House Journal: Page 204: Thursday, January 28, 1999

	That's why we advocate a Fuel Quality Standard for Iowa supported by the Iowa 

Corn Growers Association which includes ethanol and which will provide both 
environmental and value-added economic benefits.
We propose more resources to better implement our current manure management 
program. And as we consider the interdependence of agriculture and the environment, 
we are asking the legislature to consider empowering the people of Iowa with some 
degree of local control operated within a statewide framework for livestock production.
We will protect our natural heritage for the present and future citizens of our state.  
We will be good stewards and rededicate ourselves to restoring and conserving the 
land, protecting our water and cleaning up the air. Let it be said that here in Iowa, we 
put our money where the environment is.
To be first in the nation in health care, we have specific goals. We propose to 
expand HAWK-I, Iowa's child health care initiative, to cover all children in families 
with incomes of up to 200% of the poverty level.  Imagine the frustration of parents 
working hard to support a family, struggling to lift themselves out of poverty, and 
beginning to succeed, only to discover that their efforts disqualify their children from 
access to basic health care. Is this a small problem?  Hardly.  Our initiative will offer 
basic health care for the first time to an additional 12,000 of Iowa's children!
Next, we cannot be first in health care and sit idly by and watch people hurt and 
neglected by the excesses of managed care.  We've all seen and read about those 
excesses in the news. But in Iowa we believe that people are more important than the 
process!  Let us working together ensure fairer access to medical services for all of 
Iowa's people. Let us guarantee that Iowans will receive coverage for pre-existing 
conditions by reducing the waiting period to six months.  Let us stop insurance 
companies from "gagging" doctors so that they are prevented from telling us the 
information we need to know.  Let us make sure that the information we receive about 
a health plan's record is accurate; that it promotes good medical practices and let us 
above all else require a fair and legitimate appeal process to resolve managed care 
disputes.  Children in this state specifically are at risk and for that reason we will 
propose a specific and targeted set of proposals and protections designed to provide 
these opportunities for Iowa's children as well.
But we acknowledge the best way to be first in health is through good preventive 
care.  We have therefore proposed initiatives for women over 50, addressing the 
increased risks of breast cancer, osteoporosis and heart disease; we will launch a public 
awareness campaign; strengthen local health systems and promote community health 
and public education.
Beyond that initiative it is our commitment to enhance child dental care and child 
nutrition programs and perhaps the boldest stroke of all - we are recommending over 
one million dollars of support to establish a new School of Public Health at the 
University of Iowa. We take these steps because we know prevention works.  We know 
prevention saves money.  And most important of all, we know prevention saves lives!
Finally, our health care program includes protection for Iowa's seniors. They are 
those who farmed our land, who taught our children, who worked in our factories and 
businesses - and as such they deserve to live their last years in quiet dignity.  If we 
restructure Medicaid funding, we can increase direct care staff salaries and improve 
the quality of care in nursing homes. If we establish an annual "Governor's Award for 
Quality Care" we can recognize outstanding nursing facilities. If we create additional 

© 1999 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

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