May 11, 2000

The Honorable Chester Culver
Secretary of State
State Capitol
L O C A L

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I hereby transmit Senate File 2453, an Act relating to and making appropriations from the rebuild Iowa infrastructure fund to state departments and agencies, including the department of natural resources, the department of agriculture and land stewardship, department for the blind, the department of corrections, the department of cultural affairs, the department of economic development, the department of general services, the judicial branch, the department of public safety, the state board of regents, the state department of transportation, the office of treasurer of state, and the commission of veterans affairs, creating an environment first fund and making appropriations from that fund for environmental purposes, making related code language changes, providing for contingent effectiveness, and providing effective dates.

I appreciate the efforts of Republicans and Democrats in allocating approximately $11.2 million toward the creation of the Clean Water Initiative. This investment will create a comprehensive set of initiatives aimed at improving Iowa's water resources. The package includes the establishment of buffer strips, efforts to restore and construct wetlands, and expansion of water quality monitoring and watershed programs.

These projects not only provide cleaner and safer water, but they will protect our natural resources, protect our public infrastructure - like roads and bridges - from flood damage, and protect our aquatic wildlife. Most importantly, we need to make sure that our commitment to clean, safe drinking water does not end this year.

For these reasons, Senate File 2453 is, therefore, approved on this date with the following exceptions, which I hereby disapprove.

I am unable to approve the designated portion of section 18. This item prohibits any of the community attraction and tourism funds from being expended for development and promotional purposes. The Legislature specifically authorized the use of these funds for these purposes in last year's infrastructure appropriations bill. I believe it is appropriate to allow the new Vision Iowa Board to determine if they want to continue that practice.

I am unable to approve the designated portion of section 22, subsection 2. This item would carry unused balances of the environment first fund appropriation to the subsequent fiscal year. Because the legislature has overspent from the infrastructure budget this year, it is necessary to develop a mechanism to balance it. The effect of this item veto, coupled with those below, will be to allow unspent resources in the environment first fund to return to the rebuild iowa infrastructure fund at the end of the fiscal year. This will help correct the Legislature's infrastructure budget deficit.

I am unable to approve section 24 in its entirety. This item would extend the restore the outdoors program through fiscal year 2004. The restore the outdoors program is a statutory appropriation that is already funded in the coming fiscal year. It makes more sense to deal with extending the program next year, when all other FY 2002 budget issues are being discussed.

I am unable to approve section 25, subsection 6 in its entirety. This item appropriates $1,300,000 for the agricultural drainage well system assistance program. This is an important program, and I regret that the Legislature's overspending requires me to make an item veto of these funds. However, there is currently $5.5 million available from previous appropriations for this assistance which will sustain the fund for FY '01. If the Legislature will submit a properly balanced infrastructure budget next year, I would be willing to restore funding for this purpose.

I am unable to approve section 28 in its entirety. This item would carry unused balances of appropriations made from the environment first fund to the subsequent fiscal year. Once again, this is necessary to ensure that the infrastructure budget deficit presented to me by the legislature is eliminated.

I am unable to approve section 33 in its entirety. This item relates to the billing of services by the department of general services. This is an executive branch function that should not be legislatively imposed.

For the above reasons, I hereby respectfully approve Senate File 2453 with the exceptions noted above.

Sincerely,

Thomas J. Vilsack
Governor

TJV:jmc

cc: Secretary of the Senate
   Chief Clerk of the House

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Last update: FRI May 12 2000
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