Don't Forget

From the Desk of Representative Chuck Soderberg

With just one week until the first legislative deadline, when a number of bills must be passed out of committee, week six of the 2012 Iowa General Assembly was filled with committee meetings, sub-committee meetings, and floor debate in the Iowa House.  Information on all the bills, amendments, and floor action can be found on the Iowa General Assembly web at: www.legis.iowa.gov.

Fact or Fiction: Does Iowa Have a $1 Billion Surplus?

Many have probably heard at some point that the state of Iowa has a $1 billion surplus.  If true, why is there such an effort to contain costs?  In reality, the so-called “surplus” is actually:

• $600 million in one-time cash reserve funds (needed to help the state cash flow)
• $250 million in one-time ending balance from this year (FY 12)
• $200 million in on-going revenue growth for next year (FY 13)

The state budget is really about $12 billion, $6 billion is appropriated by the state and $6 billion is received from the federal government to fund federally mandated programs.  Iowa’s law requires that 10% of the state budget must be set aside into a cash reserve (not spent on ongoing operations) to assist the state in paying bills in a timely manner.  This means that $600 million is off-limits to spend.

In addition, the Legislature can (but is not required) to spend up to 99% of the projected revenue.  We must be disciplined in our spending as the economic recovery continues, the federal debt increases, and the anticipated federal cuts that will impact the $6 billion in federal funds Iowa receives.  Spending our one-time ending balance money to fund ongoing expenses would also be reckless as it is a short-sighted budgeting practice.

Historic Property Tax Reform Passes the House

On February 14th, the House passed HF 2274. I support this bill as it is the only property tax proposal that delivers significant tax relief and genuine reform to all classes of Iowa’s property tax payers.  Iowa currently has the 2nd highest commercial property taxes and the 16th highest residential property taxes in the country.  As mentioned last week, over the last ten years, property taxes have increased over 60%, or over $1.7 billion dollars.  If we do nothing, over the next 10 years property taxes paid by homeowners will increase an estimated 73%, from $2.3 billion in 2012 to $3.9 billion in 2022.  The majority of that new tax burden would fall onto Iowa’s homeowners. 

HF 2274 is a genuine property tax relief and reform for ALL Iowans that puts money back in the pockets of Iowa families and job creators.  Property tax reform also affects Iowa’s economy and is an impediment to putting people back to work.  The House plan further provides an emphasis on smaller, Main Street, entrepreneur-type employers.  It creates predictability and stability for all employers.  Highlights of the House plan include:

• ALL Iowans receive tax relief and there is no shifting of burdens to any one class of property.
• Job creators receive a $602 million property tax cut.
• Homeowners receive a $417 million property tax cut.
• Republicans’ proposal offers a total of $1.2 billion in relief for Iowa property taxpayers.

The plan proposed by the Senate Majority Party results in a $2.5 billion property tax increase, with $1.69 billion of that falling on the backs of homeowners.  According to public polling, Iowans favor broad based property tax relief proposal, similar to the House plan, by a 2 to 1 margin over a targeted tax credit plan, similar to the plan passed in the Iowa Senate.

Mental Health Redesign Work Continues in the House

After months of public discussion and interim committee meetings throughout the summer, the House Human Resources Committee has begun work on three pieces of the legislation that will redesign Iowa’s mental health and disability services system.

HSB 623 is the product of the DHS/Judicial Branch work group that has been in existence for several years.  In 2011, the group was tasked with addressing a number of issues related to the interaction of law enforcement, the Judicial Branch, and the mental health system.  The group put together a series of recommendations ranging from on-going mental health and disability services training for law enforcement officers, the ability of residential care facilities to determine whether or not to accept people referred to them by the court, and clearing up conflicts within the Iowa Code on which mental health professionals may be involved in the commitment process. 

The final Mental Health Redesign bill draft, addressing many of the recommendations proposed by the Department of Human Services, is expected to be released soon.  The recommendations include:

• Transforming the management structure for mental health services;
• Changing the basis for determining financial responsibility; and
• Establishing core services that will be available throughout the entire state.

One new element in this bill is the issue of future funding for the system.  Under the language passed in SF 209 last year, the current mental health levy is phased out at the end of FY 2013.  The amount generated by the current levy statewide is $125 million.  The legislation will call for a four year phase out to begin in FY 2014, with the state providing dollar for dollar property tax relief.

Opportunities to Learn About Issues and Voice Your Concerns

As we work on various issues, I would love to hear from you.  Senator Anderson and I will be holding our next joint legislative forums on February 18th at the following locations to discuss various issues concerning the Iowa Legislature:

• Merrill Plymouth Oil Co. (22058 K42 – At Ethanol Site) @ 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
• Hinton Long Branch Steakhouse (201 East Main St.) @ 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
• Lawton Community Center (101 East Maple St.) @ 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Correctionville Community Center (312 Driftwood St.) @ 1:15-2:15 p.m.

