House Journal: Page 18: Monday, January 13, 2003
Modernizing Iowa and providing economic growth for Iowa’s future.
In times like these, when we cannot be everything to everyone, we must keep our
focus. I believe that any diversion from these priorities in our view is a waste of our
time and taxpayers’ money.
In addition to the issues which I hope we can enact in the first month, Democrats
have other priorities that we will present for consideration and debate. These include:
Making income tax income tax rates more competitive and simplifying tax
forms.
Using the state’s buying power as a lever to lower prescription drug costs.
Incorporating character education into all public school curricula.
Requiring insurers to treat mental illness like any covered physical illness.
Protecting the privacy of Iowans’ medical and financial records, and
Raising the state’s minimum wage.
These priorities have no significant cost, yet they offer tremendous prospects for
improving the financial security of Iowans today and for preparing the state’s economy
for growth tomorrow.
It will be important to weigh the budget impact of all our decisions this year. Once
again, due to the sluggish economy, the state budget will be extremely tight. Budget
issues will no doubt command most of the headlines from now until we adjourn in
April.
This will make the third consecutive year of very tough budgeting. In the past two
years, state spending has been slashed significantly. Today, state government in Iowa
is spending LESS than it did four years ago.
Yet, thanks to bipartisan cooperation, we have been able to improve public schools
by reducing class sizes and improving teacher pay. The key is to set budget priorities
and stick to them.
I am pleased that the majority party has decided to start the budget work early. I
urge you to stay at it for as long as it takes to equip the members with sufficient
knowledge to make intelligent and compassionate decisions. I did some research and
came up with this startling fact: of the 63 House members serving on budget
subcommittees, only 21 served on the same subcommittee last year. That means two-
thirds of the subcommittee members have no experience with the budgets of the
agencies and departments they are expected to oversee. It will require extensive
hearing and discussion time for members to begin to grasp the mission and needs of
the agencies and departments whose budgets they will recommend. We need to afford
them that time.
Democrats are willing to be full partners in this legislative process. I look forward
to working with Speaker Rants and Majority Leader Gipp. Mr. Speaker, I believe that
through the years we have come to understand each other and have established a frank
and cordial relationship, and we can build on that this year. And Mr. Gipp, you have a
well-deserved reputation as a legislator who prefers consensus to confrontation, and
that could lead us to some great things. Because I believe the public is best served
when we work collectively toward the same goals.
© 2003 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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