BW INSIGHTS

Sanctions Related to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

By BrownWinick | 03.04.2022
On February 21, 2022, Russian President Vladamir Putin recognized the independence and sovereignty of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR). Russian military forces mobilized to the DPR and LPR.  The same day, February 21, 2022, President Biden issued Executive Order... Read More

2021 Iowa Legislative Session - Week One Summary

By BrownWinick | 01.17.2021
  The legislature convened for the 89th General Assembly Monday, welcoming 26 newly-elected lawmakers to the statehouse. With Republicans maintaining their majority in the Senate and expanding it in the House, the GOP will continue driving the state’s policy agenda for the next two years. In his opening remarks, House Speaker Pat Grassley (R-New... Read More

2020 Legislative Session-Week 1

By BrownWinick | 01.17.2020
The first week of the 2020 Iowa legislative sessionstarted Monday with the swearing-in of a new House Republican leadership team. Rep. Pat Grassley (R-New Hartford) was officially named Speaker of the House, while Rep. Matt Windschitl (R-Missouri Valley) was sworn in as Majority Leader. Grassley listed workforce-related issues as his top concerns,... Read More

2019 Legislative Session - Week 14

By BrownWinick | 04.22.2019
House and Senate Republicans have reached an agreement on the budget for next fiscal year (FY20). Under the joint plan, the state will spend $7.64 billion from the general fund.  That’s a 0.2 percent increase from last year.  Although lawmakers can legally spend 99 percent of ongoing revenues, the GOP proposal uses just north of 97 percent. ... Read More

2019 Legislative Session - Week 13

By BrownWinick | 04.12.2019
House and Senate Republicans are continuing to hash-out next year’s budget (FY20), but have yet to agree on the final figures.  Those so-called “joint budget targets” lay out how much both chambers are willing to spend on big-ticket appropriations, like education, economic development, and health and human services.  In the absence of joint... Read More

2019 Legislative Session - Week 12

By BrownWinick | 04.05.2019
Lawmakers raced bills through committee this week, scrambling to beat the second legislative “Funnel.”  Most policy measures that didn’t pass out of the House or Senate, and a full committee in the opposite chamber by Friday are dead for the remainder of session.  Tax, spending, government oversight, and leadership bills are largely exempt from... Read More

2019 Legislative Session - Week 10

By BrownWinick | 03.22.2019
Governor Kim Reynolds has shifted her focus toward disaster relief following catastrophic floods across Iowa.  Yesterday, she requested that President Donald Trump issue an expedited Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for 57 counties.  That move would immediately free up federal recovery resources, including FEMA funding.  So far, the floods... Read More

March 2019 REC Summary

By BrownWinick | 03.18.2019
The Revenue Estimating Conference ("REC") met yesterday morning (3/15/19) in Des Moines.  A short summary of the information discussed during the meeting is below, along with the below spreadsheet handed out during the meeting that contains more detailed information.  In short, the report from yesterday shows that revenues for the existing fiscal... Read More

2019 Legislative Session - Week 9

By BrownWinick | 03.18.2019
Iowa’s budget forecast remains relatively stable, although the state will bring in slightly less revenue than anticipated. That’s according to numbers released today by the Revenue Estimating Conference (REC).  The expert panel projected the state will rake in $7.84 billion for the fiscal year beginning July 1.  That’s roughly $20 million less... Read More

2019 Legislative Session - Week 8

By BrownWinick | 03.08.2019
Lawmakers raced bills through the committee process this week as Friday’s funnel deadline approached.  Most legislation that hasn’t passed subcommittee and full committee in the House or Senate by now is officially “dead” for the 2019 session.  Some measures are exempt from funnel—generally those dealing with government oversight, taxes and... Read More

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