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 …

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 …

Capitol Comments
In the House Chamber

This week we considered, debated and passed bills on the floor of the House. You may recall that last week was the first “funnel” where bills had to be passed out of the committees and be brought to the House floor for debate if they were to be considered any further.

The next deadline will be in about two weeks – about 10 working days.  Bills on the path to becoming law must pass the House or Senate and be out of …

Capitol Comments
Expanding Broadband Access to More Iowans

As technology demands high-speed internet access, the House Commerce Committee unanimously approved a new plan to expand broadband internet access to more Iowans. While the plan is still being developed, legislators and the Governor are working together to find new ways to get more Iowa communities on-line with increasing internet speeds.

The bill, House Study Bill 515, includes a property tax exemption that would apply to new installation of broadband infrastructure completed on or after July 1, 2014, through December …

Capitol Comments

We’re just wrapping up Week 3 of the legislative session with committee meetings, subcommittee meetings and more meetings being held throughout the day to hammer out issues and get the “surviving” bills ready for debate on the House Floor. Each bill gets a lot of scrutiny from legislators, lobbyists and the public before it becomes law. This arduous process helps to ensure that legislators foresee and understand the impacts, intended and unintended, that each bill has on Iowans – limiting the likelihood that bad …

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 …

Capitol Comments
Lawmakers Pledge to Work Together to Grow Middle Class

When the 2014 Legislative Session opened this week we, legislators, pledged to work together to build a strong middle class, support Iowa education, adequately fund our mental health and health care systems, repair and maintain our roads and bridges, and protect our Iowa natural resources.

We outlined this year’s priorities that would provide more economic security to Iowa families. These priorities include expanding job training and apprenticeships so Iowans can get the skills they need to land …