Capitol Comments

Local Forum

Saturday, April 19, 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.
League of Women Voters Legislative Forum
Mercy Medical Center, 701 10th Street SE, in Cedar Rapids

The forum topic is “Youth & Adolescent Mental Health Issues.” Panelists will include mental health providers who will discuss issues affecting youth and adolescent mental health in the current MH/DD redesign and funding environment.

Budget Time at Capitol

One of the first budgets that the House and Senate may be considering next week is from the Administration & Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee. Admin. & Reg. funds a group of state agencies & salaries. Included are departments of Human Rights, Secretary of State, Inspections & Appeals, Racing & Gaming, Management, Revenue, Iowa Public Information Board, Treasurer, Auditor, Governor’s Office, Commerce, Ethics & Campaign Disclosure and others. Employees of these agencies inspect restaurants and nursing homes, review your tax forms, protect your human rights, check campaign expenditures, and a myriad of other services. They are the state’s front line service providers to Iowans.

As a member of this Appropriations Subcommittee, I look forward to the debate and final passage of this budget on the House floor.

Celebrating 25 Years of REAP

Preservation of our resources is vital to Iowa’s future. In 1989, the Legislature created the Resource Enhancement & Protection (REAP) program. REAP looks after Iowa’s natural resources and cultural history through land and habitat protection, state and local park improvements, soil and water quality projects, funding for conservation, and cultural and historical organizations.

REAP is a long-term, integrated effort to protect and wisely use Iowa’s natural resources. Funding is used for the acquisition and management of public lands; improving our water quality through soil and water enhancement projects; upgrading our city, county, and state parks and trails; and supporting environmental education, museums, and roadside beautification.

Public participation is a key part of REAP. Hundreds of Iowans gather every other year in regional and statewide meetings to discuss Iowa’s natural, cultural, and recreational resources and show their support programs.

Since its inception in 1989, Linn County has been able to pay for nearly a quarter of the cost associated with creating and maintaining the natural spaces in our community. Funding the REAP program is a positive investment for the State of Iowa that each and every resident can see personally in their communities.
For 25 years, REAP has supported 14,535 projects in all 99 counties. The investment of state funds has leveraged two to three times as much in private, local and federal money to improve our state. REAP projects fall into seven categories: State Open Spaces, City Parks and Opens Spaces, Soil and Water Conservation, County Conservation, Land Management, Historical Resources, and Roadside Vegetation.

This year, the Legislature should continue Iowa’s commitment to REAP with funding that reflects the value of this hugely successful program.

Learn more about REAP at www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/REAP.aspx.

Child Care Assistance Helps Grow the Middle Class

The Legislature is considering a plan to help working families continue to work while going to school and still receive assistance for child care. The goal is to assist parents who need to gain new skills and land a job that pays better wages.

Currently, parents who meet certain low-income guidelines must work a minimum 28 hours per week or be in an approved education program a minimum of 28 hours per week to receive child care assistance (CCA).

The proposed plan would expand the program in two ways. First, parents could work or go to school for a combined 28 hours per week to qualify for Child Care Assistance. Secondly, the bill would extend the eligibility period from six months to twelve months. Both provisions make it easier for a family to qualify for the needed program and remain in the program longer without having to renew participation in the program.

Many legislators, like me, believe it should be expanded statewide, while the House majority party wants to limit the change to just four counties under a pilot program, which would include Hamilton, Lee, Pottawattamie, and Scott counties.

A state-wide plan would better help parents continue working and/or going to school without worrying about finding/losing child care every 6 months. The bill is now in the Senate, for consideration of the House changes.

To find out more information about CCA, use the following link:http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/Consumers/Child_Care/CCAssistance/CCAforConsumers.html.

Iowans Encouraged to Use Free File Tax System

The Iowa Department of Revenue urges you to use the Iowa Free File program to file your taxes this year. The program is not just for low income tax filers. If you have an adjusted gross income of up to $58,000 you can use the software to prepare and file your tax returns.

