Capitol Comments

We are just wrapping up week 2 of the session. It was a short legislative work week because of the Martin Luther King Day of Service on Monday and the caucuses on Tuesday night. Thanks to all of you who volunteered on the MLK day of service this year and helped make a positive difference in your community. And thanks to all of you who attended the caucuses and who are closely involved in the democratic process in your voting precincts and neighborhoods.

Additionally, Wednesday was Veterans Day at the Capitol. Veterans and their families from across Iowa came to talk to legislators about a variety of issues related to military families and veterans. I met with many constituents and learned of new ways to assist our service members, veterans, and their families.

We held a ceremony to honor veterans and other service members. The Director of Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, Col. Robert King, the Chair of the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs, Kate Myers, MG Timothy Orr of the Iowa National Guard, and members of the Legislature spoke during the ceremony.

Thanks to all Iowa veterans and your families for your service and sacrifice. I am honored to be a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee in the Iowa House.

Survey Results

Thanks to all who completed the 2014 session survey this year. I sincerely appreciate getting input from you and the responses were great. Here are just a few highlights from the survey:

• 90% said the Legislature should expand job training opportunities at community colleges to address Iowa’s skilled worker shortage
• 86% said we should pass another tuition freeze this year to keep college affordable
• 85% support expanding the production of wind, solar, and biofuels to create good jobs
• 79% support expanding access to early childhood education
• 72% said we should raise the minimum wage
• 65% believe we should cut taxes for the middle class
• 61% said we should make sure every Iowan has access to high-speed broadband internet access or wireless

Elder Abuse Prevention Proposals

Iowa is one of the few states without specific elder abuse laws. During the fall of 2013, the legislative Elder Abuse Prevention and Intervention Study Committee met to review the progress report of the 2013 Elder Abuse and Prevention Task Force.

The Task Force released their final report with detailed recommendation areas:

• Elder abuse definition and law
• Safeguards from financial exploitation
• Specialized education and trainings for mandatory reporters and professionals
• Powers of attorney, conservatorship abuse, and an Office of Substitute Decision Maker
• Single point of entry

The goals are to provide for the prevention, detection, intervention, and correction of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, through the creation of an elder abuse law and intervention services that work in partnership with the current laws such as dependent adult abuse, domestic violence, and criminal investigations.

The recommendations are being drafted into legislation that will be considered during the current legislative session. The full report can be found at this link: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/APPS/AR/A551AA87-C9D2-40CD-9C1D-0BB9B5A5483A/SF%20446%20Elder%20Abuse%20
Task%20Force%20Final%20Report%20(2013).pdf.

River Restoration in Iowa is Necessary

Based on the number of public comments from Iowans across the state, plus the information received from agencies, landowners, and other entities involved in river restoration, the joint House and Senate Legislative Committee studying Iowa’s rivers and waterways made it clear that river and waterway restoration is necessary.

Restoration of Iowa’s rivers will provide numerous benefits to water quality and wildlife habitat in Iowa and should continue be a focus and a priority of state government.

The committee recommended that the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship develop a plan that builds upon current and emergent efforts – a plan that will identify and facilitate meaningful and effective river restoration priorities. The departments are also to continue to initiate and cooperate in demonstration projects with local landowners and watershed groups to provide examples of options and outcomes that could address a range of restoration needs and opportunities.

The joint House/Senate interim committee unanimously adopted these recommendations at their final meeting on Thursday, January 16. More information can be found at: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/committees/committee?ga=85&session=2&groupID=19055.

Other News

A group of mothers with children who have mental health issues visited the State Capitol this week. They talked to legislators about county mental health funding as well as ending the waiting list for over 1,600 kids who need mental health services.

Former students and staff from the Iowa Juvenile Home testified at the State Capitol on Wednesday and encouraged lawmakers to re-open. Many girls from the IJH have been moved out of state for treatment.

The 2014 Condition of Education report was released this week with mixed results. While some progress was made, the most striking figure in the report shows the number of kids in poverty in Iowa has increased dramatically, rising from 27% a decade ago to 41% this year.

First Tech Challenge — Iowa: Qualifier Tournament

Sponsored by Rockwell Collins, The U of I College of Engineering, and Kennedy High School Robotics.

Metro High School’s team is always an imaginative, inventive group – a lot of creativity goes into these competitions!

Jefferson High School team pausing for a photo while making minute adjustments to their robot.

Mt. Vernon Comm. High School’s team, Born to be Wired, discussing strategies and teamwork

This is a competition pic – lots of excitement in the air!

At the League of Women Voters Legislative forum, I met with Jeff Tourdot, Linn County’s Outreach Specialist for ACA applications, and Susan Cardoza, Linn Community Care Outreach Coordinator. I learned that Susan will be developing outreach materials in Spanish to better communicate and support our Hispanic population in Linn County. Kudos for their efforts to assist Iowans in obtaining health insurance!

Hosted a meeting with local community leaders (including Bill Hood and Nelson Evans) in my home, regarding the disproportionate number of young, black men incarcerated in Iowa prisons and the impact of being labeled a “felon” after serving time. We discussed the negative economic impact for our state with increased recidivism as well as the difficulties confronting felons with employment, housing, voting and other hardships after serving time and returning to the community. We also discussed the “school-to-prison pipeline” – a progressive series of failures and law enforcement encounters that too many of our minority children experience. We agreed to pursue these issues in the legislature and search for practical and achievable solutions, finding a way to successfully reintegrate “felons” back into our communities as fully productive and engaged citizens.

Gail Orcutt has a compelling argument for radon testing — she’s a two-year lung cancer survivor who’s never smoked. Exposure to radon is attributed as the cause of her disease. I am supportive of radon testing in Iowa’s schools. Our kids are the most precious gift.

Kaplan University President (and constituent), Susan Spivey, visited us at the capitol today. Susan addressed the issue of higher education affordability and tuition assistance for low-income students. Great education for all Iowans is the key to Iowa’s future.

Robin Mixdorf, CEO of Meth-wick Community, spoke with me on a variety of senior’s issues, including: skilled nursing facilities, Medicare/Medicaid co-payments for low-income Iowans, and adult day service that offers meals, medicines, baths & social activities for the elderly. I also learned about plans for a therapy pool at their complex which will provide physical and aquatic therapy for their residents. Great things happening at Meth-Wick!

It is such a tremendous honor to serve on the House Veterans Committee. Wednesday was Veterans Day on the Hill, and it was great to see folks from back home! Don Tyne, Director of Linn Co Veterans Affairs, sought out Senator Hogg and myself to discuss jobs and housing for veterans. I visited with Marine Corp veterans, John Powers and Howard Purdy, about issues regarding disabled veterans. There are many issues to address this legislative session!

Continue Reading the Statehouse News

To read the rest of my Statehouse News go to: http://iowahouse.org/StatehouseNews/1-24-14