April 12, 2007
Memorial Service
During April in the first year of the two-year session, we hold a memorial service to honor members of the House and Senate who have passed away the last two years. Two members that I know which have died recently are Rep. Mary Lou Freemen who passed away last September, and Rep. Jane Greiman, who died in 2005. It is quite an honor to sing in the Memorial choir and to honor these previous members of the State legislature. Many of these people have stellar service records to our state and the nation. One of these people was (Thomas) Cooper Evans. Besides serving in the Iowa legislature, he served in Washington D. C. under the Reagan and H. W. Bush administrations.
Christmas in April
This is the time during session when budget bills are presented. Recently the Administration and Regulation Appropriations Bill passed the House with a $94.2 million price tag. This is nearly a 10% increase. This bill allocates funds to state departments and agencies, maintaining state buildings, and other state offices. Many amendments to minimize the increase were voted down. I could not support this bill because it is not fiscally responsible.
Also, the Supplemental Appropriations Bill passed the House with a $30 million price tag. A supplemental bill is designed to “supplement” any funding shortfalls needed for the remainder of this fiscal year, ending June 30, and is intended for existing programs. This year’s Supplemental Bill is like a Christmas tree and includes funding for many new purposes. For example, over half of the bill is spent on additional operations and staff at Terrace Hill, an additional $70,000 for the Governor’s transition, $250,000 to fund three new employees to an office in the Governor’s office for the Power Fund (there is not a bill and there is no office), $500,000 for a new Iowa Caucus Project website, $1 million for a new mobile TV production unit for IPTV, $250,000 for increased protection cost for the Governor and family(because the Governor’s wife works as a lawyer full time) and $3.2 million for technology. Other decorations include pet projects like one cultural center in Cedar Rapids, and a Biomass project in Cedar Falls.
Attempts to delete several items were rejected by the majority party, which has become a common practice this session. These may all be worthy projects, but they should be included in next year’s budget. It is a method to use this year’s revenue so next year’s budget will not show the increase. I could not support this bill.
Adult Stem Cells Found to Cure Type 1 Diabetes
British researchers have announced that a clinical trial has found a way to use adult stem cells that could dramatically change the way people with Type 1 Diabetes are treated.
This initial trial worked with 15 Brazilian juveniles diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes requires people afflicted with it to have regular insulin injections because they have lost the ability to produce the hormone naturally. The individuals had just been diagnosed with diabetes when the treatment began.
Once the youths had been diagnosed, they had blood drawn to harvest stem cells. Once the cells were harvested, the participants were given a mild form of chemotherapy to eliminate the white blood cells in the body preventing the natural creation of insulin. Once the chemotherapy was over, the stem cells were returned to the participants.
The results were dramatic. Eleven of the participants immediately were able to stop taking insulin injections. All but one of the subjects were able to stop taking insulin injections for at least some time after the test.
The key to this study is that this potential cure is possible with adult stem cells. This adds to the growing list of potential cures that are in the trial stages that use adult stem cells. While some in Iowa argue that we should focus all the state’s resources and efforts toward embryonic stem cells, no potential cure has been developed via these methods. Adult stem cells continue to be the fertile ground for cures.
Question of the Week…
In several urban areas, cities have installed cameras at intersections with stop lights or signs . The Senate passed a bill which banned this practice. Should towns and cities have traffic cameras taking pictures of stop sign violators?
I would appreciate your input. My phone number at the Capitol is 515-281-3221, or e-mail me at betty.deboef@legis.state.ia.us. I would welcome visitors at the Capitol, too!