Iowa House Republicans » Press Conferences

GOP Conference Committee Members Roll Out New Ed Reform Proposal

ctadlock — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:22:45 +0000

(DES MOINES) – Thursday afternoon, Republican Education Conference Committee members released a new proposal to come to resolution on education reform. Nine concerns raised by Democrats are addressed in the new proposal.

“Republicans are focused on crafting meaningful education reform on behalf of Iowa’s students, parents and teachers,” said House Education Chairman Ron Jorgensen (R-Sioux City). “We remain committed to coming to resolution on these issues in a timely manner.”

The House proposes the following offer:

2% Supplemental State Aid + 2% equivalent payment for FY14
4% Supplemental State Aid for FY15
2 year extension on the sunset for the Early Intervention Block Grant

House File 215 language with the following changes:

Move minimum salary to $33,500
Create comparable model language and criteria
Local districts comparable model proposal reviewed by the commission, which makes a recommendation to the director, who will decide whether to approve. Add an appeal option to the State Board of Education.
Eliminate Teach Iowa Marketing program (HF 214 section 43) – move the money from that program to fund the Competency-Based Provisions in the Senate language (H-1248 sections 38 and 48)
Mentor teachers experience, move from 2 to 3 years (eliminate HF 215 section 77, subsection 7)
Take Senate language on preschool funding uses (H-1248 section 41)
Take Senate language on kindergarten assessment (H-1248 section 45)
Add language to ensure that the Teacher and Administrator Development Systems must be accomplished in a collaborative manner (SAI provided suggested language)
Remove letter grades from Attendance Center Rankings program developed per section
Take Senate language on School District Reporting Requirements Task Force (H-1248 section 49)
Take Senate language on Instructional Hours (H-1248 Division 1)

Branstad praises House passage of Taxpayers First Act

JillJ — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 17:16:34 +0000

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry E. Branstad today commended House Republicans for their efforts and passage of HF 45, the “Taxpayers First Act.”

In response to the bill’s passage, Gov. Branstad released the following statement:

“This bill is a recognition that Iowans do not want the state to continue to spend more than it takes in. This is a thoughtful approach toward putting our state on track for fiscal responsibility. I will release my budget recommendations next week, and believe this bill’s passage is an important first step toward budget sustainability in the future. I commend House Republicans for their hard work in getting this bill passed.”

Republicans Offer Budget Reductions to the FY 2010 Budget

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:05:54 +0000

Today House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen released a comprehensive list of more than $215 million in budget-saving measures he will be presenting to Democrat legislative leaders.

“On the first day of the legislative session, I indicated that House Republicans would be diving into state budgets to find serious savings for the taxpayers of Iowa,” said Paulsen. “Today we are here to offer a list that goes to reducing the size and scope of state government, that brings more accountability to budgeting and reduces unnecessary spending.”

The following is the list House Republicans presented to Democrats:

Program Reduction Savings

Eliminate “phantom employees” – funded, unfilled FTE positions $25,000,000

Do “Principal Plan” – require Governor to negotiate a pay reduction for all employees – sliding scale of 2% cut for $40K to 10% cut for over $100K – then apply to all non-union, all branches (click here for breakdown of Principal Plan as applied) $72,500,000

Charge state employees a monthly fee for health insurance premiums – HAWK-I pays $10 per month, charge state employees $50 per month for health insurance $17,800,000

Sell the fleet, outsource vehicle leasing – one-time infusion due to sale, ongoing savings of $18 million minus the money for leasing vehicles $34,000,000

Reduce office supplies, service contracts, equipment purchases $10,000,000

Combine all state information technology systems including combining the 6 different email systems $20,000,000

Sell or lease the Iowa Communications Network $15,000,000

Reduce funding for Library acquisitions at Regents by 50% $13,500,000

No DNR land acquisition for FY 2010 $5,000,000

Freeze out of state travel (allow a waiver process via Executive Council for critical functions) $1,500,000

Eliminate “extras” on existing state vehicle purchases including bug shields, stereos, GPS systems and other add-ons $87,000

Archiving Iowa Governor’s Records — Reduce by 50% $39,000

Eliminate Washington, DC Internship (seek private funding) $90,000

Eliminate miscellaneous expenses for DOT garage in Rockwell City $78,000

Eliminate charter flights by members of the DOT commission $17,000

End printing of annual reports – require them to be emailed *

Suspend per diem for ex officio members on boards & commissions *

Require all employees to turn in receipts for meal expenses *

GRAND TOTAL OF BUDGET REDUCTIONS $214,611,000

* Exact dollar savings unknown at the present time

Click here to download a pdf of this information

Republicans To Hold Joint Press Conference Tuesday, January 13

admin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:31:31 +0000

Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley (R-Chariton) and House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) will be holding a joint press conference on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 immediately following Governor Culver’s condition of the state address.

The two legislative leaders will be giving the Republican reaction to the governor’s address.

WHO: Senate Leader Paul McKinley, House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen

WHAT: Joint Press Conference, condition of the state reaction

WHEN: Tuesday, January 13, 2009, Immediately following the governor’s address

WHERE: House Republican Leader’s office, State Capitol (room 121)