Public Forum

A Community Discussion on: “Where is Iowa’s Mental Health Care Going?”

Sunday, April 12th at 3:00 pm

Lovely Lane United Methodist Church –  Intersection of Wenig Road & 42nd St. NE

Panel participants:  Senator Liz Mathis, Representative Dave Heaton, Linn County Supervisor Ben Rodgers, Kent Jackson of Unity Point Mental Health and Dan Strellner, President of Abbe, Inc.

This forum is Co-Sponsored by Lovely Lane United Methodist Church, Representative Art Staed and the League of Women Voters.

School Funding Delay Slows Budget Process

We have completed our thirteenth week of the 2015 Legislative Session and have yet to start crafting the state budget, which by law is the only thing we are required to approve before adjournment for the year.

The state budget is on hold because the House Majority party again rejected a compromise on K-12 school funding.  Supplemental State Aid to Iowa schools was required to be determined and set last year, but the House Majority and the Governor refused to follow Iowa law and take this action.

By this time, in a normal year, leaders in the majority caucus in each Chamber have reached an agreement on joint budget targets.  This provides a financial goal/limitation for the numerous budget subcommittees – enabling them to begin their work on crafting the financial numbers for each individual budget item overseen by that committee.  This year, budget subcommittees are still waiting on numbers and direction to begin crafting their legislation.

The Revenue Estimating Conference held their last meeting on March 19th, projecting a $408 million increase in revenues for fiscal year 2016.  This is an increase of general fund revenues over fiscal year 2015 by 6%.

According to the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency, the general fund budget is estimated to have $7.494 billion in total revenues available for fiscal year 2016.  Iowa’s spending limitation law would allow $7.422 billion to be spent in fiscal year 2016 with a remaining surplus of $76.8 million.

The House Majority party wants to ignore Iowa’s balanced budget law and limit school funding to 1.25% next year, leaving the state with a $319 million surplus next year.  Without a compromise decision on the school funding, the Senate has been unable to finalize its budget plans.

Earlier this year, the Governor proposed a general fund budget of $7.341 billion in fiscal year 2016, with a $225.9 million surplus.  But the Republican majority in the House wants to reduce that by another $165 million – less than the Governor proposed for fiscal year 2016.

Since approval in the early 1990’s, Iowa law sets aside 10% of the state budget in two savings accounts and limits spending to 99% of the adjusted revenue estimate.  These safeguards ensure that there is a sufficient cushion to maintain a balanced budget should revenues decline.

In addition to the general funds and the carry over amount, Iowa has $522.3 million in its Cash Reserve Fund and $174.1 million in its Economic Emergency Fund, for a total of another $696.4 million.   There are adequate funds available for Iowa schools with 4% Supplemental State Aid.

Medical Cannabis Bll Takes the Next Step

Iowans gathered at the State Capitol this week to urge lawmakers to support a medical cannabis bill for those suffering from debilitating diseases, like epilepsy, cancer, and multiple sclerosis.

Last year, we passed a law to reduce seizures and help those with intractable epilepsy cope with their medical condition.  The cannabidiol bill allowed patients to get a registration card and possess a limited quantity of cannabidiol – a medication proven to reduce seizures for some without the harmful side effects of other medications.

While it is legal to possess cannibidiol in Iowa, patients are unable to purchase the potentially life-changing drug legally.  With strong support from the public, lawmakers are considering a new bill this year to expand the applicability of that law and provide for the availability of the drug.  Senate File 484 would create a safe and secure medical cannabis program under the supervision of the Department of Public Health.

The bill would allow persons with a debilitating medical condition such as cancer, Crohn’s, and multiple sclerosis to apply for a registration card, with verification from their doctor, to allow them to access medical cannabis.  The medical cannabis must be manufactured at a licensed facility and all medical cannabis manufactured must be tested at the hygienic laboratory at the University of Iowa for content, contamination, and consistency.

Cannabis that has been approved for medical use would be dispensed from one of the licensed dispensaries around that state to persons with a registration card.  Language specifies that it would be illegal for a patient to smoke medical cannabis and charges the Department of Public Health to determine the form and quantity of medical cannabis that will be available to these patients.  Additionally, a Medical Advisory Board is created to oversee this program and decide on the inclusion of future medical conditions.

Proponents of SF 484 are encouraging the Senate to pass the legislation to ensure that patients and their doctors can determine for themselves whether this is a fit for them.  I feel confident that this proposal includes the regulation and safeguards necessary to ensure that the cannabis is used safely and exclusively by those who are suffering from debilitating medical conditions.

