“These targets give the public an incomplete picture of the Democrats’ spending plan. However, based on what I’ve seen, it appears that legislative Democrats plan to carry forward Gov. Culver’s property tax increases.

“House Republicans will not support a budget that spends more money than the state takes in. Republicans have outlined over $600 million in cost-savings during the last two years. We will continue to fight for limited government and responsible budgeting as the bills move through the process.”

“House Republicans do not support stripping Iowans of their liberties and rights,” said House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha). “Under this proposal, not only will Iowans have to pay to keep their job, they’ll have to hire a lawyer too.”

The legislation forces non-union state government employees to pay up to 75% of union dues. If they do not pay the forced union fees, the union can sue them to collect the fee.

According to the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency currently, the 12,000 union members pay $5.6 million to the union. Under this bill, the 18,000 non-union members would be forced to pay $5.3 million to the union.

“House Republicans will continue to stand up for Iowans’ freedoms and protect their right to work,” said Paulsen.

A public hearing will be held Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 from 5pm to 8pm in the House Chamber. Iowans can contact the Legislative Information Office at (515) 281-5129 to testify.

Republican Representatives Royd Chambers (R-Sheldon), Annette Sweeney (R-Alden), Jeff Kaufmann (R-Wilton) and Pat Grassley (R-New Hartford) crafted legislation aimed at reforming the Board of Regents and their policies as an attempt to find more budget efficiencies and savings for the state.

“House Republicans took a serious look at ways to save Iowans money and help protect one of Iowa’s most vulnerable groups, it’s students,” said Rep. Royd Chambers. “We think this plan is a step in the right direction.”

Rep. Sweeney

Rep. Kaufmann

Rep. Grassley

Their policy, which is House File 2358, will also be offered as an amendment to the state government reorganization plan that will be taken up by the House this week. The bill outlines five ideas which Republicans think will help improve and streamline the Regents. The legislation:

• Limits any tuition increase to Higher Education Price Index (HEPI)
• Creates a Cost-Savings Task Force chaired by the State Auditor
• Mandates Public Hearings before any tuition increase
• Asks each university president to compose a comprehensive plan with benchmarks to decrease tuition, decrease administration costs and increase graduation rates
• Creates an analysis of professor teaching time

“Tough budget times call for all Iowans to tighten their belts and the Regents are no different. We must stop pushing the pain on down the line to Iowa college students and their families,” said Rep. Annette Sweeney. “It’s time to make some comprehensive changes and bring true reform to state government, and this is just one way we can do that.”

Republicans are hoping for bipartisan support for all or part of their proposal.

Iowa’s right to work law guarantees that no person can be compelled, as a condition of employment, to join, not join or pay any fees to a labor union. Iowa’s right to work law has been in place since 1947. This bill is a direct attack on hard-working Iowans’ liberties.

“It is simply wrong to tell someone they must give their hard-earned dollars to an organization they have chosen not to be a member of,” said House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha). “A union is not forced to represent non-members. They choose forced monopoly bargaining and now they want to force payment for providing those unwanted services.”

Under the Democrats’ plan, public employees who are non-union would be forced to pay a fee to the union as a condition of their employment, thus completely gutting Iowa’s right to work law.

“I’ve appreciated the bipartisan manner in which we’ve worked on the reorganization bill. I believe we have the ability to go further than the original bill and find even more savings and waste in government,” said State Government Ranking Member Doug Struyk (R-Council Bluffs). “I look forward to continued bipartisan work as we move this bill through the process.”

The following areas are outlined in the Republican amendment:

• Eliminate the Power Fund and the Office of Energy Independence, reassign responsibilities (savings $25 million)
• Eliminate the Rebuild Iowa Office, give responsibilities to Homeland Security (savings $1 million)
• Eliminate taxpayer-funded lobbyists (savings $4 million)
• Cancel all Regents sabbaticals for Fiscal Year 2011 (savings $6 million)
• End all state benefits to illegal immigrant adults (savings $92.3 million)
• Shift voluntary preschool responsibilities to Empowerment (savings $45 million)
• Combine administrative functions at the Regents universities (savings $62 million)
• Eliminate funding for empty shelter care beds (savings $2 million)
• Delay the implementation of K-12 core curriculum for one year (savings $10.5 million)
• Eliminate the family planning waiver (savings $2 million)
• Sell and completely privatize the state general purpose vehicle fleet (savings $18 million)
• Sell or lease the Iowa Communications Network (savings $15 million)
• Cut funding for office supplies, service contracts, equipment purchases (savings $5 million)
• Eliminate the Just Eliminate Lies (JEL) program (savings $2.25 million )

