House Journal: Page 2141: Tuesday, May 28, 2002
I am unable to approve the item designated as Section 64, numbered paragraph 3.
The Department of Workforce Development has identified federal funds that can be
used to collect labor market information. Monies from the penalty and interest account
can and have been used to support services in the workers' compensation and labor
divisions of the department. The budget cuts sustained by these divisions could have
an adverse impact to the safety of Iowa's citizens and its workforce. The director of the
Department of Workforce Development currently has the authority to reassign unused
penalty and interest funds. We must maintain that flexibility to reallocate dollars
when needed to ensure the safety of Iowans.
I am unable to approve the item designated as Section 72. Expenditure information
for the executive branch agencies of state government is currently available to the
economic development appropriation subcommittee and the Legislative Fiscal Bureau
on a daily basis through the Iowa Financial and Accounting System. The Legislative
Fiscal Bureau also has the authority to request expenditure information from regent
universities. The reporting requirement in this section would duplicate existing data
and place an unneeded requirement on limited staff resources.
I am unable to approve the item designated as Section 73. The Department of
Workforce Development has begun a multi-phased project to upgrade the electronic
unemployment insurance processing system. This upgrade will address the reporting
and transmitting problems identified in this section of the bill. I concur that this
problem must be addressed, however, the complexity and magnitude of the needed
upgrade cannot be accomplished and implemented by July 1, 2002.
I am unable to approve the item designated as a portion of Section 102, subsection
2d. This language requires new reporting every other month to legislators on net
budgeting. This section would require additional staff resources at a time when
funding for staff has been severely reduced.
I am unable to approve the item designated as Section 106 in its entirety. 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 these departments.
I am unable to approve the item designated as Section 108 in its entirety. This
section would repeal the enabling language for the Community Grant Fund and end
the program. Although no money is appropriated for the Community Grant Fund in
the coming fiscal year, we should maintain the possibility of funding for this program
when more resources are available.
I am unable to approve the item designated as portion of Section 111, subsection 6.
This language requires the Department of Human Services to consult with the Welfare
Reform Council and legislative members prior to implementing rules related to the
Family Investment Program as required by the federal government. This mandated
consultation process may unduly delay the rules where federally required.
I am unable to approve the item designated as Section 115, subsection 8 in its
entirety. This language continues language from prior years related to the number of
beds allowed in a community setting for persons with mental retardation. With the
© 2002 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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