Iowa House of Representatives

The 2008 legislative session adjourned for the year last week with a fiscally responsible, balanced budget and continued progress in health care, education and good-paying jobs highlighted by Democratic Leaders.

“We produced a balanced state budget with a modest 4.5 percent increase over last year. Our state savings accounts are full and at the highest level in Iowa history. We have also repaid $263 million of the $300 million we owe to the Senior Living Trust Fund,” said House Speaker Pat Murphy of Dubuque. “Democrats pledged to produce a fiscally responsible budget again this year and we kept our promise using sound budgeting principles.” More →

Ray Zirkelbach was elected to his second term in the Iowa House of Representatives in 2006. In 2005, Ray was called to active duty by the US Army and began serving in Iraq, and consequently he missed the 2006 and 2007 legislative sessions. He is an Infantryman with CO A 1/133rd Infantry in Dubuque, IA. He is a Veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. He received the Purple Heart for wounds received in Combat in August 2006 in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.

Ray serves as the Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee and also serves on the Agriculture, Labor, and Public Safety Committees as well as the Justice Systems Budget Subcommittee.

Ray is a correctional counselor at the Anamosa State Prison and a soldier in the National Guard. More →

• HF 901, bouncer bill
• SF 2406, boards and commissions
• HF 2693, unemployment insurance adjudications
• SF 2400, administration and regulation budget
• HF 2679, Educatin budget
• SF 2132, disposition of seized property
• SF 2424, IPERS system

Cindy Winckler is serving her fourth term in the Iowa House. She has been a member of Economic Development budget subcommittee, ranking member of Labor and Industrial Relations committee, and ranking member of Education budget subcommittee. She currently as the Chair of the Education Budget Subcommittee and also serves on the Appropriations, Education, Judiciary, and Labor Committees.

Cindy Winckler was born in Des Moines, Iowa. She moved to Davenport when she was young, and has continued to be a part of the Davenport community through her adult years. Public service has been a part of her family background. Her dad owned the snack bar at the Scott County Court House, through an agreement with the county and the disabled veterans organization. Her mother was a long-time deputy city clerk and city alderman. More →

• HF 2698, delinquent debt owed to gov’t agencies
• SF 2422, energy independence initiatives
• SF 2427, loybbying activities of state agencies
• SF 2417, Healthy Iowans Tobacco Trust appropriations
• HF 2660, Justice Systems Appropriations
• Economic Development Appropriations
• HF 2463, payment of wages
• HF 2693, employer’s participation in unemployment insurance adjudications
• HF 2690, student loan protections