“The Democrats are $263 million short of the Governor’s target to balance the budget.” said Rep. Christopher Rants (R-Sioux City). “It’s ironic to be the one offering the amendment helping Culver reach his goal, but Republicans are here to work in a bi-partisan way to get Iowa’s fiscal house in order.”

“If adopted, these new additions, paired with the original bill, would amount to a total savings of $365 million which is more than what the governor has called for,” said Rep. Christopher Rants (R-Sioux City). “Legislative Democrats are obviously not taking the governor’s budget seriously so today we’re offering $290 million in additional savings. This majority needs to acknowledge the fiscal mess they’ve created.”

“The governor’s budget spends more money than it takes in and will increase the burden on property taxpayers. Once again, decisions in Des Moines are going to drive up property taxes across the state. It’s irresponsible and will be costly for Iowans.

“House Republicans will dive into budgets, ask tough questions, and identify savings and government waste while being responsible with taxpayers’ money.”

Throwing taxpayer money at the problem didn’t work.

This year, Republicans have proposed a four-point plan for job growth.

• Create a favorable climate for job growth
• End the assault on employers
• Stop property tax increases headed for families and businesses
• Ensure tax credit reviews don’t result in tax increases

Last year, the Legislature convened an interim committee to find ways to save the state money. Republicans want to put the same effort into finding ways to help Iowa’s employers by eliminating and modifying regulations. Without spending a dollar, Iowa can create jobs by removing obstacles to job growth.

Recent media accounts have shown how installers of solar powered systems are struggling with government regulations. This has created an atmosphere which has ground the industry to a halt. We propose joint hearings of the Economic Growth Committees to investigate regulations that block business expansion and preservation.

Another piece of our plan is ending the assault on employers. Even the threat of increased taxes and government mandates keep employers from thriving and adding new jobs. Democrats must withdraw the following bills:

• Ending Iowa ’s Right to Work Law
• Open Scope Collective Bargaining
• Doctor Shopping
• Prevailing Wage

These bills not only fail to create jobs, the risk of their passage has already had a chilling effect on Iowa’s overall economy.

Bad budgeting led to the recent across the board budget cut. This haphazard budgeting results in increased property taxes on Iowa’s families and employers. Governor Culver and Legislative Democrats should stop passing their budgeting mistakes down to the local property taxpayer. Each time property taxes go up, fewer jobs are created. Government must stop spending more than the state collects and we need to cut back unsustainable spending plans Democrats have previously approved.

Finally, there has been a lot of talk about reviewing state tax credits. Republicans are supportive of the review, but the beneficiaries of any “savings” must be the taxpayers through broad based tax relief, NOT state coffers.

Iowans are dealing with job losses and employers are struggling to stay open, the last thing they need are higher tax bills. When a tax credit is capped or eliminated, someone’s taxes are going up. The only entity that benefits from higher taxes is government. Raising taxes is not the answer to Iowa’s budget problems.

House Republicans recognize these are just a few ideas to help kick-start our job market. Throughout the session and beyond, we will continue to develop new ideas for long term job creation in Iowa. Iowa’s best days are ahead of us. But we must have an environment that encourages employers to invest in our state and our workforce.

To see other Republican Solutions, visit the Real Solutions page.

Republicans have made Democrat leadership, department heads and staffs aware of their questions and House Republican Ranking Members will be again investigating where each taxpayer dollar is spent and relaying that information back to Iowans.

