Iowa Capital Dispatch
January 9, 2025
Democratic legislative leaders said Thursday they will work during the upcoming session to “hold Republicans accountable” for policies that run counter to most Iowans’ wishes.
“We are ready and willing to work with Republican lawmakers to pass good policy, but we will also hold Republican lawmakers accountable when their efforts are geared towards special interests and the very wealthy instead of focusing on hardworking Iowans,” Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, said.
The 2025 legislative session will convene Monday with a supermajority of Republicans holding power in both the House and Senate, as well as a Republican governor. That leaves Democrats with too few votes to pass legislation without GOP assistance.
That doesn’t mean Democrats won’t be relevant to the debate, House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst said.
“We represent a huge number of people, and so our job is to be here representing our constituents, and they deserve to have a voice at the Capitol, just like those who are represented by Republicans,” Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, said. “And so we continue to hold Republicans accountable for legislation that does not match what voters are asking us for. We will continue to introduce legislation. We will have conversations and negotiations.”
The two Democratic leaders spoke Thursday at a forum sponsored by the Iowa Capitol Press Association, a group of journalists who cover the Statehouse. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Republican legislative leaders were also invited, association President Erin Murphy said. The governor declined the invitation. The Republican leaders did not respond to it, he said.
Among the issues Democrats hope to influence is the Republican priority of cutting property taxes. “We are willing to talk with our Republican colleagues and work with them on this, but it really has to work for both everyday people — the Iowans who pay the taxes –and it has to work for the communities and the counties,” Weiner said.
She added she has spoken with Republican colleagues about revisiting a provision in the last major property tax overhaul and creating an exemption to property tax limits for voter-approved levies.
Konfrst said she hoped representatives of cities and counties that will be affected by tax changes can be at the table to discuss the proposals. “The needs of Ackley are not the needs of Ankeny, so sometimes I worry about these one-size-fits-all solutions,” she said.
Both Konfrst and Weiner said they expect bipartisan support for some Republican proposals. Konfrst said legislation restricting drivers to using only hands-free devices behind the wheel is a “no brainer” and that Democrats would help pass a bill if it is brought to the floor.
Weiner cited legislation addressing the use of opioid settlement funds, which failed to reach the governor’s desk at the end of the 2024 session. “I hope it will be a priority for everyone this early this session. It should not be a partisan issue,” Weiner said.
Note: Kathie Obradovich is vice president of the Iowa Capitol Press Association.
Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com.
