by Art Smith | Apr 14, 2009
Iowa House Republicans Continue With Budget Savings
House Republicans offered another $52.9 million in cost-saving measures to the education budget bill brought up in the House today.
“From day one, House Republicans promised to dive into budgets and find savings. Today we delivered on that promise for Iowans,†said House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha). “Instead of funding more bureaucracy, Republicans believe we need to fund students and classrooms.â€
To date, House Republicans have offered more than $200 million in cost-saving measures to budget bills. Of these, House Democrats have accepted less than $2 million.
Below is a list of amendments, a brief description and the amount of savings that were offered by House Republicans to Senate File 470, the education budget bill.
H-1553 by Raecker – Regents Library Acquisitions  Page 12, line 17: For one year the Regents universities are required to spend 50% less on library acquisitions. Savings: $12 million
H-1546 by VanEngelenhoven - Executive Council approves out-of-state travel. Savings: $1 million
H-1547 by May – 20% reduction in printing, binding; 50% reduction in advertising. Savings: $3.5 million
H-1552 by Dolecheck – Eliminates all funded, unfilled FTE positions that have been open for 6 months. Savings: $700,000
H-1554 by Raecker – 50% reduction for all office supplies, service contracts, equipment purchases. Savings: $23 million
H-1555 by Tymeson – Prohibits expenditures for cell phones and PDAs for state employees. Savings: $500,000
H-1556 by Rants – Fleet purchases deferred. Savings: $11 million
H-1557 by Koester  – State employees must provide meal receipts instead of claiming maximum. Agency may require electronic submission of receipts. Savings: $500,000
H-1566 by Tymeson – Identical to Wendt amendment which strikes repeal of MHEC. Savings: $450,000
H-1572 by Kaufmann and Struyk –Limit on Regents Sabbaticals. Savings: $250,000
It amazes me that House Democrats are so obstinate and out of control that they would intentionally work at weaseling their way to spending as much as they possibly can. The good news is, the public should be able to see plainly just how greedy and careless these folks are spending the public’s money… this should be MORE than adequate reason to plan on a major voter revolt in 2010. I’d prefer to see the foolishness end now, but it seems more likely that Democrats would prefer to thoroughly thumb their nose in the face of Iowans instead of doing what is right and what they KNOW Iowans want.
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Don’t forget the Tea Party on Wednesday… 11:00 at the West Lawn of the Iowa State Capitol.  Let your voice be heard!!!
by Art Smith | Apr 13, 2009
So, the leadership of the Iowa General Assembly are again hoping to end the session this week. From their standpoint, I think they hope to finish up the budget, pass the repeal of Federal Deductibility, and avoid any more discussion about a Marriage Amendment to the Iowa Constitution.
It might be a bit of a challenge.
The next three days, various groups will be descending on the Iowa Statehouse, and you can join them.
Monday, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Protest of the Supreme Court Decision regarding Gay Marriage:
West side of the Iowa Capitol Building, Des Moines
Please dress warm. In case of rain, go inside the Capitol.
Participating Organizations:
- Everyday America
- Iowa Christian Alliance – Norm Pawlewski
- Concerned Women of America – Tamara Scott
- Iowa Eagle Forum
- Iowa Family Policy Center
- Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators
- and many more to be announced Monday.
Tuesday, 10:00 AM: Protest of the planned Repeal of Federal Deductibility (“Tax on a Tax”)
From Iowans for Tax Releif:
We need you to come to the Iowa Capitol on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 10:00am to make your voice heard. The Legislature will be in session all day and we need taxpayers to show up and say “No Tax on a Tax”.
If you still have your red shirt and “No Tax on a Tax” buttons, please bring them along and wear them proudly.
The bill to repeal federal deductibility and forces you to pay a tax on a tax, has a new amendment. House Democrat leaders filed the amendment on Wednesday in effort to improve House File 807, but is still bad for taxpayers.
Governor Culver called the plan a $54 million tax cut. His description is clearly imaginative. The numbers provided by the Iowa Department of Revenue tell a different story.
The truth is:
2009Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $20.198 million tax cut
2010Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $34.898 million tax cut
2011Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $154.148 million tax INCREASE
2012Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $157.104 million tax INCREASE
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $149.01 million tax INCREASE
NET RESULTÂ Â $405.166 million TAX INCREASE for Iowans over the next five years.
This new plan and the majority party’s explanation is similar to the story of a schoolyard bully. What Iowa kid would be happy with the following occurring?
The bully tells a kid, “look I’m not going to steal your lunch money on Monday. In fact, I’m going to give you a $20 bill. On Tuesday, I’m going to give you $34. See how nice I am, I just gave you $54.”
