Republican School Plan Lowest in Six Years; Public Hearing Set
Republican leaders in the House and Senate are fast tracking their plan for another historic low increase in basic funding for public schools. The level of funding proposed at 1.11% next year is the lowest amount in six years. In fact, seven of the last eight years have been the lowest funding levels in the history of the school aid formula.
Public Hearing Scheduled
To get additional feedback for this crucial decision before the Iowa House votes, Democratic lawmakers have called for a special public hearing at the State Capitol. Although Republicans have limited the public hearing to only 90 minutes and refused to set the public hearing at a time when many Iowans, especially educators and school administrators, can participate, it will still be held: at 11 am this Monday, February 6th in the Supreme Court Chamber in the Capitol.
Iowans can sign up to speak by calling 515-281-5129 or online at
https://www.legis.iowa.gov/
Since many Iowans will be unable to participate, a petition has been launched so that Iowans can show their support for adequately funding our children’s education. You can sign the petition at: http://www.iowahouse.org/
The bill, House File 136, is likely to be debated by the Iowa House next week.
The Week in Photos
Several protestors at the Capitol Monday were here to starkly remind us of our history, as Iowans, of supporting the arts and culture and the error in scooping $6.1 million from the Cultural Trust Fund. That night we debated HF 118 / SF 130, a Republican proposal for fiscal year 2017 with deappropriations, transfers, and one supplemental fund.
In addition to transferring $6.1 million from the Cultural Trust Fund (a long-term, sustainable funding mechanism designed to grow as an endowment to support and encourage the financial sustainability of cultural non-profit organizations through direct grant-making), the bill includes a $11.5 million reduction in “departmental operational reductions” yet to be identified by the Dept. of Management, $76.7 million in cuts to various state agencies and the Judicial Branch, and cuts to the Strategic Investment Fund, the Innovation and Commercialization Development Fund, the Economic Development Energy Projects Fund, the Grow Iowa Values Fund, the Federal Economic Stimulus and Job Holding Fund, FIP eligibility system, Medicaid, IUHC Lodging for families seeking cancer treatment, the Affordable Care Act, State Supplementary Assistance Program, Autism Support Fund, Cherokee Mental Health Institute and more.
Did I mention that this Republican mid-year budget cut includes an $18 million cut to Iowa’s three state universities, a $3 million reduction to Iowa’s 15 community colleges, $38 million chopped from Medicaid and human services, and another $5.5 million cut to public safety?
Total deappropriations could be approximately $117 million.
Left untouched will be our Reserve funds of $738 million and the Taxpayers Trust Fund of $8.2 million (a fund that the Governor recommended be used in the place of some of the cuts).
I was a NO vote!
The painting: Westward by Edwin Howland Blashfield. Iowa State Capitol building, Des Moines
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Tariq Baloch, Cedar Rapids Water Utility Plant Manager and Sara Baughman, Utilities Communications Coordinator for the City of Cedar Rapids both visited Monday as part of Water Day at the Capitol. Cedar Rapids’ drinking water routinely ranks as the safest and cleanest in the state, and CR residents enjoy water rates among the lowest in the state.
Good conversations about conservation projects within the Cedar River watershed, the level of nitrates in the Cedar River and some of the planned projects for improving our local system – improvements that are ongoing in order to ensure that water quality and rates are sustainable for years to come.
For more information visit: http://www.cedar-rapids.org/
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Wednesday was United Ways of Iowa Day on the Hill. United Way is a globally respected non-profit organization that focuses on improving lives by mobilizing the power of local communities to advance the common good. I had the privilege of speaking to the CEO of United Way of East Central Iowa Tim Stiles about a wide range of things, including the new Spark 5 program, and the efforts to help bridge the wage gap many Iowans face in what is known as the “cliff effect.”
The graphic below is a representation of the “cliff effect” – demonstrating that a single parent making below 145% of the poverty level qualifies for a child care subsidy which may keep them above the “break-even” earnings line. If this same parent were to receive even a small raise, moving them beyond the 145% threshold, they would no longer qualify for this subsidy. This graphic highlights that there is a large gap between the minimum earning level that disqualifies parents for the child care subsidy and the “break-even” line. United Way is working hard to close that gap. We need to keep this scenario in mind, as Legislators, especially when increasing the minimum wage.
Pictured are (starting in the back on the left side): Senior Manager of Education, Karen Lewis; Annual Campaign Manager, Destiny Hastings; and Project Specialist, Meredith Hershner all of United Way of East Central Iowa. Next to them is Brent Nilles, Chair of the Linn County Democrats Central Committee and the CEO of United Way of East Central Iowa, Tim Stiles.
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Tuesday was a busy day at the Statehouse. Among the organizations present was Decoding Dyslexia Iowa. Dyslexia affects 10-20% of the population and is the most common learning disorder in the United States.
