Capitol Comments
SCHOOL AID SHORT-CHANGES IOWA’S STUDENTS
The Iowa House approved two school funding bills on party-line votes this week, but both are unlikely to become law without support in the Iowa Senate.
On Monday, Iowa’s school superintendents, administrators, teachers, school board members and parents packed a special public hearing in the Capitol to speak out against the two bills proposed by the Governor and majority Republican-party legislators in the House – bills that would provide supplemental school aid funding at just 1.25% next year. With annual inflation alone accounting for 3% to 4% in increased costs, school officials, parents, and students said the bills would not provide adequate funding to cover expenses and would force schools to use outdated textbooks and software, layoff/fire staff and teachers, raise property taxes, increase class size, and leave students with fewer opportunities.
Iowa schools are doing a good job of improving student achievement, but this extremely low level of investment would put Iowa in danger of losing the recent gains in achievement and halt the momentum just begun in the teacher leadership program.
Iowa currently ranks 35th in the nation when it comes to school investment per child. On average, we invest $1,612 less per student than the national average. With the proposed 1.25% we are predicted to fall to 40th or below. We can do much better.
Opponents of the bills offered an alternative that was supported by educators and parents. They proposed a 6% increase in school funding, which would still leave the state with over a $200 million surplus.
The bills now go to the Iowa Senate for consideration and debate.
http://whotv.com/2015/01/26/school-funding-budget-panned-at-hearing/
ENSURING THAT IOWANS GET PAID FOR THEIR WORK
All Iowans deserve to get paid for the work they do. Sadly, $600 million in wages are stolen from Iowa workers each year.
Iowa’s wage theft laws are so weak and ineffective that they are impossible to enforce. The result? Iowa workers get ripped off by unscrupulous employers, and the majority of reputable businesses, that play by the rules, are put at a competitive disadvantage.
Most Iowans aren’t at risk of being cheated by their employer, but low-wage workers often are, and they’re the ones with the most to lose. This week at the Statehouse, several food servers from Coralville, talked of their fight to get their share of tips that were illegally taken from them by management. A welder in Conesville described his ongoing fight to get paid for $1,200 of welding work – work that he completed in 2012 for a company in West Liberty. Because three other people had similar complaints, Iowa Workforce Development sought and won a judgment for back pay and interest. However, no penalty was imposed, and some workers have yet to receive any of the money owed. An additional case involved a woman who cleaned the restaurants of a local chain and was unable to get her wages paid for more than a year. After efforts by me, the Center for Worker Justice, IWD and the U.S. Dept. of Labor she recovered her wages of more than $2000. There were no damages, charges or fines that could be lawfully levied against the company that had refused to pay her and no procedure to recover the time and expense required to secure her just wages.
Just hiring more investigators won’t fix these problems. We need effective law that makes it clear you must pay your workers, and makes it easier and safer for workers to stand up for their rights. Proposed legislation would make Iowa law more straightforward with these three changes:
1. Employers would be required to keep a written record of the terms of employment.
2. The defense that an employer “unintentionally” failed to pay employees would no longer be acceptable.
3. Employees filing wage theft claims, and those who offer testimony on their behalf, would be protected from retaliation under threat of penalty.
The Iowa Senate approved reforms to Iowa wage theft law in 2011 and 2014, but the bills were not brought up for debate in the Iowa House. Hopefully, we can get bipartisan support for these efforts in the House this session.
For more information on the problem of wage theft in Iowa, read the Iowa Policy Project’s report at www.iowapolicyproject.org/2012docs/120829-wagetheft-xs.pdf.
Linn County Early Childhood Iowa is a citizen-led partnership with education, health and human service program providers and with funding from local, state and federal sources. ECI distributes funds allocated for early childhood education, health and family services and assists families with kids, prenatal to age 5. They provide child health screenings, 3-yr preschool, full-day full-year child care, childcare nurse TA, in-home family visitation, parent education, child behavior supports, and many other services to help families in need. This hard-working board really strives to help improve the lives of our children!
The ECI Board is asking for improvement in the funding which has declined 38% since 2007 – a loss of $912,336 for Linn County. The Board also requests more flexibility in the use of categorical funding, because family needs are constantly changing and “one size fits all” simply does not apply.
