by Art Smith | Mar 13, 2009
Iowa House Republican Leader Kraig Paulson provided a report on the status of the first Funnel Week activities:
During each legislative session there is a point in time when we reach the ‘funnel weeks’. These are self imposed deadlines which state a bill must have made it out of committee or it cannot be considered for the rest of the year. The deadline does not apply to spending bills, tax bills, or certain leadership sponsored bills.
This week was the first funnel week at the Capitol and like every year, there are some survivors and some casualties.
First, some of the causalities or bills that didn’t make it:
- Tougher penalties on the delivery, possession, and manufacture of cocaine
- Increase penalties for employing illegal immigrants
- Allocate $15 million from the Iowa Values fund to Small Businesses for disaster recovery efforts.
- Create tax credits to benefit those in disaster areas
- Changes to Iowa Smoke Free Air Act
- Bills prohibiting cell phone use while driving
- Repeal of Iowa’s right-to-work law (once again this bill is dead, we’re hopeful no attempt will be made to amend it on to any other bills)
Now, the survivors:
- Prevailing Wage (price fixing for public projects)
- Employee choice of doctor (doctor shopping workers compensation bill)
- Public Employee (Chapter 20) contract negotiating technical changes — this bill is identical to the initial collective bargaining bill the Democrats tried to sneak through last year
- Private cause of action for consumer fraud
- Increasing Tax on Propane
One quick note, even though a particular idea may have “died in the funnel†it may still return in the form of an amendment. For the full list, visit the House Republicans’ website at http://iowahouserepublicans.com/funnel-week-survivors-first-funnel-2009.
It was a rather crazy week. It had some highs and some lows. The most significant positive was the fact that enough votes to pass the doctor shopping bill never surfaced. You may recall the Democrat majority had, with much fanfare, declared they were going to turn our current workers compensation balance on its ear by allowing employees to choose their own doctor for employment related injuries.
Recall also that currently Iowa’s workers compensation cost is 41st in the nation and yet we have the 3rd highest employee benefits. It’s a well balanced system and this proposal was projected to raise insurance by as much as 15%. But Iowans engaged and the bill did not even get called up for a vote.
My biggest disappointment is that we still have yet to do anything of consequence to help restore our economy. On Monday I did a Point of Personal Privilege on the House floor reminding the Speaker that Republicans believe the House priority should be bills tested with the following: Does the proposed legislation grow Iowa’s economy – Does it create more jobs – Does it encourage employers to invest in our workforce? If it passes the test we should press forward, if it does not, it should be set aside.
Regardless, 80,000 Iowans remain unemployed and we continue to debate things like changing the names of state government departments and creating a special tax on paint. This seems ridiculous to me.
I think it’s regrettable we have now finished week 9 and really have yet to do anything affirmative to restart Iowa’s economy. Nothing to help small business owners who are hanging on with all their might and nothing to help ease the tax burden on families across the state.
Republicans will not stop trying to reach across the aisle to get productive work done on behalf of Iowans. We’ll sit down with Democrats, when they let us, and craft solutions to the problems we’re facing.
We will work hard coming up with solutions that help restart Iowa’s economy and balance the budget without raising taxes on Iowans.
As always, if you have ideas and thoughts, please contact me [email protected] and visit our website to see constantly updated information (www.iowahouserepublicans.com).
by Art Smith | Mar 8, 2009
This week’s newsletter from Peter Cownie provides some insight into some of his goals as a legislator. Helping keep young people in Iowa after they graduate from high school and/or college has been a challenge in recent decades. Reasons for the large numbers of youth leaving the state range from financial opportunity to entertainment to lifestyle. Ultimately, jobs are key, and attracting young people means attracting companies. Peter also looks at ways to promote staying in Iowa for college education.
The best question a citizen can ask a person seeking public office is: why are you doing this? Every candidate should have a passion for what he/she is trying to accomplish and remember that passion each time he/she makes a decision. I was asked this question more than any other during the campaign. My answer is simple: I want to see more young people in Iowa. I grew up in Iowa and I want to do something about the young people that have chosen not to stay here and those that might think to leave in the future.
I serve on the Economic Growth Committee and we recently heard a presentation from the Generation Iowa Commission. I asked the presenter what deters young people from staying in Iowa after college. The answer was one word: jobs. I could not agree more. Young people will go where the best jobs are located. The current economic times will only reinforce this reality. In every decision a legislator makes this session, he/she needs to keep in mind the 80,000 unemployed Iowans and how we can help put them back to work. We also need to bear in mind those young people who want jobs in Iowa.