Decoding Dyslexia Iowa is the Iowa chapter of a national grassroots movement driven by parents and professionals concerned with the limited access to educational interventions for dyslexia within our public schools. Their goal is to raise awareness, inform policymakers and educators on best practices, and support students with dyslexia.
For more information visit: http://www.
Pictured (left to right): Board Member, Amy Dahlke; Vice President Helen Blitvich; Treasurer, Jill Smith; Vice President, Randy Califf; President, Katie Greving; advocate, Chase Colton; and Representative Sharon Steckman.
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Meeting Tuesday afternoon in House Minority Leader Mark Smith’s office with Legislators and County Supervisors from many of the nine counties comprising the Mental Health/Disability Services of the East Central Region. Supervisors are looking for legislative help in providing mental health and disability services throughout the region. One of the chief topics centered around SF69 (The Property and Income Tax Reduction Act of 1995) which capped the ability of counties to fund mental health care with property taxes in exchange for additional state funds. Today, because of insufficient state funds and reductions in federal funds, counties are looking for any means to help them fund mental health services in the region.
For more information: http://www.ecriowa.us/
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I spoke with Cedar Rapids resident Carla Andorf, of the Association of Iowa Workforce Partners on Tuesday. AIWP, founded in 2001, is a non-profit statewide organization of regional Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Partners that provide specialized workforce services to Iowans, including hard-to-place, at-risk, low-income youth/adults, and unemployed individuals.
By 2018, it is projected that 3 out of every 5 jobs in Iowa will require education/training beyond High school. Currently, only 35.6% of those 25 or over have an associate’s degree (ranking Iowa 26th out of 50 states), and only 25.3% of Iowans have a bachelor’s degree (36th out of 50 states).
AIWP is asking legislators to maintain current investments in adult basic education, provide the Iowa State Board of Education with the authority to adopt additional pathways to achieve a High School Equivalency Diploma, and support polices that eliminate wage theft in Iowa – ensuring that workers are fairly compensated for their labor and services.
For more information visit: http://www.
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Protecting and assisting Iowa’s workforce was a theme among the groups who visited the Capitol Tuesday, and the Association for Career and Technical Achievement fit right in.
During the 2014-2015 school year:
-93% of Iowa CTE high school students graduated
-85% met performance goals for mathematics
-93% met performance goals for technical skills
-and 88% went on to the workforce, the military or an apprenticeship.
ACTE works to en sure that Iowa’s students are ready for college or technical training, and that Iowa’s workforce is prepared for everything the job market requires. I am pleased that they were here today advocating for their causes.
Pictured (right to left): IACTE President, Brad Colton; IACTE Executive Director, Sandra Miller; IACTE Consultant in Family and Consumer Sciences Lisa Stange; and IACTE Consultant in Skilled and Technical Sciences, Andy Wermes.
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The familiar blue jackets with blue and gold insignia of the National FFA Organization (formerly the Future Farmers of America) were a common site Tuesday afternoon at the Statehouse. Students and Teachers from the FFA met with legislators in order to highlight the continuing work they are doing to help educate the next generation of farmers, teachers, doctors and more.
Students from Linn-Mar High School, their Student Teacher Megan Talley and Teacher Barb Lemmer spoke with Legislators about the components of the Linn-Mar programs and the education funding necessary to implement a curriculum for Agricultural Science Education which includes Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs).
To learn more about this successful “hands on” program visit:
http://www.offincome.com/ofi-
Pictured with Rep. Ashley Hinson, and me, are students Ekta Nanda, Chase Krug, Cayce Gudenkauf, Mason Gassman.
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Wednesday was Autism Awareness Day on the Hill. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a diagnosis that effects up to 1 out of every 68 children born in the US. As awareness about this condition increases, so does the size of the annual presence in the Rotunda, and the importance of the issues they are here to raise.
I had the privilege of speaking with Matthew O’Brien, a board member for the Autism Society of Iowa, and Roxanne Cogil, an Autism Society of Iowa board member and Iowa Director of the Epilepsy Foundation.
Among their priorities are:
• support of HSB 41 (Autism Insurance Bill)
• stronger oversight to protect Iowans from potential negative impacts of privatizing Medicaid
• funding health care services for diagnosis, treatment, and care coordination for individuals with Autism. This final issue will require that insurance plans prohibit exclusions for Autism therapy.http://autismia.com/
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One of the most rewarding parts about being a legislator is having the opportunity to interact with so many fellow Iowans whether it is constituents, other legislators, or residents from every corner of the state. No matter who is here to advocate the issues most important to them, it is truly a pleasure to listen and build relationships. Iowans never cease to amaze me.