If you have any questions, comments or know someone who would like to receive my electronic newsletter via email, please feel free to reach me during the week at (515)-281-3221, on weekends at (712)-546-6136 or email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

From the Desk of Representative Chuck Soderberg

Week four of the 2012 Iowa General Assembly was filled with a number of committee meetings and floor debate in the Iowa House.  Information on all the bills, amendments, and floor action can be found on the Iowa General Assembly web at: www.legis.iowa.gov

Iowa House Passes Additional Domestic Abuse Protection for Iowans

The Iowa House passed SF 93 on Thursday, February 2^nd with a vote of 96-1 to enhance the penalty for certain domestic abuse assaults where the offender knowingly strangles another person.  With the Senate already approving the bill, the bill is expected to be signed by the governor joining the majority of states who provide this type of protection for domestic abuse victims.

Testimony was heard in committee from speakers representing the Attorney General’s Office, The Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault.  All of which testified that strangulation is one of the most lethal forms of domestic violence.  A batterer who chokes their victim, and does not kill them, is more likely to kill their victim in the future.  The Journal of Emergency Medicine reported in 2008 that 43% of women who were murdered in a domestic assault and 45% who were victims of attempted murder had been choked in the past year by their male partners.  In Iowa, strangulation is the 2^nd leading cause of death due to domestic violence.

SF 93 allows police officers to charge a batterer with an aggravated misdemeanor if they commit domestic abuse assault by choking or obstructing the nose or mouth of the victim, even if there is no bodily injury.  However, if bodily injury is found to be present the batterer can be charged with a class “D” felony.  A person convicted of an aggravated misdemeanor could be sentenced to up to two years in prison and a fine between $625 and $6,750.  If convicted of a class “D” felony, they must pay a fine of at least $750 but not more than $7,500 and could serve up to five years in prison.

House Republicans Propose Conservative Budget Blueprint

On Thursday, February 2, House Republicans announced their spending targets for the FY 2013 budget. The budget targets fulfill the campaign promise of aligning ongoing spending with ongoing revenue.  A stable and sustainable budget is a key to creating a climate that promotes job growth. 

The House Republican Budget proposal spends $6.059 billion, or $313 million less than the total overall spending for FY 2011 and only $59.9 million more than the FY 2012 budget.  If enacted, this will be the first time the property tax credits have been fully-funded since FY 2000.  Despite the increase to fund the property tax credits, it is still only a 1 percent budget growth over FY 2012.  Additional details will be discussed in upcoming weeks.

These budget targets will not be easily achieved as the difficult task continues to eliminate unnecessary and duplicative programs and spending.  There will be no tax increase to help balance the state’s budget.  This year’s challenge is to fully fund commitments made in areas such as State Prisons, Education, Mental Health, and Medicaid with costs estimated to be $200 million next year.

The House Republicans have proposed a budget that is honest, transparent, and sustainable.  The budget does not spend more than the state takes in, and will provide for priority services in the areas of education, health and human services, and public safety.  It also does not use one-time money to balance the budget and it does not purposefully underfund commitments like the property tax credits.

Committees Continue Work on Several Significant Issues

Many very significant issues are being worked on in various committees in the Iowa House.  Several of these issues include reducing the property tax burden placed on Iowan property owners, Tax Increment Financing(TIF) changes, mental health reform, education reform, and new sex offender notifications for nursing homes and residential care facilities.  I will discuss these issues in detail as the proposed legislation works its way through the sub-committee process.

Northey Encourages Century and Heritage Farm Owners to Apply

This week, Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey encouraged eligible farm owners to apply for the 2012 Century and Heritage Farm Program.  The program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau.  It recognizes families that have owned their farms for 100 years (Century Farms) and 150 years (Heritage Farms). 

The Century Farm program has recognized over 17,000 farms from across the state since 1976.  The Heritage Farm program has recognized more than 500 farms since 2006.  Farm families seeking to qualify for the Century or Heritage Farms Program must submit an application to the Department no later than June 1, 2012.  The Iowa State Fair will host a ceremony to recognize the 2012 Century and Heritage Farms on August 14^th.

Applications are available on the Department’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov by clicking on the Century Farm or Heritage Farm link under “Hot Topics.”  Applications may also be requested by phone at 515-281-3645, by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by writing to Century or Heritage Farms Program, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Henry A. Wallace Building, 502 E. 9^th St., Des Moines, IA 50319.

