Statehouse News
PUBLIC FORUM SATURDAY
Saturday, February 21, 10:30 – 11:45 a.m. The League of Women Voters legislative forum will be held at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. I hope you can attend and let me know what legislative issues are important to you.
More High School Students Earning College Credit
A new Iowa Dept. of Education report, published last week, indicated that Iowa High school students lead the nation in gaining college credit before graduation. In 2014, a record 42,996 students made an early start on their college education by also enrolling at their local community college or university.
With concurrent enrollment, high school students are able to take college courses – free of charge to the student – from their local Iowa community college or public university.
Last year, these students earned an average of 7.8 credit hours – the equivalent of nearly three college courses. And 42% of these courses were in career or technical education. In addition to benefitting students, having workers with training beyond high school is good for Iowa’s economy and will help fill Iowa’s skilled worker shortage.
You can read the report here: https://www.educateiowa.gov/article/2015/02/12/iowa-leads-nation-providing-college-credit-opportunities-high-school-students
Iowa Continues to Combat Synthetic Drugs
In a continued effort to combat synthetic drugs, Iowa’s Attorney General has joined with 39 other state AGs in asking major gasoline and convenience retailers to help stop the sale of synthetic drugs. These synthetic drugs are targeted to youth. Emergency rooms across the country have seen an increase in admissions from persons using these synthetic substances and some cases have been fatal.
The Iowa Legislature, law enforcement officers, and prosecutors are committed to doing everything we can to keep these dangerous chemical concoctions out of the reach of children and youth. In addition to the legislature and the pharmaceutical board adding more substances to the ever growing list of illegal chemical components and synthetic drugs, the Attorney General won a consumer protection lawsuit against a convenience store that was selling these substances. This was the AG’s first case using the consumer protection approach, and in coordination with undercover law enforcement, they uncovered nearly 1,000 packages of synthetic substances. Besides the $50,000 fine, the store owners will also face a one year liquor license suspension. Criminal charges are expected to be filed against the relevant employees.
After the recent death of a constituent’s child due to consumption of these synthetic drugs, I have drafted and co-sponsored bills to stop the sale of these dangerous synthetic substances in Iowa. The bills are modeled after the Cedar Rapids ordinance.
The House Public Safety Committee has also been conducting presentations and hearings on the issue and will be advancing comprehensive legislation in a committee study bill this session.
When Principal, Greg O’Connell invited legislators to visit his school, I jumped at the opportunity. The biggest issue facing the Iowa legislature today is the question of supplemental aid for Iowa’s public schools. House Republicans passed 1.25% and Senate Democrats passed 4%. Every educational group in the state has informed the legislature that 1.25% will mean cuts throughout every district: firing staff and teachers, delaying textbook and software purchases, rationing paper and other supplies, eliminating courses, increasing class room sizes, and ultimately affecting student achievement.
Coolidge is an excellent school but, like most schools in Iowa, will receive additional cuts unless the legislature approves at least 4% supplemental aid. We can’t afford not to.
Very impressed with these two UNI students: constituents Leighann Westermeyer and Parker Bennett.
Leighann is a senior, pursuing a degree in theater, with an emphasis on design and production. She is also active in the campus fundraiser for cancer, Relay for Life. Great to see our youth taking a lead in community service.
Parker is in his second year, with a double major in political science and global studies. One of his plans is to conduct social research in Denmark. Parker is also an elected member of UNI’s Student Senate. The Senate addresses issues like tuition, financial aid, educational quality and student rights. This is a good prerequisite for a career in statewide and international government!
Thank you, Leighann and Parker for your activism on behalf of UNI and your communities!
Cedar Rapids letter carrier, Kelly Steinke, spoke with me about several bills being considered by the House and Senate, including minimum wage, wage theft and 4% school supplemental aid. Kelly is the newly elected President of the Hawkeye Labor Council in CR, and does a terrific job advocating for hard-working Iowans.
(Having done a bit of door-to-door canvassing myself, I am very appreciative of the work our letter-carriers do every day, regardless of the weather!)
Constituent Kevin Krumvieda, President of the Iowa Psychology Association, spoke with me about some of the issues psychologists are facing in Iowa. Our state is facing a severe shortage of mental health professionals, at a time when the need is bigger than ever. One in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. Iowa ranks 46th among the the states in psychologists per capita.
IPA is requesting insurance companies cover services by post doctorate psychologists. These doctors have to practice for a year before obtaining their licenses, and insurances currently are not covering their services. This makes it more difficult in retaining psychologists in Iowa.
