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Oct. 23, 2009 |
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Local area named Iowa Great Place Right strategies will help our state grow again Paid internships for UI students at Iowa Senate Iowa City receives trail grant Johnson County Democrats Fall BBQ – Saturday I-Renew Solar Hot Water Workshop - Saturday Johnson County Heritage Trust – Annual fundraiser - Saturday Bite into Healthy School Lunches! – Thursday October 29 How can state government be more efficient? Iowa’s health care leadership continues to draw attention Where can you get your flu shot?
************************************************ Fall Arrives!
The fall colors have been amazing the last week or so. Enjoy them while they last!
The news has not been so good lately. We are heading into a difficult time for state and local governments. There are many difficult decisions ahead as we cope with a drop of more that $440 million in state revenue for the current fiscal year.
Iowa has lost more than 50,000 jobs during this recession. I will be working on evaluating our job creation and tax credit programs to make sure we are getting a good return on investment and actually creating good paying jobs as we recover from this recession.
There is a proposal in the today’s
Des Moines Register to consider raising state revenue by
allowing video gambling in bars. This is a terrible idea. We have
more gambling opportunities than we need now. Any proposal to raise
new state revenue to address budget concerns needs to be broad based
and not on the backs of working people that frequent their
neighborhood tavern. Next Wednesday at 11:15 am ground will be broken for the new north-side Iowa City Fire Station. This project is moving ahead thanks to $2.2 million in state I-JOBS funding. This grant will help Iowa City meet a long awaited need for a north-side fire station. The total cost of the new station is $4.5 million. Governor Culver will participate in the groundbreaking.
A colorful maple tree in my yard this week
************************************************ Local area named Iowa Great Place
Congratulations to Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty region, which was recently selected by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs to join the Iowa Great Places program.
Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty brings together three communities with a Great Places vision focusing on literature. Among the initiatives planned for the area is a Stories Project, an interpretative center on 25 acres near the Iowa River that will be dedicated to language, literature and literacy.
Now in its fifth year, Iowa Great Places combines state resources with local assets to cultivate the unique and authentic qualities of Iowa’s communities, regions, neighborhoods and districts. More information about the program and Iowa’s other Great Places is available at www.iowagreatplaces.gov.
************************************************ Right strategies will help our state grow again
There’s no doubt that Iowa and the rest of the country are facing tough times.
Since the Legislature approved a balanced budget last spring, state revenues have plunged dramatically. Recent revenue estimates came in $415 million below March projections (www.legis.state.ia.us/Fiscal/factbook/).
While Iowa contributed little to the financial greed and recklessness that caused the national economic crisis, we are sharing in the pain. Last month, for example, Iowa's unemployment rate hit 6.8 percent. That’s the highest level in more than 20 years.
This kind of economic disruption affects every individual, every community, every business and every organization, including state government.
State agencies and departments are now prioritizing as they consider how to cut 10 percent from their budgets. They’ll be eliminating non-essential costs, including bonuses, and requiring employee furloughs. If layoffs are necessary, management should be decreased—not employees providing direct services to Iowans.
The Legislature is cutting its own operating expenses by 10 percent—just like all other areas of state government. We’re shortening the 2010 session, freezing pay and requiring furloughs for staff, reducing hours and cutting positions, eliminating in-state and out-of-state travel during the legislative interim, and decreasing expenses for legislators.
When session rolls around in January, the Legislature will have to
say “no” to many good ideas so that we can protect Iowa’s most
critical services while balancing the budget.
We've earned this position by laying a strong foundation for long-term economic success well before the recession began. Each year, we balance the state budget according to the best, nonpartisan estimates of future revenue.
At the same time, we’ve stayed focused on Iowa’s priorities. We’ll continue to work hard to protect our excellent education system, lead the nation on health care reform, and create jobs by putting federal and state stimulus dollars to work in our communities.
When the Legislature convenes in January, we’ll balance the budget without raising taxes. And I’ll continue listening to your concerns and working with everyone interested in building a better future for all Iowans.
************************************************ Paid internships for UI students at Iowa Senate
The University of Iowa's Des Moines Center now offers students the opportunity to earn 12 credit hours and a $4,800 stipend when they intern in Des Moines.
This is a chance for more UI students to take advantage of the excellent internship program run by the Senate Democratic Research Staff. These interns take photos, produce audio and video, update web sites and arrange local events. They also attend closed-door caucus meetings with Democratic members of the Senate.
Positions are still open for spring. If you know a UI student, please encourage them to contact Crystal Stockdale, assistant director of the Des Moines Center, at 319-335-1023 or visit www.careers.uiowa.edu/desmoinescenter.html.
You can learn more about the Senate internships at www.IowaSenateNews.com/internships.