Republicans will be asking:

1. Do you plan on raising fees (either by rule of legislatively)?
2. Has your department already raised fees by rule?
3. Do you plan on changing the way you collect fees or fines?
4. What recommendations did you provide to the consultant that did not appear in Public Works’ proposal?
5. How did you arrive at the savings figure for each item that did appear in Public Works’ report?
6. What recommendations did you provide the governor or Public Works that did not appear in the State Government Reorganization bill (HSB 565 / SSB 3030)?
7. How did you arrive at the savings figure for each item that appears in the State Government Reorganization bill (HSB 565 / SSB 3030)?
8. Are there any areas in your department that could be privatized or outsourced?
9. Provide the subcommittee with a one pager that outlines all expenditures and revenues to the department (all funds, not just general fund dollars)

“House Republicans believe it’s important to have a transparent and accountable budgeting process,” said Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rep. Scott Raecker (R-Urbandale). “We’re committed to examining these budgets in depth and allowing Iowans to be at the table while we do it.”

“The governor needs to be straight with Iowans, he has raised taxes to balance his budget and that is unacceptable. Balancing the budget is not good enough if it’s on the backs of the taxpayer.

“Among others, the governor has signed utility tax increases, raised taxes on Iowa employers, and a $250 million tax levied on property tax payers. The governor has repeatedly proposed and signed over a half a billion dollars in tax increases.

“Iowa families have been tightening their belts but, they can no longer be asked to carry the weight of this governor’s mistakes and mismanagement.”

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen of the House, family and friends:

First I want to start by welcoming Representative Royd Chambers back to the House. Thank you for your service, Royd, we’re very happy to have you home.

Obviously we have a difficult year ahead of us. But rather than look at this as a problem I hope this body will choose to see opportunity. Opportunity for a stronger Iowa, opportunity to create an efficient and open state government. An opportunity to give the state back to the people.

Last year we heard a lot of blame being passed out. House Republicans don’t think this is helpful. Wasn’t it President Truman who said, “the buck stops here?” Instead of blaming our state’s troubles on someone else, House Republicans have taken action and are ready to take action again this year.

Make no mistake though, just like I said last year … if blame is continued to be misplaced, as Republicans believe it has in the past, I will continue to talk about the pork of the last three years – the 2,600 new state employees – the 17+% spending increases. Mr. Speaker, Republicans prefer to move on; I hope Democrats feel the same.

Last year in my opening day speech I called for increased truth and transparency in state government, vowed to stand up against tax increases, and pointed out the importance of reducing the cost of government. As we worked through the year, Republicans crafted legislation to do just that. While most of it was not supported at the time, these ideas are now being revered as a good plan.

Today, those three goals have not changed. House Republicans will continue our efforts in those areas and add a few more to the list.

During the interim we went back to our home districts, met with our constituents and developed several bold solutions for the state of Iowa. The only party to put forth an agenda, we focused on empowering families, reducing budgets, and strengthening education and healthcare, just to name a few. We will put our plan into action with legislation that will hopefully be given a better reception than our efforts last year.

We will also focus on creating an environment which is welcoming to employers and encourages them to invest in our workforce, passing an affordable and responsible budget and standing up to the creeping federal intrusion into the lives of Iowans.

When we convened last year, 80,000 Iowans were out of work. When we adjourned that number had jumped to over 100,000. Now it is somewhere around 115,000 Iowans out of work. House Republicans will offer concrete and realistic ideas to put Iowans back to work.

We’ve repeatedly been saying we must reduce spending and we must be fiscally conservative with Iowans’ tax dollars. While bloated budgets, increased spending and growing debt is now the norm—let me be very clear about where we stand—House Republicans will not support any budget that spends more money than it takes in. Balancing the budget is not good enough if it’s on the backs of the property taxpayer.

The taxpayer deserves a seat at the table and House Republicans will make sure that happens.

Republicans believe state government disregarded Iowans’ concerns last year. Pushing bills through at all hours of the night with little debate, removing citizens from the very building they pay for, budgets created behind closed doors, and we failed to permit them to have the final say on how marriage should be defined in Iowa.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed.”

Mr. Speaker, it’s time to listen to the will of the people. House Republicans believe it’s time to return state government back to the hands of Iowans, allowing their voices to be heard…they deserve a seat at the table that they pay for.

Mr. Speaker, House Republicans stand ready to move Iowa forward. Mr. Speaker House Republicans are ready to go to work. Thank you.