One particular note of interest in the study is found on page 16:

Federal spending was cut from $6.3 billion on 1920 to $5 billion 1921 and $3.2 billion in 1922. Federal taxes fell from $6.6 billion in 1920 to $5.5 billion in 1921 and $4 billion in 1922.

These cuts in spending were in response to the depression of 1920-1921, virtually forgotten because of being overshadowed by the Great Depression of the 30s.

To read the study, click here.

(Source: Policy Interest Institute)

Thank you to all the men and women who serve and have served in this nation’s armed forces, fighting for the freedoms we enjoy every day. The sacrifice of those who have died to preserve this great nation will be in our thoughts and prayers today.

After being selected in late December to lead the Republican caucus in the Iowa House of Representatives, Rep. Kraig Paulsen is now focused on regaining control of the chamber with the 2010 elections. Paulsen sat down with the Iowa Republican recently to discuss his new role as minority leader, the legislative session that concluded at 6 a.m. on a Sunday morning, and what the future holds for House Republicans.

When lawmakers returned to Des Moines in January to start the new legislative session, Democrats were all aglow about newly-elected President Barak Obama, who won Iowa handedly, and they were also celebrating large majorities in the Iowa House and Senate. Iowa’s political pundits believed that there was nothing Republicans could do to slow down or stop Democrats from advancing their agenda.

The pundits were wrong because the Democrats’ agenda didn’t sail through the legislative process. House Democrats were unable to pass prevailing wage, choice of doctor, and the repeal of federal deductibility, despite Governor Chet Culver’s pledge to help find the needed votes to pass these pieces of legislation.

That’s not to say however, that House Democrats were unable to pass anything significant. Democrats passed a huge budget, along witha bill allowing the state to borrow $765 million, which taxpayers will be asked to pay back over the next 20 years. With only 44 Republican members in the Iowa House, Paulsen, with a lot of help from six moderate Democrats, was able to stop a large part of the Democrats’ agenda from becoming law.

Continue reading at theiowarepublican.com

View the linked document to see which bills survived the Funnel.

2009 First Funnel Survivors

HF 422 – Idling Bill
Democrats want to approve vehicle emission standards similar to California. In California, it is illegal to idle your car for more than 5 minutes. Exceeding the 5 minute idling limit in California is a $300 fine.

Jobs created: 0
Ankles turned by Iowans sprinting in and out of their driveways and garages to move their cars before the 5 minutes limit is exceeded: Numerous.

HF 627 Leaf Burning Ban
Iowans evidently need to be protected from burning leaves. Despite the fact that cities already have the ability to ban leaf burning within city limits, Democrats feel strongly that burning leaves are such an imminent threat to Iowans, they must be banned.

Jobs created: 0
Leaves saved: Many

HF 588 Paint Tax
Iowans who purchase paint aren’t paying their fair share. Democrats have a bill that increases the state tax on paint, primer and specialty finish. Iowans who purchase stains, sealers and spray paints need not worry as the tax on these products will not go up.

Jobs created: 0
Confused home improvement shoppers: Loads

HF 296 Propane Tax
Iowans who use propane evidently are not paying their fair share so Democrats have targeted backyard grillers.

Jobs created: 0
Angry Dads: Thousands

Jobs created: 0
Happy Catfish: Incalculable

SF 331 Fine Art
The key to taxpayers saving money on state building projects is apparently fine art. This bill requires the state to spend 1 percent of the total cost of state building construction costs on fine art.

Jobs created: 0
Starving artists fed: Innumerable

SF 204 DOA
The Department of Elder Affairs was renamed the Department on Aging. Iowans were seemingly so confused by what “elder affairs” meant that a name change was vital.

Jobs created: 0
Saturday Night Live skits making fun of Iowa for the name change: 1

SF 117 Don’t Mess with Bicyclists
When passing or approaching a bicyclist, motorists must treat the bike just like every other vehicle. If the road isn’t wide enough to pass, the motorist must stay behind the bicyclist at a safe distrance until the road is wide enough to pass. Also, motorists are not allowed to open their car doors if the door is on the traffic side unless it is reasonably safe to do so.

Jobs created: 0
Number of Iowans driving on skinny roads: 0
Outbreak of Iowans wildly swinging open doors into unsuspecting bicyclists: Contained

HF 556 Seniors and Creative People
This bill states that cities or counties may encourage development projects and activities in cultural and entertainment districts. Among the things that may be encouraged are activities that attract seniors and creative people to live and work in a cultural and entertainment district.

Therefore the bill essentially does absolutely nothing except add 20 lines to the Iowa Code.

Jobs created: 0
Cities and counties who may do this: All of them

HSB 136 Turtle Helpers
Among the many things this DNR bill does is it defines and clarifies Iowan turtle helpers. “Commercial turtle helper” means a person who is licensed by the state to assist a commercial turtle fisher in operating commercial gear, or in taking, attempting to take possessing, processing, or transporting commercial turtles, turtle eggs, or turtle parts.

Jobs created: 0
Commercial turtle fishers helped: Countless

HF 389 Water Fountains
The lack of water fountains in Iowa has evidently reached epidemic proportions. According to the bill, “the purpose of the initiative is that all Iowans, particularly students, have safe, easy, and convenient access to free, good quality drinking water from modern facilities throughout the day.” No mention in the bill concerning the lack of jobs.

Jobs created: 0
Thirsty kids: None

HF 278 Number of People in Polk County Bars
All Polk County Bars must update their occupancy rates.

Jobs created: 0
Lines at Polk County Bars: Longer

HF 386 Parking on One Side of the Road
According to this bill, cities will now be able to allow drivers to park on the wrong side of the road if parking there is safer than parking on the right side of the road.

Jobs created: 0
Heads scratched: Multitudes

HF 384 Lead Wheel Weights
Lead wheel weights have become such a nuisance to Iowans that they must be banned.

Jobs created: 0
Iowans who can sleep soundly with the knowledge lead wheel weights have been wiped out: Lots