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League of Women Voters Legislative Forum
10:30 AM to 11:45 AM
Hallagan Education Center at Mercy Medical Center
701 10th St., Cedar Rapids, IA
Legislator Listening Posts with Representative Art Staed
Saturday, March 30th at
HyVee in the food service area.
at 9-10:00am
3235 Oakland Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Saturday March 30th at
HyVee in the food service area
at 10:30-11:30am
5050 Edgewood Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Updates from the Iowa House
We’re now just over half way through the legislative session and we’re spending more time on the House floor voting on House bills and sending them over to the Senate. At the same time, we’re getting more details from budget subcommittees about the proposed state budget.
As the pace picks up on the floor and more budget decisions are being made, I’m going to keep focusing on ways to build the middle class and put Iowans back to work. On the biggest issues of the session, some progress has been made but not enough. We need more dialogue and work across party lines to get good legislation. The big issues remain unresolved, including allowable growth for schools, expansion of Medicaid, MH/DD redesign funding, and property tax reform for small businesses.
One easy way for the Legislature to give the middle class a boost is by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). It would give hard-working Iowans, many of whom are working two or more jobs, a tax cut to help them put food on the table or pay their bills. A bill is already moving in the Senate and it would make a big difference for many families. Raising the EITC from 7 percent up to 20 percent would put over $50 million back in the hands of over 200,000 Iowa households, many of which have children.
The Governor’s staff and the Senate Democrats continue to meet on Medicaid Expansion. However, no major progress has been made. The Governor released a few more details of his proposed Healthy Iowa Plan. In addition, the Senate Democrats have offered an olive branch to entice the Governor to accept Medicaid Expansion. The Healthy Iowa Plan will cost the state an estimated $163 million annually, and Medicaid Expansion will not cost Iowa any state funding the first 3 years. A final resolution is not expected until late in the session.
Here is a one page comparison of the financial aspects of Medicaid Expansion and the Governor’s plan. This document was prepared by the Senate Democrats.
For the Mental Health Redesign the Senate passed HF 160, which allocates a total of $11.6 million to certain counties to help with transitioning from the current funding system to the new one that will be implemented July 1, 2013. The House passed this bill earlier in session. We continue to meet to work out the equalization funding. I want us to ensure that counties needing funding for providing services receive adequate funding from the State of Iowa. The House Republicans have not introduced their proposal, but the Senate Democrats have introduced SF 415. This issue is an ongoing process and will not be finalized till the end of session.
Regarding K-12 school funding: the Iowa Senate has approved 4% allowable growth for the upcoming school year. The House has approved 2% and the Governor right now is still insisting that allowable growth be tied to his education reform plan. Unfortunately, schools are still waiting for us to resolve the issue as quickly as possible so they can set their budget for the next school year. I’m going to keep working to pass 4% allowable growth as quickly as possible.
Representative Art Staed
Had a spontaneous visit from constituents, Will & Shirley Miers today! Will said it was an “apolitical” stop so we didn’t talk “shop”. Susan and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about them (their son & daughter-in-law both teach in Linn County schools).
Lutheran Services in Iowa was well-represented at the Capitol today (a sea of bright blue T-shirts made them easy to spot!). Speaking here with Daryl Julich and Sher Jasperse of Cedar Rapids about as they advocated for Iowa’s most vulnerable children and families. Human Service providers’ reimbursement rates have not seen an increase in over 20 years. This perennial underfunding is pushing human service providers to their limits, and it threatens the existence of critical services for Iowans in their greatest time of need.
Linn County Recorder, Joan McCalmant, spoke with me about increasing gov’t efficiency, reducing the property tax burden & making it easier to do business in Iowa. Sounds like we have common goals!
Visiting with Mark Baker and Tammy Perrott, both employed at Anamosa State Peniteniary. They are requesting the legislature fully fund our Dept. of Corrections so that Iowa prisons are adequately staffed and safe – both for inmates and employees. A very reasonable request!
At the IA Assn. of Lifelong Learning reception, I visited with Curt Buhr of Hawkeye Comm College; board member Tom Haskell; and Michelle Cherrier of Kirkwood Community College. We spoke about IA workforce skills, worker training and bridging tuition gaps for lifelong learning. If this seems to be a familiar refrain in my posts, that’s because having a skilled workforce is key to our economic success!
Visiting with Lois Buntz, CEO of United Way of East Central Iowa, and Judy Kruse Stoffel, Manager, Financial Stability at United Way. We discussed the United Way bills concerning intermediary networks, workforce training and education for low income workers. Also discussed the benefits of Medicaid expansion in Iowa.
At the School Administrator’s Reception, I visited with Lorie Bateman, Kate Callahan and Mary Ellen Maske. We discussed 4% allowable growth, school start dates and education reform. These women are involved in a superintendent certification program.
Regional Director of IA Small Business Development Centers, Alan Beach, was at the Capitol to discuss assistance to small businesses and funding of the Centers within the IA State University budget.
Linn County Sheriff, Brian Gardner, visited the Capitol today to discuss public safety and responsible gun legislation. Always great to see Linn Co. visitors!
While Susan waited in line for lunch (a very loooong line), I visited with advocates from Early Childhood Iowa. There are 2000 days between birth and the first day of kindergarten. These first days of a child’s life have a profound and lifelong impact on physical and emotional development and well-being. This specific group was representing Prevent Child Abuse Iowa. Shown here with Exec Dir. Stephen Scott, Comm Dir. Sarah Welch, Nikki Thomson, Becka Bolton, Nick Clark and Michael Bergan.
Susan’s favorite lunch today (HyVee Chinese) was provided by the National MS Society. They are urging full expansion of Medicaid so that low income Iowans living w/MS -and all qualified Iowans – have access to affordable, comprehensive health care. I am 100% in agreement! They would also like MS prescription drugs covered under insurance policies in the new Exchange. Pictured here with CR Programs Mgr, Corey Davis and Dan Johnson, Karrie Anderson, Katy Cole and Jenna Neher.
Iowa’s League of United Latin American Citizens breakfast reception.
(Above two photos.) I visited with Joe Enriquez Henry, Director of Iowa’s League of United Latin American Citizens; and Mary Campos at the League’s breakfast reception. I learned that Iowa’s Hispanic population has seen an 80% increase since the 2000 census. With over 158,000 residents in our state, it’s becoming more important to be bilingual. Learning Spanish is one of my New Year’s Goals! Maybe this summer…. (The only reception at the Capitol that serves delicious tamales!)
At the Iowa Flood Center legislative reception, I spoke with PhD grad student, Nick Thomas. We visited about watershed management, updates on state floodplain maps and projects to help communities better prepare for future flooding. Check out this link to get up-to-the-minute data from the Iowa Flood Information System: http://iowafloodcenter.org/projects/floodplain-mapping/
The Education Committee was invited to tour Cowles Montessori School (the only public Montessori School in Iowa.) Small class sizes, plenty of hands-on learning activities that involve all senses and personal responsibility and independence. This is a recipe for exploration and growth!
These 3- and 4-yr-olds are matching shapes -concave and convex (pretty complicated, actually)- and teaching me how to do it as well! Great leadership skills being brought out in this classroom.
This young man is using manipulative tiles to understand math concepts while working division problems.
School Counselor, Lynn Redlauer and “Montessori Millie” met me in the hallway. Milly helps with therapy for the kids. She is great for grief and stress counseling.
This 6th grader is using her IPad to do a New York Times higher math quiz. She did the Internet research on her own, with teacher guidance.
Read More from the Iowa House
To read the rest of the Statehouse News go to: http://iowahouse.org/StatehouseNews/3-15-13.html
