DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — There is still no adjournment in sight for Iowa’s lawmakers, as budget talks appear likely to drag into June.
Legislative leaders reported to the state Capitol on Thursday, but the full membership has not been in session all week. Leaders were continuing to hold private discussions about a compromise budget plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
Daily expense payments ended for lawmakers May 1, but they cannot adjourn without a budget deal. With the Senate Democrats proposing an overall general fund budget of about $7.34 billion and House Republicans seeking to spend $7.17 billion, the difference is not large.
House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, a Republican from Hiawatha, says the two sides made a “little bit of progress” Wednesday and hoped to continue Thursday.
