For Immediate Release
Contact: SENATOR DAVID JOHNSON
Thursday, January 11,
2007
(712) 758-3280
Lawmakers open new
session at state Capitol
The 2007 session of
the 82nd Iowa General Assembly is underway. This is my ninth
legislative session, and like those that came before, this one
promises to be full of both opportunities and challenges.
After two years in a 25-25
tie, Democrats now control the Iowa Senate by a 30-20 margin.
Republicans are in the minority in both the Senate and the House. As
the minority party, we do not control the agenda. Our goal is not be
obstructionists. Instead, our goal is to ensure the views of
all Iowans are represented. We want legislation to be built upon sound
policies that achieve results.
After years of declining
revenues and lean state budgets, the economy has improved and the surplus is
the biggest Iowa
has seen since 1999. Much of this is due in part to legislative
Republicans' commitment to lower taxes and responsible budgeting.
On Tuesday of opening week,
Gov. Tom Vilsack delivered his final Condition of the State message to a joint
session in the House chamber. Much speculation about what theme the governor
would choose swirled in the days leading up to the speech.
I anticipated a presidential
campaign speech. And we got one. That really should come as no surprise, since
the governor is seeking the Democrat presidential nomination.
What I didn't anticipate was
how he drifted into presenting his views on the war on terror, national defense
and foreign policy, then linked U.S. combat fatalities to what he said is a
lack of appreciation for diversity in our society. Many of us are still trying
to connect the dots.
Call
to action for children in need
The week was full of speeches
that traditionally open each session. The best, based on the fact that it was
the most talked about by legislators, was delivered the next day by the top
judge on the Iowa Supreme Court. During the annual State of the Judiciary
address to the Legislature, Chief Justice Marsha Ternus
asked lawmakers to help the courts as they work to improve the handling of
cases involving foster children and other children in need.
It was the most compelling
speech by a chief justice I've heard since my first year in the House in 1999. Ternus, who was elected chief justice last year, said many
improvements have already been made to increase the effectiveness and
timeliness of child welfare cases. The courts have implemented a
one-judge, one-child model in which the same judge handles all of the
proceedings for one child from beginning to end. The policy allows for
more consistency in the system and fewer delays.
She acknowledged that the
changes may create delays in other cases, particularly litigation cases.
The benefits of focusing on children who need help, however, outweigh the
disadvantages, she said.
Ternus asked lawmakers to provide additional money for
juvenile court staff and judges, and to raise the hourly rate for
court-appointed attorneys who handle juvenile cases.
The chief justice said
currently there is a backlog of more than 300 children who need court-ordered
mental health services. She asked lawmakers to provide funds that can
realistically meet treatment needs.
The chief justice also asked
lawmakers to increase the pay for jury duty from $10 a day to $30 a day.
The fee has not been changed in 33 years. She estimated the change would
cost $2 million a year.
In
their own words
What's the future of tax
reform this session? Consider what Sen. Joe Bolkcom, the new chair of the Senate Ways and
Means Committee, says about Iowa’s
tax system.
Bolkcom disagrees with the
argument that Iowa’s
businesses are overtaxed. In fact, the Iowa City
Democrat believes that although Iowa
businesses pay higher property taxes, their overall tax burden is
acceptable.
“We’re
in a competitive place,” he told an eastern Iowa newspaper. “I don’t believe Iowa businesses are
overtaxed.”
The
paper went on to report: "Bolkcom thinks the most important element of tax
policy is making sure there is enough money to run the government and balance
the budget...Bolkcom doesn’t expect this to be the legislative session
where property taxes get overhauled."
It's interesting that after
his successful campaign to be Iowa's new
governor, Chet Culver, also a Democrat, promised to cut rising property taxes
that are pinching businesses and industries in Iowa. And for good reason: One survey of
states ranks Iowa
fifth highest in overall commercial and industrial property taxes. If he can't
find support among his fellow Democrats, I invite Gov. Culver to work with
Republicans on one of our top three issues: property tax reform.
In my next report from Des Moines, I will
outline some of the bills I am introducing this session.
Your questions and comments
are always welcome. You can reach me in the Iowa Senate by calling (515)
281-3371 and leaving a message; or by e-mail at david.johnson@legis.state.ia.us
David
Johnson of Ocheyedan represents Iowa Senate District 3 --- all of Clay,
Dickinson, O'Brien and Osceola counties, and part of Sioux County.
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