May 8, 2008

Meeting with Hy-Vee officials

Health care bill signing

Legislature creates responsible, pro-growth budget that keeps commitments

Meeting with Hy-Vee officials

Along with Representatives Ford & Abdul-Samad, I will be meeting with Hy-Vee’s CEO Ric Jurgens next week to discuss the remodeling of the Harding Hills Hy-Vee store at MLK and Euclid.  Area residents asked us to meet with Hy-Vee officials during a recent public forum organized by Citizens for Community Improvement.  Just hours before the forum, Hy-Vee had announced that they would keep the store open but with reduced services. 

Area residents want to know what that means.  Will the pharmacy, bakery and fresh meat selections be eliminated?  Will the prices be the same as at the larger stores or will they be higher?   These are the questions we will discuss this with Mr. Jurgens. 

Hy-Vee has always been a good neighbor, and they have always been receptive to customers and the community.  Our main purpose for the meeting is to open up a dialog between the neighborhood and the officials at Hy-Vee so that everyone feels they have had an opportunity to discuss the type of store that fits the needs of the community and Hy-Vee’s business plan.

I want to personally thank Representative Ford, who has been working with CCI and area neighbors to arrange the meetings.  This is the type of leadership we all have come to expect from Wayne.

Health care bill signing

You are invited to join Governor Culver, legislators, healthcare professionals and advocates, and members of the Commission on Affordable Health Care for the health care reform bill signing.  The Governor will sign HF 2539 on Tuesday, May 13, at 11:30 a.m.  The event will take place at the Primary Health Care Center, 2353 S.E. 14th Street, Des Moines. 

This is the culmination of many months of work by dozens of Iowans who recommended major reforms to the public and private health insurance programs in our state.  Considered one of the most comprehensive health care bills in the nation, we made a commitment to insure every child within three years and dedicated $25 millions to make it happen.  Please join us.

Legislature creates responsible, pro-growth budget that keeps commitments

The 2008 session will be remembered as one in which the Iowa Legislature did good things for Iowa families, kept its commitments, and approved a fiscally responsible budget.  Together, Republican and Democratic legislators showed that it’s possible to work together to get things done for Iowans.

A few of this year’s highlights include:

• Making health care more affordable and accessible for all Iowa children. With overwhelming support, the Legislature agreed to make health care coverage available to all Iowa kids within the next three years.  I led the charge on this effort and am proud that this initiative is the largest new commitment the Legislature made this year.
  
  
• The second phase of our four-year, $100 million commitment to help Iowa businesses expand their production of renewable energy, alternative fuel, and clean technology.  The Iowa Power Fund initiative promotes Iowa-grown energy, helps family farmers become more profitable, and strengthens national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil. 

• Budgeting responsibly and putting our state’s fiscal house back in order. With a national recession on the horizon, fiscal prudence – not a spending spree on a host of new programs – was our battle cry this session. One result of our belt-tightening is that we will have more money than ever in our state’s savings and “rainy day” accounts.

• Improving student achievement by ensuring that we have the best teachers in Iowa classrooms.    Thanks to continued bipartisan support, the 2008-2009 school year will be the last in a three-year effort to raise the average pay of Iowa teachers to 25th in the nation. Accountability will be increased by connecting teacher pay with such district goals as improved student achievement.

Throughout the 2008 session, Iowans shared their ideas and concerns with legislators in communities across the state.  We are thankful for your suggestions and comments.

Between now and the start of the 2009 session, I encourage you to contact me with your ideas and concerns.  In the meantime, I’ll continue to provide updates on this year’s successful session and how local Iowans, businesses, schools and communities will benefit.