The Oversight committee issued it’s first subpoena last weekend to the former director of the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB), Maxine Kilcrease, after repeated invitations to appear before the committee were ignored. She appealed the subpoena with the district court on grounds that she is being compelled to appear before a biased committee. This came about from comments made during previous committee meetings indicating that she was a “thief.” The court denied her appeal and she appeared before the committee for the first time. And while she seems to be a source of some of the turmoil surrounding the organization, there is more to uncover behind the scenes.
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House Republicans addressed transparency for K-12 school funding in 2006, long before “transparency” became the battle cry of Iowa taxpayers. The problem is that four years later the law isn’t fully implemented.
In 2006, Republican chairperson of the House Education Committee, Rep. Jodi Tymeson, introduced House Study Bill 522, a bill referred to as the Taxpayers Right to Know Act. This bill became a House Education Committee bill, House File 2346 and then became law in the Vilsack/Republican negotiated education compromise bill, Senate File 2272
Today the House Republican’s Taxpayer Right to Know Act is Iowa Code section 279.63.
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Morel mushrooms have fallen prey to ever increasing reach of government. A new DNR rule requires all wild mushrooms be inspected by an approved mushroom identification expert prior to their sale at food establishments. On Thursday, April 1, 2010, the Department of Inspections and Appeals approved the emergency rule (ARC 8696B). It was was published in the April 21, 2010 Iowa Administrative Rules Bulletin (pages 2437-2438) and went into effect on April 1, 2010.
Read more for the details of the rule…
A new April 2010 newsletter is available for viewing. Click the link below to see a PDF version.
Caucus Newsletter April 30, 2010
Included in this edition:
- Certified Mushroom Inspectors
- Education Fails on Transparency
- Questionable Campaign Donations Part of IASB Probe
Citizens, health care providers, legislators, they all have the same question these days. How much with the newly-enacted health care reform bill cost Iowa? Despite efforts to get an answer from national organizations, members of Congress, the Department of Human Services, or any other source, there is no definitive answer currently available.
Each day brings a new discovery on how the federal bill will change health care in Iowa. Read more…
For years, many have hoped and worked diligently to improve Iowa’s law granting permits to citizens wishing to carry firearms. The 2010 legislative session began with the issue appearing ready to receive attention. However, as the weeks wore on, and despite fervent efforts of some in the Legislature, the issue appeared destined to be neglected once again.
However, in the final days of the session a bill to make Iowa a “shall issue” state was resurrected. Even then, the issue’s fate was not settled. But as the clock wound down, and the last “trains” were leaving the station, Senate File 2379 became the last policy bill to be passed in 2010.
Continue reading for information on the bill…
From Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen:
State Auditor, David Vaudt
State Auditor David Vaudt recently completed an audit of next year’s budget passed by the Democrat majority and now being signed by Governor Culver. This budget will take effect on July 1, 2010. After studying the budget and spending, the auditor is coming to some of the same conclusions that House Republicans made during the session: the budget spent too much, saved too little and raised property taxes.
In his report the auditor has five major concerns with the budget.
Click to read the concerns…
Iowa school districts have a $40 million special education deficit.
Here’s why the issue needs a closer look:
- Iowa’s school aid formula already generates $380 million in state aid and property taxes to pay for special education. The $40 million deficit that automatically raises property taxes is what districts spent above and beyond the $380 million.
- Up until 2008, the deficit hovered around $20 million. In 2008 it jumped to $31 million and in 2009 to $40 million.
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Despite all of the rhetoric about being fiscally responsible and cutting budgets, Democrats approved (and the Governor will soon sign) the four largest budgets in the state’s history.
According to the Legislative Services Agency (LSA), here is the general fund spending (including one-time federal stimulus funds, cash reserve funds and other one-time funds) over the past five years:
- FY 2007 — $5.392 billion ($50 million in supplementals shifted into FY 08)
- FY 2008 — $5.938 billion (Includes $50 million in shifted supplementals)
- FY 2009 — $6.169 billion (Includes $210 million one-time funds)
- FY 2010 — $5.974 billion (Includes $672 million in one-time funds)
- FY 2011 — $6.014 billion (Includes $735 million in one-time funds)
General Fund Expenditures, FY07 to FY12
Continue reading for more charts…
A new April 2010 newsletter is available for viewing. Click the link below to see a PDF version.
Caucus Newsletter April 16, 2010
Included in this edition:
- Four Biggest Budgets in History
- Hidden Property Tax Increase
- Gun Law Reform
