https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22CrPtjODPY
Donna M. Hofeldt, 78, Bettendorf, died Saturday, March 14, 2015
Clyde LeRoy Graham, 74, Burlington, died Monday, March 16, 2015
Bill Wellman, 63, Burlington, died Monday, March 16, 2015
Richard Marvin Luttenegger, 81, Burlington, died Sunday, March 15, 2015
Marcia Kae Conn, 58, West Burlington, died Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Randall Lee Brown, 72, Burlington, died Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Delores E. Carter, 84, died Friday, March 20, 2015
Ralph Delbert Ives, 71, Burlington, died Friday, March 20, 2015
Anna Marie Patten, 60, Mediapolis, died Friday, March 20, 2015
Jesse Mac Starling Sr., 68, Burlington, died Friday, March 20, 2015
News from the Hill…
This week we had a lot of floor action to get the House Files over to the Senate so they can pass through their respective committees before the next funnel date. One of the bills that sparked a lot of debate was dealing with election law. Presently the absentee ballots need to be post marked by election day or they can’t be counted. Unfortunately not all mail gets post marked by the US Postal service anymore, especially at the regional centers. This was confusing and the law was not clear on how to handle these ballots. So the County Auditors came forward with a proposal that absentee ballots had to be received no later than when the polls closed on election day. This seemed to make a lot of sense and the concept was adopted into a bill by the House Government Committee. While the bill sparked a lot of debate, which was sometimes far reaching from the what the bill actually does, it clarifies present law and makes a clear cutoff for when absentee ballots can be received. I voted for this bill and it passed the Iowa House with 56 ayes, 41 nays and 3 absent or not voting.
Ways and Means Committee…
I used committee time this week to assign some of the House Files that have been sent to our committee. We have around seventy plus bills in committee presently and more on the way. One of the bills I assigned this week, HF 514 came from the Commerce Committee that deals with uninsured motorist. Presently in Iowa it is mandatory to have at least liability insurance on your auto. Presently, the only enforcement mechanism for mandatory auto insurance is you have to get pulled over by law enforcement and then you need to show proof of insurance. The bill sets up a statewide database that is constantly being updated and is accessible only by the Iowa Department of Transportation and Law enforcement. I voted for this bill in the Commerce Committee and will plan to vote for it in the Ways and Means Committee. I know what we have is not working and something needs to be done to increase the enforcement of our present mandatory auto insurance laws and get uninsured motorist insured. Where this verification system has been put in place, it has reduced the number of uninsured drivers dramatically.
Iowa House GOP Income Tax Plan…
One of the other bills I assigned this week was HSB 215 which is a discounted optional flat tax. Presently Iowans file their income tax in a complicated and convoluted system. There are nine different income tax brackets and many deductions and credits available. So the rates are set but the effective rates everyone pays is different, depending on each person’s income and qualifications for the deductions and credits. The new plan would allow filers to choose the present system or the new optional flat tax system. If the filers choose the optional flat tax, they will get an increase in the standard deduction, a flat rate of 5% and all pensions and social security income will be exempt from Iowa Income Tax. However, I am excited about a flatter and simpler tax code. Then on top of that to remove the Iowa income tax from retirement income is a great addition to the bill. At a time when people have worked hard their entire life, saved and planned for their retirement are treated more fairly than what they are presently. There will be more on this bill in the weeks to come and I look forward working with legislators figuring out a way to permit hard working Iowans to keep more of their own money to invest back out into the economy.
“Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” – Ronald Reagan
For more information on these and other bills: www.legis.iowa.gov
Until next time,
Tom Sands
Click here: Americans’ confidence in government at record lows
Class 1A
1st Team
Taylor Hickey Burlington Notre Dame 12
Brianna Wells Newell Fonda 12
Tori Hazard Janesville 10
Macy Williams Fremont Mills 12
Rylee Voss English Valleys 12
Shayla Dean Colo-Nesco 12
Rachel Smith Exira Elk-Horn Kimballton 12
Sarah Halse Central Lyon 12
2nd Team
Johanna Vaske Bishop Garrigan 12
Riley Kilbride Burlington Notre Dame 11
Hattie Davidson Northwood-Kensett 12
Carleigh Paup Paton-Churdan 11
Rachel Mercer Kingley-Pierson 11
Sarah Matus Springville 12
Lysandra James Lynnville-Sully 12
Kaitlyn Johnson Van Buren-Keosauqua 12
3rd Team
Shelby Hembera Cedar Valley Christian 12
Alecia Kimball Dunkerton 11
Callie Calfee Bedford 12
Sarah Dreckman MMC (Marcus) 11
Madison McGregor Rockford 10
Madie Sorenson Adair-Casey 9
Olvia Barrett GMG 12
Shelby Reicks Turkey Valley 10
Coach of the Year Dick Jungers, Newell-Fonda
Class 2A
1st Team
Nicole Miller North Linn 12
Jamie Gesink Western Christian 12
Kari Fitzpatrick Edgewood-Colesburg 12
Kassidy DeJong Unity Christian 12
Gracey Griglione I-35 (Truro) 10
Haley Birks South Central Calhoun 12
Elsa Anderson Des Moines Christian 12
Anna Kiel Unity Christian 11
2nd Team
Morgan Muhlbauer IKM-Manning 12
Julia Groenenboom North Mahaska 12
Anna Yung St Edmond, Fort Dodge 12
Chelsey Lampe Highland, Riverside 12
Hallie Linhart Central Decatur 12
Steffi Cunard Logan-Magnolia 12
Kailey Burke Hinton 11
Faith Troshynski Manson-NW Webster 11
3rd Team
Beth Atwood Pekin (Packwood) 11
Lindsey Koch Hudson 12
Katie Lindeman Grundy Center 11
Gabby Reyerson West Marshall 11
Maddie Boer North Linn 12
Carolyn Trumm Cascade 12
Kelsey Pretz Columbus 12
Olivia Verhulst Dike-New Hartford 12
Coach of The Year- Brian Wheatley, North Linn
Class 3A
1st Team
Elle Ruffridge Pocahontas Area 10
Arika Wooldridge Center Point-Urbana 11
Andrea Larson Mediapolis 12
Kati Cassabaum Nevada 11
Kate Walker Red Oak 12
Heidi Hillyard Mediapolis 12
Emma Dau Spirit Lake 12
Serena Parker Shenandoah 12
2nd Team
Amber Schubert Sergeant Bluff-Luton 12
Kaely Hummel Cherokee, Washington 11
Karlee Grabau Crestwood, Cresco 12
Blair Klostermann Beckman, Dyersville 12
Maria Dentlinger Kuemper Catholic, Carroll 12
Rachel Freland PCM, Monroe 12
Abby Stephenson Nevada 10
Kaye Faber Clear Lake 12
3rd Team
Allison Platte Mount Vernon 12
Faith Meyer Pocahontas Area 10
Madison Sickles Crestwood, Cresco 12
Ellie Friesen Osage 9
Jill Vander Plaats Sioux Center 12
Jessica Speake Hampton-Dumont 11
Mackenzie Rogers Mediapolis 9
Lexy Koudelka Nevada 9
Coach of the Year – Kristin Meyer, Nevada
Class 4A
1st Team
Claire Marburger Perry 12
Jess Schaben Harlan 12
Gabie Doud Ballard 11
Taylor Frederick Harlan 11
Megan Maahs Western Dubuque 11
Rose Simon-Ressler Western Dubuque 12
Mariah Criswell Winterset 12
Payton Keeney Carlisle 12
2nd Team
Deja Jackson Grinnell 12
Jacionna Stowers Davenport North 10
Grace Berg Indianola 9
Jinaya Houston Davenport North 10
Emily Knittel Ballard 12
Agatha Beier Carlisle 10
Tristan Beaulieu Sioux City Heelan 12
Taylor Wagner Harlan 12
3rd Team
Hali Hilligas Charles City 12
Kaleigh Haus Carlisle 12
Katie Vander Molen Pella 10
Maggie Lowe Perry 12
Kelsi Phipps Mount Pleasant 12
Karli Rucker Eldridge, North Scott 10
Samantha Fritz Fairfield 10
Jordyn Moser Harlan 11
Coach of the Year – Zach Klaassen, Harlan
Class 5A
1st Team
Audrey Faber Dowling Catholic 12
Makenzie Meyer Mason City 11
Reilley Jacobson Waukee 11
Meredith Burkhall DM Roosevelt 12
Grace Vander Weide WDM Valley 12
Mikaela Morgan Iowa City West 12
Rachel Hinders Johnston 11
Ashley Joens Iowa City High 9
2nd Team
Becca Hittner Dowling Catholic 11
Stephanie Botkin Cedar Rapids Kennedy 12
Molly Sanders Ames 12
Lela Sellers Cedar Rapids Kennedy 11
Adrienne Boettinger Cedar Falls 12
Ashton Donels Southeast Polk 11
Dani Craig Iowa City West 12
Carlie Littlefield Waukee 10
