House Journal: Page 2256: Tuesday, June 3, 2003
At the beginning of this legislative session, it was clear that although our fiscal
difficulties were not as severe as many other states, Iowa was facing a budget shortfall.
Given that the budget must be balanced, we know that those tasked with the
responsibility of balancing the budget would inevitably reduce aid to local government.
We worked with legislative leaders to make sure that the reforms included in Senate
File 453 would give real hope to Iowans that some services can be improved even as
less money is spent.
Additionally, my office worked hard to ensure that the federal stimulus package
included direct fiscal relief for states and cities to help lessen the burden imposed by
Senate File 453. While the federal stimulus package passed last week included $189
million in aid to Iowa, the Legislature has indicated they will not direct any of those
vital dollars to cities and counties.
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 Senate File 453 are hereby approved as this date.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Vilsack
Governor
May 30, 2003
The Honorable Chester Culver
Secretary of State
State Capitol Building
L O C A L
Dear Mr. Secretary:
I hereby transmit Senate File 458, an act relating to public expenditure and
regulatory matters, compensating public employees, making and reducing
appropriations, modifying sales and use taxes, modifying the investment tax credits
and premium taxes on mutual insurance associations, providing for related matters,
making penalties applicable, and providing effective dates.
Senate File 458 is approved on this date with the following exceptions, which I
hereby disapprove:
I am unable to approve the item designated as Section 13 in its entirety. This
section prohibits local governments from prorating state funded property tax credits to
taxpayers based upon the amount of the appropriations available in relation to total
credit claims. I am concerned that this provision would further reduce funding for local
governments, beyond the significant reductions that have already been made.
I am unable to approve the item designated as Section 23 in its entirety. This
language creates a new funding stream for a single county hospital. I am sympathetic
to the struggle of a hospital providing services t the poor and needy. However, creating
an inequity is no way to properly help a struggling hospital. Appropriate Medicare
reimbursement is a more appropriate remedy for the ills of a struggling hospital.
© 2003 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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Last update: Wed Jul 30 14:40:01 CDT 2003
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