House Journal: Page 2140: Tuesday, May 28, 2002
However, this 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
copayments on prescription drugs in the past, and I will do so again. The burdens
created for some Iowa families and seniors are simply unacceptable.
House File 2627 is, therefore, signed on this date with the following exceptions,
which I hereby disapprove.
I am unable to approve the items designated as Section 3, subsection 7 in its
entirety, Section 9, subsection 3 in its entirety, and Section 21, subsection 2 in its
entirety. These sections require commerce, racing and gaming, and the lottery to
report the Accountable Government Act activities by January 13, 2003. With the
reduction of state employees, this would create an unnecessary requirement. Such
reports should be completed per the implementation procedures as set forth in Iowa
Code Chapter 8E.
I am unable to approve the items designated as Section 5, subsection 5 in its
entirety, Section 13, subsection 2 in its entirety, Section 26, subsection 2 in its entirety,
and Section 28 in its entirety. These sections require the Departments of General
Services, Personnel and Information Technology to identify duplicative situations
within state government and report by September 1, 2002. Such activities should be
conducted on an enterprise wide basis as set forth in Section 11, subsection 3 of the
bill.
I am unable to approve the item designated as Section 26, subsection 1 in its
entirety. This item requires the Information Technology Department to notify the
Department of Management prior to any fee increases. The Department of
Management is then to notify the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. The two departments will
work cooperatively to examine such fee or rate increases, without the necessity of this
legislative mandate.
I am unable to approve the item designated as a portion of Section 30. This would
increase the maximum possible award to an employee for a cost saving idea from
$2,500 to $25,000. While employee suggestions are encouraged and indeed welcomed,
the state's current financial situation precludes such an increase.
I am unable to approve the item designated as Section 49, numbered paragraph 3.
Last year the legislature approved and I signed into law the Accountable Government
Act. This legislation established a comprehensive, enterprise-wide process for setting
program goals and establishing results measurements. This section would create
redundancies in goals and results measurements for the Department of Economic
Development.
I am unable to approve the items designed as Section 59, paragraph 2b, Section 60,
paragraph 2b and Section 61, paragraph 2b. These sections would require any
business or individual receiving benefits from specified regent programs to have a
commercially viable service or product. Many of the proposals and ideas brought to
these programs have not been developed to a stage of commercialization. To apply this
criteria at such an early stage of development would be contradictory to the very
services these programs are designed to provide.
© 2002 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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