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July 2, 2009 |
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TOPICS: Iowa Legislators appointed to White House Health Reform Group Health Care Reform is topic for Capitol’s political scientists Legislature makes 10 percent budget cut Speeding up recession recovery Help for Iowa’s unemployed workers Local human rights activist remarks on Marriage Equality Grant to help renovate old library
Happy Independence Day!
This is the time of year to remember that not all people are free and independent. Over this holiday weekend, let’s cherish our liberties and celebrate our continued independence. Happy 4th of July!
Iowa Legislators appointed to White House Health Reform Group
A week ago, Senator Joe Bolkcom and I gathered with 35 state legislative leaders at the White House for the first meeting of the “White House Working Group of State Legislators for Health Reform.”
I am honored to have been asked by the White House to chair this distinguished group of state leaders. Senator Swati Dandekar of Marion is also joining in the efforts of this group. You can find a complete list of state leaders and learn more about the group’s work at www.statelegislatorsforhealthreform.com.
President Obama asked his staff to assemble state health care leaders to help him ensure that Congress enacts a comprehensive health care package that includes a public health insurance option. Congress is now struggling with how President Obama’s administration is to deliver on their promise that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care. Here in Iowa, 300,000 are still uninsured.
Even though the Iowa Legislature passed landmark health care reforms over the past two years, no state can insure all of its citizens on its own. As I said at a press conference after our White House meeting, “this is an American problem, and it will take an American solution.”
Our working group met with US Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Director of the White House Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann Deparle for more than an hour to review the status of the federal legislation and to strategize on how state legislators can impact congressional deliberations.
President Obama made our mission very clear: “We are not going to win this battle here in Washington, DC. We will win in the states.” With that challenge, our workgroup will organize each state by coordinating with existing groups and holding public hearings and listening posts. We’ll report back to the President with what we are learning and how we are promoting his message that “all Americans need a new comprehensive health delivery system that includes a public health insurance option.”
Because the state leaders on this new working group have been so involved in health care in their states, the President also wants us to report to him on the best practices each state has developed. As Secretary Sebelius said at our meeting, “the states have been the laboratories of so many brilliant ideas; the President needs your input in designing the best health care system possible.”
Over the next several months, I’ll keep you up to date on the activities of our Iowa workgroup. We recently held our first organizing meeting with health care advocates. We will develop a 90-day action plan to help our congressional delegation understand the importance of supporting the President’s call for insuring all Americans.
In addition, the Iowa Senate Democrats have been holding health care reform listening posts all over the state. It is important that we listen to Iowans and that you know of the work Democrats are doing to achieve the goal that President Harry Truman tried to establish more than 60 years ago: universal health care for all Americans.
Health Care Reform is topic for Capitol’s political scientists
Immediately after concluding my business at the White House as chair of working group of state legislators for health care reform, I lectured at the National Chapter of the American Political Science Association’s monthly meeting on Iowa’s landmark health care security structure and the need for national legislation.
As expected, I engaged in a lively discussion with NCAPSA members. Noting that state legislators hear more often about the everyday issues of working families, NCAPSA members were interested in state legislators input into the national health reform. The fact that President Obama has formed this working group on health reform acknowledges the increasing importance of the state’s experience in helping federal officials find solutions during a time when state budgets are crippled.
Legislature makes 10 percent budget cut
Fiscal responsibility and balancing the state budget are top priorities for the Iowa Legislature. That’s why legislative leaders recently decided to cut more than 10 percent from the Legislature’s own budget.
Just as families are forced to tighten their belts, state government and the Legislature are no different. The savings include a pay freeze for all legislative employees, reducing travel budgets, and shortening next year’s legislative session by 10 days.
In addition, a newly approved State Government Reorganization Commission will look for ways to improve efficiency, eliminate duplication, reduce costs and modernize how state government works. This is a great opportunity to save taxpayer money while improving services to Iowans.
During the 2009 session, we approved a fiscally responsible, balanced state budget that keeps our commitments to Iowans on health care, jobs and education. Our efforts to reduce costs, find efficiencies, and support for middle-class families will continue throughout the interim. I look forward to seeing the Commission’s recommendations for the 2010 legislative session.
Additional interim studies will examine the following topics: Criminal Code Reorganization, Health Care Coverage, Job Training, School Finance Formula, Government Oversight, Care of Animals in Commercial Enterprises, and Prescription Medication Usage.
To learn more about the specific duties of this year’s study committees, go to www.legis.state.ia.us/lsadocs/IntReport/2009/IPGPD002.PDF. To follow the ongoing work of the committees, check the “Interim Meeting Schedule” at www.legis.state.ia.us.
