News from the Hill…
The log jam that is keeping the school funding coming to a conclusion has not been broken through at this time. I certainly understand the frustration coming from local school boards, administrators and faculty. I believe people on all different sides want the legislature to end the stalemate and come to an agreement. The difference is down to about $50 million dollars and where it comes from. The Senate Democrat proposal is taking approximately $50 million from the anticipated ending balance to come up with more money and the House Republicans don’t want to make the promise to spend the money that may not be there once the fiscal year is ended. The true ending balance will not be known until about September or October of 2015. I am sure it doesn’t seem like much is being done to think out of the box and come to an agreement. There is a lot more going on than what meets the eye.
Air Quality Fees…
Several years ago the legislature set up the frame work for the IDNR to charge fees for Air Quality Programs in Iowa. This has worked effectively for several years until the air quality started improving on a statewide basis. That is good news, but the fees being collected have great been reduced. So there needed to be a new structure setup to maintain the programs that were funded by those who used them and not by taxpayers of Iowa. We passed out HSB 219 last week in the Ways and Means Committee that increases those fees. The redrafted bill, HF 640 was debated this week in the House and heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature. There was 93 voting aye, 3 voting nay and 4 absent or not voting.
Budget Targets Released…
This week the Iowa House Republicans released their budget targets for Fiscal Year 2016. The numbers released shows an increase of $173,817,330 over fiscal year 2015. Approximately just over half of the increase will go to K-12 education and the rest will be consumed by the built-in increase in the standing appropriations. There will be cuts in spending to the Administration & Regulation Budget, Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget, Economic Development Budget, Health & Human Services Budget and the Justice Budget. K-12 education remains the top priority, which is why it is getting $100 million increase when the rest of the budget is being reduced. We passed the first budget in the House this week and that was the Transportation Budget, which uses no general fund dollars.
Thank You…
I would like to personally thank each of you who take the time to read my weekly newsletter. I always appreciate the feedback I receive and your opinions on what is or not going on at the Capitol. I listen to all voice messages, read all the letters and emails people take the time to send. In addition I am amazed how many people take the time to drive to Des Moines and visit with the different Legislators on bills that are important to them. One of the things I have noticed over the years, is while some bills may seem trivial to some, they are very important to someone else. Some people are activist for their cause, which is a good thing. Others may be activist against a cause, if done constructively that can be a good thing also. In fact it sometimes it takes healthy disagreement to get to the best conclusion for the whole. But not all disagreement is healthy. I have notice over the years that if a newly elected official can never make the transformation from activist to elected official they will either be ineffective or short termers. Once elected, an individual has to be a representative of the people.
Avian Bird Flu…
The Avian Bird Flu continues to spread across Iowa. This disease is believed to be spread by migratory birds flying North. It is still unknown how serious of an impact this will have on the economic conditions for the State of Iowa. However, the impact it has on the individual farms that have been impacted can be devastating. This mainly affects the poultry industry and they are doing everything possible to limit the exposure. But when the disease is being spread by wild migratory birds, there is a limit to what they can do.
“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” – Abraham Lincoln
For more information on these and other bills: www.legis.iowa.gov
Until next time,
Tom Sands