News from the Hill…
We have completed fourteen weeks of the 16 week session that is supposed to end on Friday May 1, 2015. Iowa Code establishes each General Assembly is two years and should be in session for 110 days on odd numbered years and 100 days in even numbered years for a total of 210 days. This year the session will go over because there is no way to have all of the budgets completed and passed in two weeks. However, the per diem stops on May 1, 2015 and the warmer weather is enticing the farmers to start planting. So maybe the additional motivation will help break the budget logjam so we can complete our work and go home. It is not uncommon to have differing points of view and/or opinions on different subjects. With those differing points reasonable people should be able to sit down and come to a resolution on finding ways to come together. But when it comes to the overall budget there is a major difference in philosophical view on spending. The Democrats believe that the ending balance should be added with the general fund revenues to come up with a total amount that can be spent on general fund expenses. The law allows this to be included and then states that we can only spend 99% of that amount. If the Legislature had budgeted this for the present year we are in, the projected ending balance would be negative. The flaw in that view and the state law is that the ending balance is a projected number that is floating and will not know that exact amount until August or September. This was one of the flawed points that will get budgets in the red, especially in an economic slowdown. Republicans do not think that the ending balance should be added to the revenue to be spent. When families establish their personal budgets, they do not plan on spending their income and the money they had left from the previous year. You base your spending needs on your income. Government should be expected to do the same.
School Bus Repairs…
One of the bills passed out of the Ways and Means Committee this week was HF 384. This bill came from the Education Committee and expands the uses of revenues collected from the voter approved and/or board approved levies from the physical plant and equipment levies also known as (PPEL). Presently the revenues collected can be used for the purchase of equipment to be used for technology, transportation and recreational purposes. The bill would allow the repairs of those items, also. I believed while well intentioned, the bill was too expansive. There was an amendment adopted in committee that changed the bill and secured enough votes to be passed out of committee and to be eligible for debate on the House floor. The changes, which are more reflective of what the Senate had passed, allows the money to be used for repairs exceeding $2,500 and for transportation only. The bill as amended passed out of the Ways and Means Committee with 23 voting aye, 0 nay and 2 absent or not voting. The new bill number is HF 646 moves the House Floor for debate.
Pioneer Lawmakers Association…
This week the Iowa Legislature had a joint session honoring the new inductees into the Pioneer Lawmakers’ Association of Iowa. Once a Legislator, statewide elected official or a member of the Lobby who served twenty years prior to each biennial becomes eligible to be member of the Pioneer Lawmakers’ Association. This association was formed back in 1886 and they have met every biennial since then. That evening there was a memorial service held to honor all of the Legislators who have passed away in the previous two years. The families are invited to attend and stand when a short bio is read about their family member who served as a legislator. There is a memorial Choir made up of legislators, state employees, pages and lobbyist. I have participated in the memorial choir each year that I have been here. It is a nice service for the families and a good way to memorialize those who served one last time. Families make lots of sacrifices when they have a family member serve as a legislator.
“The taxpayer – that’s someone who works for the federal government but doesn’t have to take the civil service examination.” – Ronald Reagan
For more information on these and other bills: www.legis.iowa.gov
Until next time,
Tom Sands
This weekend’s forums: Saturday, April 18th
7:15-8:30 AM Burlington/West Burlington Chamber Members
9:15-10:30 AM West Burlington City Hall, West Burlington