Iowa House Republicans » History Argues Against House Democrats Plan for 2009

History Argues Against House Democrats Plan for 2009

The House Democrats released their plan for the 2009 legislative session yesterday. But history suggest that the promises in their plan don’t coincide with what they’ve done in the past.

Forced Unionism
They Say:
“This plan is a partnership between state government and Iowa families based on shared Iowa values – accountability, fairness, innovation and self-reliance.”

“As Iowans face these challenges, we have the right to demand that our state government is on the side of middle-class Iowa families.”

They Did:
Democrats voted on two separate occasion to force Iowans who don’t belong to a union to pay union dues. The votes are as follows:

Vote: Senate File 413 (3/13/2007) – Labor Committee Minutes. Voting in favor: R. Olson, T. Taylor, Abdul-Samad, Hunter, Jochum, Mascher, Murphy, Palmer, Staed, Winckler

Vote: Amendment H-8184 (3/19/2008) – House Journal Page 744

Pork Barrel Spending
They Say:
“This plan is a partnership between state government and Iowa families based on shared Iowa values – accountability, fairness, innovation and self-reliance.”

They Did:
Pork Barrel Projects supported by Democrats:

SF 2432 contained $300,000 of taxpayer money was appropriated for a train depot and platform in Speaker Murphy’s hometown of Dubuque. No Amtrak service to Dubuque exists.
SF 2432 contained $80,000 to repair an antique organ in Clermont.
SF 2432 contained $100,000 to partially finance a “multi-use community center” in House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s Des Moines district.
SF 2432 contained a $750,000 of taxpayer dollars to help finance the Principal River walk in Des Moines. The Principal Financial Group is leading the effort in Des Moines to construct a river walk in downtown Des Moines.
SF 2432 contained $50,000 of taxpayer dollars to market a free shuttle service to state employees in Des Moines.
Amendment H-1470 eliminated all funding for two full time gardeners at the Governor’s Mansion in Des Moines.
HF 911 contained $120,000 for Decorative Flower Pots for the city of Des Moines.

Vote: Senate File 2432 (4-25-08) – House Journal Page 2073
Vote: Amendment H-1470 (3-28-07) – House Journal Page 1073
Vote: House File 911 (4-28-07) – House Journal Page 2050

Higher Taxes
They Say:
“Cut commercial property taxes on Iowa businesses, without shifting taxes to home and farms, to make Iowa more competitive with neighboring states”

They Did:
Democrats voted against a plan that allowed Iowa businesses to take advantage of the 50% bonus depreciation on state taxes. A NAY vote actually increased taxes on Iowa businesses by over $50 million over the course of three years.

Vote: Amendment H-8039 to Senate File 2123 (2/28/2008) – House Journal Page 439

And they passed the Chapter 20 Collective Bargaining bill, which Governor Culver vetoed because he said it “could potentially result in untold and unintended obligations resulting in substantial tax increases.” (Governor’s press release on his veto)

Vote: House File 2645 (3/19/2008) – House Journal Page 773

Identity Theft
They Say:
“Impose tough fines and jail time for CEO’s when corporations knowingly exploit children and immigrants through unsafe or abusive working conditions or by using illegal hiring and recruiting practices, including identity theft”

They Did:
Democrats voted against allowing any debate on an amendment that required the state to notify Iowans when it is learned that someone else is using their Social Security numbers.

Vote: Amendment H-8670 to House File 2700 (4-25-08) – House Journal Page 1877

Fairness
They Say:
“This plan is a partnership between state government and Iowa families based on shared Iowa values – accountability, fairness, innovation and self-reliance.”

They Did:
Democrats twice voted against giving the same tax breaks that were offered to Microsoft and Google to smaller Iowa-based businesses.

Vote: Amendment H-8043 (2/28/2008) – House Journal Page 444
Vote: Amendment H-8555 (4/17/2008) – House Journal Page 1369

Financial Literacy
They Say:
“Ensure responsible Iowa homebuyers can access credible homeowner education and financial counseling to avoid foreclosures and protect the value of all homes in Iowa”

They Did:
Democrats voted against Financial Literacy requirements in schools.

Vote: Amendment H-8509 (4/14/08) – House Journal Page 1238

Immigration
They Say:
“House Democrats will not tolerate corporations that exploit children or immigrants in the name of profits and will vigorously enforce Iowa laws for violators.”

They Did:
Democrats voted against an amendment that required any union making political contributions to Iowa political campaigns and political parties must certify that all individual paying dues and / or making contributions to the union are American citizens.

Vote: Amendment H-8688 (4/25/08) – House Journal Page 1908

Democrats voted on both sides of the following issues. First they voted NAY and then they switched their positions and voted AYE. Only they can explain the flip.

Catch and Release

H-8398 prevents illegal aliens from obtaining bail (commonly referred to as “Catch and Release”)

NAY Vote: Amendment H-8398 (4/7/08) – House Journal Page 1078

House File 2686 provides that a person who is an identified unauthorized alien shall not be eligible for bail when charged with a criminal offense. And requires the law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest of an identified unauthorized alien to notify the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement about the unauthorized alien.

YEA Vote: House File 2686 (4/16/2008) – House Journal Page 1324

Assisting Unauthorized Aliens

Amendment H-8478, to Senate File 2400, prohibits any employer, employee, or labor organization from assisting an unauthorized alien from avoiding authorities. If an employer, employee or labor organization that is found to be assisting an unauthorized alien avoid authorities is subject to a Class D Felony. This was a vote to suspend the rules in order to consider H-8478.

NAY Vote: Amendment H-8478 (4/10/2008) – House Journal Page 1194

Amendment H-8544, to House File 2686, includes prohibiting any employer, employee, or labor organization from assisting an unauthorized alien from avoiding authorities. If an employer, employee or labor organization that is found to be assisting an unauthorized alien avoid authorities is subject to a Class D Felony.

YEA Vote: Amendment H-8544 (4/16/2008) – House Journal Page 1304

Identity Theft – Falsifying Documents

Amendment H-8453 to Senate File 2394, makes it an aggravated misdemeanor for a person to make a driver’s license or non-operator ID or any other form or document used to establish a persons identity (if the person does not have the authority to do so) in order to assist an unauthorized alien to obtain employment; or use a false or fictitious name in any application for a driver’s license or non-operator ID or to knowingly make a false statement or knowingly conceal a material fact or otherwise commit fraud on an application in order to assist an unauthorized alien obtain employment.

NAY Vote: Amendment H-8453 (4/10/08) – House Journal Page 1179

Amendment H-8490, to House File 2686, makes it an aggravated misdemeanor for a person to make a driver’s license or non-operator ID or any other form or document used to establish a persons identity (if the person does not have the authority to do so) in order to assist an unauthorized alien to obtain employment; or use a false or fictitious name in any application for a driver’s license or non-operator ID or to knowingly make a false statement or knowingly conceal a material fact or otherwise commit fraud on an application in order to assist an unauthorized alien obtain employment.

YEA Vote: Amendment H-8490 (4/16/2008) – House Journal Page 1297

Unfair Trade Practice

Amendment H-8479, to Senate File 2400, makes it an unfair trade practice to fire a United States citizen while employing an unauthorized alien. This amendment gives the discharged employee a private cause of action for the unfair trade practice for damages due to termination. This was a vote to suspend the rules in order to consider H-8479.

NAY Vote: Amendment H-8479 (4/10/2008) – House Journal Page 1196

Amendment H-8544, to House File 2686, includes making it an unfair trade practice to fire a United States citizen while employing an unauthorized alien. This amendment gives the discharged employee a private cause of action for the unfair trade practice for damages due to termination.