The Iowa Legislature beat a midnight deadline with hours to spare on Thursday, finishing work on a $5.99 billion state budget and resolving a dispute over taxpayer money that could be used to pay for some Medicaid abortions.
But the 2011 session adjourned without an agreement on property tax reform, considered by Gov. Terry Branstad and lawmakers from both parties as a priority. That sparked immediate speculation the issue could be revived in a special session or be considered again next year.
Legislators agreed to continue paying some for universal preschool, but refused to increase basic state aid to kindergarten through 12th-grade programs for the coming school year. They did approve a 2 percent increase in school aid for the following year, however.
On social issues, a proposed statewide constitutional vote on same-sex marriage passed the Republican-led House but was never considered in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Bills to ban abortions in Iowa after 18 or 20 weeks of pregnancy didn't survive, either.
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Complete article at Des Moines Register : http://bit.ly/iCahz2