The Iowa Legislature needs to remember the big picture. The big picture is that Iowa’s population is not growing quickly compared to other states. According to estimates from the Census Bureau for 2000-2008, Iowa ranks 42nd in population growth percentage. I have introduced a bill that will help retain and recruit young people to Iowa. This bill would allow college graduates who stay in Iowa to deduct the interest on student loan payments changing the limit from $2,500 to $5,000 annually. Students in Iowa graduate with the highest debt levels ($26,208 on average) in America. This bill would give direct help to college graduates who are just starting a job and could use the relief in their pocketbook. It is in the best interest of the Iowa Legislature to reach out to our young people and ease their burden. This bill will help keep our young people where we want them: Iowa.
This week’s newsletter also appeared in the West Des Moines section of the Des Moines Register, along with pieces from Pat Ward and Chris Hagenow. You may note that Pat hits hard on the Popular Vote bill, which we have opposed here as well.
Peter, Pat and Chris, along with Bob Brownell, also hosted a public forum in West Des Moines on February 28, which I attended. More on that later.
![Polk County Republicans Select New Leadership]()
by Art Smith | Feb 24, 2009
As we mentioned yesterday, tonight was the Polk County Republican Party election for Chair and Co-chair. John Bloom of West Des Moines was elected Chairman and Will Rogers of Des Moines was elected Co-chairman.
There was a good-sized. group, including about 80 Central Committee members at Hillside Elementary School in West Des Moines. The meeting lasted about two and a half hours.
The new leaders are both committed to working to build a stronger party, including improvements in the use and management of technology, and soliciting more active participation by committee and other party members in priortizing the party’s work, plugging people into areas where their talents can be used effectively, unifying the message of the party, and getting Republicans elected.
We look forward to working with this team and finding opportunities to help promote the party’s message. I only met Will tonight, and have known John for a little over a year, and I believe they will make a great team!
Congratulations to both John and Will!
For those of you in Polk County, if you are not already involved, now is a good time to start. We will have contact information available here at TCR: Iowa in the near future.
by Art Smith | Feb 23, 2009
This just released by Senator Minority Leader Paul McKinley’s (R-Chariton) office:
Senate Democrats Pass “Iowa Voter Irrelevancy Actâ€
Out of State Government Committee
Senate Republicans instead focus on creating jobs and promoting Iowa’s economy and wonder why Senate Democrats are more focused on making Iowa’s voters irrelevant
DES MOINES, IA – A Senate Democrat proposal to strip Iowa of its influence in future presidential elections, dubbed the “Iowa Voter Irrelevancy Actâ€, passed out of the Senate State Government Committee today on an 8-7 vote with two Democrats joining unified Republican opposition to the bill. While Senate Republicans are busy trying to find way to save taxpayers money, keep taxes low, create good paying jobs and grow Iowa’s economy, this unpopular bill is being pushed through the legislative process. Should it gain enough votes in the Iowa House, the Iowa Senate and if it is signed by Governor Culver, Iowans right to have a say in who becomes the President of the United States will be dramatically diminished.
“As Iowans hear the details of this bill, I think they will end up coming to the capitol in outrage and demand answers. This is a terrible piece of legislation and Iowans must contact their legislators about this immediately to stop the Democrats from making Iowa voters irrelevant,†said Senate Republican Leader Paul McKinley (R-Chariton). “Senate Republicans are focused on trying to grow Iowa’s economy, create and retain jobs and root out wasteful government spending but it appears that the Democratic agenda rests figuring out ways to cut Iowans out of presidential election process. You would think they already have enough on their plate considering their hundreds of millions in self inflicted budget deficits and their union boss anti-job agenda that will only raise taxes on Iowans already dealing with tough financial times.â€
This bill would reverse traditions that date back centuries as our country’s founding fathers put the Electoral College in place to protect smaller states from having their say diminished by the larger, more heavily populated states. As it stands now, Iowa has seven electoral votes and those votes are awarded to whichever presidential candidate manages to win the most votes based on the results of Iowa’s 99 counties. However, this Democrat pushed bill will undermine that storied tradition with one fail swoop. This bill will force Iowa to give its seven electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote instead of Iowa’s popular vote.
