Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day was created to remember soldiers who had died in the Civil War.  While the northern states and southern states continued honoring their fallen soldiers separately for many years, Memorial Day was changed after World War I to honor any American who had died in any war.  Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday in 1968.

Memorial Day arrives on Monday, so it’s a good time to again remember our veterans and active service men and women and to thank them for their sacrifices and personal service.

Following up on last year’s disabled veterans homestead property tax exemption for 100% rated disabled veterans, the eligibility criteria for the credit was expanded to include veterans that have a permanent and total disability rating based on individual employability, which is compensated at the 100% disability rate, as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.  Veterans that applied last year, but were denied for this reason, may be eligible now.

We also passed a consumer protection bill for veterans. House File 414 requires private providers of veterans’ benefit services to give prospective clients contact information for the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition, clients must sign a statement acknowledging that they are aware that veterans’ benefit services are offered for free through veteran service organizations and the county commission of veteran affairs.

Senate File 130 makes changes to the National Guard Educational Assistance Program. Currently, participation is limited by semesters of attendance, or the trimester or quarter equivalent. The new bill replaces that with a more flexible system of 120 credit hours of undergraduate study.

Iowa colleges and universities award educational credits to veterans for military education, training and experience.  House File 205 expands those covered to include National Guard members and Reservists, saving them time and money in completing their degrees.

Finally, the Iowa Lottery will now make a consistent $2.5 million annual contribution to the Iowa Veteran’s Trust Fund – the trust which funds services for veterans and their families.  Previously, the amount contributed was determined by the number of lottery tickets sold each year, relying on net profits from the sale of four annual veterans-designated games. This new stable arrangement will help ensure the Veteran’s Trust Fund has adequate reserves to continue providing the services that Iowa veterans and their families need.

The House Veterans Affairs Committee and the Iowa Legislature will continue to support our service members, veterans, and their families.

Still No Agreement on School Funding

Iowa school districts have been forced to certify their budget for the upcoming school year without knowing how much money they will receive from the state.  After Democrats offered 6%, then 4%, then 2.625%, the Majority Republican Party in the House has refused to compromise on school funding.  While holding fast, for months, on their original 1.25% supplemental state aid they astonishingly reduced their school funding offer for the following year.

Last week, the Senate made another effort to provide sufficient dollars for the next two school years by approving SF 510. This bill also funds our Area Education Agencies (AEAs). AEAs provide critical support for local schools, helping with everything from special education to technology. House Republicans, on the other hand, want to cut $15 million from the AEAs and lowered their school funding proposal from 2.45 to 2 percent for 2016-17 (HSB 252).

At that level, besides raising class size (with approximately 1034 fewer Iowa teachers) and raising local property taxes throughout the state, superintendents said they will also be cutting back other opportunities for students.  Arts, music, sports, shop classes, agriculture programs, consumer science courses, library services, STEM and Talented and Gifted programs are just some of the areas being considered for elimination by local Iowa school districts.

The Iowa Senate bill would set school aid for the upcoming school year at 2.625% and at 4% for the 2017-18 school year.  At this level, schools would be able to address their newly required education reform efforts, and prevent the elimination of programs and the cutting of professional teaching staff.

We’re now in our third week of overtime this session and no closer to adjournment.  House Republicans voting down a fair 2.625% compromise on school funding for the upcoming school year and then actually lowering their own offer on school funding for the 2016-2017 school year means the gridlock will continue into June and schools will continue to lay off teachers because of the budget uncertainty.

This is not the way to strengthen student achievement, teacher quality and Iowa’s middle class. Iowa is known for its high-quality education, but year after year of inadequate funding will take its toll on our students, our communities and our state’s economic future.

The school funding issues will have to be resolved, with a compromise reached that adequately funds our schools, before the Legislature can adjourn the session for the year.

Going Backwards

House Republicans took another step backward when they voted down the school anti-bullying bill that has strong bi-partisan and public support.  Even though it’s a top priority of our Republican governor and passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 43 -7, it’s been killed by House Republicans for three years in a row.

Republicans then turned back another strong effort to help Iowans by preventing Iowans with debilitating conditions like epilepsy and cancer from receiving access to medical cannabis.

Making progress or regress ?

Link to my comments on the House floor. The House Republican’s version of SF 505 –  the Health and Human Services Budget – which is a “strike-after” that completely replaces the Senate version. I believe this budget bill, if passed, will have tragic consequences for the most vulnerable Iowans.
https://youtu.be/BCK4Gj9vV98

The League of Women Voters hosts a casual monthly gathering to discuss a variety of issues. Tonight’smeeting featured Robin Kash. Robin spoke on the possible funding cuts for Waypoint’s Domestic Violence Victim Services. If the House Republicans version of the Justice System budget passes. Waypoint may be losing 2-3 counselors.

Statewide, these cuts mean:
* 4,559 fewer victims are helped
* 500 fewer victims helped in shelter
* 711 fewer victims achieve stable housing

Robin’s suggestion is to provide funding for domestic violence programs that doesn’t vary with legislative whims. He offered two scenarios:

One proposal was a surcharge on marriage licenses and dissolution fees. This is current law in NH and MO.

Another proposal was all civil trials/hearings in Iowa be subject to a surcharge, with proceeds directed to support the shelters. This is current law in MO.

Great meeting discussing this and other League issues. If you’d like to get involved, more info here:www.lwvcrm.com

We returned from Des Moines last week in time to attend the Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC) open house for their newly remodeled youth residential program. Development Director Laurel Merrick and her husband Steve were on hand to discuss the treatment program for youth ages 13- 18.

