JOHNSTON, Iowa — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds joined Iowa PBS' "Iowa Press" program for the first time in 2024 to discuss the current legislative session and follow up on her Condition of the State address she made last week.
Reynolds was joined on the program by Iowa Press moderator O. Kay Henderson, Des Moines Register's statehouse reporter Stephen Gruber-Miller and The Gazette's Des Moines bureau chief Erin Murphy -- who all took turns asking the governor questions.
Education, taxes and the Iowa caucuses were among topics discussed Friday.
Education
Since the Condition of the State address, Reynolds said she's received feedback from parents and educators about her proposal to change the system of providing special education services for Iowans with disabilities, also known as Area Education Agencies (AEAs).
"The bottom line is no money cut from special education," Reynolds reassured the panel. "All the money goes to the schools. Schools drive it. If they like what they're getting, absolutely nothing changes. If they want to do a hybrid and utilize some of the AEA or neighboring AEA, they can do that."
Reynolds said during the address last week and again on Friday that Iowa students with disabilities are performing in school far below the national average on multiple assessments.
Under Reynolds' education proposal she mentioned during last week's address, AEAs will focus solely on students with disabilities, with independent oversight moving to the Department of Education. But on Friday, she said she's making a change to this proposed legislation: allowing school districts to use funding for special education services and media services, if requested by schools, and approved by the Iowa Department of Education.
The panel also asked Reynolds to explain the state's reasoning for declining to participate in the Summer EBT program for 2024, instead opting to support other meal programs she believes promote better nutrition. This program would have provided students of low-income families $40 per child while school is out during summer break.
"There's no accountability there," Reynolds explained. "There was very minimal nutritional value to that, it's just ridiculous that they want to stand up an entire new program."
The state has until Feb. 15 to re-apply for the Summer P-EBT program.
RELATED: Iowa Hunger Coalition rallies at state capitol, calls on legislators to prioritize Summer EBT
Economy
Reynolds spent a few minutes Friday on Iowa Press flaunting her abilities as a state to cut income taxes since taking office in 2018.
"I think Iowans know, with the record that I've had, if we can go, if we can reduce it again, I will," she said. "This will be the fourth tax cut that I've implemented in seven years. And so I think we've made it clear that if we can do it sustainably, we'll continue to reduce taxes."
A recent income tax bill will begin to phase in gradually before taking effect in 2026, establishing a flat rate of 3.9%.
The Iowa caucuses
Panelists asked Reynolds about her endorsement of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis prior to the 2024 Iowa Caucus. When asked why her message to caucus for DeSantis may not have "resonated" with Iowans, she replied, "I think it did, I think he did well. He punched a ticket out of here."
She later went on to add she would endorse the Republican party's presidential nominee, whether that be DeSantis or someone else entirely, for the good of the country.
"This country is in trouble, and all you have to do is look at the southern border," she said.
Reynolds did take time to thank Iowans for braving the frigid temperatures Monday night to caucus.
Lastly, when asked about her future as governor, Reynolds said it was too early to decide if her name would be on the ballot in 2026. Instead, she's looking forward to implementing as much of her legislative agenda as possible in 2024.