DES MOINES – Governor Terry Branstad is glad to have a legislature that – despite being split along party lines – seems to work well together and with him towards accomplishing Iowa’s goals.
The Republican governor said as much during his Condition of the State Address – delivered Tuesday at the capitol – as he praised the work accomplished by the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House. The governor pointed to economic growth, education and health care as some of the recent accomplishments in Des Moines.
In the 2013 legislative session, a plan to cut commercial property taxes was passed, as was a plan to fund Iowa schools and a health care bill to cover low income residents. Iowa also has a massive budget surplus that is nearly $900 million.
Mason City’s Amanda Ragan, a Democrat, escorted Governor Branstad back to his office after he delivered his speech Tuesday. Ragan and Branstad have clearly been on opposing sides of political issues, but showed a public display of unity Tuesday with the photo-op walk through the capitol. Ragan and other Democrats have been associated with a left-wing group called Progress Iowa, which frequently takes hard shots at the governor, but there appears to be no hard feelings as the 2014 legislative session picks up steam this week.
Senator Ragan is facing re-election this fall. As early as April and May of last year, Republicans zeroed-in on Ragan with automated phone calls to voters to measure interest in possible opponents to run against her for the Iowa Senate District 27 seat, which she has held since 2002.
Tim Junker of Allison, Iowa announced in December that he will challenge Ragan in the upcoming election. He is running on the Republican ticket.
