House Republicans unveiled their plan for budget savings, the Taxpayers First Act.
To view full bill and staff analysis view links below:
Taxpayers First Act
Staff Analysis
“House Republicans campaigned on giving Iowans a seat at the table. This bill does just that,” said House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer (R-Garner).
The Taxpayers First Act will create a Taxpayer Relief Fund which will capture any budget surplus and direct it back to the taxpayer.
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House Republican committee assignments are now assembled for 2011. Click the links below to view lists in PDF.
Assignments by Member
Assignments by Committee
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Agriculture, Commerce, Economic Growth, Education, Environmental Protection, Human Resources, Judiciary, Labor, Local Government, Natural Resources, Public Safety, State Government, Transportation, Veterans Affairs | JillJ | November 29, 2010 | 
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(DES MOINES) – Speaker-Elect Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) today announced the final committee chairs for the 84th General Assembly.
Continue reading for the list of appointments…
Education, Environmental Protection, Government Oversight, Human Resources, Judiciary, Local Government, Natural Resources, Press Releases, Public Safety, Veterans Affairs | JillJ | November 18, 2010 | Comments (0)
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.
Read more for the details…
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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Governor Culver wants Iowans to believe that $100 million for about 10 hours of instruction a week is a bargain for government run preschool.
Here is what’s being left out the preschool discussion:
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Bill Gates invested $335 million last year to find out how to make K-12 teachers more effective. In making the announcement he said, “Unfortunately, it seems the field doesn’t have a clear view of what characterizes good teachers. I’m personally very curious.”
Enter Doug Lemov, a 42-year-old teacher of teachers, and his new book “Teach Like a Champion: The 49 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College.”
Technique No. 1 is “No Opt Out. How to move students from the blank stare or stubborn shrug to giving the right answer every time.” His book is a dictionary of tips on how to get kids to pay attention in class.
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The break out of information from the Iowa Association of School Boards earlier this spring caused a knot in their operations. For a time they were without an executive director, a chief financial officer, and a legal counsel or in other words, their entire executive team. The result of the media and legislative attention has caused the organization to look closely at their operational procedures and make changes accordingly. Here are a number of changes that the association has implemented recently to ensure tighter oversight:
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House Republicans addressed transparency for K-12 school funding in 2006, long before “transparency” became the battle cry of Iowa taxpayers. The problem is that four years later the law isn’t fully implemented.
In 2006, Republican chairperson of the House Education Committee, Rep. Jodi Tymeson, introduced House Study Bill 522, a bill referred to as the Taxpayers Right to Know Act. This bill became a House Education Committee bill, House File 2346 and then became law in the Vilsack/Republican negotiated education compromise bill, Senate File 2272
Today the House Republican’s Taxpayer Right to Know Act is Iowa Code section 279.63.
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Iowa school districts have a $40 million special education deficit.
Here’s why the issue needs a closer look:
- Iowa’s school aid formula already generates $380 million in state aid and property taxes to pay for special education. The $40 million deficit that automatically raises property taxes is what districts spent above and beyond the $380 million.
- Up until 2008, the deficit hovered around $20 million. In 2008 it jumped to $31 million and in 2009 to $40 million.
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