House Speaker Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) delivered closing remarks to the Iowa House of Representatives today.  The following are his remarks, as prepared for delivery:

A sincere thank you to the members of the eighty-fifth general assembly, and in particular, House Republicans  – I appreciate the hard work, commitment and honest debates we had at the state capitol this year.  Thanks also to your families who deal with hectic schedules and our absences all so we can serve the good people of this state.

Thank you specifically to my wife, Cathy, and our children for your continued support, understanding and sharing in the sacrifice of our time together.

Read the rest of Speaker Paulsen’s remarks here…

House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) delivered closing remarks to the Iowa House of Representatives today.  The following are her remarks, as prepared for delivery:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

A little over two years ago the House Republican caucus set out on a mission.  We wanted to address the fundamental problems in the budget process.

For too long, and at the hands of Democrats and Republicans alike, the state’s budget resembled a roller coaster. One with steep inclines that inevitably led to even steeper declines.

Read the rest of Leader Upmeyer’s remarks here…

In light of recent news reports regarding politically-motivated targeting by the Internal Revenue Service, Iowa House Judiciary Chairman Chip Baltimore (R-Boone) today called on any Iowa 501(c)(4) organization that believes it has been unjustly targeted by the Internal Revenue Service to contact his Capitol office at: (515) 281-4947, or by e-mail at chip.baltimore@legis.iowa.gov.

“Freedom of association and speech are among the most foundational rights of our republic, and the politically-motivated targeting of Americans by the IRS is a blatant betrayal of the public trust. Attempts by an overreaching federal government to silence voices of dissent are not only un-American, they must not be tolerated and those responsible must be held to account,” said Baltimore. “As investigators continue probing the IRS misconduct, I urge any targeted Iowan or Iowa organization to come forward and make their voice heard.”

Baltimore said that he will work with any targeted Iowan to ensure they are connected with appropriate congressional oversight investigators to ensure any facts pertaining to the IRS scandal are heard.

Governor Branstad today signed the following bills into law:

Senate File 247 an Act providing for the possession of cats classified as bengals and savannahs.

Senate File 386 an Act relating to matters under the purview of the Department of Transportation, including the use of information contained in electronic driver and nonoperator identification records, the form of motor vehicle financial liability coverage cards, motor truck registration periods, regulation of glider kit vehicles, grounds for disqualification of commercial vehicle operators, provisions for the issuance of temporary restricted licenses for persons convicted of operating while intoxicated, county issuance of driver’s licenses, and the administration of highway contracts, and including effective date provisions.

House Joint Resolution 13 a joint resolution relating to the location and exhibition of the statue of James Harlan, currently on display in the United States Capitol.

House File 355 an Act relating to driver’s licenses, including the renewal of driver’s licenses electronically and including effective date and transition provisions.

House File 471 an Act relating to parental rights, including the payment of reasonable attorney fees in juvenile court or appellate proceedings relating to a termination of parental rights petition and the awarding of visitation when a history of crimes against a minor is involved, and including effective, retroactive, and applicability date provisions.

House File 512 an Act providing for the determination of animal units which are part of confinement feeding operations, and making penalties applicable.

House File 527 an Act requiring certain aggravated misdemeanants to submit a DNA sample and including effective date provisions.

House File 566 an Act to establish requirements relating to the transfer of an interest in real estate by or on behalf of certain entities formed or organized on a profit, cooperative, or not-for-profit basis, and including warranties and a limitation on actions.

House File 627 an Act establishing a property tax exemption for fairgrounds owned by a county or a fair and including applicability provisions.

Governor Branstad today named Ames CPA Mary Mosiman, AGE, as Iowa’s new state auditor, following last month’s announcement by David Vaudt that he was resigning to become the new chairman of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). His last day was May 3.

Mosiman currently serves as deputy secretary of state under Matt Schultz. Her first day is May 13.

