Hunter
06/02/23
Governor Reynolds finished signing bills into law Thursday, including one that requires the Iowa caucuses to take place in person.
The legislation passed with only Republican support; party leaders say it’s essential to protect Iowa’s first in the nation status. Democrats who are trying to expand access to the caucus say Republicans are acting unilaterally and undermining decades of bipartisan efforts to protect the Caucus.
The National Democratic Committee has taken Iowa off the top of the list for the nominating process in 2024, instead giving first in the nation status to South Carolina.
New Hampshire has threatened to move ahead of Iowa and hold their caucus first, saying that if Iowa has a mail-in option, it would be considered a primary. Secretary of State David Scanlan says he would use his authority to put New Hampshire first.
The Iowa law also gives political parties the power to set their own deadlines for when Iowans have to be registered members of the party to participate in the caucuses. Previously voters could register with a political party at the time they go to caucus and still be allowed to participate.
Among the other bills Reynolds signed into law Thursday include one that will require Iowa families to face a new asset test before they can obtain food assistance benefits, Medicaid and other public health care programs. Proponents of the legislation say it helps guarantee that aid gets to those who most need it, while opponents say fraud is rare and the bill will cause families in need to lose their benefits.