Senate Journal: Wednesday, February 7, 2001

  THIRTY-FIRST CALENDAR DAY
  NINETEENTH SESSION DAY

  Senate Chamber
  Des Moines, Iowa, Wednesday, February 7, 2001

  The Senate met in regular session at 9:00 a.m., President Kramer
  presiding.

  Prayer was offered by the Reverend Mark Gerken, pastor of the
  Faith Lutheran Church in Adel, Iowa, guest of Senator Johnson.

  The Journal of Tuesday, February 6, 2001, was approved.

  ADJOURNMENT

  On motion of Senator Iverson, the Senate adjourned at 9:11 a.m.
  until 9:00 a.m. Thursday, February 8, 2001.
  APPENDIX

  REPORTS OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS

  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL
  RESOURCES

  Convened:  February 7, 2001, 9:39 a.m.

  Members Present:  Gaskill, Chair; Sexton, Vice Chair; Black, Ranking Member;
  Fink
  and Greiner.

  Members Absent:  None.

  Committee Business:  Update on the remediation of agrichemicals program.

  Adjourned:  10:17 a.m.

  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

  Convened:  February 7, 2001, 9:40 a.m.

  Members Present:  Behn, Chair; Miller, Vice Chair; Fiegen, Ranking Member;
  Holveck and McKinley.

  Members Absent:  None.

  Committee Business:  Presentation on value-added agricultural products.

  Adjourned:  11:00 a.m.

  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

  Convened:  February 7, 2001, 9:40 a.m.

  Members Present:  Redfern, Chair; Rehberg, Vice Chair; Horn, Ranking Member;
  Kibbie and McLaren.

  Members Absent:  None.

  Committee Business:  Presentation by Ted Stilwill, Director of the
  Department of
  Education, and Janice Friedel, Administrator, Department of Education.

  Adjourned:  11:15 a.m.

  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS

  Convened:  February 7, 2001, 9:42 a.m.

  Members Present:  Tinsman, Chair; Johnson, Vice Chair; Bolkcom, Ranking
  Member; Dearden and Rittmer.
  Members Absent:  None.

  Committee Business:  Department of Human Rights presented their budget
  proposals.  Department of Public Health presented information on child lead
  poisoning
  prevention.

  Adjourned:  11:49 a.m.

  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

  Convened:  February 7, 2001, 9:42 a.m.

  Members Present:  Veenstra, Chair; Boettger, Vice Chair; Hammond, Ranking
  Member; Harper and Redwine.

  Members Absent:  None.

  Committee Business:  Discussion on HAWK-I program, update on pharmaceutical
  case management, and follow-up on merit.

  Adjourned:  11:50 a.m.

  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON JUSTICE SYSTEM

  Convened:  February 7, 2001, 9:40 a.m.

  Members Present:  Angelo, Chair; Dvorsky, Ranking Member; Fraise and Maddox.

  Members Absent:  McKean, Vice Chair.

  Committee Business:  Budget presentation by the Department of Public Safety.

  Adjourned:  10:20 a.m.

  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND
  COMMUNICATIONS

  Convened:  February 7, 2001, 10:05 a.m.

  Members Present:  Lundby, Chair; King, Vice Chair; Deluhery, Ranking Member;
  Freeman and Shearer.

  Members Absent:  None.

  Committee Business:  Budget presentation by director of the Iowa
  Communications
  Network.

  Adjourned:  11:11 a.m.
  APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION,
  INFRASTRUCTURE, AND CAPITALS

  Convened:  February 7, 2001, 9:37 a.m.

  Members Present:  Jensen, Chair; Lamberti, Vice Chair; Soukup, Ranking
  Member;
  and Connolly.

  Members Absent:  McKibben (excused).

  Committee Business:  Presentations by the Department of Public Defense, the
  Civil
  Air Patrol, and the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation.

  Adjourned:  10:28 a.m.

  BUSINESS AND LABOR RELATIONS

  Convened:  February 7, 2001, 1:10 p.m.

  Members Present:  Freeman, Chair; Greiner, Vice Chair; Dearden, Ranking
  Member;
  Behn, Fraise, Hammond, Horn, King, Lundby, and Schuerer.

  Members Absent:  McKibben (excused).

  Committee Business:  Discussion of SSB 1120 and presentations by Kirkwood
  Community College and Northeast Iowa Community College.

  Adjourned:  2:10 p.m.

  EDUCATION

  Convened:  February 7, 2001, 1:06 p.m.

  Members Present:  Boettger, Chair; Rehberg, Vice Chair; Connolly, Ranking
  Member; Angelo, Dvorsky, Fink, Harper, Kramer, McKinley, Redfern, Redwine,
  Shearer, Soukup, Tinsman, and Veenstra.

  Members Absent:  None.

  Committee Business:  Presentation by Robert Brennan, Director of Iowa
  Testing
  Programs.

  Adjourned:  2:03 p.m.

  TRANSPORTATION

  Convened:  February 7, 2001, 2:17 p.m.

  Members Present:  Rittmer, Chair; Drake, Vice Chair; McCoy, Ranking Member;
  Dearden, Fink, Fraise, Freeman, Jensen, Kibbie, McKinley, McLaren, Sexton,
  and
  Zieman.

