Senate Journal: Page 263: Wednesday, February 7, 2001

  Republican Leaders in the Legislature devised a plan that they claimed would
  provide $15 million to LIHEAP.  However, Senate File 65 approved by the
  Legislature
  authorizes only $13,006,346 in state funding to meet the $20 million need.
  While the
  attempt is less than adequate, I am approving relief totaling $10.5 million
  for Iowans
  who now, more than ever, need relief from their high energy bills.

  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.

© 2001 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Comments about this site or page? sjourn@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: Sun Jan 13 11:18:44 CST 2002
URL: /DOCS/GA/79GA/Session.1/SJournal/00200/00263.html
jhf