IOWA CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

WEEK ENDING JANUARY 30, 2009

 

Norm Pawlewski – Lobbyist

 

GOVERNOR UNVEILS HIS BUDGET

 

            The governor submitted his budget to the Legislature this week.  In a press conference the governor touted his 6.5% spending cut.  He also plans to take $200 million out of reserves.  Some questions, especially one from Register columnist David Yepsen got to our affable governor, resulting in a terse response.  Gee Whiz governor, go easy on David; he is one of your own after all.

 

            The governor claims he has cut $400 million from the 2010 budget, but my perusal of his budget left me with more questions than answers about whether these claimed cuts are real or smoke and mirrors.  I have to admit, my accounting skills are limited, so I will need to rely on third parties like the state auditor, David Vaudt and/or the Iowans for Tax Relief (ITR) to sort out the truth.  However, if you like to play with numbers and would like to see the governor’s proposed budget, go to http://www.dom.state.ia.us/state/budget/FY10_Gov_Rec.html.  Both the Iowa Budget Report, Fiscal Year 2010 and the Detailed Budget Book, Fiscal Year 2010 are available at that site. 

 

            Senate Majority Leader (some call him governor) Gronstal said that his budget sub-committee members will have “very sharp pencils” when doing budget work.  I wonder if that applies to the compensation of chaplains, officers and employees of the General Assembly --  Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 submitted by the Committee on Rules and Administration on January 29th.  If you go to the Legislative Service Bureau web site and pull up SCR2, you will note salary increases ranging from $1,000 to $7,000. 

 

            The governor is still pushing to issue $700 million in bonds to “invest” in infrastructure rebuilding and job creation.  Some legislators are still pushing for a 10 cent increase in the gasoline tax.  That’s about a 50% increase.  It may not sound like much but it is expected to raise a couple hundred million dollars, I think.  Some Republican legislators and other tax watchers say that the gas tax has not been raised in years, will glean some funds from out of state travelers coming through Iowa and, therefore, might not be too painful for Iowa residents.  I agree with all that, but when folks are hurting, is not any new tax a burden that could wait until things get better? 

 

            I need to remind you that on February 9th, at 3:30 p.m., people who continue to be outraged at the senseless deaths of the unborn will gather on the 1st floor of the Capitol to pray for God’s mercy and intervention.  If you are truly concerned about this continuing and possible expanding holocaust, you will be there.  The featured speakers will be Fifth District Congressman Steve King and Sonja Bates, sister of radio personality Jan Mickelson.  Pastor Tim Braun will lead in prayer. 

 

            Each year, the number of adults who have participated in this event has been fewer and fewer.  I believe that our God is omnipresent.  I wonder what He thinks about the poor showing by His people.  I wonder if He will say to us as He did to His people Israel through the prophet Isaiah 1:10, “Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; give ear to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah.”  Vs. 16, “Wash yourselves, make your selves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.  Cease to do evil.”  Vs. 17, “Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless; defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”  Vs. 18, “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord; though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.”  

 

            How can we expect God to continue to bless our country while fifty million plus of those created in His image are being put to a premature death.  Come and join us as a demonstration that some of His people do care and will humble themselves in prayer, asking His forgiveness for our national sin.

 

            In a Des Moines Register editorial on January 22nd, the Rev. Elizabeth Dilley, pastor at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Red Oak, who serves as the board chair for the Iowa Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, defended a woman’s right to abort her child and implied the decision “can be a moral choice.”  Shame on you Elizabeth.  Advocate for abortion if you must, but to insinuate that my God looks upon this horror and freely forgives without requiring repentance is more than I can stomach. 

         

I will not quote anymore than the last sentence of Rev. Dilley’s essay.  “Today, God still calls brave women and men to further the work of bringing hope, freedom and access to reproductive care.” Really!  God is calling these brave folks to kill His creation.  I don’t think so. 

 

            If you want to read the whole editorial, it is available in the archive section (for which there is a fee) on the Register’s web site.  Or, if you want to contact the Reverend, her published e-mail at Religious Coalition is rcriowa@yahoo.com.