  Members Absent:  None.
  Committee Business:  Passed SF 18.  Presentation on biodiesel fuel.

  Adjourned:  3:15 p.m.

  INTRODUCTION OF BILLS

  Senate File 142, by Bolkcom, Holveck, Hammond, and Harper, a
  bill for an act relating to collecting and disseminating information
  concerning motor vehicle stops.

  Read first time under Rule 28 and referred to committee on
  Judiciary.

  Senate File 143, by Zieman, a bill for an act relating to
  presidential electors' compensation.

  Read first time under Rule 28 and referred to committee on State
  Government.

  GOVERNOR'S ITEM VETO MESSAGE

  February 6, 2001

  The Honorable Mary Kramer
  President of the Senate
  State Capitol
  L O C A L

  Dear President Kramer:

  I hereby transmit Senate File 65, an Act providing supplemental funding for
  the
  Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for the current fiscal
  year.

  As energy prices nationwide began to skyrocket this past winter and the
  weather
  conditions continued to become more severe, I called on the federal
  government to
  provide adequate funding for the LIHEAP program to assist Iowa's most
  vulnerable
  citizens.  Following an allocation of over $16 million in federal Emergency
  Contingency
  Awards, the Iowa Division of Community Action Agencies projected the need
  for an
  additional $20 million to maintain the same proportionate level of energy
  assistance
  from LIHEAP as the previous year based on an estimated 20 percent increase
  in
  eligible households applying for assistance.  I responded to this need with
  a $20 million
  solution generated from the extension of the energy efficiency charge from
  natural gas
  customers amounting to approximately $1.94 per customer.  Unfortunately, the
  Republican Legislators rejected this solution, a solution that would have
  met the needs
  of low income Iowans.
  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.
  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
  costs.  Any future appropriations shall be used as direct assistance to
  those Iowans
  most in need.

  While unfortunately this is not enough funding to meet the need that
  currently
  exists, this Act provides a significant amount of funding that will ease the
  pressure on
  some working families, senior citizens, and people with disabilities forced
  to decide
  between buying food, buying prescription drugs, or paying their heating
  bill.

  For the above reasons, I hereby respectfully approve Senate File 65 with the
  exceptions noted above.  While approval of this Act will provide immediate
  relief, the
  long-term answer to this problem is the development of a comprehensive
  energy policy
  for the state to ensure a reliable supply and stable price.

  Sincerely,
  THOMAS J. VILSACK
  Governor

  STUDY BILLS RECEIVED

  SSB 1118	Commerce

  Relating to the Iowa individual health benefit reinsurance
  association and the Iowa comprehensive health insurance association,
  by changing the board of directors, membership, assessment, and
  premium tax offset related to the associations.

  SSB 1119	Transportation

  Relating to agricultural promotion and education by establishing a
  fund, providing revenue for the fund from the sale of special license
  plates, and making an appropriation.

  SSB 1120	Business and Labor Relations

  Relating to training requirements for certain child laborers.

  SSB 1121	Business and Labor Relations

  Relating to title insurance for property or insurance of a certain
  value, and making related changes.
  SSB 1122	State Government

  Regulating the practice of accounting, establishing fees, providing
  penalties, and providing an effective date.

  SSB 1123	Commerce

  Relating to insurance, by addressing the operation and regulation
  of insurance companies, mutual insurance associations, the Iowa
  insurance guaranty association, and other insurance or risk-
  assuming entities, including the rights and duties of such entities and
  the powers and authority of the insurance commissioner; by
  establishing jurisdiction and venue requirements for actions against
  the Iowa insurance guaranty association; and by setting forth a
  prohibition of intentional motor vehicle collisions, and providing
  penalties, repeals, and effective dates.

  SUBCOMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

  Senate File 119

  COMMERCE:  Johnson, Chair; Deluhery and Schuerer

  Senate File 130

  TRANSPORTATION:  McCoy, Chair; Drake and Fink

  Senate File 131

  COMMERCE:  Johnson, Chair; Hansen and Maddox

  Senate File 132

  COMMERCE:  Johnson, Chair; Hansen and Maddox

  Senate File 136

  COMMERCE:  Johnson, Chair; Hansen and Maddox

  Senate File 137

  COMMERCE:  Johnson, Chair; Hansen and Maddox

  SSB 1118

  COMMERCE:  Redwine, Chair; Maddox and McCoy
  SSB 1119

  TRANSPORTATION:  McKinley, Chair; Dearden and McLaren

  SSB 1120

  BUSINESS AND LABOR RELATIONS:  Schuerer, Chair; Hammond and King

  SSB 1121

  BUSINESS AND LABOR RELATIONS:  King, Chair; Greiner and Horn

  SSB 1122

  STATE GOVERNMENT:  Lamberti, Chair; Connolly and Maddox

  SSB 1123

  COMMERCE:  Redfern, Chair; Bolkcom and Freeman
  258	JOURNAL OF THE SENATE	31st Day
  31st Day	WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2001	259

© 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/Day/0207.html
jhf