The bully continues, “but, you better have $154 for me Wednesday, and every day from then on.”
Ed Failor, Jr., President of Iowans for Tax Relief commented, “Iowa taxpayers are tired of being bullied into paying more and more taxes. The net result of this bill over the next five years is more than a $400 million tax increase on Iowans. How on earth is that a tax cut?”
To make matters worse, in 2011 just over 149,000 Iowa taxpayers who earn $40,000 per year, or less, will see an increase in their Iowa income tax burden. Is that really the Democrat definition of a middle class tax cut?” Failor concluded.
We can win this fight, but we need your help.
So we need action from you, your family, your neighbors, and friends. If you can not join us at the Capitol, then please continue your phone calls, faxes, and emails.
Please contact Governor Culver at his office:
Please contact your Legislators at the Capitol:
Thank you for all of your support and we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 10:00am!
Wednesday, 11:00 to 2:00 PM: Des Moines Tea Party at Iowa State Capitol West Lawn to Protest State and Federal Spending and Taxation
From the Des Moines Tea Party web site:
- Bring folding chair if you need seating
- Wear comfortable clothes
- Bring your own signs (no sticks or poles)
- Bring your camera!
- Parking (see info in sidebar at right)
- Be prepared to have fun – it is going to be a hoot!
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With all of this distraction, it will be a wonder if the Legislature gets anything done.  Personally, I hope they do get done… at least save us SOME money!
by Art Smith | Apr 10, 2009
The following is Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn’s most recent Chairman’s Report. – Ed.
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A personal note from the Chairman: please keep Bob, Darla, and the Vander Plaats family in your thoughts and prayers over the Easter weekend as they continue to mourn the loss of Bob’s father who passed away this week.
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Governor Culver flips his position on Same Sex Marriage and sides with the Iowa Supreme Court.
After 100 hours of silence, Iowa Governor Culver finally broke his silence on the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Iowa’s law that defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. While his statement was carefully written and would have done Bill Clinton proud in its attempt to have it both ways, it nonetheless supports the Court’s decision and effectively flips the Governor’s previously held position to “do whatever it takes to protect marriage.â€
Yesterday, Republican members of the Iowa House attempted to use a House procedural rule to force a potential vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would let the people vote on the definition of marriage. Unfortunately, House Democrats refused to allow a vote on that motion so as to protect their members from having to take a tough vote.
Click below to hear Representative Christopher Rants’ remarks on the House floor courtesy of The Iowa Republican.
Representative Rants: Part 1
Representative Rants: Part 2
Time and again, Democrats at the State House have avoided facing the tough issues and taking the tough votes. Whether it’s unsustainable budgets, job-killing labor legislation, punishing tax increases through elimination of federal deductibility, or failing to lead on defining of marriage, Governor Culver and legislative Democrats continue to demonstrate they are completely out of touch with the values of Iowans.
Iowans deserve better. And given the opportunity, Republicans will deliver results!
Democrats refuse to give up on federal deductibility repeal and impose a Tax on a Tax. House debate set for next Tuesday on new plan to RAISE income taxes over $400 million in the first five years.
Despite an overwhelming outpouring of anger and protest in opposition to their plans to eliminate federal deductibility, raise income taxes on Iowans at all income levels, and impose a punitive tax on a tax, Democrats at the State House have brought forward a “revised†proposal that contains ALL of the above.
While your great work, and the work of thousands of Republicans across the state, has given the Democrats pause and has slowed the movement of this terrible legislation, it has not yet put a knife in its heart.
This revised plan raises taxes on over 350,000 households in 2009, with over half of those households earning $60,000 or less. By 2011, the number of losers climbs to more than 600,000 households and during the first five years this bill would raise total taxes on Iowans by more than $400 million.
And while the numbers are bad, this isn’t just about numbers. This is also about fairness and the painfully twisted attempts to impose a state tax on income you use to pay federal income taxes – money most Iowans never see or have an opportunity to use. A tax on a tax is wrong.
This is also about small businesses and jobs. The Democrats’ tax plan specifically targets small businesses and imposes new tax burdens on the very small businesses that create the vast majority of new jobs in Iowa. How can anyone believe it is sound policy to raise taxes on our state’s most productive job creators during a time of severe economic stress?
Iowa Republicans will continue to fight this issue and fight it aggressively. We have at least one more week of hard work ahead of us as the Legislature prepares to pack up and go home at the end of next week.