Speeding up recession recovery
During the deepening national recession, the Iowa Legislature has acted boldly to create jobs, rebuild communities impacted by last year’s disasters, invest in Iowa’s infrastructure, and promote long-term economic growth.
The new $830 million IJOBS program continues these efforts by addressing five key priorities in Iowa: transportation projects, water infrastructure, broadband technology, housing, and alternative energy infrastructure. In addition, IJOBS funds will be able to match and draw down additional federal stimulus dollars.
It’s important to make sure these funds are used efficiently and effectively, put Iowans back to work, and ensure a safer, smarter, stronger Iowa as we recover from this national recession.
To that end, the IJOBS Board held its first meeting in June and has developed a timeline to award millions of dollars to projects that will spur job creation around the state. It is committed to taking quick action so that IJOBS funds can be put to work in Iowa communities as soon as possible.
Complete details and applications should be available by July 1, and the first round of applications is due August 3. Learn more at www.ijobsiowa.gov.
Help for Iowa’s unemployed workers
The national recession is putting more and more Iowans out of work, creating tremendous hardship for families and communities.
At times like these, good unemployment insurance is one of the best safety nets we can offer Iowa’s working families. Unemployment benefits help families make ends meet and help communities get back on their feet.
The Legislature took several steps during the 2009 session to meet the challenge of the national recession head on, including:
Improving and expanding services for unemployed Iowa workers. By making reforms to Iowa’s unemployment insurance program, our state will receive $70.8 million from the federal government to extend benefits for unemployed workers in training programs. It makes sense to support Iowans who are trying to upgrade their skills by attending community college and other types of training.
Paying unemployment claims for replacement workers who become unemployed when Iowa National Guard and Reserve members return to their local jobs after active duty. When our soldiers come home, the state should help the replacement workers without penalizing employers.
Providing $18.9 million to workforce field offices across Iowa. Iowa has 55 workforce centers, which provide job counseling, training, placement and other assistance. These services help laid off workers move forward and help local businesses find the employees they need.
In addition to state funds, Iowa expects to receive more than $20 million in federal stimulus dollars to help unemployed and laid off Iowans get back to work. Learn more at www.recovery.iowa.gov about the crucial role federal recovery money is playing in building a stronger Iowa economy and improving our communities.
Local human rights activist remarks on Marriage Equality
Following are Rudy Simms recent remarks on Marriage Equality. Rudy is the director of the Des Moines Human Rights Commission.
“Iowa has a rich history of upholding Civil and Human Rights. The Mayor and Camilia Taylor covered that very well for the State and the City of Des Moines.
“Sometimes Justice is pretty simple to understand.
“The Territorial’s Supreme Court’s first Case was that of Ralph the Slave. The court ruled that Ralph could not be returned to his Master in Missouri when Bounty Hunters attempted to take him into custody and return him. All Ralph the Slave wanted was his Freedom, seems pretty simple to me.
“In the 1800’s in Muscatine Iowa, Susan Clark was a child who wanted to attend a public school in Iowa. More that 90 years before Brown v. Board of Education. All she wanted was an education, seems pretty simple to me.
“Edna Griffin sat down at a lunch counter at a Drugstore in 1948. All she wanted was to enjoy an ice cream Sunday. Seems pretty simple to me.
“In 1967 an Inter-racial couple just wanted to be married and live happily, seems pretty simple to me.
“Today, loving and caring Gay and Lesbian couples want to be married and live peacefully, seems pretty simple to me.
“We have an unfinished task in America, if people of different Races, Cultures, Religions and Sexual Orientations are to survive and prosper in our communities we must learn to live together without compromising our distinct identities or beliefs.
“Seeing all these Rainbows surrounding the stage today, I must say, ‘follow the Rainbow to Iowa, you may not find a pot of Gold, but you will find a Heart of Gold.’
“Finally, I just want to leave you with this thought from the African American Theologian, Howard Thurmond who said, ‘I just want to be me without making it difficult for you to be you.’” Grant to help renovate old library
A project to renovate the former City of Des Moines Public Library building into the Norman E. Borlaug Hall of Laureates has been awarded a $2 million Community Attraction & Tourism grant. The $23.3 million project will be used to convert the facility to a conference center and ceremonial hall.
The Community Attraction & Tourism Program supports projects that promote recreational, cultural, educational and entertainment attractions that are available to the general public. Learn more at www.iowalifechanging.com/vision/cat.aspx.
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