Senate File 2088 “Government Reorganization” was passed 98-0 by the House this past Monday after countless amendments and two days of debate. The bill passed by the House is significantly different than the one passed by the Senate; making their reconciliation complicated. The version passed by the House is estimated to save $70.6 million to the state’s general fund and $55.7 million to other funds in Fiscal Year 2011.

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Rep. Chambers

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.”

Continue reading for the details…

From Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen:

Last week in the House, the State Government committee worked on the reorganization bill (SF 2088). The bill in its current form saves a little over $70 million.

In order for the Governor’s budget to balance, he needs a minimum $391 million in “general fund” spending reductions. About $30 million of that is expected to come through early retirements. Another $90 million will be achieved through the Governor’s savings that he achieved internally for a total $120 million in savings.

This leaves $271 million that needs to be saved through additional legislative decisions.

Continue reading for Republican’s $290 million in savings ideas…

A bill suggested by House Majority Leader McCarthy would allow Iowa’s 17 state-regulated casinos to add popular card games like poker and blackjack in ballrooms and convention rooms where gambling is currently not allowed. Some of these casinos already have “poker rooms,” but they are too small to hold large poker tournaments. “This is not new gaming; this is existing gaming,” McCarthy said in The Des Moines Register. McCarthy went on to say that this expansion would increase tax revenue for the state.

Continue reading about more gambling changes in the works…

On Thursday, December 10, the State Government Reorganization Interim Committee voted unanimously to approve several proposals to reduce state government spending.

Here is the list of proposed recommendations to the Legislature. The list is broken down into four primary areas – E-government, consolidated purchasing, government efficiencies, and span of control.

Click to view the highlights of each area…

As part of the Iowa Republicans: Real Solutions for Iowa’s Families initiative, Iowa Republicans announced The Liberty Agenda: Putting People First

Iowa Republicans are united in support of returning to the notion that it is Iowans that run government, not the other way around. Since 2006, the final year in which Republicans controlled at least one chamber of the Legislature, Iowa’s government has become bloated and unresponsive. The focus has become on what is best for the bureaucracy and maintaining the status quo, rather than what is best for Iowa’s families.

As Iowans have seen numerous times over the past several years, government is erecting barricades in front of them instead removing roadblocks to their success. Government has become too large too fast and it is time to make sure government is accountable to Iowa’s families.

Here is what Republicans will do if Iowa voters give us the opportunity:

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As part of the Iowa Republicans: Real Solutions for Iowa’s Families initiative, Iowa Republicans announced Health Care Initiatives

Iowa Republicans are united in support of reforming and opening state government. Government has a responsibility to make public how and where it spends taxpayer dollars. Additionally, Republicans believe government has a responsibility to make certain that information is accurate, easy to understand and delivered regularly.

Government reform cannot wait for another CIETC scandal or film office debacle to happen. It must be done now. Government has become too large too fast and it is time for a set of common sense Iowa Open Government Initiatives to solve Iowa problems with Iowa solutions.

Here is what Republicans will do if Iowa voters give us the opportunity:

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House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) issued the following statement in response to the program review of the Iowa Film Office:

“It is outrageous that the executive branch has been administering this program for two years in violation of the laws passed by the Legislature.

“Regular Iowans are not allowed to sidestep the law and state government cannot be allowed to either.

“This is another example of why House Republicans offered proposals last year to provide a more open and transparent state government. Regrettably, these were defeated in the Senate.”

On September 9, the State Government Reorganization Interim Committee met for the first time.

According to the charge of the committee, the goal is to consider options for reorganizing state government to improve efficiency, modernize processes, eliminate duplication and outdated processes, reduce costs, and increase accountability. The review shall address the expanded use of the Internet and other technology, and the incorporation of productivity improvement measures. The study shall include a process to receive state government efficiency suggestions offered by the public.

The members of the interim are Senators Appel, Danielson, Feenstra, Hamerlinck and Warnstadt and Representatives Mascher, Gaskill, Helland, Struyk and Todd Taylor.

Continue reading about the first meeting…

On September 9, the State Government Reorganization Interim Committee will meet for the first time.

According to the charge of the committee, the goal of the meetings are to consider options for reorganizing state government to improve efficiency, modernize processes, eliminate duplication and outdated processes, reduce costs, and increase accountability. The review shall address the expanded use of the Internet and other technology, and the incorporation of productivity improvement measures. The study shall include a process to receive state government efficiency suggestions offered by the public.

Continue reading…