Wednesday Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EpSCoR) representatives held briefings for legislators. These are truly brilliant people working at Iowa’s three state universities with the goal of making Iowa a global leader in harnessing renewable energy. EPSCoR is an experimental program of the National Science Foundation designed to improve the research capacity of eligible states, making them nationally competitive for future grants.
Here I am speaking with Emily Heaton, an Agronomist specializing in bioenergy at Iowa State, and James Buchholz or the University of Northern Iowa. Emily is working on efforts to find cost effective and efficient ways to produce sustainable energy in Iowa, a program that includes a field of miscanthus grass that many of you may recall is near the Cedar Rapids Airport.
James Buchholz described many of the aerodynamic characteristics associated with wind speed and wind generation. James’ work will reduce the amount of maintenance and increase the efficiency of wind turbines.
I want to thank Emily and James for their work which demonstrates the value of scientific research, both for its own sake, and in strengthening the public/private partnerships between the government and industry that help keep the economy strong for Iowa families.
Pictured here: Emily Heaton PhD, and a portion of her exhibit displaying a research field near the Cedar Rapids airport. In the second picture, Senator Bob Dvorsky and
I look on and listen as James Buchholz PhD explains his research on wind turbines and dynamic Stall.
For more information: https://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/
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The Polk County Medical Society held a legislative reception Wednesday morning and it gave me the opportunity to speak with Doctor, Board Member, and former President of the PCMS, Janine Hendricks, as well as Kathie Lyman, the Executive Director of the PCMS. They highlighted the Volunteer Physician Network.
The PCMS established the VPN in 2002 to provide free specialty care to Iowans who are uninsured, underinsured, or below 200% of the federal poverty level and not eligible for any government funded programs. The VPN consistently grew over 22% each year and is now nearing 2,400 annual referrals – saving the State of Iowa than $5.4 Million annually with a return on investment of 2,471%.
The PCMS encouraged the legislators to maintain funding for the VPN, enhance mental health services, and establish a multi-faceted approach to the growing opioid abuse epidemic in the state.
For additional information: www.pcms.org
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Wednesday was Wear RED day at the Capitol and many legislators, legislative clerks, and support staff participated. This is in support of the American Heart Association and is intended to bring attention to the fact that heart disease is the #1 killer of women, and to raise awareness of women’s heart health.
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Representatives from the Blank Park Zoo visited the Capitol Wednesday, and so did the Humans that came with them. The reptilian guests of honor largely just relaxed on logs while being fed lettuce, but their handlers delivered an annual report to legislators about the health of the zoo.
It was a landmark year for Blank Park Zoo. Not only did they set an all-time audience record of more than 480,000 people and participate in more than 700 educational programs throughout the state (including 79 in Linn County), but they welcomed a newborn Eastern Black Rhino to the Blank Park family. Black Rhinos are a critically endangered species, threatened by shrinking habitat and poaching -only about 1,000 are left alive in the wild.
Blank Park Zoo gives 25 cents from every dollar of admission to conservation programs throughout the world, and participates in a wide range of local, national, and international initiatives aimed at education, conservation, and stewardship of our planet.
My picture was taken while zoo representatives, and a wallaby, prepared the room for legislators.
For more information visit: https://www.blankparkzoo.com/
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Occupational Therapy Assistant students from Kirkwood Community College visited Wednesday afternoon. There are few things as rewarding as listening to impassioned advocacy from young citizens with a vested interest in the issues they support. These students were here to educate legislators about the role of occupational therapists and OT Assistants. They outlined the need for additional OTs and Assistants throughout the state and especially the rural areas where access is limited or absent.
One of their suggested incentives for attracting and keeping OTs and OT Assistants in Iowa would be to offer them tuition assistance – including OT and OTA students in the state’s forgivable loan program if they agree to remain and practice in Iowa. This is certainly a pathway that I would support.
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Members of the Iowa Realtors Association from the Cedar Rapids area came to the Capitol Wednesday afternoon, where the group has a tradition of visiting with local legislators in the balcony of the Iowa House. Their visit was as engaging as usual and the questions and dialog appreciated.
The IAR is seeking support for an initiative called a Home Savings Account – legislation that would create a new State income tax exemption for qualified deposits to a First-time Homebuyer Savings Account. This would allow prospective first-time homebuyers to save money (up to $3,200/year for up to 10 years) to help pay for closing costs or a down payment on a home in Iowa.
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The Capitol grounds-keeping crew may have been self-conscious Thursday morning as the American Society of Landscape Architects visited with legislators in the Rotunda. The landscape plans for projects all over the state of Iowa were on display, including two from the Cedar Rapids area – the Sleeping Giant Pedestrian Bridge with Garret Munch of Shive-Hattery, and the Cedar Lake project with Jim Host of Confluence. Our already beautiful city will benefit immensely from the work these architects and engineers are putting in, and I am very excited to see these projects moving forward in Cedar Rapids.