Opportunities to Learn About Issues and Voice Your Concerns

Thank you to all who attended the Sioux City Legislative Forum last Saturday.  As we work on various issues, I would love to hear from you.  Senator Feenstra, Senator Anderson and I will be holding our next joint legislative forums on February 11^th at the following locations to discuss various issues concerning the Iowa Legislature:

·        Le Mars Public Library at 9:30 AM

·        Akron Public Library at 11:00 AM

Senator Feenstra and I will also be holding joint legislative forums at:

·        Hawarden City Hall at 1:00 PM

·        Orange City City Hall at 2:30 PM

If you have any questions, comments or know someone who would like to receive my electronic newsletter via email, please feel free to reach me during the week at (515)-281-3221, on weekends at (712)-546-6136 or email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

From the Desk of Representative Chuck Soderberg

Week three of the 2012 Iowa General Assembly was filled with a number of committee meetings and floor debate in the Iowa House.  Information on all the bills, amendments, and floor action can be found on the Iowa General Assembly web at: www.legis.iowa.gov

Bills Identify Regulatory Cost and Help Improve Job Opportunities  

The first two bills of this year’s Session were unanimously passed in the Iowa House on January 25^th.  Both bills deal with regulatory reform within the state and highlight the need for real focus on regulatory reform in this year’s legislative session.

HF 2042, creates the requirement that all administrative rules adopted by state agencies must have a ‘Jobs Impact Statement’ prepared.  This would place into law the requirement authorized by Governor Branstad under Executive Order 71 last year.  A jobs impact statement must:

Ø      Identify the objective of a rule.

Ø      Identify and describe the cost that the agency anticipates state agencies, local governments, the public, and regulated entities, including regulated businesses and self-employed individuals, will incur due to the implementation of and complying with the rule.

Ø      Determine whether the rule would have a positive or negative impact on private sector jobs and employment opportunities in Iowa.

Ø      Describe and quantify the nature of the impact a rule will have on private sector job and employment opportunities affected by the rule, the number of jobs or potential job opportunities, and the regions of the state affected by the rule.

Ø      Identify the additional costs to employers per employee due to implementing a rule.

Ø      Include other relevant analysis requested by the administrative rules coordinator.

HF 2042 will remind state government to always be aware of the impact it has on the economy and potential job opportunities.

The Iowa House also passed HF 2043 on January 25^th.  This bill is simple in nature, but would have an immediate impact on the way regulations are implemented in Iowa. The bill limits all state administrative agencies charged with implementing federal requirements from exceeding those specific federal requirements unless it is authorized to do so by state law.  If there are existing rules in conflict with this provision, the federal rules would supersede the state rules, unless explicitly authorized by state law.  There are instances within state government where federal regulations only require a certain level of compliance.  Unfortunately, in some cases, state agencies decide to make the standards more stringent than required by the federal government.  In many cases this adds costs, both direct and indirect, to remain in compliance.

Both bills now move to the Senate for their consideration.

National Guard Educational Assistance Program

On January 26^th, the House passed SF 2007.  This is a supplemental budget bill providing an additional $1.3 million to the National Guard Educational Assistance Program for FY12.  This will be in addition to the $3.186 million appropriated last year, totaling $4.486 million.

The reason for the sudden increase was an underestimation in the amount of soldiers who would apply for the funds.  With Iowa’s largest deployment in the history of the National Guard ending recently and the ending of the war in Iraq, new deployments are down and soldiers are returning from previous deployments.  2010 and 2011 deployment numbers were around 3,000, while 2012’s numbers are less than 250.   In the 2010/11 school year, there were approximately 900 students who were given awards, while that number is estimated be 1,440 for 2011/12.

The College Student Aid Commission (CSAC), which administers the program, expended $2,366,134 of the FY12 appropriation, leaving $820,099 for second semester.  A qualified National Guardsman typically receives about 90% of the total tuition cost or approximately $3,200 per semester.

House Republicans Begin Preparing the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget

To avoid a lengthy session, House Republicans have unveiled an aggressive timeline in order to pass a budget in a timely manner.  We will work to pass the FY 2013 Budget by the end of March.  House Republicans will again propose a budget that is honest, transparent, and sustainable.  The budget will not spend more than the state takes in, and will provide for priority services in the areas of education, health and human services, and public safety.

Last year’s budget included General Fund dollars of $5.999 billion, $106 million from the Health Care Trust Fund and $32.5 million from a commerce revolving fund.  This is $235 million less than the total spending in FY 2011. 

The budget will not be easily achieved without difficult work to find savings and efficiencies in nearly every budget area.  Iowans and Iowa employers cannot invest and plan for the future without the certainty provided by a state budget plan that ends the threat of tax increases to support growing government spending.

Opportunities to Learn About Issues and Voice Your Concerns

Thank you to all who attended my Legislative Forums last Saturday.  As we work on various issues, I would love to hear from you.  On Saturday, January 28^th, I will be participating in a legislative forum at the Sioux City Public Museum located at 607 4th Street beginning at 10:00AM.  The legislative panel will be discussing various issues concerning the Iowa Legislature.  The public is invited and encouraged to attend and address any issues that are of concern.

