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Senate
Democrats
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Maintaining Iowa’s
priorities in a national recession
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Your input can improve Iowa
government
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Protecting the rights of
Iowa workers
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Preschool is making more
kids successful
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Iowa is a great place for
business
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Helping Iowans who’ve been
cheated
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Finance Authority promotes
community & economic growth
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Senior-friendly communities
strengthen Iowa
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Working families get the help they need
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Bicyclists’ Bill of Rights
passes committee
Maintaining Iowa’s priorities in a national recession
The deepening national recession puts a strain on the budgets of Iowa middle-class
families.
That’s why I support bipartisan efforts in the Iowa Legislature to help
create more good-paying jobs, stand up for the priorities of middle-class
families, and be fiscally responsible. It’s also why I’m listening to your
comments and suggestions for balancing the state budget without raising
taxes.
Earlier this week, a national expert visited the Statehouse to describe
challenges facing Iowa
families and the Legislature during these tough economic times.
Nick Johnson, State Fiscal Policy Project Director for the
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, talked with legislators about Iowa’s fiscal
situation, how it compares to other states, and the federal economic recovery
package under consideration in Congress.
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:
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46 states are facing fiscal stress in the
current fiscal year.
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State budget troubles are worsening because of
declining state income. Nationally, last year’s revenues were flat and
are now falling dramatically.
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Budget shortfalls are already projected in 41
states for the upcoming fiscal year.
Johnson urged lawmakers to look at all spending in
response to state budget problems. Some cuts in state spending—especially the
safety net, infrastructure and other essential government services—can harm
Iowans and their economy, he said, adding that certain cuts could actually
lengthen and deepen the recession.
Johnson suggested we consider three principles when making
budget decisions:
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Don’t rule things out too soon. Keep a wide
range of solutions on the table as long as possible.
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Put federal funds to work as soon as possible.
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Once short-term needs are addressed,
immediately think about long-term growth.
For more information, go the website for the Center on
Budget and Policy Priorities at www.cbpp.org.
Have ideas to improve Iowa government? Let me know by posting
your suggestions at www.legis.state.ia.us/aspx/SurveyForm/Improving_StGvt/.
At this time of national recession, some unethical
corporations are taking advantage of hard pressed Iowa workers.
First there was the controversy surrounding violations of
labor laws and other regulations at the AgriProcessors
meatpacking plant in Postville. Now we learn that a group of men with
developmental disabilities lived in horrible conditions in Atalissa while
working at a turkey processing plant.
Failing to enforce wage laws and follow minimum standards
cheats legal workers, drives down wages and is unfair to Iowa businesses that play by the rules. I
support putting real teeth into Iowa’s
wage and overtime laws.
Next week, the Legislature’s Joint House and Senate
Government Oversight Committee will convene hearings into the Atalissa
controversy.
On February 17, the Department of Inspections and Appeals,
which regulates licensed care facilities, will testify. The Department of
Human Services will also detail their response this deplorable situation.
Local county officials have been asked to describe how this situation
deteriorated.
On February 19, the Department of Criminal Investigation
and officials from the Iowa Workforce Development office will report on
potential criminal and labor law violations.
Iowa
wage and labor enforcement efforts are among the weakest in the
nation. Postville and Atalissa are just two examples of why we must make
changes. We should punish violators and protect the whistle-blowers who
bring their actions to light.
Preschool enrollment has been on the rise for more than 40
years. In fact no area in education has grown as much, according to the Iowa
Department of Education.
Currently, about 70 percent of four-year olds nationwide
get a preschool education.
Enrollment here in Iowa
has risen the last couple years because of the voluntary preschool program
the Legislature approved in 2007. This initiative is making it possible for all
Iowa kids
to enter school ready to learn.
I’ve seen first-hand in our local schools that the money
we commit to early learning is a great investment. It reduces the need for
remedial education, while building a strong workforce and supporting quality
family life.
Through Iowa’s
voluntary preschool initiative, we’ve invested $30 million in 118 school
district serving 9,467 four-year-olds. Similar investments in other states
decreased the number of students in special education in later school years
and led to significant long-term savings.
In these tough economic times, there will be little or no
new spending. Nevertheless, I believe
it makes sense to continue helping Iowa
kids start school ready to learn.
Learn more about Iowa’s
preschool initiative at www.iowa.gov/educate
and click on “Early Childhood.”
Iowa is a great place for business
Many national organizations now rank Iowa as one of the best places to start a
business:
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Iowa's
largest cities were listed as Best Places for Business by Forbes (2008).
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In 2008, CNBC ranked Iowa 2nd in Cost of Doing
Business and 11th in Business Friendliness.