3rd Team
Chrislyn Carr Davenport West 9
Annabel Graettinger Muscatine 12
Hannah Fuller WDM Valley 10
Taryn Knuth Johnston 10
Kennedy Childers Dowling Catholic 12
Kennedy Kracht Urbandale 12
Lana Lindstrom Pleasant Valley 11
Courtney Joens Iowa City High 11
Coach of the Year – Chris Guess, Waukee
News from the Hill…
This week there wasn’t any floor action on the Iowa House Floor to make time for the subcommittees and committees to meet. Once the week is complete there will be a lot fewer bills that will be eligible for debate. This time of year there are people happy to see some bills survive and some bills not survive. At the same time there are people unhappy to see some bills survive and others not survive. So the process is a lot like life, it is all about one’s perspective.
Education Funding…
There has been a lot of talk about K-12 education funding lately. Schools are funded by a mixture of taxes coming from state collections, property taxes, sales taxes and income surtax. In addition there is a few dollars that comes from the Federal Government, but they are taxes also. Over the last five years the state has increased the amount of money sent to the school districts $570 million, a nearly 22% increase. The total investment made by taxpayers to K-12 education on a statewide average is about $10,200 per student per year. The amount most often talked about is the dollars in the Foundation Formula, or the State Cost per Pupil, which is $6,366 per student per year. But the foundation formula only makes up a portion of the investment by taxpayers. The State Legislature sets the Foundation Formula which is made up of state tax collections and property taxes. This growth quite often in the past has been referred to as a percentage of increase. This year the Iowa House has passed an increase of 1.25% increase, which would equate to a total of $6,446 per student. The Iowa Senate has passed an increase of 4% increase, which would equate to a total of $6,620 per student. Doesn’t seem that far apart. However, the difference between the total additional dollars is $112 million dollars that the state doesn’t have. The total increase from the Iowa House plan totals about $98 million of that there is about $48 million additional dollars in the Foundation Formula and $50 million towards teacher leadership package. The total increases of new spending from the Iowa Senates plan would be $159 and 51 for a total of $210 million. This year the State of Iowa has an additional $200 million to spend over what was spent last year. The House plan commits approximately half of the new money to K-12 education. That leaves an additional $100 million to invest in Health and Human Services, Public Safety, and Natural Resources. There will have to be cuts made at the state level to fund the schools at 1.25% increase. The question to the Iowa Senate would be, if you want to increase spending $210 million to the schools, where are you going to make the cuts that will need to be made? This is what they don’t want to tell you that they want to charge it to the credit card and worry about how to make that up next year. Well I have seen what happens when government spends money like that before, taxpayers always lose.
Commerce Committee…
One of the bills that survived the funnel and was passed out of the Commerce Committee this week was HSB 104. This bill is the Governor’s broadband bill to help expand the availability of broadband in Iowa. The bill establishes a grant program, but because of the lack of available funds there isn’t any money to be awarded at this time. The bill does establish criteria for the application and selection in the grant program. The grant cannot be greater than 10% of the total cost of the project and has to be used on broadband infrastructure that has the capability of twenty-five megabits of speed downloading and three megabits upload speed. The broadband infrastructure has to be installed in an area that does not have those speeds available at the time of installation.