“I had two major requirements for Iowa’s state auditor: that the individual was a CPA, and that the individual would adhere to the sound budgeting principles followed by David Vaudt,” said Branstad. “In Mary, we found that and more. She is a talented, passionate public servant who will keep a very close watch over Iowa’s tax dollars.”

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Governor Terry Branstad signed the following bills into law yesterday:

House File 112: an Act relating to the forfeiture of bail in a criminal case.

House File 197: an Act relating to certification of adult day services programs and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

House File 210: an Act relating to the practices and procedures of the State Public Defender.

House File 212: an Act relating to conducting condemnation proceedings.

See more of the bills by clicking here…

(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)

(DES MOINES) – In an effort to come to resolution on the education reform plan which is currently before a House and Senate Conference Committee, House Republicans offered a compromise.  The plan saves taxpayer money, allows schools to plan ahead for the long term, and implements policy changes focused on achievement-driven reforms.

House Education Committee Chairman, Rep. Ron Jorgensen (R-Sioux City) offered the compromise plan during the conference committee.  The details include:

• Keep intact policy language and appropriations for House File 215.
• 2 percent increase in allowable growth for Fiscal Year 2014, plus a one-time payment equivalent to 2 percent allowable growth.
• 4 percent increase in allowable growth for Fiscal Year 2015.

“This compromise plan offers flexibility for school districts, accountability for parents and protection for taxpayers,” said Rep. Jorgensen.  “I am hopeful that the Senate will take our compromise under serious consideration and we can resolve this issue today.”

The House previously passed $87.5 million in Fiscal Year 2014 and $119.3 million in Fiscal Year 2015.  The Senate originally passed $135 million in Fiscal Year 2014 and $305 million in Fiscal Year 2015. The House compromise plan is $144.7 million in Fiscal Year 2014 and $195 million in Fiscal Year 2015.

Will become chairman of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board

Auditor David Vaudt announced Thursday he is resigning to take over duties as the new chairman of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).

Vaudt, who served as Iowa’s state auditor since January 2003, recently was elected to the post.

Gov. Terry Branstad praised Vaudt as a “dedicated public servant for the taxpayers of Iowa, and we will miss his incredible work as steward of our tax dollars.

Vaudt, he said, “embodied the principles of good budgeting, including not spending more than we take in, and avoiding the use of one-time money for ongoing expenses.”

Branstad, who will appoint a successor, said the search for Vaudt’s replacement will begin immediately.

• According to Iowa Code Chapter 69, when there is a vacancy in the office of auditor, the governor has the duty to fill the office by appointment.
• Until an auditor is appointed by the governor, the governor is responsible for maintaining the office and its records in the interim.
• The person appointed by the governor will serve through the end of the current unexpired term.
• The next election for auditor will occur during the next regularly scheduled election in 2014.
• The salary of the auditor is fixed by the General Assembly.

Representative Chris Hagenow also praised Vaudt today saying, ”Thank you to State Auditor David Vaudt for his service to the great state of Iowa. Congratulations on the new post as Chairman of the Government Accounting Standards Board. The Vauditor will be greatly missed,”

Rep. Baltimore (R-Boone) on the House Floor

Today, House Republicans passed House File 478, a bill that leaves more money in Iowans’ pocketbooks and reduces Iowans’ income taxes.

The bill gives Iowans a choice when paying their income taxes, either the current system or a 4.5 percent flat tax with zero deductions or credits. No one will pay higher income taxes under this plan. Additionally, it raises the filing threshold so that the first $6,235 (or $12,450 for married couple) would not be taxed.

“House File 478 not only cuts Iowans’ taxes, it makes our tax system simpler, flatter, and fairer,” said House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake).

The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency (LSA) predicts that with the House proposal, close to 492,000 taxpayers will see their taxes reduced. With the flat tax option, the greatest number of taxpayers who benefit fall in the $30,000 to $40,000 income bracket.

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