Debate on this bill is scheduled for the Iowa House this Tuesday, April 14. Just two weeks ago the House Speaker booted over 600 Republicans from the House Chamber because he didn’t like their vocal support of those speaking in opposition to this legislation. I am hearing that hundreds of Republicans are planning to be at the State Capitol on Tuesday to once again fill the balconies. Anyone interested in joining them is encouraged to get to the Capitol no later than 10 a.m. and to wear red shirts in protest.
Get to your forums this weekend. Keep up the pressure. Iowa Republicans ARE making a difference and the finish line is in sight. Let’s stretch to the tape and put a dagger in the heart of this job-killing tax increase!
Final three Listen and Learn forums scheduled for next week. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet the leaders of your State Party.
Republicans in three more locations had the opportunity to meet with members of our State Party leadership team to discuss the future of our Republican Party as a part of my series of Listen and Learn forums.
In Grinnell, Ames, and Clear Lake nearly 150 Iowa Republicans gathered and participated in some spirited, informative, and very positive discussions. When I envisioned and then initiated this Listen and Learn tour I did so knowing the potential existed for some unpleasant dialogue as frustrated Republicans expressed anger over our recent lack of success.
However, what I and other State Party leaders have found as we embarked on this road trip was something completely different. Iowa Republicans have little interest in looking backward, in fighting about past failures or reliving past battles. Instead, Iowa Republicans came into those rooms full of optimism, energy, and new hope for Republican success in 2010.
Iowa Republicans are READY to partner with their State Party and local candidates to move our principled conservative agenda forward. They are ready to work together to elect new Republican majorities and send Governor Culver back to the classroom.
This coming week you still have three opportunities to meet with me and other State Party leaders at our final Listen and Learn forums. Check the schedule below and join us at an event near your home.
- 5th CD:Â Listen & Learn Forum 1
Hosted by Chairman Matt Strawn
When: Monday, April 13, 2009
Where: Anita Community Center, 805 Main St., Anita, IA 50020
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
- 5th CD:Â Listen & Learn Forum 2
Hosted by Co-Chairman Jim Kurtenbach & the BVU College Republicans
When: Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Where: Storm Lake, Buena Vista University Forum Room 1, 610 W. 4th St., Storm Lake, IA 50588
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
- 1st CD:Â Listen & Learn Forum
Hosted by Co-Chairman Jim Kurtenbach
When: Saturday, April 18, 2009
Where: Northeast Iowa Community College, 680 Main St., Dubuque, IA 52001
Time: 11:00 – 12:30
Check out Iowa Press this Week as I discuss the future of the Republican Party of Iowa with some of Iowa’s leading journalists.
Today I had the pleasure to represent Iowa Republicans and promote the renewal and resurgence of our party as a guest on Iowa Public Television’s program, Iowa Press. The program will air at 7:30 p.m. tonight and at 11:30 a.m. this Sunday.
I hope you will have the opportunity to watch the program or to check it out on live streaming video by clicking here.
If you get a chance to watch the show, I would very much appreciate some feedback. As your State Chairman I endeavor to represent the State Party in a professional and positive manner. If you have a comment on the appearance, please send it to me at: [email protected].
Vacancy on State Central Committee in the First District to be filled at a special meeting of First District Executive Committee on Saturday, April 18. Any interested candidates are encouraged to contact our office for details.
It was with a heavy heart I recently accepted the resignation of Karl Gilberston as a member of the State Central Committee representing the First Congressional District. Karl has been fighting a serious medical battle and I ask you to keep him in your prayers.
As a result of his resignation, and per the State Party Constitution and By-laws, I have scheduled a meeting of the First District Executive Committee for April 18 in Dubuque.
Current members of the State Central Committee from the First District are John Hulsizer from Dubuque County and John Ortega from Scott County.
Anyone with an interest in pursuing this vacancy is encouraged to call Eric Johansen, our Political Director, at 515.282.8105 or email him at [email protected] for more information on the time, location, roster of voting delegates, and committee procedures.
If you have an interest in serving the Republican cause at this level, this is a great opportunity.
In the News
Income tax changes face heated debate
Pivotal political point seen in Statehouse tax tempest
Lawmakers won’t challenge ruling
U.S. Rep King:Â Statement on Obama amnesty plan
The Latham Report:Â GM Firing Should Raise Concerns of Government Power-Grab
Lee County Protesters throw a ‘tea’ party
FINAL REMINDER: Check Republican on Your Tax Form
Iowa’s political checkoff is a program that allows you to direct part of the taxes you’ve already paid to the political party of your choice. The program is very simple: When filing your Iowa tax return, simply mark the box next to “Republican Party” on Line 11 to give $1.50 to the Republican Party of Iowa. Doing this does not increase the amount you owe or decrease your return – the $1.50 comes out of the taxes you’ve already paid!