I met with Mary Campos at the League of United Latin American Citizens – Council 307 (LULAC) legislative reception. Some of LULAC’s priorities include: affordable and increased access to healthcare; driver’s licenses for immigrants; increase in the state’s minimum wage; adequately funding education, and continuing support for programs that target ELL and low-income students. Great to visit with Mary, who has been a strong advocate for women and children’s rights, and works tirelessly to establish better relationships between people of diverse ethnic backgrounds. At 85, Mary is a terrific role model to emulate!
A lot of groups at the Capitol Tuesday, including the American Cancer Society. I had a good visit with constituent Kim Miller about tanning beds and cancer. There is legislation, which I support, that restricts the use of these beds to those under age 18. Info on the risk of acquiring skin cancer here:http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/tanning I’m a firm believer in spray tans!
Corey Maylone is the Community Programs Specialist for the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. 4,500 Iowans live with MS and the Society was here to advocate on their behalf. Some of their legislative requests include: home modification tax credits to help maintain a safe home for those living with a disability and living under 450% of the Federal Poverty Limit; reform the Home and Community Based Services Waiver to reduce the long waiting list for evaluation; and reduce roadblocks to MS care, such as evidence-based therapies. Thank you for your advocacy, Corey!
Former State Representative David Osterberg came to the Capitol for Environmental Lobby Day. We discussed solar energy incentives and solar farm projects, renewal energy and interconnectivity, net metering and home weatherization for low-income families.
David is the founder and former Director of the Iowa Policy Project, a non-profit, non-partisan research organization. Read some of the Project’s reports dealing with the environment and energy here:http://www.iowapolicyproject.org/Environment_Energy.html
Our three-member subcommittee (two Republicans, one Democrat) passed HSB 131 and it will now go before the full House Education Committee. If passed, this bill authorizes school districts to use revenues from the regular and voter-approved physical plant and equipment levies (PPEL) for equipment repairs. As the law currently stands, PPEL dollars can’t be used for repairs, just purchases. Soon, our school districts will have the resources to make repairs to school buses, for example – replacing or rebuilding a motor, rather than buying a whole new bus.
Earlier this winter I had the opportunity to experience farm life, thanks to soybean farmer, Lindsay Greiner. I gained helpful insight that day into the trials and triumphs of Iowa’s agribusiness. Wednesday, Lindsay came to my stomping grounds to discuss the Iowa Soybean Association’s legislative priorities. This will sound familiar, but ISA is yet another group in favor of a gas tax. We also discussed many conservation efforts that farmers like Lindsay support, including bioreactors, grass waterways, filter strips, variable rate nitrogen application technology, cover crops, wet land restoration, and funding for ISU’s research station.
Really enjoyed my time with Lindsay on his farm and it was great to visit with him again at the Capitol, and to hear his positive ideas for nutrient reduction in our waterways.
Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner is serving as the 2015 President of the Iowa State Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association which hosted a legislative reception Wednesday. Sheriff Gardner outlined some of the association’s priorities and policy statements which included support for the following bills: HF 54 (call location in emergencies), HF 227 (update IA law related to detainee searches in county jails), and SSB 1041 (distracted driving as primary offense). ISSDA also supports adjusting specific civil process user fees that haven’t been adjusted in more than a decade.
I am incredibly appreciative of our law enforcement personnel and the work these men and women do to keep our roads and communities safe.
Constituent Marsha Sabotta is a board member of the Iowa Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. What on earth is a “perianesthesia” nurse? These medical professionals provide nursing care to patients undergoing or recovering from anesthesia.
Marsha was visiting the Capitol as part of the IA Nurse Association. INA’s primary legislative priority is to participate in efforts to redesign aspects of the Iowa healthcare system that will:
-make health care affordable and accessible
-provide full range of services across health care settings
-address mental health services
-assure health care access in rural settings
-address long term care needs
It’s always great to meet dedicated, community-minded constituents – whether back in Cedar Rapids, or here at the statehouse!
In between committee meetings (Local Govt and Public Safety today), legislative receptions (I think there were 7; I must have missed a few) and debate (at 9am and 4pm) this Tuesday, it’s been really wonderful to visit with so many constituents at the Capitol! Dave Allison and Dave Robertson with IBEW spoke with me about adequately funding our schools, increasing minimum wage, ending wage theft in Iowa, and fixing our roads and bridges. These issues are top on my list of must-dos as well.
