The 2010 legislative session marked another year of an ongoing struggle for gun advocates looking for changes in Iowa’s gun permitting law. Unlike previous years, the 2010 session bore fruit. In the final days of session a “shall issue” carry bill passed. That bill, SF 2379, takes effect January 1st but continues to face attacks from a familiar foe.
A number of Iowa sheriffs have continued to raise questions about changes they opposed in SF 2379 with an apparent intention of having changes made next year. For many, sheriffs were the reason changes to our gun permitting laws were needed. Under current law, sheriffs have complete discretion as to whether they will issue a permit and how they will issue it.
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Two weeks ago the President signed into law a $26 billion dollar stimulus package. Part of that aid package was the Education Jobs Fund (Ed Jobs) program, a new federal program providing a one-time appropriation of $10 billion in assistance to States to save or create education jobs for the 2010-2011 school year. Of that $10 billion, Iowa’s portion looks to be $96,490,048. The bill passed the House on a near party-line vote after representatives were called back to session during the August recess to consider it.
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…according to the I-Jobs web site, only…37.6 percent, was used for flood recovery…
In defending his massive borrowing program known as I-Jobs, the Governor has shifted the purpose of the program from creating jobs to flood recovery and prevention.
The Governor has responded to Republican criticism of I-Jobs by asking how we would propose paying for flood recovery and prevention, suggesting that the only way to fund it was to borrow $810 million.
Here is a breakdown of the bonding contained in three bills that established I-Jobs:
- Senate File 376 (I-Jobs) – Borrowed $545 million, cost of repayment is $1.202 billion
- Senate File 474 (Regents) – Borrowed $115 million, cost of repayment is $252 million
- Senate File 477 (State Infrastructure) – Borrowed $105 million (later increased to $150 million) – cost of repayment is $213 million (the repayment number remained the same)
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A new August 2010 newsletter is available for viewing. Click the link below to see a PDF version.
Caucus Newsletter August 27, 2010
Included in this edition:
- I-Jobs for Flood Recovery Myth
- $96 Million From Feds for Education Jobs
- Sheriffs Fight Shall Issue
On August 10, 2010, the United States House of Representatives approved legislation to increase taxes on U.S. multinational companies by $9.7 billion, in order to help finance a $26 billion spending package that will soon pour dollars into state coffers to be used for Medicaid programs and teacher salaries. Cash strapped states, the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers lobbied heavily for the funding. Shortly after Senate passage last week, the House voted to approve H.R. 1586 by a vote of 247-161, the bill was subsequently signed into law that day by President Obama.
Read on for a breakdown of the bill…
On Thursday, August 5, 2010, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) published as part of its weekly electronic newsletter ‘EcoNewsWire’ an article notifying Iowans who have questions related to flood debris, sandbag disposal, well safety and the status of state parks.
As in 2008, the DNR created a one-stop website for flood information. The website includes a guide to disposing of flood debris and dealing with flood impacts in ag and rural areas, precautions around asbestos and other timely information. Log on to www.iowadnr.gov/flood.html for information that can help in flood recovery efforts.
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Yesterday, Gov. Culver admitted that throughout his term as governor he has made mistakes.
“I appreciate Gov. Culver’s willingness to admit mistakes, we’ve all made some,” said House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha). “But he’s yet to acknowledge one of his biggest mistakes, increasing Iowans property taxes.”
Paulsen notes that the governor knowingly spent too much money in fiscal year 2010 which lead him to recklessly make a 10 percent across the board cut. Due to that mistake, property taxpayers were forced to pick up the tab to the tune of a $526.9 million increase.
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On Tuesday, August 10, a new analysis was released by the USA TODAY. The analysis found that at a time when private sector workers’ pay and benefits have stagnated, the average compensation of federal government employees has grown to double what private sector workers earn.
According to the analysis, federal workers have been awarded bigger average pay and benefit increases than private employees for nine years in a row which has resulted in a doubling of the compensation gap.
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A new August 2010 newsletter is available for viewing. Click the link below to see a PDF version.
Caucus Newsletter August 13, 2010
Included in this edition:
- Public Sector Wages Rise
- DNR has Flood Info Available
- More Bailout Cash from the Feds
Yesterday Gov. Chet Culver committed the property taxpayer to another round of tax increases. He promised a 4 percent increase for fiscal year 2012 in allowable growth, the state aid provided to Iowa’s schools. According to the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency, Culver’s pledge would be roughly a $338 million increase in school spending authority. At a minimum, current law says $40 million would fall on the property tax payer.
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