Statehouse News

From the Capitol to You

Thursday, April 30, was scheduled as the last day of the 2015 Session.

The clerks are going home, but legislators will continue to meet.  Spouse-clerks are allowed to stay and work with their legislator, but without pay, so Susan will continue in her critical role.

Even after the remaining policy bills on the House calendar are debated in the House, much more remains to be done.  One of the primary functions of the Iowa Legislature is to set the budget for the …

Schools Forced to Raise Class Size & Property Taxes

With no end in sight to the school funding crisis, Iowa Superintendents said that at least 298 teachers will receive pink slips this month and another 405 school positions will go unfilled next year. With about half of superintendents reporting so far, 2/3 of those school districts will also be forced to raise property taxes next year.

Last week, Iowa school districts were compelled by law to certify their budget for the upcoming school year without knowing how …

Capitol Comments

The final 2015 legislative forum hosted by the League of Women Voters is scheduled for

Saturday, April 18, 10:30 – 11:45 AM

Mercy Medical Center, 701 10th Street SE, Cedar Rapids
Hallagan Education room

I hope you can attend. This is an important opportunity for you to ask Linn County legislators about issues important to you, including adequate funding for schools and mental health reforms.  Please join me!

Students, parents and educators from across Des Moines held handmade signs and posters at the Statehouse today to visit with legislators …

Capitol Comments

Public Forum

A Community Discussion on: “Where is Iowa’s Mental Health Care Going?”

Sunday, April 12th at 3:00 pm

Lovely Lane United Methodist Church –  Intersection of Wenig Road & 42nd St. NE

Panel participants:  Senator Liz Mathis, Representative Dave Heaton, Linn County Supervisor Ben Rodgers, Kent Jackson of Unity Point Mental Health and Dan Strellner, President of Abbe, Inc.

This forum is Co-Sponsored by Lovely Lane United Methodist Church, Representative Art Staed and the League of Women Voters.

School Funding Delay Slows Budget Process

We have completed our thirteenth week …

Capitol Comments

Public Forum

A Community Discussion on: “Where is Iowa’s Mental Health Care Going?”

Sunday, April 12th at 3:00 pm

Lovely Lane United Methodist Church –  Intersection of Wenig Road & 42nd St. NE

Panel participants:  Senator Liz Mathis, Representative Dave Heaton, Linn County Supervisor Ben Rodgers, Kent Jackson of Unity Point Mental Health and Dan Strellner, President of Abbe, Inc.

This forum is Co-Sponsored by Lovely Lane United Methodist Church, Representative Art Staed and the League of Women Voters.

“We Will Meet You Half-Way”

Democratic Legislators offered a compromise this week …

Action on the Floor

Another busy week in the Iowa House with continued subcommittee work, budget appropriations testimony and full debate on dozens of bills that have made their way to the floor for consideration by the 100 members.  Debate on a single bill, HF 549, lasting one and a half days!  HF 549 is an act relating to collective bargaining arbitration proceedings involving employees of school districts and area education agencies.  The long debate on HF 549 was justifiable as it would impact the quality …

Rep. Dave Heaton Calls on Branstad to Keep Mental Health Facilities Open

Representative Dave Heaton, of Mount Pleasant, lambasted Governor Branstad for going ahead with the closing of the Mental Health Institutes in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant in a speech on the floor of the House this week.  He immediately received a standing ovation from both Democratic and Republican colleagues throughout the Chamber.

Legislators have been working to enhance community-based services for the mentally ill and it is too soon, before the capacity is built, to shift …

Increase the Pay for Low-Wage Iowa Workers

According to the Iowa Policy Project, 181,000 Iowans would benefit from an increase to the minimum wage under a proposal approved by the Iowa Senate this week:

72 percent are over the age of 20.
59 percent are women.
20 percent have children.

It’s been seven years since Iowans have seen an increase to the state’s minimum wage. No other state has lingered at $7.25 per hour longer than Iowa. Five out of six states surrounding Iowa have a higher minimum wage. By …

Statehouse News
PUBLIC FORUM SATURDAY

Saturday, February 21, 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.  The League of Women Voters legislative forum will be held at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids.  I hope you can attend and let me know what legislative issues are important to you.

More High School Students Earning College Credit

A new Iowa Dept. of Education report, published last week, indicated that Iowa High school students lead the nation in gaining college credit before graduation.   In 2014, a record 42,996 students made an early start on their …

I’m Listening to You

As your state Iowa Representative, an essential part of my job is to gather feedback and listen to your ideas and concerns, and to keep you informed of the key issues and bills that come before the Iowa House.

When session began, I asked you what you thought about some of the important issues in the Iowa Legislature and asked for you to share your priorities for the 2015 session. My thanks to all of you who responded to the survey.

An overwhelming majority …