Iowa House Republicans push to exempt 'school choice' bill from key administrative rule
Iowa House rules require all bills that allocate money to go through
Iowa House rules require all bills that allocate money to go through
Iowa House rules require all bills that allocate money to go through
Iowa House Republicans are proposing a change that would exempt the governor's new school choice proposal from a key administrative rule.
Iowa House Rule 32 requires that all bills that "appropriate money" go through the Appropriations Committee. All bills that pertain to the "collection of taxes and fees" are required to go through the Ways and Means Committee.
The longstanding rule is part of the traditional process to evaluate bills' financial impact.
However, would change Rule 32. The change would exempt any bills assigned to the newly formed House Education Reform Committee, specifically during the 2023 regular session and prior to the start of 2024 regular session, from going through the House Appropriations or Ways and Means Committee.
The governor's controversial school choice plan, which would create taxpayer-funded Education Savings Accounts to help Iowans pay for private school tuition, is assigned to the House Education Reform Committee.
When asked why the change was proposed, Iowa House Republicans spokesperson Melissa Deatsch told vlog that "the Speaker has been clear that the Education Reform Committee was created to handle the ESA bill. After going through Ed Reform, the next action on the bill will be a vote on the floor."
Deatsch also noted that "the ESA bill" will still receive a fiscal note and that, with House Speaker Pat Grassley's background as a former Appropriations Committee Chair, the Education Reform Committee "will still be taking into account the cost."
