Government Reorganization Bill
To read the text of the government reorganization bill, click here.
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‘Budget’ Archives
Ethics Approves New Accountability Measures for Lobbyists, Special Interests
In a move to hold special interests and lobbyists accountable, the House Ethics Committee today approved a package of new requirements for lobbyists and special interest groups. Reforms include pre-registration of legislative receptions, requiring special interests to disclose the amount of money they spend on lobbying activities, and expanded powers for the House Ethics Committee.
“The reforms we approved today ensure we collect accurate, relevant data from groups that lobby the Legislature while increasing public access to the information. The bill also gives the Legislature new powers to enforce regulations on lobbyists and their clients who don’t comply with the law,” said State Representative Tyler Olson of Cedar Rapids.
House Study Bill 506 was approved on a 5-0 vote by the House Ethics Committee. The bill now goes to the House floor for debate.
Tough measures will make state government more accountable
Today the two leaders of the Legislature’s Government Reorganization Committee released the first draft of legislation that will transform Iowa’s state government for the first time in almost 25 years.
“According to nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates, these reforms will save tens of millions of dollars,” said State Representative Mary Mascher, chair of the House State Government Committee. “Every dollar we save is a dollar that we don’t need to cut from essential services to people in need. The simple truth, however, is that we should never put off rethinking how we do things and increasing state government efficiency and accountability.”
“We are on track to pass legislation that will ensure that state government will provide better services to Iowans, cut government bureaucracy, and save taxpayers’ dollars,” said Sen. Staci Appel, chair of the Senate State Government Committee. “These proposals closely follow the bipartisan, unanimous recommendations of the State Government Reorganization Commission and include a majority of Governor Culver’s public works proposals. Iowa’s leaders are working together to make bold changes that will also help balance the budget.”
The proposed legislation, SSB 3030, includes e-government innovations, purchasing consolidation and the merger of several state agencies.
The co-chairs said that passage of the ambitious package of reforms is on every legislator’s list of must-do bills.
“Change isn’t easy,” Appel said. “But if we keep listening more to Iowa taxpayers instead of the special interests and government bureaucrats, I believe the Legislature will end up overwhelmingly supporting these reforms.”
The legislation will first be considered by Appel’s Senate State Government Committee. After it is approved by the committee and the Senate as whole, the next stop will be Mascher’s House State Government Committee.
2010 Session Begins: Balanced Budget, Jobs Top Priorities
The 2010 legislative session opened on Monday, January 11th at the State Capitol. House leaders said the session will focus on help for middle class families and small businesses. Priorities include balancing the budget without raising taxes, creating good-paying jobs, strengthening Iowa schools, and making government more accountable and transparent.
The House has two new members this year. Rep. Curt Hanson of Fairfield and Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt of Cedar Rapids were both elected to the Iowa House last fall in special elections.
To listen to opening remarks by House Speaker Pat Murphy, click here.
To listen to opening remarks by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, click here.
2010 Legislature Convenes on Monday
The 2010 Iowa Legislature convenes on Monday, January 11 at 10 AM in Des Moines. There are two new State Representatives serving this year — Curt Hanson of Fairfield and Kirsten Running-Marquardt of Cedar Rapids.
Legislative priorities include help for the middle class and small businesses, creating good-paying jobs, protecting education, and balancing the state budget without raising taxes.
To listen to the opening of the 2010 session, click here.