Capitol Comments

Developing the State Budget

The House and Senate are moving ahead together in the next few weeks to develop the state budget for 2015. Budget leaders have released budget guidelines that seven different subcommittees in each chamber will now use to craft budget bills.

Often called “targets”, these expenditure guidelines for the subcommittees ensure that the Legislature approves a constitutionally required, balanced budget – and one that reflects the priorities of Iowans. While there is a long way to go before all the final compromises are reached, the individual budget subcommittees have begun work on approving expenditure bills. The final numbers will undoubtedly show differences among the Republican House, Democratic Senate, and the Governor’s priorities. When comparing the differences I recall the quote, “Don’t tell me where your priorities are. Show me where you spend your money and I’ll tell you what they are.”  by James W. Frick.

My priorities include:

embrace the values that middle-class Iowans cherish, like access to voluntary early childhood education for every child – giving them the opportunity to enter kindergarten ready to learn.
include improving student achievement in K-12 and keeping higher education affordable for every Iowan.
encompass job training opportunities for workers in apprenticeship programs and tuition grants at community colleges – for education and skills to help Iowans fill jobs in the better-paying shortage areas. A strong middle class means a growing economy with good family-sustaining jobs and innovative supports for sustaining and growing our small businesses.
encourage the use and production of renewable energy like wind, solar, and biofuels.
expand access to high-speed broadband and wi-fi, especially for families and businesses in underserved rural areas.
fully-fund our recent redesign of the mental health system and protect our seniors, so that the most vulnerable Iowans receive the services that they need.
protect and restore our waterways, rivers, lakes, and natural habitats throughout the state.

We can pursue our priorities and keep state government running efficiently while maintaining Iowa’s balanced budget and strong surplus. I’m going to continue working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to build a strong middle class and a promising future for Iowans.

Juvenile Home Issues Edge Forward

The Legislature continues to work on a state facility of last resort for juvenile girls that were adjudicated delinquent. The previous facility, the Iowa Juvenile Home in Toledo, was closed in January. The Governor closed the facility after reports from the media on the treatment of residents of the Juvenile Home. Prior to the closure, the Governor’s task force investigated the claims and made recommendations regarding the changes to the Juvenile Home. However, closing the facility was not one of the recommendations. There is a case before the Iowa Supreme Court regarding the closure of the facility.

The Iowa Senate recently passed Senate File 2322, which establishes a modern residential treatment and education program for juvenile girls adjudicated delinquent by the courts. In addition, the bill works to improve treatment and education services at other state-owned facilities that house youth. Specifically, the bill establishes a publicly administered State Training School for juvenile delinquent girls. The new secure facility must be accredited by the American Correctional Association and be subject to regular assessments by the Department of Inspections and Appeals. It must meet the same standards that are placed on private providers.

In addition, the residential treatment and education program must use gender-responsive and evidence-based services by appropriately trained staff. Both the State Training School for girls and boys are required to develop service plans that recognize the individual treatment and educational needs of youth and consider options to best assist those youth as they transition into adulthood, including ensuring eligibility for wrap around services and access to educational and vocational opportunities.

The bill directs local Area Education Agencies to ensure the provision of accredited educational programming at the State Training Schools and the two Mental Health Institutes that currently provide education, and ensure that necessary funding is provided by the State to support educational programming. The bill is effective upon enactment.

Having passed the Senate, the bill is now eligible for discussion in the Iowa House. I have been looking forward to this discussion since visiting the Iowa Juvenile Home last summer, at a time when management of the facility, training, and the use of isolation rooms were at issue. There is still an ongoing critical need for these services, for these youth, that closure did not and cannot solve. I am looking for House Republican leadership to step up and bring this bill to the floor for discussion and debate.

Students from Cedar Rapid’s Metro high school and Linn-Mar’s Compass high school invited legislators to come by and visit their tables in the Capitol’s rotunda for the Alternative High School Legislative Day. Students showcased the robotics program and their marketing efforts. They asked legislators to support alternative and at-risk program opportunities for students – along with Allowable Growth. Compass teachers: Pat Lampe and Bernie Kraft. Metro teachers: Shannon Ellis and Chuck Tonelli. With Representative Kirsten Running-Marquardt

Constituent Bob Hebl, Executive Director of Discovery Living, stopped by the capitol to discuss the mental health redesign transition funds and the need to have this fully funded. We also spoke about expansion of community-based employment for people with disabilities, progress of Linn County Options task force, and the work of Linn County Community Partnership in getting individuals enrolled in the new health care programs. Discovery Living- and Bob Hebl – are tremendous assets to Linn County!

