House Journal: Page 1946: Wednesday, April 26, 2000
When the Legislature worked with us in a bipartisan way, we accomplished great
things for the people of Iowa. The Legislature passed many of our proposals that will
help Iowa grow, retain, and recruit a skilled workforce, including the New Economic
Opportunities Fund and Jobs for America's Graduates.
One of the quality of life items that we proposed that was passed by the Legislature
was the Millennium Fund. This program will help Iowa by providing financial support
for developing major commercial attractions. At our insistence, this program will also
provide state funds to help many of Iowa's smaller school districts repair and replace
aging or unsafe schools buildings.
Over the past month, we signed into law a fiscally responsible and balanced state
budget. This new budget, like the one we proposed, will have the lowest percentage
increase in state spending in recent memory. The Vilsack/Pederson Administration
has worked hard and creatively to leverage federal dollars to provide more long-term
care options for Iowa's senior citizens; improve water quality; and provide a health care
system that ensures access to comprehensive care, especially preventive medical and
dental care for Iowa children.
However, we are disappointed that the Legislature neglected many other critical
needs of Iowans. Several good, common sense, pro-Iowa issues as increasing ethanol
use, lowering the standard for drunk driving to .08, simplifying Iowa's tax code,
creating local control of hog lot siting, and requiring child safety locks for hand-guns
failed to pass the Legislature. These are issues that Iowans expect to be addressed as
we make our state a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
We are pleased that many of our initiatives that passes this session will improve
the quality of life for Iowa's working families. We hope to build on these successes in
the years ahead.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Vilsack
Governor
The communication was received and the committee discharged.
FINAL ADJOURNMENT
By virtue of Senate Concurrent Resolution 121, duly adopted, the
day of April 26, 2000 having arrived, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives declared the 2000 Regular Session of the Seventy-
© 2000 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
Comments about this site or page?
hjourn@legis.iowa.gov.
Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.
Last update: Wed Jun 7 13:35:00 CDT 2000
URL: /DOCS/GA/78GA/Session.2/HJournal/01900/01946.html
jhf