Two of the issues Governor Terry Branstad wanted to be addressed during this year’s legislative session wasn’t able to come to fruition before the lawmakers adjourned.

State Representative Ralph Watts was one of nine Republicans in the House that voted against the proposed broadband bill.

“There was some concern about the fact that the bill didn’t really guarantee that broadband would be extended to unserved and underserved areas and it provided some income tax and property tax benefits that were fairly large in the out years.  Several of us were concerned about that and thought that we need to do some more work on the broadband issue next year and see if we can pass something then.

The other bill Governor Branstad wanted to be addressed this session that didn’t get passed was the bullying bill, which went through several revisions in each chamber but ultimately failed.