Capitol Comments

At the Capitol we are moving closer to adjournment. The final budget bills are being debated in both the House and the Senate and moved to conference committees. In the conference committees the negotiations continue until all the differences are resolved. Each committee will then send their final budget bill to both the Senate and House for final votes.

Thank you to all who have contacted me during the session – participating in the legislative process. I have learned a great deal from our discussions, from hearing and addressing your concerns, and from the ideas and information that you have shared. And thank you for providing the support for the issues that are important to you. I really have enjoyed hearing from you, representing you and providing a voice for your priorities.

I expect that we will be in session for a few more days and I plan to publish at least one more newsletter while we are here. Immediately after adjournment, I return to my full-time teaching in Cedar Rapids, to my constituency work in the district, and to running for re-election to the Iowa House as your Representative. Until next session, my Newsletter will be distributed on a reduced schedule, but please continue to contact me, as needed, using the information on this page.

Renewable Energy Tax Credits

In the House we gave final approval this week to a bill extending Iowa’s renewable energy tax credits.

SF 2343 extends the deadline for issuing wind energy tax credits for two additional years. Unfortunately this change would not increase the total value of credits available, but would assure that currently approved projects could fully claim the already available credits.

Iowa is the 3rd leading producer of wind energy in the nation, producing enough power for more than one million homes. Iowa generates 25% of electricity from wind turbines, the highest in the nation. The Wind Energy Association estimates about 7,000 jobs in Iowa that are dependent on wind energy.

The bill expands the types of cogeneration technologies that can be used at facilities across the state, including ethanol plants. Cogeneration is the production of both electricity and heat from the same source, often producing steam that is otherwise an underutilized byproduct. The goal is to make the renewable energy production process more efficient.

A cogeneration facility could utilize methane gas, landfill gas, and biogas under the bill. Current law only allows a cogeneration facility to utilize natural gas.

More Iowans to Qualify for Child Care Tax Credit

In an effort to help Iowa’s middle class families, the House approved a tax credit, SF 2337, to help offset the cost of child care.

The Iowa Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit available to anyone that had child care expenses in the last year, such as paying someone to care for a child, earned income from wages, salaries, or similar compensation. The credit in Iowa is based on a taxpayer’s federal credit, which can be up to 35% of the qualifying care expenses. The total expenses are capped at $3,000 for one qualifying dependent or $6,000 for two or more. The bill also makes changes so that tax filers can qualify for the full credit.

We also voted to create an adoption tax credit, providing up to $2,500 to any Iowa taxpayer to help offset the costs of qualified adoption expenses. Under the bill, qualified adoption expenses include welfare agency and legal fees, costs relating to adopting the child, and medical and hospital expenses of the mother for the birth of the adopted child. The credit is refundable or may be carried forward for one tax year.

Cedar Rapids Mini Maker Faire

An impressive group of inventors and innovators at the Faire again this year. The aim of Maker Faire is to entertain, inform, connect and grow the community of tech enthusiasts, crafters, homesteaders, scientists and garage tinkerers. From what I heard, saw and experienced, I’d say this Faire succeeded in these endeavors!

Dave Langkamp of The Tinker’s Workshop showed me a video of a man-powered vehicle he’s designing that will exceed 24mph. Learn more here: thetinkersworkshop.blogspotcom

Eric Ingamells, from the Quad Cities Makerspace, created this android skeleton. He would like to see it mechanized for full robotic capabilities.He also demonstrated a magnetic braking system using gravity. Cool!

Really neat to see young people excited and participating in the many hands on experiments at the Cedar Rapids Science Center.

Ron Bentley & David Huovinen are Co-Owners of R&D Fixtures, a company that produces a variety of Heavy Duty Scrapers and Strip Rip Dado Jigs.

It was a wonderful surprise to see two of my Cousins at the Faire: John Reyland, a Rockwell Collins engineer and special guest speaker Mark Reyland, who is the President of Innovative Ventures in South Carolina. (www.moremediadirect.com) I am between two brilliant minds!

After Mark’s lecture, I joined an informal discussion with John Rourke and Bruce Umekubo. We spoke about developing, supporting, promoting and connecting invention, innovation & entrepreneurial systems to create wealth in the economy and improved quality of life. I learned that these three systems are distinct from one another, and require different support mechanisms. Legislators often make the mistake of treating these aspects all the same, failing to support the connects for each piece to grow and flourish. I’ll be looking for additional ways to capture and promote Iowans individual creativity and support it all the way to commercialization.

Fantastic visit Wednesday with constituent and friend, Gloria Dixon. In the midst of a busy afternoon of meetings and budget debates it was nice to visit with Gloria – a classy lady!

The League of Women Voters Linn County hosted a forum moderated by Jean McMenimen with a panel representing various aspects of mental health: Jim Ernst, Four Oaks Executive Director; Linda Langston, Linn County Supervisor; Stacie Mitchell, Director of Clinical Services Tanager Place; and Kent Jackson, Director of Behavior Health at St. Luke’s Hospitol. I appreciated hearing all the questions and concerns that the legislature will continue to address, including: moving to a regional mental health system, getting adequate funds for the transition and equalization of services, keeping the savings dollars locally, reducing the waiver waiting lists, providing for the Core+ services and addressing the shortages of critical providers including therapists and psychiatrists. I would like the legislature to meet its responsibilities in all of these areas. I will continue to work toward achieving these goals.

At the United Labor Alliance Legislative Forum, discussion centered around education, employment/jobs, economic development in Cedar Rapids, minimum wage, secret “hush money” settlements, and introductions of local candidates running for office this year. Great turnout as always!

Last weekend, I watched “Inequality for All” starring economist Robert Reich, at the IBEW Hall. One of the most thought-provoking 110 minutes about the American economy you will ever see.

Dale Todd and Felicia Wyrick spoke about possible restoration of Cedar Lake area at the Mound View Neighborhood Assn. meeting. Also on the agenda: spring clean up, community gardens, safety report and nuisance properties. The Block Captain monthly dinner is Monday, April 28, 6:30 pm at the Redeemer Church basement. Great to hear input from the Mound View Neighborhood!