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Thursday I had the privilege of speaking with the CEO of Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity, Jeff Capps.
Since breaking ground in 1988, CVHFH has worked with thousands of volunteers, partner families, and organizations to build or rehabilitate more than 140 homes in Linn and Benton Counties. HFH is a nationwide leader in building simple, affordable homes for qualified families. The homes are provided with a zero-interest, no-profit mortgage, using volunteer help at every step of the process.
As the divide between the wealthy and the middle class continues to grow in the United States and home ownership becomes a dream that fewer people are able to realize, services like those offered by Habitat for Humanity become more and more important. Please take some time to visit CVHFH’s website and consider donating your time/money to a very worthy cause.
For information visit: www.cvhabitat.org
Pictured below: CVHFH Executive director Jeff Capps, and former Iowa Representative Elesha Gayman, who is now serving as the Director of Development for the Quad Cities branch of HFH
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There are few issues that cut across the partisan divide like advocating for the humane treatment of animals. We love our pets and can’t imagine anything bad happening to them. With that in mind, officials from the Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL) were at the Statehouse Thursday to promote stricter animal cruelty laws in Iowa. Unfortunately, Iowa ranks 49th in the nation for the effectiveness of its animal cruelty laws. Too often we see cases where the penalties don’t fit the crime, and where neglect and abuse go unchecked – due to lax enforcement, generous plea deals, and weak statutes.
Issues the ARL would like us to address:
• Owner exception for abuse needs to be removed – Currently owners cannot be charged with animal abuse per code, instead they are charged with animal neglect, a lesser misdemeanor.
• Provisions for mental health evaluations needed – in 2014, a Drakesville property was discovered to have over 300 neglected and 50 dead animals. The resident was charged with 28 misdemeanor charges of animal neglect and no mental health assessment was ordered. The resident relocated to Missouri, reoffended within months, and was charged with felony animal abuse and convicted. Missouri has stronger animal cruelty laws.
• Plea deals and sentences are often too lenient – in 2015 a Mason City man repeatedly beat his dog with a hammer. When discovered, he claimed it was ill and he was attempting to euthanize it. The dog could not be saved, and was humanely put down by veterinarians due to severe head injuries. The man pled guilty to animal torture, expressed no remorse, and received 60 days in jail and a $625 fine. All but two days of his jail time were suspended.
It’s long past due for the Legislature to strengthen the statutes and provide more protection for our “best friends” and companions.
Pictured: Tom Colvin, Executive Director ARL; and constituent Bernie Lettington, who serves on the ARL Board
For more information about the ARL visit: www.arl-iowa.org
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The Rotunda was filled with activity Thursday morning. Among the organizations present was the Iowa Department of Corrections. In recent years the IDOC has been asked to handle a larger workload with a broader range of responsibilities. Now, with the closing of mental health facilities by the Governor and Republican efforts to reduce funds for mental health services, the IDOC facilities have become de facto treatment centers as well, a responsibility that should never have fallen to them. Not only are they shouldering this burden, but are facing a Republican proposal to cut more than $5 million from the IDOC budget.
Todd Roberts (left), a Training Officer in Iowa’s 6th Judicial District, which includes Cedar Rapids; and Jamey Belt (right) of Iowa’s 3rd Judicial District were here to share information about their services to the community and to ask legislators to keep their budget whole.
For more information visit: http://www.doc.state.ia.us/
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It was great to see John Speer, Superintendent of the College Community School District, one of a large number of local school administrators that I spoke with in the Rotunda Thursday morning, as members of the Iowa Area Education Agencies (AEAs) and superintendents made their annual visit.
In light of the 1.11% School Supplemental Aid (SSA), this is a critical time for every school administrator in the state of Iowa, rural and urban, with another historic low increase in basic funding for public schools. The level of funding proposed at 1.1% next year is the lowest amount in six years. In fact, seven of the last eight years have been the lowest funding levels in the history of the school aid formula in Iowa.
Iowa superintendents said there are severe consequences of inadequate public school funding again next year. The school leaders said they will again be forced to raise class sizes, cut more teachers, and continue to reduce real opportunities for students. They also said under-funding schools again would force them to delay purchases for books and classroom materials (65%); delay new technology (24%); and cut back on literacy programs (27%).
In addition to the impact on Iowa students, setting the SSA at 1.11% means that 179 Iowa school districts (54%) will be forced to raise local property taxes to cover costs.
For more information about our AEAs visit: http://www.iowaaeaonline.org/
Continue Reading the Statehouse News
Iowa Condition of the Guard Address
Republican Lawmakers Pass Education & Cultural Grants Cuts
Teacher Loan Program Influences Teachers to Live in Iowa
Arts Education Promoted at the Capitol
Iowa Utility Board Provides Update
To read the rest of my Statehouse News go to:http://iowahouse.org/
