Capitol Comments
STAED TO HOLD LISTENING POSTS
I will be hosting listening posts Saturday, May 4th at two Hy-Vee locations in Cedar Rapids to gather input from local residents about legislation in the Iowa House.
HyVee in the food service area at 9-10:00am
3235 Oakland Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
HyVee in the food service area. 10:30-11:30am
5050 Edgewood Road NE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
BUSINESSES GROW IN IOWA
Facebook announced this week that they will build a $300 million data center in Altoona, just outside of Des Moines, with future plans for investment over $1 billion. Estimated to create 30 good-paying jobs, Facebook is the latest worldwide company to come to Iowa and the latest development in Iowa’s stronger growth in high tech industry.
Facebook cited Iowa’s skilled workforce and wind generation capacity as factors in locating here. Iowa is currently the 3rd leading producer of wind energy in the nation producing enough power for over 1 million homes. Iowa now also generates 25% of its electricity from wind turbines. And, with great schools, community colleges, and world-class universities, the company knew it could get the skilled employees they need to be successful.
Google announced a plan for another $400 million expansion at its facility in Council Bluffs. The expansion will create another 35 jobs and bring the total investment in Council Bluffs to $1.5 billion.
Iowa is gaining a solid reputation as a great place for smaller technology start-ups and entrepreneurs. Iowa’s Demonstration Fund provides financial and technical assistance to high tech businesses to help them commercialize concepts and attract late stage private sector financing. The state is also working to build a more sustainable innovation network.
ADJOURNMENT??
The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on May 3rd and although the House took action on a host of budget bills and sent them to bi-partisan conference committees this week, there is a lot more work to complete before adjourning for the year. The largest piece of the state budget is the Health & Human Services budget and House Republicans have yet to even make an initial offer before negotiations can begin. The delay is apparently due to a divisive, extreme agenda that some House Republicans are pursuing on women’s health care. Rumor abounds that the Republican caucus is divided and they don’t have enough moderate votes to move their own bill out of the committee.
Apparently, the same or similar issue derailed the 2011 session and nearly led to a government shutdown. That shouldn’t happen this year and hopefully it won’t. Everyone needs to put politics aside, work together, and find common ground.
YOU BE THE JUDGE
Four years later, several conservative House Republicans are still trying to oust Iowa’s Supreme Court justices who ruled on same sex marriage. A new plan introduced this week would force them to resign or dock their pay to $25,000, the same amount paid to legislators. Read more… http://thegazette.com/2013/04/23/iowa-house-conservatives-want-to-cut-pay-for-justices-in-same-sex-decision/
EDUCATION STALLED
The last meeting on education reform was last Thursday and no additional meetings are scheduled. The “Education Reform” bill is stalled again in a joint House/Senate conference committee where House Republicans insist on “Home Rule” for Iowa school districts. This would require an amendment to the Iowa Constitution, revamping of Iowa Code regarding education statutes and would give school boards new broad powers and authority, even the ability to require miscellaneous fees without state oversight. They would be prohibited from raising property tax but could do “anything they decide to do” which is not specifically prohibited by state or federal law. I appreciate and respect my local school board, but his could be a precedent with unforeseen and unintended consequences. The joint committee has to resume discussions, negotiate, compromise, and drop the extreme views.
CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY – IOWA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL
Congratulations to Kennedy students, staff and parents !! Read the report at:
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/iowa/rankings?schooltypepublic=y&schooltypemagnet=y&schooltypecharter=y
Constituent, Eric Johnson, came to the Capitol for a visit and a tour. We shared some witty remarks as he tried out the Speaker’s seat! Always terrific to see folks from home. — with Rep. Kirsten Running Marquardt and Rep.Daniel Lundby.
Seven Linn County legislators attended the Economic Alliance forum last Friday. There was a great Q & A session, where we addressed questions about education, economic development budget, transportation, property tax reform bills, IPERS, federal deductibility, flood protection, REAP, Medicaid Expansion and other issues before the legislature. On that chilly “Spring” afternoon, it was nice to have a warm reception and healthy input from Cedar Rapidians. Three forums last Saturday: Urban Education Network (Linn Co superintendents, administrators & school board members); League of Women Voters (public invited); and Hawkeye Labor Council (skilled trades & service workers). I really enjoy these opportunities to listen to local priorities and answer constituents’ questions.
Good attendance at the MH/DD Future Planning & Action Meeting. This was an update on the planning and discussions that have been going on for several months. The presentation included information about the delivery of MH/DD services – both “core” and the additional services that counties want to provide.
Last Friday evening….Trying to get legislative emails down to a manageable amount, so that I can then relax and enjoy a special event: Joyful Noises 2. A free event, but an offering was taken to benefit Family Promise of Linn County. More details here:
http://familypromiseoflinncounty.org/events.html
Mike Wyrick, Chair of the Cedar Wapsie Group Chapter of the Sierra Club, greeted me at the entrance of Eco-Fest 2013. Along with free music all day at Newbo City Market, there were exhibits, booths, food and activities. It was a fun, terrific gathering of eco-friendly exhibitors and visitors! I joined Sierra Club a few years ago, and you can too. Find out more about the club and their causes here: http://iowa.sierraclub.org/cwg/
Spoke with Stephanie Merrick Mitchell about her organization, Turning the Wheel. This group is an intergenerational dance/theater company committed to the collaborative creation of works of art. TTW is dedicated to making creative expression and art accessible to people of all ages, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. After watching her group perform an engaging “Heart Dance”, I was ready to don my dancing shoes. Oh, wait, I don’t own any! You can find out more about upcoming workshops and events here: http://www.turningthewheel.org
Rockwell Collins, its employees and their CR/Marion volunteers will be contributing back to our community in a fun and positive way by providing fresh produce for thousands of meals. How? Thomas Gentner and Joe Clark told me about the program, “Feed Iowa First.” FIF is the brainchild of founder, Sonia Kendrick, an Agronomist and Veteran of the war in Afghanistan. She saw the irony of 400,000 Iowans undernourished in our state that is a leading agricultural producer. So, she set out to grow vegetables for Iowa’s food banks and pantries. I was co-sponsor of a bill to provide tax credits for farmers who donate fresh foods to our food banks to help feed the hungry. This is part of the solution to our growing problem of poverty and malnourishment. — at find out how you can help: www.feediowa1st.org.
Iowa Valley Food Co-op had a booth at Eco-Fest, too. You can become a member on-line, order food on-line, then pick up your purchases at Matthew 25 on K Avenue. A simple way to buy fresh, flavorful food, support your neighbors, and help create the next generation of farmers- good for your family & good for the region! Pictures here with Iowa farmers Jason & Hannah Grimm, and Co-op member, Dora Bopp.
Earth Day
In the Rotunda was a wonderful display from Iowater, a volunteer water quality monitoring program. Each year they conduct an international environmental poetry and art competition for youth aged 5-19. This free contest is designed to help young people explore the natural environment and cultural history of the place they live, and to express what they discover through poetry and art.
Here’s a poem I enjoyed reading. It’s written by 10-yr-old Avery Anderson of Stratford, Iowa, and it received Honorable Mention.
Bumble Bee
A pollen spreader
A honey maker
A finger stinger
A beloved buzzer
Read More from the Iowa House
To read the rest of the Statehouse News go to: http://iowahouse.org/StatehouseNews/4-26-13.html