I enjoyed discussing many issues with members of the ECI Board: Chris Kivett-Berry, Community Project Director; Carol Sundberg, Pastor of St. James United Methodist; Doug Griesenauer, United Way of East Central Iowa Sr. Manager Community Building; Carol O’Donnell, Novak Elementary Principal; Carol Meade, Unity Point Manager of Child/Adolescent Outpatient Programs & Behavioral Health; and James Houser, Linn County Supervisor.
More info here: http://linncountyearlychildhoodiowa.org/
At IA Association of School Boards and the Education Coalition partners legislative reception, discussing – what else? – education with friend, Gary Anhalt. Gary made the trek from Cedar Rapids to the Capitol to speak at the public hearing last week. Over one hundred people from across the state signed up to voice their concerns about underfunding our schools!
Before the public forum on education, I was able to catch the Iowa Business Council’s presentation on the economic climate in the state. And Susan found a comfy chair to relax in at the beautiful World Foods Prize Hall of Laureates where the reception was held! (You can read IBC’s Iowa Competitive Index here: http://www.iowabusinesscouncil.org/documents/filelibrary/2015_
annual_meeting/2015_IBC_Annual_Meeting_
News_Releas_AF3EB2EC5FD5E.pdf)
Iowa Reading Research Center works under the auspices of the Dept of Education and has a goal of ensuring that every child in Iowa achieves reading proficiency. Established by the legislature in 2012, IRRC has already accomplished much. With just 5 people on staff, they support and train educators how to diagnose and remediate early literacy problems. The IRRC is establishing criteria and guidelines for an intensive summer reading program for 3rd graders, that schools must implement by summer 2017.
Great to learn more about these efforts from IRRC Communications Liason, Dr. Sara McInerny, and Advisory Council member, constituent Tania Johnson – Iowa’s 2013 Teacher of the Year!
Discussing the bullying bill and support groups in schools with members of Achieving Maximum Potential. AMP is a youth-driven, statewide group that seeks to unleash the full potential for personal growth among foster and adoptive children in Iowa. AMP also provides the life skills youth need to become self-sufficient, independent adults. The rotunda was filled with their voices chanting the mantra, “Nothing ABOUT us, WITHOUT us!” (Learn more about AMP here: http://www.ampiowa.org/)
These young people were articulate, earnest and energized as they spoke about an issue extremely important to them. Chelsea Eddy, Vaniesa Young and Derek Sackett would like training for teachers, counselors and faculty to recognize the symptoms of suicide in bullied victims. Unfortunately, this issue is personal as several of their friends have committed suicide.
If you are contemplating suicide, please know that help is available for you!. Call the suicide crisis hotline at 1-800-332-4224.
At the LIfelong Smiles Coalition legislative reception, board member Dr. Howard Cowen explained the Coalition’s mission of assuring optimal oral health for aging Iowans. Iowa’s senior residents are keeping their natural teeth longer than any previous generation due to advance in oral health care. The public-private Coalition was formed to increase access for senior citizens. I enjoyed this informational meeting and learning more about the program….but now I feel the urge to go brush my teeth!
Steve Meyerholz is an Agronomy Manager Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc. He’s also on the Board of Directors at Agribusiness Assoc of Iowa. AAI has been a strong partner in advocating for water quality initiatives. We discussed point source, pollution, and current issues with Iowa’s water quality.
Another group very concerned and conscientious about all of the factors involved in clean water!
I’ve seen a lot of constituents at the Capitol this week – making their voices heard! Darrel Wrider came from Cedar Rapids with Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. Darrel and CCI members would like to see laws strengthened that protect our waterways from nitrate pollution. Today, 630 waterways in Iowa are polluted. This is a systemic problem with multiple factors that will need multiple solutions. I’ll continue to support legislation to address this issue.
Cedar Rapids Fire Captains Brent Smith and Marv Trimble discussed the Juvenile Fire Intervention program. This was created to help curb undesirable “fire play” in kids and to help assess whether the child is in need of additional, potentially life-saving fire safety education. The CR Fire Dept has established a strong relationship with the State of Iowa Juvenile Court Office in an effort to safeguard the community from future criminal arson activity.
Other legislative priorities for the IA Firefighters Association include: one-time funding for Mobile Training Units, which would provide various skills training related to firefighting and rescue; an increase to the Volunteer Firefighting Training Fund, which directly benefits over 20,000 active firefighters in Iowa communities; EMS services; and numerous professional training initiatives that will make our fire personnel and communities safer.
I am very appreciative of the service provided by our firefighters!
