HOUSE TO HOUSE

By Polly Granzow

State Representative

 

Runaway Budget

This is Friday, April 27, 2007, the 110^th and officially last day of session.  We undoubtedly will have to spend additional days before we wrap up.  The Democrats have not settled on a total budget.  So far, the budget has grown by $528 million this year and by $743 million next year.  That is $1.27 billion in two years, five times the average growth.  We cannot sustain this huge increase in spending.  The last two years, the Republican majority restored the depleted “Rainy Day” fund, started repaying the Senior Living Trust Fund (SLTF), and met target spending for thirteen different budgets without reducing services. 

 

This year, the new majority is reacting to the wants of interest groups who feel their needs have been ignored in the past and are fulfilling campaign promises.  While all the budgets have good intentions and positive goals, the large increases exceed revenues.  According to the Legislative Service Bureau, using the figures in the budget bills, by the end of the second year, our state fund will be $25.7 million in the hole.  This is after adding the cigarette and other taxes.

 

Iowa is constitutionally bound to balance the budget every year and leave at least one percent of state revenue in reserve to cover future budget deficits.  The bills so far this year add 559 new full time state employees.  We are growing government at a record rate that will further stress our budget.

 

I am reminded of kids in a candy store.  The parents cannot say “no” and let them pick whatever they want.  The kids are happy and the parents are pleased to see them temporarily gratified.  The kids end up with a tummy ache.  The same is happening to our state.  Iowa will get sick and it will take years to get well.

 

The House and Senate Democrats, along with the Governor, need to act quickly.  There is still time to use restraint.  The Governor will need to line item veto some expenditures to live up to his promise to  “Use common sense, respect state law regarding our reserves, be guided by actual numbers, and leave this state in better financial condition than we found it”.

 

Game Nights for Legions

The American Legion requested that changes in Iowa’s gambling laws be put into place to allow them to have cash prizes for game nights.  This was common practice until a year or two ago.  Current gambling laws and rules limit the prizes won must be merchandise.  What began as a simple bill turned into a full-fledged gambling bill with $10,000 prizes and expanded it beyond Legions.  I would have supported it before it was amended.

 

Lock up!

A seldom-used procedure occurred when Speaker Murphy ordered a “call of the House”.  This means they lock the doors of the House Chamber, station Highway Patrolmen at all the exits, and send the Highway Patrol out to bring in unexcused members.  This was done to vote on SF427, the civil rights bill that put sexual orientation and gender identity into the code as protected along with race, gender, sex, and religion.  Since the Democrats had 50 votes, and needed at least one Republican vote in favor, this would force the vote before requiring the majority party to cast 51 votes first.  It passed 59-37.

 

Special Recognition

Lisle Cook and Bob Fuller attended the Capitol as former legislators and received special recognition for their past service.

Caleb Smith, Alden 3^rd grader, received an award for winning an energy poster contest.  With him were his brother Trevor, parents Dave and Nicki, and Grandpa Carroll.

Other visitors:  John Sly, Marian Kuper and Carroll Harless.

 

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