Representative Alons
8:00 am, Rock Rapids,Eggs and Issues, Forster Community Bldg.
1:00 pm, Hawarden, City Office
2:30 pm, Orange City. City Office

Representative Smith
7:00 am, Rock Rapids

Last Friday the Revenue Estimating Conference met and concluded that there is an increase in revenue coming in to the state. Budget bills continue to move through the House as we work to craft a responsible budget on behalf of Iowans.

For Fiscal Year 2012, the estimate was increased by $50.9 million for a total of $6.051 billion. Current spending for FY 2012 is just under $6 billion. Of the increase, $14 million will be deposited into the Taxpayers Trust Fund (which reaches its cap of $60 million) and the remainder flows into the ending balance. For FY 2013, the estimate was increased by $29 million, for a total of $6.281 billion.
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On March 22, 2012, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued its weekly electronic newsletter “EcoNewsWire” which contained an article noting that Iowa businesses, organizations and citizens have two weeks left to apply for the Governor’s Iowa Environmental Excellence Awards. Click here to download an application due April 6, 2012.
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A new March 2012 newsletter is available for viewing. Click the link below to see a PDF version:

Caucus Newsletter 3.28.12

In this edition:

• The Right Budgeting Approach
• Obamacare on the Ropes?
• TIF Reform Moves Along

• Ex-CIETC chief got $153,000: REGISTER
• Getting some Seng petition signatures “cost me many rounds of drinks”: RADIO IOWA
• Debate over state support of public universities: RADIO IOWA
• IPERS sues firm for failing to detect losses: REGISTER
• Biden in Davenport and Sioux City: RADIO IOWA
• What the end of ‘pink slime’ means for you: REGISTER
• Layoff ends for 152 TPI employees: RADIO IOWA
• Lawsuit seeks to overturn Price Lab closure: GAZETTE
• House oks plan seeking $36M education cut: QC TIMES
• Dotzler questions Workforce savings: WCF COURIER
• Three beef state governors tour BPI plant: SCJOURNAL

• Two legislators honored as ‘uncommon’: RADIO IOWA
• State may now issue birth and death certificates to parents of stillborn: RADIO IOWA
• Beef industry braces for loss of ‘pink slime’ filler: REGISTER
• Lawmakers close to agreement on limiting use of TIF tax breaks for businesses: RADIO IOWA
• ISU Research Foundation hits invention 4,000: RADIO IOWA
• Aren’t our gun laws lax enough now?: REGISTER
• Iowa braces for funding cuts to lead poisoning prevention programs: GAZETTE
• Vilsack lays out education plan: SCJOURNAL

• Iowa business tax overhaul elusive once again: QCTIMES
• Corps completes spot-checks on formerly flooded dams and levees: RADIO IOWA
• Problems continue to plague Des Moines charter school: REGISTER
• State may distribute fewer paper maps this year: RADIO IOWA
• ISU’s Tanzania farming project sparks debate over partnerships: REGISTER
• Lawmakers try to compromise on major goals: QC TIMES
• Returning veterans face new battle finding jobs: QC TIMES
• Campaign finance concerns ‘off the radar’: GAZETTE
• Iowa community colleges need more funding: QC TIMES
• Iowa roadside patrols dwindling: GAZETTE
• Future of passenger rail debated at Iowa City meeting: GAZETTE
• Iowa’s ‘shall issue’ law leads to more gun permit denials: SCJOURNAL

 

On March 23, the federal health care reform law – the Personal Protection and Health Care Access Act of 2010 – turned two years old. While proponents of the law will continue their efforts to convince the American public that the bill is actually saving money and improving care, recent polling data shows they are fighting a losing battle. The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll released on Monday found that 52 percent of Americans still do not support the law.

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The Iowa Veterans Home will hold a ribbon cutting for the new buildings on Wednesday, March 28th at 11:30 a.m. in front of the Ulery building. The LT Governor will be the keynote speaker, and legislators are invited to attend.

Unfortunately, the home does not have the infrastructure to open this to the public.

House Appropriations Chairman Rep. Scott Raecker (R-Urbandale) released the following statement on the March Revenue Estimating Conference (REC):

“The action by the Revenue Estimating Conference shows that House Republicans have taken the correct approach in crafting an efficient and effective state budget. The House Republican budget, that does not spend more than the state takes in, gives Iowans the certainty to weather any economic storm.”
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