- Feb. 23, Des Moines; Utilities Board Building Hearing Room, 1375 E. Court Ave.
- Feb. 28, Davenport; Modern Woodman Park, Suites 10 & 11, 209 S. Gaines St.
- March 1, Waterloo; Peterson Town Hall, Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial St.
- March 6, Sioux City; Briar Cliff College, Stark Student Center, 3303 Rebecca St.
- March 8, Iowa City; Johnson County Fairgrounds, Montgomery Hall, 4261 Oak Crest Hill Road SE
- March 13, Council Bluffs; Council Bluffs Library, Rooms A & B, 400 Willow Ave.
Statehouse News
January 13, 2012
In this Issue:
2012 Session Begins; Jobs, Economy Top Priority
Veterans Day at the Capitol on January 18th
Governor Releases Budget Recommendations
Chief Justice: Sound Court System Can Achieve Economic Prosperity
We Want to Hear from You
MidAmerican Energy Asking for a Rate Increase
2012 Session Begins; Jobs, Economy Top Priority
The 2012 legislative session opened on Monday, January 9th with agreement that jobs and growing Iowa’s economy should be the top priority this year. In opening day speeches from legislators and the Governor, Iowans heard that finding common ground and compromise will be the key to making the 2012 session a success.
Legislators have already begun to outline plans to help businesses create jobs by reducing property taxes on Iowa small businesses, reforming education, and expanding Iowa’s skilled workforce. Legislators will also look to continue expanding Iowa’s renewable energy industry, which has already created thousands of good-paying jobs that can’t be moved to another state or country.
2012 Session Survey
There are a host of other topics that may be considered this year and I’d like to get your ideas and suggestions. Please click on the link below to take my 2012 session survey.
http://interspire.iowahdc.info/surveys.php?id=7
Veterans Day at the Capitol on January 18th
The annual Veterans Day at the Capitol is coming up on Wednesday, January 18th. All service members, veterans, and their families are welcomed and encouraged to come. The day will give Iowans concerned about veteran’s issues a chance to meet with their legislators and other veterans.
The Iowa Veterans Coalition sponsors the Day at the Capitol, which includes events where you can learn about the latest legislative activity in Des Moines, hear from key policy makers, visit with event vendors about veteran-related services, and meet with your elected officials to make your voice heard on the key issues affecting veterans.
In addition, that day, Major General Timothy Orr, the Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard, will address the Iowa Legislature on the Condition of the Iowa National Guard. Since September 11, 2001, more than 16,000 soldiers and airmen of the Iowa National Guard have served in the ongoing campaigns in Iraq, Afghanistan, peacekeeping duties in the Balkans and the Sinai Peninsula, and emergency response missions in Iowa and across the country. Iowa is in the midst of what is the largest, single unit call-up in Iowa since World War II. During 2011, there are over 3,000 Iowa National Guard Soldiers deployed overseas.
Each year, the Legislature looks at new ways to honor and support active military personnel, veterans, and their families. We all understand the sacrifice they make in serving.
During last year’s legislative session, the Iowa Legislature passed several laws to honor and assist military soldiers, veterans, and their families. One of the laws allows an Iowa National Guard member, who is called to active duty, to assign physical care parenting time to a relative while deployed. The assignment of visitation or physical care parenting time must be done in the best interest of the child. The law took effect April 12, 2011.
In addition, the Legislature adopted legislation intended to better locate returning veterans and ensure they are notified of the eligible services and programs for them. The law requires the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) to send monthly reports to county VA commissions of recently discharged service members.
For more information about Veterans Day at the Capitol, contact the IDVA at 1-800-838-4692.
Governor Releases Budget Recommendations
Governor Branstad is proposing a 3.8% increase in funding for the state general fund budget for fiscal year 2013. The Governor’s budget recommendations call for $6.244 billion to be spent from the state general fund, an increase of $230 million from the previous year’s budget. The proposed budget leaves a surplus of $296 million.
Only two of the three major initiatives being considered by the Legislature this session are funded in the Governor’s budget. The Governor recommends $17.8 million for mental health and disability services redesign and $17 million for education reform, but provides no funding for commercial property tax reform in fiscal year 2013.
The Governor’s budget provides modest increases for education funding as the K-12 school funding will provide $24.7 million more, the State universities will share in $23 million in additional funding, and community colleges receive a $4 million increase in general state aid.
An additional $48.8 million is being recommended by the Governor to help with the rising cost of Medicaid, which is serving a growing population of Iowa’s most vulnerable children, families and seniors with health care costs. The Governor also recommends $20 million to continue assistance for county mental health services.
Finally, the Governor is proposing the creation of a $25 million fund to replace Iowa’s main job creation program, the Iowa Values Fund, which is set to sunset on June 30, 2012. This money will be direct subsidies to businesses as it will supplement the existing High Quality Jobs Program under the Economic Development Authority.
The Legislature will begin to develop its own set of budget recommendations next week.
Chief Justice: Sound Court System Can Achieve Economic Prosperity
Chief Justice Mark Cady delivered the annual State of the Judiciary to a joint session of the Iowa House and Senate this week. The chief justice cited a recent World Bank study that the most important aspect to economic success and strength in a country was the presence of a fair and impartial rule of law.
He noted that the study found the efficiency of the system, transparency, and lack of corruption were all factors that led to an environment of business confidence in a country. Cady noted that forefathers of both the country and Iowa recognized the need for a well-maintained court system to foster business and protect property.
The chief justice pointed out that the United States Chamber of Commerce ranked Iowa one of the most fair and impartial systems in the nation. The courts have also taken steps to make the process more transparent, including steaming Iowa Supreme Court oral arguments, online court documents and increased use of the Electronic Document Management System, and holding Supreme Court oral arguments across the state.
Chief Justice Cady noted several new efforts by the courts, such as a Supreme Court task force on civil justice reform and increased use of drug courts.
We Want to Hear from You
The Legislature wants to hear from Iowans about suggestions for improving state government. A public comment website is created for you provide your comments on ways the state can reduce waste and save taxpayers money.
• A direct link to submit government improvement suggestions is at this website address: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/APPS/Feedback/ResponseForm.aspx?qid=2
• A separate link to view the moderated responses can be found at this website address: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/APPS/Feedback/ResponseListing.aspx?qid=2
Legislators will look at all comments and proposals made and will work on legislation during the 2012 session that will save taxpayers additional money through state government efficiencies.
MidAmerican Energy Asking for a Rate Increase
MidAmerican Energy Company has publicly announced that they will file for an electric rate increase with the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) in February. In response to this announcement, the IUB has scheduled six public comment meetings to be held in February and March.
According to MidAmerican, the rate increase will be between 3 and 4 percent, and it will be the first electric rate increase in 16 years for the company’s 770,000 customers across Iowa. Currently, the average electric rate is 8.24 cents per kilowatt hour; a 4 percent increase would increase that to 8.57 cents per kilowatt hour.
All of the public comment meetings will begin at 5:30pm at the locations listed below.