Your Opinion Matters…
I always appreciate the people who take the time to write a letter, send an email or contact me about what is important to them. I personally read everyone; I don’t always respond if there does not seem to be a response warranted. The best way I can represent you is to know where you stand on the issues. That does not mean we will always agree, but certainly respect your opinion. I try to base my decision on facts, not emotion. I try to do what is in the best interest of the people of the district I represent, not just a few. I have told people every year that I would not permit politics to remove my integrity, my integrity is still intact. I have said that I would be willing to make the tough decisions when others buckle at the knees. I have been able to stand my ground and make the tough decisions when necessary to do what is in the best interest of the people of the district and state.
“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” – Abraham Lincoln
For more information on these and other bills: www.legis.iowa.gov
Until next time,
Tom Sands
Matthew H. Hallman, 52, Burlington, died Saturday, March 7, 2015
Evelyn Jeanne Logan, 78, Burlington, died Saturday, March 7, 2015
Darlene Jean Newton, 76, Burlington, died Saturday, March 7, 2015
Marcille “Marcy” M. Walker, 88, Flagler Beach, FL, formerly Sperry, died Sunday, March 8, 2015
Richard Mauer, 78, of Burlington died Monday, March 9, 2015
Warren A. Gieselman, 84, Burlington, died Thursday, March 12, 2015
Infant Maria Brielle Hand was stillborn Monday, March 9, 2015
Virginia A. Kindig Philpott Fenton, 93, Burlington, died Saturday, March 14, 2015
Notre Dame falls to Newell-Fonda in Semifinal, 63-56
Notre Dame Senior Taylor Hickey (32) is consoled by her father, Asst. Coach Dan Hickey, following their 63-56 loss to Newell-Fonda in the Class-1A Semifinal at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Wednesday. (Left of Hickey) Asst. Coach Brianna Duncan, Asst. Coach Jim Myers, and Head Coach Kollin Alfred.
Tearful Notre Dame Teammates are presented the State Class-1A Semifinal Trophy at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Wednesday. Nikes were hoping for back-to-back Class-1A Championships, but fell to Newell-Fonda in the semifinal, 63-56.
Notre Dame’s Kori Mesecher goes to the basket against Newell-Fonda in the Class-1A Semifinal at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Wednesday.
Notre Dame’s Johanna Myers (12) hauls in a rebound over Newell-Fonda’s Abby Smith (30) in the Class-1A Semifinal at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Wednesday.
Notre Dame’s Riley Kilbride shoots over Newell-Fonda defenders in the Class-1A Semifinal at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Wednesday.
Notre Dame Head Coach Kollin Alfred shouts encouragement to his team in the Class-1A Semifinal at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Wednesday.
Notre Dame’s DeeDee Gilbert shoots between Newell-Fonda defenders in the Class-1A Semifinal at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Wednesday.
Notre Dame’s Courtney Coffin drives between Newell-Fonda defenders in the Class-1A Semifinal at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Wednesday.
Notre Dame’s Taylor Hickey looks to the basket against Newell-Fonda in the Class-1A Semifinal at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Wednesday.
Notre Dame’s Gabrielle Koelker (30) drives past Newell-Fonda’s Morgan Magnussen (14) in the Class-1A Semifinal at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Wednesday.
Notre Dame’s Courtney Abolt passes around a Newell-Fonda defender in the Class-1A Semifinal at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Wednesday.
Notre Dame Assistant Coach Jim Myers waves after being introduced at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines Wednesday.
Notre Dame Nikes pose after the game with their “2015 State Semifinalist” trophy.
Front (l-r): Riley Kilbride, Jayla Kreiss, Courtney Coffin, Taylor Hickey.
Back (l-r): Hannah Delaney, Courtney Abolt, Alyssa Schwartz, Kori Mesecher, Gabrielle Koelker, DeeDee Gilbert, Johanna Myers, Team Manager Makaela Kreiss.