DES MOINES, Iowa – On Thursday morning, Speaker-Select Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, announced State Rep. Gary Mohr, R-Bettendorf, as Chairman of the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee. Mohr replaces Grassley, who previously served as Appropriations Chairman prior to becoming Speaker-Select.
Mohr, who was first elected in 2016, most recently served as Chairman of the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals (TIC) Appropriation Subcommittee, which includes budgets for the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF) and the Department of Transportation. During the 2019 session, he worked to provide additional funding to expand broadband internet access to underserved areas, provide communities with funding to demolish vacant state buildings for redevelopment, and study the possibility of relocating the State Historical Museum. The budget also devoted a significant amount of resources for major and routine maintenance to ensure safe state buildings and facilities.
Grassley praised Mohr as a thoughtful problem-solver with a proven track record of success as Chairman of the RIIF and Transportation budgets:
“Responsible budgeting is standard practice for House Republicans. We understand the importance of long-term planning will continue to invest in schools, health care, workforce training, and public safety,” said Grassley.
“Rep. Mohr is a strong fiscal conservative with a wealth of real-world experience who will continue to bring this philosophy to the budget process. As Chairman of the RIIF and Transportation budgets, he has made it a priority to keep our caucus well-informed while working closely with stakeholders to make smart investments. I am confident that he will bring his strong work ethic to this new role and be successful.”
Mohr stated that responsible budget management will continue to be a priority for him as Chairman:
“The state’s budget ought to function like that of a family or small business. They make strategic investments when they can and they don’t spend every dollar that’s available for the sake of spending it. We will continue to prioritize the taxpayers of Iowa and ensure that their hard-earned dollars are invested in the most efficient and effective way possible,” said Mohr.
“I want to thank Speaker-Select Grassley for the confidence that he has placed in me to lead the House’s budget efforts. I look forward to getting to work immediately as we approach the 2020 session.”
Additional committee appointments will be announced over the coming weeks.