Hunter
03/05/24
The Iowa House has passed legislation that bans local governments from adopting guaranteed income programs.
The Des Moines Register reports the attorney general’s office, under the bill, would be able to send cease-and-desist orders to any county that adopts or enforces a program that provides guaranteed income. The legislation would also open counties that violate the ban to lawsuits.
The legislation, if it becomes law, would do away with a program called UpLift that sends $ 500 per month to participants to help them make ends meet. They currently provide 110 people with that assistance. It is sponsored by 36 organizations across the central portion of the state.
Republican representative Steve Hold believes programs like UpLift are, quote, “socialism on steroids,” and said of the legislation, “Just as we do not allow cities and counties to have different laws on murder, we’re not going to allow cities and counties to murder our work ethic.”