************************************************ Iowa City receives trail grant
The Iowa Transportation Commission recently approved funding for recreational trails as part of the State Recreational Trails Program. Iowa City will receive $281,000 for the Iowa River Corridor Trail connection at Sand Lake. The State Recreational Trails Program was created in 1988 to establish recreational trails in Iowa for public use. Funding is available to cities, counties, state agencies and nonprofit organizations. Learn more at www.sysplan.dot.state.ia.us/fedstate_rectrails.htm.
************************************************ Johnson County Democrats Fall BBQ – Saturday
The Johnson County Democratic Party is holding its annual Fall BBQ Saturday, October 24 from 2 to 6 PM at the Hills Community Center in Hills.
For more info, see: http://jcdems.org/wp.
************************************************ I-Renew Solar Hot Water Workshop - Saturday
I-Renew¹s Residential Solar Hot Water Workshop is October 24th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids. Attendees will learn the fundamentals of solar liquid collector systems for heating domestic hot water.
For more information visit http://www.irenew.org/
************************************************ Johnson County Heritage Trust – Annual fundraiser - Saturday
The Johnson County Heritage Trust is holding its annual ³Under a Cider Moon² fundraising event Saturday evening, October 24 at The Celebration Barn, 2501 Sugar Bottom Road in Solon.
For more information on this event or the efforts of the Johnson County Heritage Trust, see http://www.jcht.org.
************************************************ Bite into Healthy School Lunches! – Thursday October 29
Bite into Healthy School Lunches! a FREE educational-outreach dinner will take place Thursday, Oct. 29th, at 6pm (Doors open at 5:30pm.) at Old Brick, 26 E. Market St., Iowa City
The free event is being held through the generous support of Old Brick, VegFund, and the Red Avocado.
Come and learn about the importance and benefits of plant-based nutrition for schoolchildren from health professionals; enjoy a delicious and nutritious dinner and a dance performance; hear why a state senator, school staff, parents, childcare providers, and school-aged kids support this campaign; receive free literature and recipes of healthful, easy-to-prepare, inexpensive, kid-approved snacks and meals; and have the opportunity to sign the campaign petition and contact members of congress by postcard
To reserve one or more seats, please contact Elizabeth at 358-0134 or ecummings@cancerproject.org. Elizabeth Cummings is the Iowa grassroots coordinator for Healthy School Lunches, a national campaign of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and the Cancer Project.
--Keynote: Democrat Joe Bolkcom is currently serving in his third term in the Iowa Senate. His work includes sponsoring legislation to address childhood obesity and kids' health, and introducing legislation promoting food networks--including passage of the Iowa Farm to School Program. --Carol Throckmorton is a registered/licensed dietitian for 24 years and a certified lifestyle counselor for ten years. --Lynn Calvert is a registered nurse for 44 years, primarily with orthopedic cancer patients. --Tara Gallardo Russell is a school health secretary, a certified personal trainer, and a fitness instructor of eight years.
How can state government be more efficient?
Do you have ideas for how state agencies and departments can operate more efficiently and effectively?
The Legislature’s State Government Reorganization Commission is seeking your suggestions. I encourage you to submit your comments at www.legis.state.ia.us/aspx/SurveyForm/Improving_StGvt/.
All submissions are anonymous.
************************************************ Iowa’s health care leadership continues to draw attention
Another national study is giving Iowa high marks. The Commonwealth Fund recently ranked Iowa #2 for Health System Performance.
The Commonwealth Fund rated states on access to health care, prevention and treatment, potentially avoidable hospital costs, health care differences among various groups, and healthy lifestyles.
Iowa earned a high ranking by being near the top in many of these categories. For example, we’re second only to Massachusetts when it comes to making sure children have health insurance.
You can see for yourself how Iowa stacks up at www.commonwealthfund.org/Charts-and-Maps/State-Scorecard-2009.aspx.
Several initiatives that have made Iowa a top state for health care are now being considered in Washington. No matter what happens on the national front, I’ll keep working to continue our state’s leading role.
************************************************ Where can you get your flu shot?
Local public health departments in Iowa are receiving limited amounts of the H1N1 flu vaccine. Shots are available to priority groups, including pregnant women, those who care for children younger than 6 months of age, and all people from 6 months through 24 years of age.
To find out where flu shots are available in your area, go to www.idph.state.ia.us/h1n1 or call the toll-free Influenza Hotline at 1-800-447-1985.
************************************************ How to Contact Me
Joe Bolkcom 728 2nd Avenue Iowa City, IA 52245 319.337.6280
************************************************ About The Networker
The Networker provides brief summaries of some of the things that I am working on, the work of the General Assembly, and political perspectives on issues. I also use it to announce meetings and how to find useful information about state government.
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