The program offered includes some name-brand software titles, including OLT.com, TaxAct, TaxSlayer, H&R Block, Turbo Tax, or Liberty Tax Service. Iowa taxes can be prepared by this software and filed online.

Standing-room only at the D.M. Franklin Library to hear about climate change and environmental issues from Rhode Island Senator Whitehouse. (My state senator, Rob Hogg, had the honor of introducing him.)

Iowa is a national leader in the production of alternative, sustainable energy…and Iowa will soon be the epicenter for presidential candidates. Environmental issues are certain to be at the core of future political discussions.

Cedar Rapids neighbors at the capitol lobbying for conservation, protection of our natural resources and climate control, on the 25th Anniversary of REAP. Great to discuss these important issues with Marian Arens, Judy Ryan, Sunny Story and Thea Leslie. As more evidence in support of human-induced climate change is brought to light, the “climate” seems to be changing at the political level also, as we begin to have these conversations across the aisle. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/the-curious-wavefunction/2014/01/10/about-that-consensus-on-global-warming-9136-agree-one-disagrees/See More

Good questions from voters at the Linn County League of Women Voters forum. Constituent Amy Reasner did a great job moderating the discussion which included: funding education, closing of the Iowa Juvenile Home, 2014 legislative budget targets, and mental health reform. Bernie Lettington spoke with me about a neuter/spay bill which provides assistance to pet owners who can’t afford this service. Spoke with Kay Hale about busing and student transportation issues. I am appreciative of this opportunity to connect with voters!

Discussing trails and tourism with Linn County Conservation Board Director, Dan Biechler, and Deputy Director, Dennis Goemaat. Connecting Eastern Iowa communities as part of the American Discovery Trail would directly serve over 356,000 people. Susan and I enjoy the Root River Trail in Minnesota and the Katy Trail in Missouri. I’d rather keep tourism dollars in Iowa by riding and enjoying Iowa’s trails. Linn County trails map: http://linncountytrails.org/maps/interactive-google-map/ Hopefully, we can fund Resource Enhancement And Protection that wold benefit Iowa businesses, employees, families and out-of-state visitors. It means clean water, natural lands, recreational opportunities, historic sites, cultural activities and economic vitality.

Karine McFall is a student at the Iowa Dept. for the Blind. She, along with other students, came to the capitol to discuss the importance of funding the school. Karine had been depressed and stuck at home as she struggled with a degenerative eye disease. Fortunately, the Iowa Dept. for the Blind has given her new job skills and confidence as she learns to readjust to life with diminished eye sight. Vocational Rehabilitation, Business Enterprises, Adult Orientation & Adjustment Center….these are just a few of the important resources the dept. provides. The Department for the Blind deserves our funding support.

Jason Boucher, VP of Client Services at ZLR Ignition, spoke with me about taxes on advertising services. I learned that the American Advertising Federation has partnered with Iowa Food Gardening to develop a social marketing campaign aimed to 1) encourage low-resource Iowans to consider food gardening to increase their food security and 2) encourage gardeners to plant or harvest extra to donate to food pantries. Another great example of a collaborative effort to reduce Iowan’s food insecurity!

Sarah Danen is Vice President of Mission Advancement for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. MS is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that interrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body. Most are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, and affects at least 2-3 times more women than men. More than 4,500 Iowans are living with MS. To contribute and bring awareness, I hope you can participate in the MS Society Cedar Rapids Walk this May. Together, we can make a difference!

Instead of Blue or Red, the Iowa House went Green! We were delighted to be visited by Deputy Michelle Mulherin, T.D., Emmetsburg’s 2014, an Irish Dignitary. Ms. Mulherin spoke about democracy, the heritage of St. Patrick and the Irish economy which is rebounding. No blarney – it’s great to have a strong and productive relationship with our neighbors across the sea. Éirinn go Brách