Grassroots Activist of the Week: Lee County GOP Tea Party Participants
This week’s Grassroots Activists of the Week are those awesome Lee County Republicans who participated in a wildly successful Tea Party held at Ft. Madison’s Riverview Park last Saturday. More than 150 people took part in the event and you can see the link to the story above.
While the Tea Party movement is not a partisan enterprise, Republicans from all across Iowa and the country are participating in this organic and spontaneous movement to demonstrate their frustration with the direction Democrats are taking our nation and to show Americans that citizens can still make a difference in this country.
Thank you to the Lee County GOP for making your local event a huge success and for using that event as a springboard to reenergizing your local County Party.
(If you know someone deserving of being named our Grassroots Activist of the Week, please send a brief letter to [email protected] — we will keep your nomination anonymous if so desired.)
Upcoming Events
April 13:Â 5th District Listen and Learn Forum (1), Anita
April 14:Â 5th District Listen and Learn Forum (2), Storm Lake
April 18:Â 1st District Listen and Learn Forum, Dubuque
April 25:Â State Central Committee meeting, Waterloo
April 25:Â The Leon Mosley Roundup (a tribute to Leon Mosley), Waterloo
For updates and local events go to www.iowagop.org
Four New Ways to Stay in Touch With the IowaGOP
While RPI continues to solicit opinions and comments for overhauling our official website, www.iowagop.org, you can connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and IowaGOP the Blog! Click the preceding links for regularly updated news, commentary, and alerts from the Republican Party of Iowa. Have a news tip? Email them to [email protected] or call Eric at (515) 282-8105.
by Art Smith | Apr 5, 2009
In terms of celebrations and tradition, this week is considered the biggest week of the year for most Christians. Growing up, it was a little confusing because I had understood that the actual days themselves were significant, when the reality is that what the days represent, what they celebrate, is the significance.
Despite that, this is a week when so many people are busy preparing to celebrate the most important thing that God has done for us, and it is sad that we will be desperately distracted with the impact of the Iowa Supreme Court decision that will allow same-sex partners to be recognized as “married”.
Marriage as an institution was designed by God for many good reasons. It is intended to honor Him by bringing two people together to fully give their lives over to create what God called “one flesh”… one man and one woman coming together to serve each other, encourage each other, fulfill each other. The fullness of that relationship results in the establishment of a family that results from that union. Spiritual and physical procreation is the plan of God, and is to the benefit of the family and the society. It ensures that there is an established pattern of love, growth, expansion, regeneration, and glorifying of the creator.
Same-sex marriage rejects these fundamentals of God and society and will lead not just toward the continued moral decaying of society, but by reducing the procreative power of society, will join with the impact of abortion-on-demand to diminish the strength of numbers of future generations. As fatalistic as it may seem, this leads toward a dying society.
Understand, we are in a time where we must by law allow others to do behind closed doors what they want if it doesn’t directly impact others, but by opening the door to normalizing the behavior and institutionalizing it into the form of life-long partnerships with legal infrastructure to support the normalization, homosexual behavior will become more and more common. What I’m saying is, many (and I’ve spoken with people close to me who have said this) who believe that the behavior is wrong, are content with allowing people to do as they please and have no concern about letting gay couples “marry” because they think it is inevitable and and non-impactful.
But they are dreadfully wrong. Along with all of the costs associated with normalizing this behavior, we will undoubtedly see an explosion of growth in it, and eventually a predominance of gay “families”, to be followed by generations of severe stagnance because we are unable to maintain sufficient population. We will become insignificant and absorbed into other cultures that have not been so foolish. If any such survive.
At this point, it is critical that we at least attempt to start the 3 year process of a Constitutional Amendment here in Iowa. Although the politics would seem to dictate that this won’t happen in 2009 and possibly not in 2010 either, every effort needs to be made anyhow. If we cannot begin until 2011, then we are 5 years away from implementation.
The voice of the people may yet carry in pressing this issue with legislators, and your voice counts. Contact your legislator today. There are situations where the high court’s role in establishing what is right for our state is critical and usually makes sense even if people need time to absorb it. This is not one of those situations, and silence only supports the error.
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This will likely be not only a lively week regarding Gay Marriage, but also regarding HF 807 and SF 468: Repeal of Federal Deductibility. Unless the former is so overwhelming that the latter is lost until the hubbub dies. However, it’s more likely that the Democratic Leadership will attempt to plow through the debate and voting on Federal Deductibility in an attempt to diminish the public debate over the Gay Marriage issue.
