House Journal: Page 2139 (S.S. Page 36): Tuesday, May 28, 2002
I am unable to approve Section 42. This section eliminates state funding to the
State Medical Library. The legislature had intended to shift this funding from the
medical library to the Department of Cultural Affairs for cultural grants, but the bill
failed to complete the transfer. While the republican legislature eliminates the medical
library funding, they also establish a task force charged with determining whether to
continue the State Medical Library; and if so, where it should be located. The medical
library provides essential educational materials and diagnostic and research searches
for health professionals and students. Closing this valuable resource for many Iowans
is shortsighted and unnecessary.
For the above reasons, I respectfully disapprove these items in accordance with
Amendment IV of the Amendments of 1968 to the Constitution of the State of Iowa.
All other items in House File 2625 are hereby approved as of this date.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Vilsack
Governor
June 12, 2002
The Honorable Chester Culver
Secretary of State
State Capitol
L O C A L
Dear Secretary Culver:
I hereby transmit House File 2627, an Act addressing public funding provisions and
properly related matters by making, reducing, and transferring appropriations,
adjusting other expenditures for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002, and including
other appropriations, cooperative tax credits, and effective and retroactive applicability
date provisions.
With the revenue estimating conference's recent action to decrease general fund
resources available to the state by $212.5 million in fiscal year 2003, I took responsible
action in calling a special session to take the necessary steps to balance the budget. I
had offered a reasonable alternative plan that would have protected more of the
services provided to Iowans. However, the legislative leaders in the majority party
rejected my plan. This left me with two options - sign the bill as passed by the
legislature or have no budget in place for new fiscal year that starts in just a few
weeks. Clearly, it would be irresponsible to shut down state government. Therefore, I
have no alternative but to sign this legislation.
Despite the extraordinary challenge of a national recession, I am pleased that we
were successful in our administration's fight to preserve some key priorities of Iowa
families, including improving learning by reducing class sizes and increasing teacher
quality, and preserving access to health care for our children and senior citizens. I am
also please to restore $600,000 to the Enrich Iowa Libraries program. A reduction in
funding to this important initiative would stifle the progress this administration has
made in improving educational opportunities for Iowa's children.
© 2002 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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