I also visited with some of the clients themselves. One young lady did an exemplary job leading us on a tour of the dorms. A young man proudly showed off his “recovery key tags” that represent milestones along his journey, recovering from alcohol and substance abuse. He displayed a lot of wisdom for a soon-to-be 18 year-old, as he spoke on the values of hard work and of creating a support system to help him “stay clean” after he leaves ASAC.

One of the counselors shared, that after her many years of experience dealing with youth and addictions, the biggest challenge now is the mental health issue.

I am back in the classroom in between trips to Des Moines, as the legislature is stalled while waiting for substantive negotiations to resume. Key points of disagreement are funding for schools, and funding for health and human services – including programs like ASAC. I believe it is critical that our youth receive the support they need to become successful in life. It’s our responsibility to provide it.

Area legislators were invited to tour the Eastern Iowa Airport  to learn more about the four phases of construction it’s undergoing. New Airport Director, Marty Lenss, gave an overview before leading us on a hard-hat tour. I learned that within a few months, the airport will be debt-free, even as it continues to be remodeled over the next 3-4 years. Almost all of the work is being done with federal/state grants and passenger facility charge revenue. There will be no increase in fees for passengers or airlines in this $47 million dollar project. Also, CID doesn’t receive any city or county property tax revenue. First phase – replacing existing canopy – of the Terminal Modernization project is complete and Phase 2 underway. The construction is being done by local contractors and workers.

Also, the airport is surrounded by ag land that is primarily leased to local farmers. Great to hear of their efforts, adding tall-grass strips, to mitigate nutrient runoff and prevent soil erosion. The grasses will be harvested and used as biomass for University of Iowa power.

Kudos to the Airport Director, Staff & Commission on this “top flight” project!

Goodwill Job Fair

The mission of Goodwill of the Heartland is to advance the social and economic well-being of people who experience barriers to independence. They’ve already assisted many in transitioning from “sheltered workshops” into more visible jobs in our communities. They provide job coaches as needed until the employee is able to perform assigned tasks independently.
It was inspiring to see for myself the number of employers eager to hire:

FBG Janitorial
Hiawatha Health Care Center
Manpower
Nordstrom
Cedar Valley Community Support Services
Little Ceasars
Raining Rose
Sodexo
Hy-Vee
ASAC
Ruffalo Cody
Mercy Medical Center
National Guard
Safelite
Wendy’s
The Villages of Marion
Park CR
Linnhaven
Walmart
ACT
McDonald’s
Walgreens
Iowa Workforce Development

More information here: http://www.goodwillheartland.org/business-services

Goodwill’s Assistant Program Director, Susan Meyer, and Employment Developer, Kelly Murphy, spoke with me about the successes of the job fairs.  This is one of many attempts to connect and match employers with employees seeking opportunities that may require support services and unique environments.

Sodexo General Manager, Tom Wieseler, runs the dining service at Coe College. Missed the fair, but interested in working for Sodexo? Contact him at twiesele@coe.edu (Tom just received Employee of the Year – again – so I know he’d be a great guy to work with!)

Constituent Patricia Baldwin of Safelite Auto Glass told me about job opportunities in their call center. If you’d like to be part of their customer service department in Hiawatha, you can learn more or apply here:www.safelitecareers.com

Wendy’s is also creating and providing jobs for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. General Managers Addison Smith and Corinne Krutzfield told me about some of their recent successful hirings. (I also learned that Wendy’s Strawberry Fields Chicken Salads will be back on the menu June 5th. Yummmm.)

Working Families Summit

The first-ever Working Families Summit held in Ames was an incredible “hit”. Concerned voters from around the state met to get a broader understanding of numerous topics, including living wages, protecting our civil rights, immigration, public education, making the work place family-friendly, and building an economy. It was great to see so many constituents and friends from Cedar Rapids participating in these important discussions.

Former US Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich, was the keynote speaker. Mr. Reich encouraged Iowans to ask presidential candidates specific questions about key issues. For example, “What is your plan for raising the minimum wage in America?” or “What will you do to make higher education affordable and accessible?” or “What will you do to strengthen unions for the working-class?” Mr. Reich believes that “regressives” have caused a great degree of cynicism to spread amongst voters with talk of bigotry and hatred. It’s our job as “progressives” to talk in a unifying, supportive way. Together, Republicans and Democrats can shape what presidential candidates focus on during their campaigns.

Much thanks to the fifty+ organizations that sponsored Working Families Summit!

Misty Rebik, Executive Director for the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa, and Mike Owen, Executive Director of the Iowa Policy Project, spoke on wage theft and minimum wage.

Matt Sinovic, Executive Director at Progress Iowa, spoke about an online petition to encourage our elected officials to vote on increasing the minimum wage. More than 60% of Iowans want this, but House leadership refuses to allow us a vote on it. You can sign the petition here: raisethewageiowa.com

ISEA government relations specialist, Melissa Peterson; NAACP of Des Moines President, Arnold Woods; and AFSME President, Danny Homan spoke on a concerted effort to undermine the work of middle-class Iowans through hits to collective bargaining rights in the private and public sector.

I’m always glad to visit with Ken Sagar, President of AFL-CIO in Iowa. He has a passion for helping hard-working Iowa families.

Andriy Lapitskyy and Jeff Cooling – these guys beat the socks off me every time on Trivia nights at the Nuhawk Next Up Hawkeye Area Workers Konnect!

It was an incredible honor for Susan and I to meet Robert Reich at the Working Families Summit. I described to him some of the issues we’re battling at the Iowa House – stuff like wage theft, climate change deniers, stripping of critical health and mental health services, and underfunding of public education. Mr Reich said, “Keep the faith. What you’re doing is God’s work. Keep on fighting!” Sometimes, it helps to have a cheerleader, especially one like Robert Reich.

And he drives a Mini!

Continue Reading the Statehouse News

To read the rest of my Statehouse News go to:http://iowahouse.org/StatehouseNews/5-22-15