Having completed our third week in the legislature, we are just starting to pass bills out of the Iowa House. It was appropriate that the first bill passed was a bill to insure that Reserve and National Guard veterans returning from Iraq & Afghanistan be assured that they receive their job back, or a comparable job at the same seniority level. Most employers have been very supportive of their employees and have been very responsive to the need for these people to have their employment back at the same salary level. There was one case that came to light recently where this process did not work properly. So we passed this bill (HF 2065) to protect our returning brave Veterans from future problems.
Veterans Trust Fund
Another opportunity to help veterans is the Veterans Trust Fund. This is a new source of money to assist veterans with their needs. The Veterans Trust Fund (created in 2003) has met their $5.0 million threshold and the Iowa Veterans Commission can expend the interest.
The trust fund is available to provide assistance to veterans who meet specific income and asset limits (200 percent of poverty and less than $15,000 in savings) in the following areas:
· Travel expenses for wounded veterans directly related to follow-up medical care;
· Job training or college tuition assistance;
· Unemployment assistance during a period of unemployment due to prolonged physical or mental illness or disability resulting from military service;
· Dental, vision, and hearing assistance for veterans living in a long term care facility or under a home health care contract (further asset limits apply);
· Benefits for a child or children of a disabled or deceased veteran following September 11, 2001; and
· Individual or family counseling programs (further asset limits apply).
Also, funds are available for family and children support groups and honor guard reimbursement. These options do not have financial limits.
If you are interested in finding out more about this the Veterans Trust Fund and other Veterans Programs check out www.iowava.org.
Also, if you would like to apply for a grant from the Veterans Trust Fund please feel follow the link below or contact the Department at (515) 242-5331.
· Iowa Veterans Trust Fund Assistance Request Form - http://www.iowava.org/Documents/trustfundapp.pdf
· Trust Fund Honor Guard Reimbursement Form - http://www.iowava.org/Documents/trustfundhonorguardreimb.pdf
· Family Support Group or Children Programs Applications - http://www.iowava.org/Documents/SptGroupProgram.pdf
Property Tax Relief?
One issue that has been in the news recently has been “Iowa Senate passes property tax relief”. I believe this is false information. The Senate passed a bill on a 46-0 vote last week which transferred property tax that resulted from the sale of the Duane Arnold Nuclear Power Plant at Palo. For 30 years before the sale, there was an allocation of money from this plant to counties served by Alliant Energy. This replacement money provided property tax relief. SF 2023 transfers this specific property tax to the Mental Health Risk Pool. As a result of this bill, all of my counties will receive a cut in the replacement tax they receive in FY09. In Iowa County, $7722.94 will go to this pool, Keokuk County will lose $5446.25. Poweshiek County loses $7777.27, and Tama County stands to lose $7779.98. This bill would increase the Mental Health Risk Pool by $1.2 million in FY 09. Therefore, money that would have gone for mental health funding in my counties will go to this state-wide pool from which other counties will draw money to help with their mental health funding. SF 2023 passed out of Appropriations Committee with all Democrats voting “aye” and Republicans voting “nay. Why this bill was promoted as a Property Tax Relief bill is a HUGE stretch. Maybe for folks who live in the eleven counties who are applying to the risk pool, but not people living in my district.
Visitors to the Capitol
Dan Glandon, from Hayesville, with Emergency Medical Services. From Poweshiek Water Asso: Chad Coburn, Kent Campbell, Rick Anderson, Mary Vavroch, Wayne Wilcox, Marj Becker, MaGee Baustian, Marvin Hicks, and Dan Anderson. Also students from Indian Hills and Kirkwood Community Colleges.
Question of the Week…
The Generation Iowa Commission is recommending that Iowa offer some form of tuition forgiveness for college graduates who accept employment within the state. Do you support this type of program?
I would appreciate your input. My phone number at the Capitol is 515-281-3221, or e-mail me at betty.deboef@legis.state.ia.us. I would welcome visitors at the Capitol, too!