Iowa House of Representatives

State Representative Nathan Reichert of Muscatine was featured on essentialestrogen.com talking about environmental efforts passed during the 2007 legislative session.  From the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council to the Energy City Designation Program to the Iowa Power Fund and Energy Independence Plan, 2007 was a great year for the environment.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette also ran a front page story Monday about construction of new energy efficient buildings in Iowa.  The story cites several examples of business and schools designed to reduce the impact on our environment and save money on energy costs.

Green movement is changing design
By David DeWitte, The Gazette

Car shoppers have been gazing for years at little yellow Environmental Protection Agency mileage estimate stickers that indicate the kind of fuel economy you might expect from driving a particular model of car.

Ever notice that the mileage you got on your latest car wasn’t quite what the sticker indicated?

Now imagine if you could design your own car to achieve the level of fuel economy you sought and later work with the EPA to certify that the car met your objectives.

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There have been some changes to House Democratic Caucus committee assignments.  We are making a spreadsheet available for download.  The sheet is organized “by committee”.

[Click Here to Download XLS Document]

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Iowa House of Representatives
STATEHOUSE NEWS — October 31, 2007
[PDF Download]

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

• County Grant Program for Veterans

• Regents Universities and Credit Cards

• Health Commission Works on Recommendations

• Battle Flags to be Rotated at the Capitol

• TIME 21 Committee Meets to Discuss Road Funding

• Auditor Suggests Changes to Iowa Student Loan
• College Aid Says PLUS Loans Underutilized

• Executive Order Addresses Diversity in Government
• Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council Meets
• Criminal Code Reorganization Committee Meets
• Committee Hears Success of Drug Courts
• Grant Deadline for Arts and Culture Organizations

• Interoperable Communications Board Meets

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The Iowa Board of Regents gave their first approval today to a 3.2 tuition increase at state universities next year, the lowest increase since 1980.   Keeping tuition affordable at our state univerisities was one of the top priorties of Democrats in the Iowa Legislature last year.

The scoop from the Cedar Rapids Gazette:

“Students at Iowa’s state universities will likely pay a 3.2 percent more in base tuition next year, after the state Board of Regents gave initial approval to proposed tuition increases today.
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A new board created to keep Iowans safe through improved emergency communications met for the first time on Tuesday.  State Representative Bob Kressig of Cedar Falls, who has worked on the issue for several years, sponored and managed the bill (House File 353) that created the board during the 2007 legislative session.

The goal of the board is plan and implement an intergrated emergency communications network (called interoperability) that will allow all police, state troopers, fireman, and other first responders to communicate with each other in real time.

AMES, Iowa – Oct. 29, 2007 – 2:45 p.m. – The Iowa Department of Transportation is now expanding road closures in the Des Moines area due to an explosion on the city’s east side.

Now all eastbound lanes and ramps on Interstate 35/80 are closed between the west and east mixmasters.

Interstates 35 and 235 and U.S. 69 in the Des Moines metro remain open at this time.

Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

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Contact for road closure related information: Dena Gray-Fisher at 515-239-1922 or dena.grayfisher@dot.iowa.gov

Insurance Commissioner Sue Voss said that Midwest Medical Insurance Company (MMCI) is reducing physician base rates by 9.6% for 2008. MMCI is a Minneapolis based physician-owned insurance company and the largest writer of medical malpractice insurance in Iowa.

Also — the MMCI web site http://www.mmicgroup.com/ says that beginning on January 1, 2008, MMCI will offer a premium credit to those who use electronic records. Press Release below:

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A big thank you to Gordon Fischer over at Iowa True Blue for linking to our new House Democratic Caucus site.  You’re the best….

The support from a number of statewide blogs has been excellent.  Thank you to those over at Bleeding Heartland, Iowa Independent, and others….we’ll be regularly updating our blogroll.

Iowa legislators on the State Prison System Planning Study Committee toured the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women in Mitchelville yesterday. According to the Iowa Department of Corrections, the facility was designed to hold 443 inmantes, but the inmate population this year has averaged 609.

In today’s Des Moines Register, State Representative Todd Taylor of Cedar Rapids made the following remarks:

“Some of these infrastructure needs are serious. We are going to have to tear down some buildings and construct some new buildings.”

The committee will continue work this fall and make recommendations for the 2008 legislative session.

Posted by deanfiihr @ 12:15 PM