53,000. That’s the number of uninsured children in Iowa. That’s the number of Iowa boys and girls who don’t get to automatically
go to a doctor when they’re sick.
These are children in need of help.
Who are these kids?
Babies born underweight because their mother didn’t have pre-natal
care. Two- and three-year-olds who aren’t
immunized because their parents lack health insurance. Teenagers suffering from eating disorders,
or mental disorders who do not have access to health care professionals to
help them treat their condition.
You can’t underestimate the importance of health care
reform to our economy and to the well-being of our families. That’s why the bi-partisan legislative
Commission on Affordable Health Care has challenged state leaders to take big
steps this session to insure every child in Iowa.
A plan in the Iowa Senate puts enough money on the table
to cover every kid eligible for hawk-i and subsidizes
insurance for other families in need. If
this plan becomes law, Iowa
would become the first state to guarantee all children have health insurance. It is a plan that is affordable, that would
not require higher taxes, and that would not punish parents who decide not to
provide insurance for their children.
I’m optimistic we can accomplish this goal in the next two
to three years. As we move toward
insuring all children, we’ll better understand how to bring health care to
every Iowan.
The Senate also passed bills last week that will protect
consumers. The new legislation would
allow people to put a freeze on their own credit to prevent identity
theft. The freeze could be temporarily
lifted only by the consumer when they apply for credit. Another bill will prevent people from
taking out large life insurance policies on the lives of strangers.
Finally, the Senate last week also passed a bill brought
to Senator Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa by a local police officer. This bill will eliminate a little paperwork
on the part of law enforcement and will also save taxpayers’ dollars.
When law enforcement agencies seize property as evidence
in criminal proceedings, they are required to return that property to the
legal owner when it is no longer needed.
Under current law, however, law enforcement must notify anyone
entitled to claim the property.
The problem is that this notice must be sent by restricted
certified mail, return receipt requested, at a cost of $9.31 per notice. In some cases, many individuals may have a
potential claim to the property and notices must be sent to each of them,
regardless of the value of the property.
For example, a local police department may have
confiscated a case of beer that is no longer needed in a criminal case, and
there are three individuals who may be entitled to claim it. The agency must send a notice to each
individual—at a total cost of $27.93 in postage—simply to return a case of
beer!
The Senate legislation will allow law enforcement to
simply use regular mail if the value of the property is $500 or less. In addition, notices could be delivered
personally to claimants, regardless of the value of the property.
Remember, most good bills result from ideas brought to
legislators by their neighbors. Your
ideas and support are very much appreciated.
Keep in touch!
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