House Journal: Page 339: Wednesday, February 7, 2001
The following sections of Senate File 65 are, therefore, approved on this date with
the noted exceptions, which I hereby disapprove.
I approve Section 1 appropriating $2,343,051 from the Innovations Fund. This
action will leave a balance of $16,772 in the fund resulting in no new projects being
funded until it can be sufficiently replenished. Adequate funding must be ensured for
the Innovations Fund in future years to continue to maximize efficiencies in state
government and realize significant cost savings.
I am unable to approve Section 2 appropriating $2,446,260 from the Housing
Program Fund. This section impacts the Down Payment/Closing Cost Grant Program,
the First Home/First Home Plus Program, and the Housing Assistance Fund through a
significant reduction in funding. These programs play an essential role in providing
decent, safe, and affordable housing to low-income individuals and families in Iowa.
The reduction passed by the Legislature will adversely impact the housing
opportunities for the very people targeted to receive heating assistance. To accept this
section would be taking from the very Iowans we are attempting to help, and I cannot
approve this appropriation.
It is with great reluctance that I approve Section 3 appropriating $4,127,270 of
currently unencumbered and unobligated funding from the Groundwater Protection
Fund. This fund was created for the specific purpose of protecting Iowa's valuable
water resources, and there is an ongoing need for incentives to meet this purpose.
However, the transfer of $4,127,270 from the Solid Waste Account within the
Groundwater Protection Fund will not impact current projects and will be used to meet
a more immediate need in Iowa today. While Senate File 65 appropriates up to
$6,553,024 from the Groundwater Protection Fund, only $4,127,270 is currently
unencumbered and unobligated and therefore available for transfer.
I approve Section 4 placing a cap on LIHEAP funding for residential weatherization
at $3,305,016. This action results in an additional $3,040,451 being made available for
direct assistance to low-income Iowans. Because weatherization provides a long-term
fix for high heating bills by improving the energy efficiency of low-income Iowans'
homes, it is penny wise and pound foolish to reduce funding available for permanent
prevention. However, I am directing the Division of Community Action Agencies to
take the existing carryover from the weatherization fund and apply it to the next
program year beginning April 1, 2001. Together with additional federal funding the
Division will receive for the next program year, the weatherization program will have
approximately $11 million available as compared to $9.5 million in estimated actual
expenditures for the current year. Therefore, local weatherization programs will
maintain an equivalent level and range of services.
I approve Section 5 providing Community Action Agencies the ability to deliver
assistance from LIHEAP to low-income Iowans. By placing a cap of $2,663,921 on the
administration of the program, Section 5 provides an additional $1,049,314 in LIHEAP
payments.
I approve Section 6 establishing a limit of $715,000 on expenditures for assessment
and resolution of energy problems.
I approve Section 7 dedicating all federal emergency funding in excess of the
original core funding for LIHEAP to assist eligible households meet their home energy
© 2001 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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