Three years ago, I spoke with Music Therapist Lindsey Wilhelm while on the door-knocking trail. I learned about MTs desire for state licensure to elevate their profession, ensure the public safety, determine education and experience requirements, and provide licensing oversight of their practices- setting higher standards and uniformity. We celebrated Music Therapy Day on the Hill this week and although we were unable to get their bill passed again this year, we will continue to educate other legislators of the value of this piece of legislation, improve it, and file it again in 2015. Senator Liz Mathis, shown here with a group of music therapists, sponsored a companion bill in the Senate.

Speaking about recycling with Joe Horaney, C.R. Solid Waste Agency Communications Director; Troy Willard, Co-Owner of The Can Shed; and Teresa Kurtz, Exec. Dir. of Iowa Recycling Assoc. There is drive-up and drop-off service for recycling at Linn County’s solid waste site. Learn more here: https://www.solidwasteagency.org/#/residential/ Discussion also included the success of curb-side glass recycling in Cedar Rapids, corrugated recycling and the diminished quantity of recyclable aluminum cans due to weather extremes and drop in consumption. You can take your cans here: http://www.canshed.com/

At the Coalition for Family and Children’s Services legislative reception, I enjoyed visiting with President and CEO of Four Oaks, Jim Ernst. We discussed something I’m quite familiar with- on-site teaching of children at Four Oaks and Tanager Place. Apparently there are new issues regarding the question, “Who pays for classroom space at residential treatment centers and off-campus school sites?” Should it be the non-profits or the state agencies? Discussions are taking place in the Dept of Ed and the Dept of Human Services. Legislation may be required. I’m pretty certain that public education is the role of the state and DOE would have this responsibility.

Constituent and Executive Director of Hemophilia of Iowa, Inc., Sue Grant invited me to participate in their workshop, “The Power of Advocacy.” I learned more about bleeding disorders, the cost and availability of factor, and listened to HOI families share their stories. We had an informative discussion about how to contact legislators and deliver an effective message. Bleeding disorders can be extremely expensive for Iowa families, and the new insurance rules and regulations are complex. These families need our continued support.

Regional Director for Iowa Small Business Development Centers, Scott Swenson, spoke with me about the business start-up event last weekend with 80 participants. Great to hear of the growth of entrepreneurial endeavors in Linn County! The Iowa SBDC is a nationally accredited service provider for entrepreneurs. Last year, they served more than 7,000 Iowans through a network of 13 regional service centers. To learn more about how SBDC can you assist you with small business needs: http://www.iowasbdc.org/services/regional-centers

Iowa Pride Network’s Student Day Legislative Reception was well attended. They came to meet with their legislators and discuss the issues in HF2409 dealing with bullying in our schools. These brave young people were excited to be at the capitol today and participate in the democratic process. It was an honor to speak with them.

Tom Slater, U of I College of Public Health Board of Advisors, and Chris Atchison, Director of U of I State Hygienic Laboratory, spoke with me about the role of the university in research, new technologies and entrepreneurial development. I received another invitation to visit the Hygienic labs in Iowa City – can’t wait to tour it and see the exciting work being done in the Creative Corridor!

(Tom is also Founder and CEO of State Public Policy Group in West Des Moines. More info here:http://www.sppg.com/index.php )

United Way of Central Iowa sponsored an event about the significance of chronic absenteeism on student performance. Had a good visit with educators, social workers and policy makers, including Senior Program Manager of the State Public Policy Group, Michelle Rich. I learned more about a program called Attendance Works, which has a mission of advancing student success by reducing school absences.

At the 2nd Annual Iowa Agricultural Leader’s Dinner at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. This was a celebration of Iowa’s agriculture with our state elected officials, farmers, agri-business and industry leaders, FFA and 4H members, and many more. Nice to reconnect with my “foster farm dad” Lindsey Greiner. I look forward to good agricultural experiences in July on Lindsey’s farm.

Good visit with Julie Jackson of the Iowa Society for Respiratory Care. We discussed a bill up for debate this week in the House. It provides for the licensing of polysomnographic technologists. There are issues regarding scope of practice and licensure exemptions. Hopefully, we can resolve the issues and get a good, compromise bill before the vote.

Tammy Wheeler is the General Manager for Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company. Tammy was representing the Iowa Communications Alliance at the Capitol and sharing the 2014 legislative issues regarding HF 2329 and SF 2324. Here are some of the priorities: public policy should encourage investment in high-speed broadband Internet services, particularly in undeserved and unserved areas; Iowa Communications Network should be utilized to reach unserved Iowans; incentives to address cash flow, access to capital, operations costs and consumer demand challenges should be included.

Foot and Ankle specialist, Dr. Gene Nassif and Executive Director of the Iowa Podiatric Medical Society, Kevin Kruse, spoke with me about their 2014 legislative agenda. Key points include: Medicaid reimbursement rates and opposition to the Iowa Board of Nursing proposal to expand their scope of practice as reflected in Senate Study Bill 3009. We also discussed how insurance company determination of primary care can affect private practice and perhaps generate competition for physicians between hospitals.