Fantastic group of FFA students visiting the Capitol! Linn-Mar was well represented by Agricultural Science instructor, Barb Lemmer, and students Meredith McDonald and AJ Crow Schrader. These students are planning careers in agriculture and animal science and I very much enjoyed our visit. (Also pictured here with newly elected Representative Liz Bennett.)
The Iowa Food Banks Association held an anti-hunger legislative breakfast in the rotunda to continue bringing awareness of this widespread issue. In Iowa, 1 in 8 people struggle with hunger, many of them children. Iowa City’s Table To Table Executive Director, Bob Andrlik, and IFBA Director, Cory Berkenes, were describing their efforts – discussing food insecurity with legislators. Learn more about hunger in Iowa here: http://www.iowafba.org/
With Cory Berkenes, State Director of Iowa Food Banks Assoc., and Representative Dan Kelley, discussing the difficulties food banks are facing keeping up with hunger needs in Iowa on 1260AM Radio.
Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors Executive, Kevin Platz, spoke with me about home savings accounts, and radon testing in schools and homes.
Last year, the House passed legislation establishing tax-free savings accounts for Iowans wanting to purchase a home. However, this bill was short the votes it needed in the Senate, and realtors are requesting support again for similar legislation. I voted & supported this incentive last year, and will do so again this Session.
Numerous radon bills were filed last year, and all needed additional work. New versions will likely be filed this year. It’s important that legislators receive input from realtors who represent both buyers and sellers, to get a fair and equitable approach to addressing radon issues without harsh mandates. I am working with my colleagues on a bill and am excited to have realtors input.
Constituent Walt Stephenson came to the Capitol in support of IWILL, Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy. Actually, the rotunda was full of representatives of Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation as they seek to find a solution to funding the Natural Resource and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. The Fund was created by an overwhelming majority in 2010 and is a permanent and constitutionally protected funding source to ensure natural space – clean water, productive agricultural soils, thriving wildlife habitats. Thank you, Walt, for your leadership and activism on this important issue! Learn more here: http://www.inhf.org/iwill.cfm
“For youth development, for healthy living, for social responsibility”, the Cedar Rapids YMCA is making a positive impact in our community! Wonderful to visit with President, Bob Carlson, and constituents Dick Heft (board member), Steve Dolezal (CFO), about the many projects underway.
Some of the Y’s legislative priorities include: investing in safe routes to schools by installing sidewalks and crosswalks; streamlining the process for non-profit org background checks; and supporting infrastructure matching fund grant for rural YMCA facilities to update their physical properties. Iowa’s YMCA branches have made a huge positive impact – their 54 locations have served over 292,000 people.
To join or volunteer: http://www.crmetroymca.org/
Great visit with Kirkwood students who were at the Capitol for the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees Student Legislative Seminar. Students from across the state are here asking the legislature for full funding of community colleges. I really enjoyed hearing from this group of bright young people – Iowa’s future leaders!
Cassandra Brower – Pharmacology, Shayla Kopriva – Biology, Kealee Wyckoff – Education, Mattie Jacobsen – Nursing, Nick Bianchi – Liberal Arts, Wade Peck – Agronomy, Taylor Beyal – Pre-Physical Therapy, Micah Purcell – Pre-Physical Therapy.
Delighted to have more members of the Cedar Rapids Firefighters visiting the statehouse. Some of the legislative requests: 1) sustainable ways to fund protection and structural modernization of local fire departments, 2) additional professional training, curriculum and resources to ensure that there is a steady stream of volunteer and professional firefighters as well as responders, 3) increased Medicaid reimbursement (Iowa has some of the lowest rates of reimbursement in the nation) to help cover the cost of high-quality emergency response services.
The Cedar Rapids Fire Department offers firefighting, emergency medical services, and fire prevention to over 120,000 citizens. The Department offers prevention programs, special operations, and hazardous materials teams to meet the growing needs of our community.
Pictured here: Curtis Hopper – IEMSA Board Member, Dr. Brad Wisnousky –CRFD, Jason Andrews – District Chief Training/EMS
2nd pic: Brian Rechkemmer – IEMSA Board Member & Trainer/Education
Every day should be a “Thank-A-Firefighter-Day” for their service to our communities!
Continue Reading the Statehouse News
To read the rest of my Statehouse News go to:http://iowahouse.org/StatehouseNews/1-30-15