I’m more concerned that one issue may be used to distract everyone while some end run is concocted on the other. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open. Watch here (our Iowa Tweets) and at the Polk County GOP web site (Polk GOP Tweets) for alerts and updates… the public may need to come to the Capitol again to raise our voices.
Happy Holy Week.
by Art Smith | Apr 2, 2009
The political fallout continues for Democrats as they try to fend off criticism for Pat Murphy’s behavior Tuesday evening. A letter to the editor in this morning’s Des Moines register lays it out pretty succinctly: characterizing the behavior of the public at Tuesday night’s public meeting prior to being expelled as anything more than brief expressions of disapproval or aproval (granting the first speaker deserved to be treated better) is spurious at best. And Kiernan’s accusations that the public’s actions were orchestrated by Republican leaders is an outright lie; I was there during the preparatory time and there was nothing more than providing people with shirt and buttons… no direction to behave in any way.
If you watched KCCI news on Tuesday night (or the story on the web site), you briefly would have seen my ugly mug. A number of people have mentioned they noticed and were surprised at what happened. One friend’s Facebook Wall comment: “Way to stand up to the man!”.
Democrats have backed up the bus and skipped debating HF 807 either today (Thursday) or Friday it seems. Kent Sorenson twittered us last night that majority leaders were working on an amendment that would ensure enough votes would be garnered to get the bill passed. They are still working with the Governor to ensure they don’t get surprised by him (like they did on the Voter Irrelvancy Act that lost steam last month).
Iowa Independent had an interesting piece on the use of Twitter during the proceedings. I was monitoring Kent Sorenson and the Senate Republican Caucus tweets, while I was commenting via Twitter myself. I was also exchanging messages via email with one of the House members. If you were following my tweets, you’ll know that my cell battery died shortly after the last speaker finished.
So here’s my two cents worth: One might think that Democrats would wise up and give up on this foolish venture and let it lie for now with the economy the way it is. Passing this bill, which is just another case of a solution in desperate need of a problem (if you take it at face value), will just make a large portion of the Iowa voters angry… winning for Democrats on this bill may be worse than losing because they will probably lose over this. A bold move at this point would be to stand up and say “We’ve heard Iowans and we get it: we will work on other methods to help lower income Iowans.”. Democrats won’t get what they want, but then again they are less likely to lose seats in 2010. And if they think that getting this in during the 2009 session has a better chance of being forgotten by November 2010 than if they pushed it through in the 2010 session, that’s a gamble for them. This is something that they would be better to find smaller increments to achieve over a longer period.
If their only goal was this bill, that might work. The bad news is, this bill IS one of those small increments. If you think this HF 807 is a big deal, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
Lastly, one of the speakers Tuesday night, Mark Grittmann, got in contact with me and we’ve shared emails and a phone call back and forth over the past couple of days. He was kind enough to share the text of his speech at the hearing, which one needs to understand is very much tongue-in-cheek, and conveys eloquently the point I made above:
Good evening and thank you for listening to the people of Iowa. I’m Mark Grittmann. I’m not a lobbyist and I’m not representing any special interest group. I’m just a hard-working American taxpayer.
I’ve heard the Elimination of Federal Tax deductibility may cause up to a $600 Million tax increase and I’m all for it. And those of you supporting this, say this would be good for the State of Iowa. So if a $600 million tax increase is good for Iowa, then I think you should do more, so wouldn’t a $1.2 Billion tax increase be even better?
Some have foolishly argued against it. Can you believe it?
- Some say the 20% increase in State spending over the last 2 years should be reversed.
- Some say this Bill is revenue neutral. But if that is true, and it doesn’t change anything, then why do it?
- Some say that Government, like family households, should live within their means and not let spending get out of control.
- Some say a tax increase during a Global Financial Crisis and Recession is the worst thing for the economy, and that tax increases would hurt employers, causing a loss of jobs and people would leave Iowa to find work in other States.
- Some say the facts about this Bill as to its true impact on taxes isn’t known or has not been fully disclosed, so how can this Bill even be debated yet? One news report showed that 40% of the individuals receiving a tax increase make less than $40,000 per year. And 69% of the individuals receiving a tax increase make less than $70,000 per year.
- Some say that in November 2010, voters will remember the legislators who raised their taxes by 20%.
And that’s why I think this $600 million tax increase is good for Iowa. It will bring new and improved, and more fiscally responsible Legislators to the State of Iowa in November 2010.
Thank you for listening, and good night.
That gives me an idea. We should call this “The Legislative Replacement Act of 2009/2010”.
The news links herein are to Des Moines Register and Iowa Independent.