“Democrats must really want voters in urban centers like Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Miami or Boston having more say in the process than the voters in our communities all over the state,†said McKinley. “During last year’s election, groups like ACORN were out meddling with voter registrations and tampering with our elections. Do we really want to give them more opportunity to steal our legitimate right to determine who becomes our country’s president?â€
If this bill were enacted, presidential candidates would have very limited motivation to come to Iowa to campaign for votes because Iowa is only about 1/100 of the country’s population. They would instead stick to campaigning in other states where the population is more dense and Iowans would be ignored and our issues would be swept aside. This is just another example of how our founding fathers were once again right on target in their desires to protect smaller states.
“I want to urge every Iowan to immediately contact their Senator about this bill and let them know that it is wrong for Senate Democrats to make Iowa’s voters irrelevant,†said McKinley. “Let them know that with 80,000 Iowans out of work, they should be focused on creating jobs and growing Iowa’s economy instead of limiting our influence in presidential elections.â€
Committee Roll Call Vote:
Nay: Sen. Feenstra (R-Hull), Sen. Behn (R-Boone), Sen. Hartsuch (R-Bettendorf), Sen. Seymour (R-Woodbine), Sen. Wieck (R-Sioux City), Sen. Horn (D-Cedar Rapids), Sen. Black (D-Grinnell)
Yes: Sen. Appel (D-Ackworth), Sen. Kibbie (D-Emmetsburg), Sen. Sodders (D-State Center), Sen. Jochum (D-Dubuque), Sen. Hatch (D-Des Moines), Sen. Dearden (D-Des Moines), Sen. Danielson (D-Cedar Falls), Sen. Courtney (D-Burlington)
You already know how I feel if you’ve been following this. I feel like we’re watching one of those movies where the folks who are supposed to be protecting us are too stupid to realize they’re being taken in by the very people they are supposed to be protecting us from.
Next we’ll be looking at legislating by referendum (works great for California, don’t you think?). And the current leadership will love it because they can leave the dicey stuff up to the public, similar to their current approach of leaving the dicey stuff up to the courts. Either way, they don’t have to take a stand. Only one word for someone like that: coward.
The plan to work around the US Constitution (don’t you hate how that thing gets in the way of doing things like restricting freedom?) is just going to create a miserable mess. Instead of sneaking this past voters just to make Democrats feel better about losing in 2000, let’s have an open public debate about the continued viability of the Electoral College.
Oh, sorry, is that too much trouble?
Unless you want to be treated like sheep, contact your State House Representative and Senator. At these links you’ll find email, phone numbers, and home addresses. I would urge you to send an email right away, and perhaps follow up with a phone call. I have contacted both Representative Peter Cownie and Senator Pat Ward, and they have assured they are “No” votes on this bill, but your legislator need to hear from you!
by Art Smith | Feb 16, 2009
David Vaudt is Iowa’s Auditor. A Conservative Republican, he has consistently provided an unbiased, unvarnished view into the realities of Iowa’s financial planning and execution. If anyone knows the score and knows what is required right now, it is David. I think we all know that more needs to be done, and that it is imperative that we stay out of the Rainy Day Fund. And that we don’t go doing something really stupid like selling off the Lottery. Stop spending!
Following are some comments from Senator Paul McKinley:
Senate Republicans Applaud Auditor’s Commitment
to Fiscal Responsibility, Sustainable Budgeting
Had governor, legislative Democrats heeded Vaudt’s advice during the past two years, Iowa’s fiscal condition would be significantly stronger today
DES MOINES, IA – Senate Republican Leader Paul McKinley (R-Chariton) today issued the following statement commending Auditor David Vaudt today as he renewed his warnings to lawmakers and the governor that tough and significant spending cuts will need to be made to stave off a potentially disastrous budgetary crunch:
“For the past two years, the auditor has been travelling all over the state speaking to taxpayers about Iowa’s budget and he has been an outspoken and consistent advocate of keeping government living within its means. Iowans are tired of the out of control spending and irresponsible budgeting of the past two years and I want to strongly urge the governor and legislative Democrats to finally listen to the smart suggestions being proposed by the auditor. The auditor is an extremely well respected taxpayer watchdog and he has been right for the past two years and he is right again today. We need to put his proposals into practice and keep this state’s budget balanced without raising taxes or putting hundreds of millions of additional dollars on the state’s credit card.â€
“I have been hearing from Iowans in all corners of the state who are fed up with the out of control spending during the past two years. Now, more than ever, it is vitally important that we re-establish the notion that is Iowans who run government and not the other way around. We should be focused on growing Iowa not growing government.â€
Hear, hear!
Iowa House Republican Leader Kraig Paulson provided a report on the status of the first Funnel Week activities: