Capitol Comments

Expanding Access to Affordable Health Care

The Iowa Senate just approved a bill to expand Medicaid to Iowans who don’t have private insurance. The plan would extend health coverage to about 150,000 Iowans so they are able to access preventative care, hospital services, and other health care services in their own communities. In a step toward compromise with the Governor, the Senate also included a provision that allows Iowa to opt-out of the Medicaid expansion if the federal government does not keep their promise on future funding. Now it’s up to the majority Republicans in the Iowa House to take up the Senate bill and bring it to the floor for a vote.

Public support for the Medicaid expansion continues to build as a new coalition of Iowans launched a bus tour around Iowa. They are encouraging the Governor and Republicans to expand affordable health care to more Iowans. The coalition of 78 groups supporting Medicaid expansion includes the AARP, doctors, hospitals, nurses, the American Cancer Society, and numerous faith-based groups.

The Governor has offered an alternative plan that will cover fewer Iowans, offer fewer services, and cost Iowa taxpayers $163 million more. While the Governor objects to the federal funding on Medicaid expansion, his alternative plan also relies on millions of federal dollars.

The 2012 election is over and it’s time for the Governor to put politics aside and do what’s right. If you agree, please call the Governor at 515-281-5211 and let him know of your support for Medicaid expansion in Iowa.

Education Plans Move Ahead – FUNDING STALLED

After the House approved an education reform plan earlier this month, the Iowa Senate has now approved its own plan to improve education. While there are some differences, there is a lot of common ground between the two bills.

While the bills are moving ahead, schools across Iowa are still waiting for critical funding for next school year. By law, school districts must certify their budgets by April 15 even though they do not know what state funding to expect. It’s a terrible situation that could lead to unnecessary pink slips for teachers and cut-backs in course offerings because of the uncertainty.

The school funding issue, called allowable growth, was supposed to be resolved last year but the Governor and Republicans refused to take action. This year, the Governor has refused to pass allowable growth until his education reform is done. While both education reform bills include allowable growth with Republicans at 2% and Democrats at 4%, it’s unlikely those bills will be finished before the end of session.

I believe there is no defendable reason for this school funding delay. Republicans should follow the law and get it done as quickly as possible. Our students and schools have waited long enough.

Public Forums

Legislator Listening Posts with Representative Art Staed

Saturday, March 30th at
HyVee in the food dining area
at 9:00 -10:00 AM
3235 Oakland Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Saturday March 30th at
HyVee in the food dining area
at 10:30 -11:30 AM
5050 Edgewood Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

The breakfast treats provided by the Recycling Assoc. were served on real dishes instead of Styrofoam! Executive Director Teresa Kurtz, Solid Waste Agency Communications Director Joe Horaney and City Carton Recycling Sales Manager Joseph Skaff discussed proposed bottle bills and implications for grocers, distributors and consumers

I visited with attorneys J.C. Salvo and Cedar Rapidian Ed Blando at a legislative breakfast. We discussed the aftermath of the 2008 flood, including displaced home owners and the difficulties many families are still enduring as a result of the calamity.

Reception for artist Benjamin Victor

(In above two photos.) The State Historical Society hosted a legislative reception for artist, Benjamin Victor, and his beautiful sculpture of Dr. Norman Borlaug. This 7 feet tall bronze statue will be displayed in the Hall of Statues in the U.S. Capitol Building. More than $220,000 in private donations have been raised to commission the statue of Dr. Norman Borlaug, an Iowa native who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his research increasing wheat yields.

At the Historical Museum, I also visited with Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, President of the World Food Prize Foundation. We spoke about hunger and the World Food Prize as well as the bi-partisan support of this art project.

At the CAFE reception (Clean Air For Everyone).

(In above two photos.) At the CAFE reception (Clean Air For Everyone), I met with Dr. Chris Squire and Eileen L Fisher concerning smoking prevention, anti-smoking funding and a plethora of new tobacco products. CAFE brought samples of some of the enticements used to get younger people started smoking. I also visited with Dr. Les Weber who created the “Tar Wars” program. Tar Wars is the only youth tobacco education program offered at this time by a medical specialty organization in the United States and reaches approximately 400,000 students annually.

At the Iowa Health Care Assn. legislative reception, I was pleased to visit with their new president (and Marion resident), David Chensvold. David and I spoke briefly about legislation (HF 394) and Medicaid expansion in Iowa.

I enjoyed visiting with Richard Sorey, Director of Iowa Dept for the Blind. Rich spoke about the many challenges facing persons with blindness – including skills needed for independent living.

I munched on delicious treats made by the Dept of Blind students while I visited with Patty Arnell of Cedar Rapids. Patty has re-learned how to use the computer, thanks to training from the Dept of the Blind with the screen-reading software JAWS.

I met with Karmin McShane and John Foster, both representatives of Linn County Solid Waste Agency. We discussed methane capture and electricity production, and new recycling efforts – including carpet, mixed glass and roofing shingles.

AT&T brought a Virtual Reality Driving Simulator to the Capitol

(In above two photos) AT&T brought a Virtual Reality Driving Simulator to the Capitol to demonstrate that texting & driving don’t mix. Preston Koenig showed me the stats: texting takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds; at 65 mph, a car travels the length of a basketball court in a single second; pair that with the average weight of a car (4000lbs) and consider if it’s worth it to drive blindly while texting. In text-speak: ISSYGTI – T@YL

Read More from the Iowa House

To read the rest of the Statehouse News go to: http://iowahouse.org/StatehouseNews/3-29-13.html