House Journal: Page 2267: Wednesday, June 4, 2003
Development and its resources and adversely impact the department's efficient
delivery of services to the public.
I am unable to approve the items designated as Sections 116-120 in their entirety.
The Sections will make it much harder to hold those who hurt others with unsafe
products, on particularly egregious conduct, accountable for the harm they cause. I am
not persuaded by the argument that Iowa has a poor business climate. Those who
advance such an argument discount the work of highly productive Iowa workers and
the study prepared by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ranking Iowa third best liability
climate.
I am unable to approve the item designated as Section 121 in its entirety. While I
appreciate the need for continued improvement to our workers compensation system to
maintain a just and balanced approach, Section 121 overreaches. A worker injured
multiple times could be significantly under compensated for his or her injuries under
Section 121. Section 121 in its current form destroys the just and balanced approach,
which should be our goal.
I am unable to approve the item designated as Division XX that consists of Section
132, in its entirety. Section 132 postpones the phase out of the sales tax on residential
utilities passed by the Iowa Legislature in 2001. The utility sales tax cut, as promised
in current law, reflected recognition by the legislature that escalating energy costs hit
all consumers hard. Postponing the phase out of the utility tax will unnecessarily
increase the utility bills of low-and middle-income Iowans, at a time when heating
prices are expected to rise dramatically next winter.
I invite the legislature to work in a bipartisan way to reform our income tax system
and work for common sense improvements to our civil justice system and workers
compensation system.
For the above reasons, I respectfully disapprove these items in accordance with
Article 3 Section 16 of the Constitution of the State of Iowa. All other items in House
File 692 are hereby approved as of this date.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Vilsack
Governor
RESIGNATIONS RECEIVED
Copies of the following communications were received and placed
on file in the office of the Chief Clerk:
May 9, 2003
The Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack
Governor, State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
© 2003 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
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