Legislature nothing new for young Iowa lawmaker

SPENCER, Iowa (AP) — Megan Hess will head to the Iowa Legislature as a 26-year-old freshman lawmaker, but she’s no newbie.

In fact, Hess has experience working for two legislative bodies since she was in high school.

“This will actually be my ninth legislative session,” Hess said, adding that she’ll have no problem knowing the ins and outs of the Capitol in Des Moines.

“I was a page my senior year in high school and I caught the bug,” Hess said.

After being sworn in Jan. 14, the Republican will be the third youngest lawmaker in Des Moines in 2013. She said wants young Iowans to know about the positive things that can come from living in the Iowa Great Lakes area, including solid business and educational opportunities and fantastic tourism.

“Only being 26, I think I provide a little bit of a different voice, certainly to young people. We are being saddled with a lot of debt these days. But then I’m also seeing what my parents and grandparents are going through,” she said.

Hess has tax reform and support of education as her two top issues for the year.

“Tax reform is going to be huge this upcoming session,” Hess said, adding that property tax reform should be substantive and not consist of merely tinkering around the edges.

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