THE TWO CANDIDATES RUNNING TO BE IOWA’S NEXT GOVERNOR MET FOR THEIR THIRD AND FINAL DEBATE TUESDAY NIGHT, ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES, INCLUDING PROPERTY TAXES.
REPUBLICAN ZACH LAHN SAID HE BELIEVES IOWA COULD BE THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO ELIMINATE PROPERTY TAXES ON SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, WHILE STILL HAVING ENOUGH TAXES TO MAINTAING FUNDING FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS LOCAL SCHOOLS.
GOVDEBATE1 OC….STATE OF IOWA. :10
LAHN SAID THE MOVE WOULD CREATE AN ECONOMIC BOOM FOR IOWA.
THE TOPIC CAME UP WHEN A MODERATOR FIRST ASKED DEMOCRAT ROB SAND ABOUT THE LAW THAT SETS NEW LIMITS ON PROPERTY TAXES.
SAND SAID HE’S HEARD A THOUSAND DIFFERENT OPINIONS OF THOSE CHANGES, WHICH START NEXT YEAR:
GOVDEBATE2 OC…THE RIGHT DIRECTION. :11
THE CANDIDATES WERE ASKED ABOUT HOW THE STATE COULD IMPROVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT IN IOWA. LAHN SAID IOWA DOES NEED TO OPEN MORE MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES, BUT THE QUESTION IS HOW THEY’RE FINANCED.
GOVDEBATE3 OC……AS A STATE.” :13
SAND SAYS HE’S HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO WORK IN IOWA’S MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM WHO ARE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY OR EVEN CLOSING CLINICS BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT BEING ADEQUATELY PAID FOR SERVING MEDICAID PATIENTS.
GOVDEBATE4 OC…….PEOPLE SUFFER NEEDLESSLY.” :12
SAND’S BROTHER-IN-LAW DIED EARLIER THIS MONTH AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A VEHICLE AND A STATEMENT FROM THE FAMILY INDICATED HE HAD LIVED WITH MENTAL HEALTH COMPLEXITIES.
SAND HAS SUGGESTED FIRING THE PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT HAVE MANAGED MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS FOR THE PAST DECADE AND HAVING STATE EMPLOYEES OVERSEE THE SYSTEM AGAIN.
GOVDEBATE5 OC……..SALARY? WE ARE.” :13
LAHN SAYS THE STATE CAN PROVIDE BETTER OVERSIGHT OF THE PRIVATE COMPANIES MANAGING MEDICAID PAYMENTS.
GOVDEBATE6 OC…….THEIR HEALTH CARE.” ;03
THE 90-MINUTE-LONG DEBATE WAS SPONSORED BY K-C-R-G T-V AND THE GAZETTE IN CEDAR RAPIDS.
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