HOUSE TO HOUSE

By Polly Granzow

State Representative

 

March Madness

 

March 9 was the deadline for the first funnel.  All bills had to pass out of committee in either the House or Senate to remain alive for the rest of the session.  During funnel week, the pace was frenetic to get bills through full committee to determine which bills will continue.  Some bills that made it were expansion of Mental Parity, Mandatory registration for child care providers if there are more than three kids (regardless of relationship), mandatory age for public school age from 16 to 18, same day voter registration, $1.00 increase on a pack of cigarettes, safe zones to prevent sexual offenders from preying on children, and changes to workers compensation that are unfriendly to business.

 

“Fair Share” or “Fare Share”

 

The Senate met the funnel deadline by passing “Fair Share” which will virtually put an end to Right to Work in Iowa.  The bill applies to public employees, including state, county, city, schools, hospitals, etc. requiring non-members to pay union dues.  I have been flooded with emails, especially teachers, asking me to vote against “Fair Share”.  They would be forced to pay dues to a union when they choose not to belong.  Their “Right” is being taken away.  Unions contend they must bargain for members and non-members.  This is not the case.  Unions can choose to bargain for members only.  It is intended to be more agreeable by limiting “Fair Share” to public employees and not all, but the majority of unions are public.

 

Culture Change

 

Have you ever traveled to another country and experienced differences in culture and differences in values?  In two short months, Iowa is experiencing a shift in both culture and values.  Iowa now allows human cloning, there is a separate designation for sexual preference as a protected group, a vote to remove our Right to Work status is about to happen, there are a variety of anti-business bills which will chase businesses away, and there are numerous mandates on schools and human services.  The majority of Iowans oppose these changes as do I.

 

The days of compromise are squelched by the majority party in the Senate, House, and Governor’s office.  In the past, there was always a need to work in a bipartisan fashion and compromise to pass legislation.  Unfortunately, that is not the case this year.  Most of our input is ignored.  I fear many decisions made this session will harm Iowa in the long run. 

 

Where is the Budget?

 

Normally, the budget process has targets for the thirteen appropriations subcommittees by this time.  As of yet, we only have 60% of the targets available.  Many promises have been made to fund pet projects, but there is not a plan in place to pay for all of them.  The Governor needs the dollar increase on cigarettes to help, but additional increases seem apparent.  There is no guarantee the dollar will be used strictly for health care.  The legislature also passes the Tobacco Trust funding bill each year.  This is the bill that should fund programs related to smoking, but it also funds many other programs not related to health.  We should start finding the right priorities with the Tobacco Trust fund bill.  I am not able to vote for a funding bill to raise money without knowing how it is going to be spent, other than telling me “Trust me”.

 

More E-85 coming

 

The Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board (RFIB) has awarded $729,900 to 31 Iowa retailers installing pumps for E-85 ethanol and biodiesel fuel, terminals installing biodiesel blending equipment, and tank wagons for farm delivery having dedicated compartments for E-85 and biodiesel.  Three local projects approved include Kum & Go at Eldora, Mid-Iowa Coop at Beaman, and AgVantage FS at Hampton.  Renewable energy is a bright spot in Iowa’s economic development.

 

I am excited to begin working on a truly nonpartisan committee for energy for our state.  It will include all types of energy, using and protecting our natural resources, Research and Development, finding efficiencies, partnering public and privates entities, land use, and using our colleges and community colleges in the grand scheme.   There will be four Democrats and four Republicans working on this bill.

 

As always, you can contact me at polly.granzow@legis.state.ia.us or at 641-858-5210 on weekends.