Mike Farr, VP of Sales at Cascade Mfg. Co, spoke with me about the IA Truss Manufacturers Assc legislative issues. These include: building codes, including the statute of repose, increase fuel tax, and opposition to minimum wage increase. Good discussion about these multi-faceted issues and how they impact truss manufacturers and home builders.
Linn County Farm Bureau representatives, Brian Lensch and Jason Russell spoke with me about roads and bridges – the Farm Bureau supports a gas tax increase, Iowa’s mental health system – funding of beds, school supplemental aid – set at 4%, and environmental – support for REAP and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Important to have input from Linn County residents.
Always a treat to visit with constituent, Bob Hebl, Executive Director of Discovery Living. Bob told me about the new home they will be building in Linn County which will help reduce their two-year waiting list. We also discussed the Medicaid funding forecast and cuts in Federal funds. Thank you, Bob, for the tremendous work you are doing in our community for adults with intellectual disabilities! More info here: www.discoveryliving.org
The House Veterans Affairs Committee has a study bill (HSB 114) which requires disclosures by private providers of veterans benefits services. This disclosure must inform the veteran that the services being offered by a private provider for a fee, are available at no charge by the VA or an Iowa Veterans Officer – whenever applicable. This bill is the result of the leadership by Don Tyne, Director of Linn County VA. Don informed the legislature of some businesses taking advantage of vulnerable veterans and asked the legislature for assistance.
I’m pleased to report we passed this out of subcommittee 3-0 and the bill will now go before full House Veterans Committee for further consideration.
You can track HSB 114’s progress here: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/
I was on the subcommittee for a bill I introduced in the Iowa House, HF 201. Subcommittees are comprised of three representatives- 2 Republicans and 1 Democrat. This particular bill concerns the determination of city population for purposes of civil service commissions. After we heard from stakeholders, we passed the bill 3-0. It will now go to the full Local Government committee for a vote.
STEM Day at the Capitol! The Iowa legislature created the STEM program in 2008 with a bill I co-sponsored – HF 2679. At the time, we included $4 million for the University of Northern Iowa for a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Initiative to: improve math and science performance of Iowa students, prepare more high quality math and science teachers for Iowa’s schools, and promote statewide collaboration and cooperation in math and science education. This very successful program has grown tremendously in the past 7 years.
Today, it’s very energizing to interact with young people who are excited about Math, Science – and robots! “The Blockheads” FTC team from Hancock County had a demo set up for legislators to try their hand at operating the robots. I have to admit, it ain’t easy. Rebecca Whitaker does an amazing job coordinating the league system for the FTC teams in Iowa. Students love her, and she’s usually right there in the middle of all the mayhem, er, I mean excitement!
Robotics teams design and build their robots, then enter in FIRST Tech Challenge competitions. This program is about teaching students the value of hard work, innovation and creativity. It goes beyond competition by teaching teenagers the importance of working together, sharing ideas and treating each other with respect and dignity. Many of these young people go on to complete engineering degrees at Iowa’s regents’ universities and other esteemed colleges. Rockwell representatives, Jenny Becker and Adriana D’Onofrio told me about the upcoming FTC Super-Regional which will be advancing 20 teams to the World Championship, March 26-28 in Des Moines, so Save The Date! Rockwell Collins of Cedar Rapids serves as the Official Program Sponsor for all FTC events.
The Iowa City Area Development Group hosted a program featuring Dan McGehee, Director of the University of Iowa Human Factors and Vehicle Safety Research Program. Dan spoke about what we can expect to see in the advancement of autonomous vehicle systems and our area’s potential role in bringing these systems to market. Additionally, David Conrad, Assistant Vice President for Economic Development at the University of Iowa, provided an update on the University’s economic development efforts.
The U of I is “on the road” to implementing the use of self-driving cars, even in Iowa. One of the first steps is testing for parking, where your car identifies and communicates with parking spaces. Your car would drop you off, park itself, and retrieve you when you are ready to go. This is cool stuff, and the reality of this is “just around the corner”.
The photo above of a driverless car is an advertisement from Saturday Evening Post – in the 1950s. Today, policy makers, legislators, will be addressing the issues of “transfer of control” from persons to automated vehicles. These developments are “accelerating”. Will this make our Mini StaedMobile obsolete? Not a chance.
Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdgQpa1pUUE
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To read the rest of my Statehouse News go to:http://iowahouse.org/StatehouseNews/2-20-15