Governor Branstad Limits Access to Mental Health

Earlier this year, Governor Branstad announced he would close two mental health institutes in Clarinda and Mt. Pleasant.  They both provide the critical, specialized services to Iowans who require a higher level of care than hospitals, local nursing homes, or other institutions.

Lawmakers of both parties, Republicans and Democrats, have been critical of the Governor’s plan to close the two facilities without a transition plan in place – a safeguard to ensure that these Iowans get the acute care they need.  The Senate approved a bill to delay closure of the facilities until a transition plan has been established and, hopefully, the House will take the bill up soon.

Unfortunately, the Governor said this week that he’s going to ignore the Legislature’s wishes, again.  This is similar to the incident a few years ago when he closed the Toledo Juvenile Home for girls without warning.  The Governor’s rashness is irresponsible, unnecessary, and will ultimately punish those Iowans who need help the most.

The House Education Committee was invited to visit Edmunds Elementary School in Des Moines, which has about 66% English Language Learners. These students come from all around the school district to attend the Intensive English Language Center, staying on average 1-3 months before transitioning to another school.

Edmunds Principal, Jaynette Rittman, is yet another concerned educator to speak with me about the need for adequate school funding. Because of TLC grants, this school could get by with a little less, but still needs at least 2% supplemental state aid to maintain status quo. And this is a brand new building, with much lower maintenance and utility costs.  Jaynette has reason to be proud of her two-years old school. She has a professional, dedicated staff of educators strongly committed to providing the best quality education possible to over 300 students – all of which (100j%) are on a free and reduced lunch program. (This school has one of the highest poverty rates in the district.)

These kids are using software called Imagine Learning to supplement the work of the ELL teachers (Currently, there are only 4 certified ELL instructors. Obtaining ELL certification requires teachers to take an additional 18 hours in college credit, paid out-of-pocket.) With inadequate school funding, programs such as Imagine Learning are an important tool to assist teachers with English Language Learners. IL uses cartoons, games and songs, aligned to the Common Core, to meet the student at their level of learning and in their native language.

Regan Davidson is in her 14th year teaching, her 4th year teaching 2nd and 3rd graders in the Intensive English Language Center (IELC). She spoke with me about the extreme poverty at her school, and how that greatly impacts students’ learning abilities.  Mrs. Davidson has 17 students in her class who speak12 different languages, and very little English. That’s more than challenging!

And here is a link to my Point of Personal Privilege on the House Floor, about funding public education. Thank you to Taft Middle School Principal, Gary Hatfield, for the eloquent and revealing letter on school funding I read to the legislative body.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o9zLhGh3Fs&feature=youtu.be

Evidently, five Republican House members sent letters to school board members with inaccurate budget information, attempting to delude them about available school funding. Please listen to the response Democrat Representative Dave Jacoby received from one of these school board members:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDu7ZY2dlBU

I had an opportunity to visit with Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation President, Les Garner, about the Endow Iowa Tax Credit and County Endowment Fund Programs. For more than a decade, the state of Iowa has been recognized as a national leader in philanthropy for legislating these two innovative programs focused on increasing charitable activity. Philanthropy is an integral part of the economic and social life of our region, building social capital, funding vital services, and solving problems. These two programs impact our community via after-school programs, scholarships for deserving students, historical building preservation, food pantries, transportation solutions for those with disabilities, community leadership programming, and countless other ways.

One program in particular that Les highlighted during our discussion, is a very successful collaborative effort with the Zach Johnson Foundation: Kids on Course. KOC is doing a phenomenal job reaching at-risk elementary students. Last summer, 108 kids from Harrison and Van Buren Elementary Schools attended the academic camp called KOC University. The students made tremendous growth during the six week program: 15% growth in reading skills, 62% growth in writing skills, 129% growth in math computation skills. Thank you to the Zach Johnson Foundation, the Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation and the Cedar Rapids School District for providing this unique and successful program for our students!

To contribute to the Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation: https://www.gcrcf.org/

Brief discussion on local water quality initiatives with constituent Mike Wyrick. Mike gave me an update on plans to improve Cedar Lake, and city flood wall protection. Fantastic to visit with you again Mike!

Always wonderful to visit with fellow educators! MJ Dolan, Iowa Association of Community College Trustees Executive Director, and Galen Howsare, Iowa Association of School Boards Deputy Executive Director, spoke with me about access to high-speed broadband in Iowa’s schools and communities. They demonstrated interactive webinar software in use at several schools across the state. We were able to communicate with teachers and students from the Capitol via this technology. Without the broadband capacity for live streaming, this type of interaction would not be possible.

Speakers at last week’s Intersections luncheon meeting discussed why fair and impartial court systems are so important. Andrew Mertins is Vice President of Justice Not Politics and Rev. Martha Rogers is Project Coordinator for Eastern Iowa JUST Courts.