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The Milken Institute
gave high ranking to Iowa
cities for their economic growth and job creation efforts.
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Site Selection Magazine ranked Iowa 6th in the
country in 2008.
One reason for our success at fostering entrepreneurship
is the creation of an Innovation & Commercialization Division within the
Iowa Department of Economic Development in 2007.
The Division’s Iowa Demonstration Fund has already
provided pre-seed capital for 40 small- and medium-size businesses. These
businesses are developing prototypes and new concepts in the advanced
manufacturing, biosciences, and information technology industries. We are
also linking angel investors with local entrepreneurs, developing
entrepreneurial talent in schools, and providing the resources entrepreneurs
need to succeed.
For more on how Iowa
is fostering entrepreneurship, creating jobs and growing our economy, go to www.iowalifechanging.com or www.IowaEntreprenuers.com.
Did you know that Iowa
is the only state that doesn’t have a private cause of action for consumers
who’ve been cheated?
That’s why a Senate subcommittee is considering creating a
legal private cause of action. This
would help Iowans who’ve been defrauded by unscrupulous salespersons,
contractors and others. Victims would be able to go to court to get their
money back when they have been cheated and collect attorneys’ fees when they
win.
The Iowa Attorney General’s Office helps as many people as
it can, but it can’t represent individual consumers in court. That means many
Iowans are unable to seek damages.
Here’s an example: You hire someone to re-shingle your
roof, paying $5,000 up front. You get new shingles, but they aren’t installed
properly. As a result, your roof leaks, damaging your property.
Under current law, you’d have to go to court and fight for
your rights. If you win, you are still out the cost of your attorney fees.
This is a no-win situation that lets dishonest people walk away with your
hard-earned money.
Iowans deserve the opportunity to go after the bad guys.
This new legislation would give them that chance.
In these tough economic times, it is good to hear about Iowa’s success
stories. The Iowa Finance Authority is certainly one of them.
The Iowa Finance Authority, established in 1975, helps
low- and moderate-income Iowans buy homes, offers a variety of housing
assistance and provides the lowest cost funds for drinking water and waste
water facilities in the state.
These programs improve the quality of life for Iowans and
enhance the economies of local communities.
Here are some highlights from IFA’s
annual report:
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IFA helped distribute $20 million to disaster
victims through the JumpStart Iowa initiative.
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IFA’s State Revolving
Fund had a record-breaking year, tripling investments to improve the state’s
water quality.
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The Iowa Mortgage Help initiative has received
more than 12,000 calls and assisted more than 3,500 homeowners.
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The state’s rental assistance programs helped
394 renters make ends meet.
For more information on IFA and how it’s improving the
lives of Iowans, go to www.ifahome.com.
The Senate Local Government Committee is considering a
bill to create Senior Friendly Communities in Iowa.
Senior Friendly Communities promote Iowa
as a destination for retirees, while assisting Iowa communities in marketing themselves
and adding to their workforce.
Certifying communities as Senior Friendly Communities is
an economic development tool with little cost to the state. To earn the
designation, communities would take steps to make it easier for seniors to
live on their own. These could include improved road signs, transportation options,
preventive health care, meal-delivery and home modification programs, and
improved access to information and other services.
Did you know that Iowa's
two-parent families work an average of 3,850 hours per year, more hours than
the two-parent families in all but three other states?
According to the Iowa Policy Project, a single parent
working fulltime with one child must earn at least $13.92 per hour to make
ends meet. Half of all Iowa
jobs miss that mark.
A single parent working fulltime with two children needs a
job that pays at least $17.90 per hour. Nearly two-thirds of Iowa jobs fall short.
These facts show that working Iowans are struggling to
support their families. Here’s some of the bipartisan steps we’ve taken in
the Legislature to help:
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We increased Iowa’s Earned Income Tax Credit and
improved outreach efforts. Thousands
more working Iowa
families now have more money to pay for important needs, such as child care,
health care and energy. Learn more at www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=130102,00.html.
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We expanded the Child Care Assistance Program
for low-income working parents.
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We’re making affordable health care available
to all Iowa
children by 2011.
To learn more about the cost of living in Iowa and what families
need to get by, go to www.iowapolicyproject.org/EconomicOpportunity.html.
A string of tragic accidents involving adults and children
killed while riding bicycles is behind an effort to update our transportation
laws.
On February 4, the Senate Transportation Committee passed
the Bicyclists’ Bill of Rights. This legislation gives bicycles use of our
roads and entitles them to full use of a lane when needed.
The bill also contains safety measures. It adds bicycles
to the “safe following distance” law, including a five-foot passing rule. The
Bicyclists’ Bill of Rights now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
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