowa is going.
“Everyone I know is looking forward to turning the page to 2021,” he said. “I think the Governor’s speech really set forward a great, ambitious agenda.”
Whitver noted that Reynolds is able to make aggressive investment proposals because of the state’s strong economic position. He said Iowa is in a spot where it can make investments, but also wants to continue to look at things that have put the state in such a strong position.
The importance of broadband isn’t up for debate, Whitver said, but how much can be invested remains to be seen.
“If you don’t have good broadband in the 21st century it’s hard to sustain a strong economy,” he said. “In rural Iowa, we’re either growing our we’re dying. Iowa needs that investment in rural Iowa.”
Unlike other states, Iowa has not overpromised, which is another reason the state has money to invest.
The Senate would like to see the triggers removed from the tax cut of a couple of years ago, Whitver added.