Andrew gave an informative overview of how judge elections and retentions are often about politics and power rather than an allegiance to the law. Justice Not Politics was formed in 2010 in an effort to keep politics and campaign money out of our courts, safeguarding its fairness and impartiality. One point Andrew mentioned I hadn’t considered, and that is the ultimate goal of campaigns for/against certain judges may have farther-reaching impacts than one election. If fear tactics are used to whip up a fabricated frenzy and increase voter turn-out, the result of these votes may spill over into other areas of politics, including the judicial retention votes on the ballot.

Martha spoke on the faith side of justice. As an Episcopal priest, she shared her belief that Jesus was crucified in part because of his speaking out against injustice and oppression. And, regardless of who is in charge of government, justice has to remain fair and impartial – and free of political influence.

Learn more about the issues of justice and politics at: www.JUSTCourts.org and learn about the next informative Intersections luncheon here:  http://interfaithallianceiowa.org/

Area legislators were invited to meet members of the Southside Investment Board at the Legion Arts/CSPS Hall to learn about several new initiatives that they are promoting. Some of these initiatives could potentially involve a partnership with the State of Iowa.

I was impressed with the scope and breadth of the board’s planning and cooperation with stakeholders which include area businesses, residents, property owners, and local, state and federal government. The meeting was rich with creative ideas and contagious enthusiasm as I learned more about the future plans for the Oakhill Jackson/New Bohemia neighborhoods.

After the flood of 2008, several large property owners in the Oakhill Jackson neighborhood began to meet to develop a plan specifically for the east side Oak Hill Jackson neighborhood. Dissatisfied with the speed and focus of the city’s neighborhood redevelopment efforts, they formed the Southside Investment Board. Today’s board members include:

Alliant Energy – Mary Meisterling
BottleWorks – Keith Rippy
Cargill – Dennis Feery
Central States Warehousing – Jim Piersall
Compass and Fusion Architects – Joe Ahmann
Ecolips/New Bohemia Group – Steve Shriver
Geonetric – Eric Engelmann
Hatch Development Group – Dale Todd
Iowa Wireless/Chrome Horse – Dennis Henderson
Jelinek Companies (Parlor City) – Stephanie Jelinek
Legion Arts/CSPS Hall – Mel Andringa
New Bo City Market – Kristie Weijten
New Bo Station – Craig Byers
Third Ward Development – Don Barrigar
Thorland Companies/Cherry Building – Lijun Chadima
Water Tower Place – Steve Sovern

The group’s mission is to maintain and enhance the full diversity of its residential, commercial, cultural and industrial communities and provide the planning necessary to insure the vitality of the neighborhood into the future.

Today, more than $62 Million of assessed property value is in the New Bohemia neighborhood. With more than 30 projects being considered, the future looks very bright.

The topic for this week’s Moral Monday IOWA was Managed Care, the plan to turn Medicaid over to private operators. There were many stakeholders voicing their concerns for the privatization of many Medicaid services. What is managed care? What does it look like in Iowa? What are the proposed changes and who will it serve?

Managed care is a complicated issue with many facets undecided: contracts, oversight, wages, transportation, service levels, drug prescription support, home-based services. The questions are seemingly endless as the Governor pushes ahead with this initiative to privatize $4.2 billion in state and federal dollars, without the involvement of the legislature in the process.

The Senate bipartisan bill, SF452, would have provided legislative oversight of the process but died in the House when Republican representatives would not bring it up for debate and passage. Republicans believe that the Governor would veto the bill, even if passed by both parties in the House and Senate. However, they have indicated that they will add oversight language in the budget.

Speaking out against putting guns into the hands of children. Listen to my remarks on the House Floor here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgJYjtv_LvA

Wednesday was Islamic Day at the Capitol. Great to visit with constituent and long-time friend, Miriam Amer, and Lisa Killinger who is president of her mosque in Bettendorf. Miriam is Executive Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Iowa (CAIR Iowa), which is an organization formed solely for the purpose of advocacy, protection of civil rights and liberties, encouraging public engagement and education, building coalitions, and promoting justice, interfaith dialogue and understanding.

Opening prayer Wednesday was offered by Imam Mohammad Kahn from Mosque An-Noor in Des Moines. It’s a wonderful thing to embrace our brothers and sisters here at the Capitol, and to learn more about the work they are doing in our communities throughout the state.   Pictured here with my wife, Susan, and mother-in-law, Rev. Lucille King.

Continue Reading the Statehouse News

To read the rest of my Statehouse News go to:http://iowahouse.org/StatehouseNews/4-9-15