With education reform and commercial tax cuts atop the agenda, the Iowa Legislature is opening its 85th session.
Lawmakers in Des Moines will begin reviewing Gov. Terry Branstad's budget proposal Tuesday. He is expected to unveil plans to invest in the state education system and to cut Iowa's commercial property taxes. The state is looking at nearly a $1 billion budget surplus, due to spending cuts and healthy tax revenues.
Branstad has not succeeded in winning legislative support for these proposals in past years. But he has signaled plans to work more collaboratively with lawmakers this time around.