If you have any questions, comments or know someone who would like to receive my electronic newsletter via email, please feel free to reach me during the week at (515)-281-3221, on weekends at (712)-546-6136 or email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

From the Desk of Representative Chuck Soderberg

As week two of the 2012 Iowa General Assembly concludes, the political process is now fully engaged.  In this process, before a bill becomes law it is assigned to a committee for review, research, and approval before it goes to the full House and Senate for debate and a final vote.  If passed by both Chambers, the Governor must then sign the bill before it becomes law.  Information on all the bills, amendments, and floor action can be found on the Iowa General Assembly web at: www.legis.iowa.gov

Condition of the Iowa National Guard

For the first time since 2001, The Iowa National Guard has no full-scale units deployed overseas.    Major General Tim Orr, adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard, reported in a joint session of the Iowa House and Senate that the deployments of the last decade were unprecedented with nearly 15,000 soldiers and airmen called to duty for overseas missions.  The deployment in 2010 and 2011 of nearly 3,000 Iowa National Guard soldiers to Afghanistan was the Guard’s largest deployment since World War II.  However, the Guard stands ready to fulfill its statutory and constitutional responsibility to help defend the nation and provide the governor with a state emergency response force if necessary. 

Budget constraints and shifting priorities will impact how we operate and what we are asked to do in the years ahead.  Major General Orr noted that the National Guard operates at about one-third the cost to taxpayers of active-duty soldiers and airmen.  “The most logical option for the nation to preserve its military capability, capacity and depth in times of fiscal restraints is through continued reliance on the National Guard”.   He continued by stating, “To do this, the National Guard must remain a modern force, capable of rapidly mobilizing, deploying and integrating into ongoing and future contingency operations”. 

In Sioux City, the 185th Air Refueling Wing was recognized for its outstanding record by winning the Airlift Tanker Association's Maj. Gen. Stanley F.H. Newman Award for being the best tanker wing in the country.  Major General Tim Orr also reported that nearly 1,000 soldiers and airmen were called to duty last year to battle flooding on the Missouri River that devastated parts of western Iowa. 

Veterans Honored at the Hill

Wednesday, January 18, was Veterans Day on the Hill.  I had an opportunity to meet with a delegation of veterans from northwest Iowa.  The House Republicans provided the veterans with information regarding some of the programs we passed the last couple of years to benefit veterans as well as some of the initiatives our caucus is bringing forward this session.

Thank you, veterans, for serving and sacrificing on our behalf. 

Property Tax Reform is a Difficult Task

As mentioned last week, the House Ways and Means Committee began the difficult task to reform Iowa’s property tax structure to provide all property tax payers some relief.  The bill, HSB 500, has three main divisions:

Division One increases the regular foundation base per pupil funding.  In other words, it reduces the property tax burden across all classes of property to help equalize school property tax rates.

Division Two provides for a commercial/industrial tax relief.  The exemption lowers the assessment value to a taxable value.  Once fully implemented after fourteen years, there will be a 40% exemption for all commercial/industrial businesses.  This would have the same result as a 60% tax rollback.  Residential properties currently have a 50% rollback.  This division is a solution to address some of the concerns voiced last year.

Division Three eliminates many of the rate caps for local governments and replaces them with a budget limitation.  Statewide city property tax dollars have grown an average of 73% over the last ten years.  County property tax dollars have grown 64% and schools have grown 60% over the same ten year period.  Iowa personal income tax has only grown 46% during the same ten year period.   

Over the next few weeks we will work to find a consensus.

Watch and Listen to the Iowa House

For many years you have been able to listen to debate on your computer from the Iowa Legislature.  Now for the first time ever, you will be able to watch a live video from the Iowa House.  I have listed the link below for your convenience, if you would like to watch.  Just click on the “Live House Video” upper right-hand side.  We gavel in Mondays at 1:00pm and Tuesday-Thursday at 8:30am.  We start each day with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.  Please feel free to join us sometime.

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/index.aspx

Opportunities to Learn About Issues and Voice Your Concerns

As we work on various issues, I would love to hear from you.  Senator Bill Anderson, Representative Huseman and I will be holding joint legislative forums on January 21^st at the following locations to discuss various issues concerning the Iowa Legislature:

·        Remsen Public Library at 8:30 AM

·        Kingsley Community Center at 10:00 AM

·        Pierson Community Center at 11:30 AM

·        Moville Community Center at 1:00 PM

If you have any questions, comments or know someone who would like to receive my electronic newsletter via email, please feel free to reach me during the week at (515)-281-3221, on weekends at (712)-546-6136 or email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .