Category: News

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

Click here: Hillary’s income puts her far ahead of the top 10 highest-paid American CEOs

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 18^th

7:15-8:30 AM Burlington/West Burlington Chamber Members

9:15-10:30 AM West Burlington City Hall, West Burlington

Click here: NYT Editorial Board Forced to Correct Big Lie About NRA Convention — and We Have Proof of How False the Claim Really Was.