Helland’s Highlights

This week in the Statehouse is called ‘funnel week’.  This means bills must be passed out of committee by Friday to be available for debate; those which do not make it out of committee are out of consideration for the rest of the year.  The funnel helps focus and limit debate to the issues at hand.  If a bill makes it out of committee by Friday, it can be considered through the next funnel, when the same process takes place.  Two committees have bills which are funnel-proof: Ways and Means and Appropriations, and these committees are in charge of all the budget and tax and spending bills.

Iowa Workforce Development released unemployment numbers on Wednesday.  Statistics are showing roughly 80,000 Iowans were without a job in January which is the highest unemployment number in two decades.  Despite Republican efforts to introduce job creating legislation, the majority party leaders have not pursued an agenda to help get Iowans back to work.  Instead this session has focused on an agenda which makes it harder to attract new businesses and complicates growth for businesses already in Iowa.  I believe lower taxes and less government regulation are important tools to attract more jobs to this state, and ultimately to get unemployed Iowans back to work.

Governor Culver released details on his $750 million bonding plan for infrastructure on Thursday morning.  Here are a few of the details; $250 million for transportation infrastructure, $175 million for Iowa Veterans Home and community college construction, $150 million for disaster relief and public buildings, $100 million for water quality and waste water and $75 million for local infrastructure.  I am skeptical of incurring this much debt for one-time projects.  The economy has put restrictions on every budget and Iowans are finding ways to do more with less.  The way out a recession is not to increase our debt, but to pay off debt, tighten our belts, and eliminate wasteful spending. 

As always, I ask for your input on issues and concerns facing you, your family, and your business.  You can reach me by email at erik.helland@legis.state.ia.us.

Sincerely,

Erik Helland