House Journal: Page 2138: Tuesday, May 28, 2002
solve the budget shortfall for the current year. The plan included a series of funding
transfers that allow us to continue to provide the priority services of Iowans.
However, the bill has several provisions which I cannot support. I oppose the
Republicans' continuous assault on our senior citizens by attempting to raise
prescription drug costs on Iowans in need. I have vetoed their attempt to double the
co-payments on prescription drugs in the past, and I will do so again. I also cannot
support the Republicans' plan to add an unnecessary, burdensome layer of bureaucracy
and cost to the delivery of medical assistance. The burdens created for some Iowa
families and seniors are simply unacceptable.
House File 2625 is, therefore, signed on this date with the following exceptions,
which I hereby disapprove.
I am unable to approve Division V, Section 34 in its entirety. This provision would
increase the cost of prescription drugs for Iowans most in need. This, in effect, is a tax
on a group-aged, blind, disabled, children, and caretakers with very little or no income.
Additionally, if the individuals do not have the funds, the pharmacist is required to
dispense the drug anyway. This requires pharmacists to subsidize the costs and
creates an additional reluctance on the part of pharmacists to handle Medicaid
patients.
Section 34 would also require additional bureaucracy and associated costs by
calling for monthly reporting requirements for those who experience a change in
income, mailing address, household composition, or health insurance. In doing so, the
legislature would be creating an additional layer of bureaucracy, and an additional
layer of cost to process the monthly reports. This new bureaucratic requirement is
particularly unnecessary, considering the Department of Human Services already
requires Iowans in need who receive medical assistance to report changes in such
factors.
I am unable to approve Section 37. This section removes the requirement that the
legislature establish the state percent of allowable growth in funding for our local
school districts within the first 30 days of legislative session. This provision was
developed to ensure the state's commitment to education was made up front and did
not get bogged down in last minute budget negotiations and to provide adequate
planning time for school districts. Now, more than ever, when education is our state's
top priority, we must maintain that commitment to our local schools.
I am unable to approve Section 40, subsection 1. This section requires the
departments of personnel to identify duplicative job responsibilities throughout state
government and report these positions to the oversight committee. These
determinations on an enterprise-wide basis are already being done.
I am unable to approve Section 40, subsection 3. This administration has made
every attempt to provide quality educational opportunities for all Iowans. This section
denies the opportunity for state workers to access educational assistance. With a
shrinking state workforce, it is more important than ever to make sure the remaining
professionals have the training and education they need to effectively serve Iowans. I
believe this option should be maintained.
© 2002 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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