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Legislative leaders lay out priorities

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River to River, hosted by Ben Kieffer

Iowa’s 2023 legislative session kicked off Monday. For the seventh consecutive year, Republicans have full control of the legislature. This year, following redistricting, about one-third of the state’s lawmakers are new.

Host Ben Kieffer and IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric speak with legislative leaders about the new session and their priorities. First, Sen. Jack Whitver, R-Grimes, and Rep. Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, join the program. Then Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, and Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, join the second half. The lawmakers answer questions about school voucher programs, abortion restrictions, property taxes and more.

Guests:

  • Republican Sen. Jack Whitver, Senate Majority Leader
  • Republican Rep. Pat Grassley, Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives
  • Democratic Sen. Zach Wahls, Senate Minority Leader
  • Democratic Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, Iowa House Minority Leader
Ben Kieffer is the host of IPR's River to River
Katarina Sostaric is IPR's State Government Reporter, with expertise in state government and agencies, state officials and how public policy affects Iowans' lives. She's covered Iowa's annual legislative sessions, the closure of state agencies, and policy impacts on family planning services and access, among other topics, for IPR, NPR and other public media organizations. Sostaric is a graduate of the University of Missouri.
Caitlin Troutman is a talk show producer for Iowa Public Radio. She holds a bachelor's degree from William Jewell College. Since 2022, Troutman has worked with IPR's talk team to bring news and features to IPR's listening audience.
Katherine Perkins is IPR's Executive Producer of Talk Shows and Program Director for News/Talk. Since 2014, Perkins has managed the broadcast schedule and sound of the news and information service of Iowa Public Radio, as well as has directed the long-term planning and oversight for IPR's talk shows, Talk of Iowa and River to River. Perkins has a masters degree from Sangamon State University (now the University of Illinois – Springfield).