Category: Political
News from the Hill…
This week the bill to increase the fuel tax passed. There has been lots of information about that in the press and in my previous two newsletters. The bill passed with 53 ayes, 46 nays and 1 not voting. I voted no, enough said.
Funnel Week Coming…
This next week is what is referred to as the first funnel. By March 6, all House bills need to be passed out of a House Committee and all Senate bills need to be passed out of a Senate Committee. The bills that do not survive this first funnel are done for the year. There are some exceptions, bills that deal with appropriations, taxes or fees are funnel proof. In addition bills that come out of Government Oversight are funnel proof, also. So there will be lots of committee time this next week and most likely no floor action.
Prison Boondoggle…
Director Phipps told the Government Oversight Committee there is an additional $20 million being requested by the General Contractor, Walsh Construction, for equitable adjustments. When asked for specifics, the Director was unable to give examples of the equitable adjustments and could only tell the committee the request is made when a company believes it has provided additional resources or labor not part of the original bid. The committee was unable to get additional information on these equitable adjustments from the Director. This $20 million in equitable adjustment requests had not previously been shared with Representatives during the Oversight investigation. The Director was unsure if the State would have to pay the additional money. The Director may be unsure, but I am sure the TAXPAYERS should not be sending anymore money until this mess is fixed.
Currently there is no estimated date to open the prison. I am concerned it could be another year before the new prison is occupied.
The bi-partisan House Oversight Committee will continue to push for answers from all parties involved with the construction of the prison. Within the next week, members are expecting more detailed answers and documents from Department of Administrative Services. Once those documents have been reviewed the committee will be calling in more individuals involved with the prison construction to understand how all the problems occurred and to find a solution to ensure problems of this magnitude never happen again.
Zero-Based Budgeting…
The House State Government committee voted last week on HF 1; a bill requiring state agencies and departments, as well as the judicial branch to adopt a zero-based budgeting approach. The bill passed out on a party line vote 12-10. Predictably, Democrats opposed this plan which limits the growth of government spending.
Currently, State executive departments and agencies use estimates based on 75 percent of funding provided for the current fiscal year, and the form for budget submission is decided by the director. The judicial branch operates on the same procedure. With this bill, executive departments and the judicial branch will be required to use zero as their base approach when determining their budgets. Additionally, it requires the departments to prioritize requested expenditures, with support as to why every request is needed. Government is growing faster than what it can be sustained and this approach helps to get better control of the spending. I have supported zero-based budgeting practices for over 30 years, long before I came to the Legislature. It is time Iowa moved to this approach.
“Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike.” – Theodore Roosevelt
For more information on these and other bills: www.legis.iowa.gov
Until next time,
Tom Sands
Click here: Extreme glow of power plant ignites birds mid-air during tests
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Why Capitalism Works
News from the Hill…
This week has been one to score in the record books. I think I have received more emails, phone calls and been called more name’s than any other legislative session. To top it off we are just over one fourth of the way through. I am always eager to know where people stand on different issues. I just hope people would make their decisions based on facts and not what they think is true. The following are some correct statements to help make some clarifications. The Road Use Tax Fund is a constitutionally protected fund that the monies can only be used for road infrastructure. As for the bike and other recreational trails, that money comes from different federal sources as well as through the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF), which is funded through gambling revenues and is specifically used to fund infrastructure-related projects. None of the fuel tax money goes into the Rebuild Iowa Fund. The fuel tax money does not go into the General Fund, but instead goes to the Primary Road Fund, Secondary Road Fund, Farm-to-Market Road Fund and the Street Construction fund, all funds dedicated to different levels of government to go toward road/bridge infrastructure.
Pressure Cooker…
The bill to increase the fuel tax continues to work its way through the process while the pressure continues to build. The question that only time will answer is will the bill pass before the lid gets blown off. This week has been the most stressful and hardest of my thirteen years up here. While there is other action going on, the bill to raise the fuel tax is taking up most of the time and energy in the State Capitol. There have been people pushing me to vote yes to raise the fuel tax for the last several years. Just this session several people have been to the capitol and different forums to encourage me to vote yes. I have been a no vote all along. No matter how hard I was pushed I held my position. Different people have taken polls and the results have been all over the board. Some showed strong support others showed strong opposition. There have been people showing up at the forums for the last several years on both sides of this issue. While my stance was steadfast and I explained why I was a no vote, people seemed to respect my position even if they did not agree with it. It does not appear all people respect my position any longer, but I have been consistent, open and honest through the entire process. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case with all people. Thursday HF 351 passed the Ways and Means Committee 13 voting aye and 12 voting nay. I was a nay vote. It will be one of the very few bills that will pass to the house floor in the Ways and Means Committee without my support. But this issue needs to be decided by the entire body of 150 Legislators, not a committee of 25.
Visitors at the Capitol…
While the week has been stressful, there have been some very positive times as well. I always enjoy visiting with people from back home while they are at the Capitol. This week it was especially helpful to see friendly faces that I could visit with on a very positive note. It is the people of Iowa, but mostly from my district that make this position so worthwhile. So I would like to end with a big thank you to all of you for caring enough about this state to help make it a better place for the next generation.
“I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” – George Washington
For more information on these and other bills: www.legis.iowa.gov
Until next time,
Tom Sands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VBAEJlR4pk