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Oct. 28, 2009 |
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TOPICS Right strategies will help our state grow again How can state government be more efficient? Ensuring healthy pets for Iowans Iowa’s health care leadership continues to draw attention Passing smarter, tougher, safer laws to protect our communities Where can you get your flu shot? Good news for Iowa workers New resources help students succeed Grants available to improve water quality Your input can help improve Iowa’s parks
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.
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.
Ensuring healthy pets for Iowans
A legislative study committee examining the care of companion animals sold commercially met recently to determine if further state regulation is needed in the industry.
As a member of the Care of Animals in Commercial Enterprises Study Committee, I heard from representatives of the Animal Rescue League, Iowa Veterinary Medical Association, Iowa Pet Breeders Association, Iowa Department of Agriculture and U. S. Department of Agriculture.
It’s clear that there are serious problems with some commercial breeders, especially involving dogs. Dogs sold by some breeders are housed in unhealthy and harmful conditions. The animals are confined in small kennels and lack exercise, proper diet and, as a result, become sick.
The study committee made several recommendations to the Legislature, including: ** Giving state agriculture inspectors the power to investigate complaints at Iowa’s federally licensed facilities. ** Increasing penalties for unlicensed facilities. ** Requiring continuing education for breeders with flagrant violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act. ** Establishing a mandatory reporting requirement for veterinarians who witness animal neglect.
If these measures were adopted, it would be the first action taken in more than 20 years to regulate the $16 million-a-year pet breeding industry in Iowa.
The Legislature will consider these and other recommendations when it convenes in January. For more info, go to www.legis.state.ia.us/Current/Interim.
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.
Passing smarter, tougher, safer laws to protect our communities
One of the most important functions of state government is providing for public safety.
During the 2009 session, we made Iowa’s anti-sex offender laws smarter, tougher and safer (SF 340). Legislators worked side by side with law enforcement in crafting a law that will better protect Iowa’s children from sexual predators.
Our reforms include the creation of “exclusion zones” where sex offenders are not allowed. This means sex offenders:
** Cannot be on school or childcare property or loiter within 300 feet of these places. ** Cannot be in public libraries or loiter around them. ** Cannot be on property or loiter around places where children gather, such as parks and playgrounds.
The new law also prohibits sex offenders from working or volunteering at schools, childcare centers, fairs and places where children congregate.
In addition, we made it easier for law enforcement to know where sex offenders are, what they’re doing and how to find them. Offenders must supply more information to the sheriff, such as vehicle license and registration numbers, passport and immigration documents, and Internet usernames. Offenders must report in person to the sheriff more often. And they’ll stay on the Sex Offender Registry for 10 years or life.
Other smarter, tougher public safety efforts passed this year will:
** Provide additional protections for dependent adults by changing the definition of “sexual exploitation” to include inappropriate electronic images of dependent adults by caretakers (SF 438).
** Protect more victims of human trafficking by expanding the definition of “commercial sexual activity” (SF 27).
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.
Good news for Iowa workers
Do you qualify for an extension in unemployment benefits?Iowa Workforce Development recently reported that the state’s unemployment rate for August was at 6.8 percent.
During this downturn in the economy, one of the best safety nets we can offer Iowa’s working families is good unemployment insurance. Unemployment benefits help families make ends meet and help communities get back on their feet.
That’s why Iowa has opted to extend unemployment benefits for many jobless Iowans. Nearly 5,000 Iowans are eligible for up to 13 additional weeks of unemployment insurance.
To find out if you qualify for extended benefits, contact your local Workforce Center. Their contact information can be found at www.iowaworkforce.org/ui/contacts.htm.
Preventing misclassification of Iowa employeesIowa Workforce Development has launched a new Web site to help Iowa workers and employers learn more about “employee misclassification.”
Employee misclassification occurs when employers wrongfully treat workers as “independent contractors,” rather than as employees. By classifying employees as independent contractors, employers avoid paying into Iowa's unemployment insurance, worker's compensation insurance, and temporary disability insurance while limiting employee rights.
This is a growing problem in Iowa that poses a significant threat to Iowa’s economy, its businesses and its workers. To learn more or to report instances of employee misclassification, go to www.iowaworkforce.org/misclassification.
New resources help students succeed
Preparing for career successThe Iowa College Student Aid Commission recently launched a new online resource to help students transition from school to the workplace and to provide tools for adults seeking education and employment opportunities.
At www.IHaveaPlanIowa.gov, you can find information to help you create a career plan, match your interests and skills with education and employment opportunities, prepare for standardized tests, research financial aid and scholarship options, build resumes, and more.
College transferring made easierAs college costs increase and the national recession continues, parents and students must make tough decisions when it comes to college affordability. To save on tuition and living expenses, more students are attending a community college close to home for their first two years, and then transferring to a 4-year public university.
A new Web site, www.transferiniowa.org, can make figuring out which classes and credits will transfer a whole lot easier. By following the “Transferring Your Credit” links, you can discover how community college credits might transfer to Iowa’s state universities. Additional links include information on the transfer process, distance education and existing statewide transfer agreements.
Grants available to improve water quality
A new grant program will help improve urban water quality while creating jobs for Iowans. The state I-JOBS program includes $80 million for water quality and environmental projects.
Through the I-JOBS Green Urban Stormwater program, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has more than $1.4 million available in grants for green urban stormwater projects.
For complete details and to apply, go to www.iowadnr.gov/rfp.html between October 15 and December 1, and click on “I-JOBS Improved Green Urban Stormwater Best Management Practices.”
Your input can help improve Iowa’s parks
The Iowa Parks Foundation wants to know how Iowans use the many parks throughout the state. You can provide your input through an online survey. Just go to www.iaparks.org and click on the Iowa Parks Foundation logo on the right side of the page. Survey results and other input will help identify recreational interests, patterns of park use, quality and condition of state park facilities, and user priorities for future park improvements.
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