Senate Journal: Page 5: Monday, January 8, 1996

         As we wait for the federal budget negotiations to be settled, the
    suspense continues as we wait to hear Congress final decision about
    Medigrant, which is currently the Medicaid Program.  How Iowa develops
    its Medigrant plan and how we budget for this huge program will be a
    challenge.

         Although Iowa has made great progress in health care reform during
    the past few years, the any willing provider concept continues to cause
    controversy.  Any willing provider would require managed care
    organizations to include any licensed provider seeking to serve the
    organizations enrollees.  I expect to see more battles over this issue.

         Prisons and overcrowding continues to be a problem for Iowa. We
    must formulate a responsible policy in relying more on community-based
    corrections in dealing with non-violent offenders who do not belong in
    prison.  This will free up additional beds for the truly violent
    offenders.  We simply cannot afford to maintain the status quo of
    building one new prison after another.

         Domestic violence is another area of concern to me and many others.
    We must appropriate funds to counties for shelters and counseling if we
    are to prevent this crime from becoming a statewide crisis.  Domestic
    abuse filings are increasing more rapidly than any other area.  For
    example, in 1990 there were 188 domestic abuse petitions filed.  In
    1994, more than 4,262 domestic abuse petitions were filed in the courts.
    I feel this problem needs to be addressed now -- not at a later date.

         We have got to keep moving in a positive direction regarding
    housing development in our state and the development of a strong
    workforce.  These are both important to the economic development of our
    state, and we have to make sure the legislature is part of the solution
    -- not the problem.

         The states speed limit, the ICN, public retirement, gambling and
    competition in our utilities industry will also be touched on by the
    legislators in these two governing bodies.  As I stated in the opening,
    it is my hope that with this divided majority, we will all be able to
    work together for a more better Iowa.  After all, making Iowa a better
    place to live is one of my goals as a legislator.

         Before I close, there is one group of people I would like to
    address -- THE IOWA TAXPAYER.  The legislature needs to thank them --
    for they are the ones who have removed our past deficits and filled our
    current surpluses which is nearly an unfathomable number of half- a-
    billion- dollars!!  We need to thank all of them, with a reduction in
    our askings.

         Notice I didnt say tax replacement -- that doesnt reduce our
    askings.  It just changes where we get the money to pay for government.
    I proposed in the past that we reduce Iowas individual income tax to a
    flat rate.  I offered the concept in 1987 at a time when Iowas state
    government was set to reap a similar amount of a windfall because of the
    Federal tax reform act.

Iowa General Assembly

Index: Senate Journal (76th General Assembly: Session 2)

© 1996 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Comments? sjourn@legis.iowa.gov.

Last update: Fri Jan 12 20:45:07 CST 1996
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