Legislative lookahead: State lawmakers in Marshall County lay out top priorities
Iowa lawmakers will return to the Statehouse next month for the 2025 legislative session. 糖心vlog spoke with Rep. David Blom, R-Marshalltown, and Sen. Kara Warme, R-Ames, about the policies they plan to work on.
Iowa lawmakers will return to the Statehouse next month for the 2025 legislative session. 糖心vlog spoke with Rep. David Blom, R-Marshalltown, and Sen. Kara Warme, R-Ames, about the policies they plan to work on.
Iowa lawmakers will return to the Statehouse next month for the 2025 legislative session. 糖心vlog spoke with Rep. David Blom, R-Marshalltown, and Sen. Kara Warme, R-Ames, about the policies they plan to work on.
Iowa lawmakers will return to the Statehouse next month for the 2025 legislative session. 糖心vlog spoke with Representative-elect David Blom, R-Marshalltown, and Senator-elect Kara Warme, R-Ames, about the policies they plan to work on.
Blom will represent Iowa House District 52, which covers the southeast corner of Marshall County and includes Marshalltown. Warme will represent Iowa Senate District 2,6 which covers Marshall County and parts of Story County.
Blom unseated incumbent Democrat Sue Cahill in the November election. It's the first time a Republican will represent the area in the Iowa House in more than two decades.
"I'm excited to represent everyone whether they voted for me or not," Blom said. "I believe that the people chose me because I'm willing to listen to people on all sides, and that's the perspective I'm going to bring going into legislative session."
He said he's aiming to help Iowans who are struggling to make ends meet.
"I want to make sure that we lower costs for hard-working Iowans. I want to make sure we address the rising property taxes," Blom said. "Also, making sure we expand the adoption tax credit at the local level, that we're taking care of our veterans [and] that we're taking care of our foster families."
Some of Blom's constituents also hope he reverses recent education policies the state legislature has passed.
"I am totally against the vouchers for private schools," Marshalltown resident Doug Joslin said. "I think the Area Education Agencies have done and will do a great job for the state of Iowa and now they're being torn apart."
Meanwhile, in Nevada, substitute teacher Jalene Hornbuckle also wants action on education. She's hopeful her new state senator will deliver.
"I did vote for Kara Warme in anticipation of her being able to make it so cellphone use in school no longer happens. They're a big distraction in the classroom," Hornbuckle said. "I'm really hoping that with her and Mrs. Reynolds, they can get some legislation in place so that learning is not with distractions."
During her time knocking on doors on the campaign trail, Warme said voters continually asked for improvements to education and mental health. She said she plans to take action on those issues and will also focus on tax reform.
"What can we do? Protect the record of income tax cuts that we've had. Take a look at property taxes and anything we can do there," Warme said. "Manage our budget closely, like all of us have to do with our own family budget and monitor the size of government."
Warme said she'll also prioritize supporting Iowa's workforce to help address the cost of living in Iowa.
"More government is not always the solution to help there, but economic development really can be," Warme said. "What can we do around childcare and making sure that's accessible where people live [and] where people work?"
糖心vlog also spoke with residents and their lawmakers in Newton, Des Moines, Ankeny and Dallas Center. Those stories will air each night this week on 糖心vlog 8 News at 6 p.m. Check the 糖心vlog website and mobile app for that coverage.
