New Release

January 17, 2008

     The second session of the 82^nd General Assembly “gaveled in” on Monday, January 14^th. Legislative leaders gave the opening speeches to this year’s legislative session and initial standing committee meetings were held. The two highlights of the first week were addresses by Governor Culver and Chief Justice Ternus on the Condition of the State and the Condition of Iowa’s Judiciary respectively.

     On Tuesday the Governor gave his address and simultaneously released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2009. The Governor stressed the importance of “fiscal responsibility” in his message to legislators. Specifically the Governor challenged the General Assembly to “limit new spending, live within our means and protect our cash reserves”. These remarks are particularly important given the fact that legislative Democrats approved a 20% increase in state spending last year that exceeds $1 billion over this year and next. Legislative Republicans were heartened to hear Governor Culver’s call for fiscal restraint with regard to new spending and in resisting the temptation to “raid our cash reserve funds”. Legislators would do well to heed Governor Culver’s “guiding principles” to building next year’s budget.

     The Governor made a formal proposal in his Tuesday address that he also included in his budget, to double the current five cent deposit on beer and pop containers to ten cents. The “second five cent” increase on the deposit would be divided with one cent going to redemption centers, one cent going to the state as a tax to fund a portion of the REAP (Resource Enhancement and Protection) fund as well as general fund spending and the remaining three cents going back to the consumer . The biggest change for consumers in Iowa would be that  they  no longer receive a full refund on their deposit. Instead of receiving the full ten cents they would only receive eight cents. This new fee or tax proposal is sure to generate a lot of discussion among legislators, and more importantly among Iowans. Remember, for the Governor’s proposed 2009 budget to work he does require the deposit to increase to ten cents.

     On Wednesday a very large crowd of citizens filled the statehouse as they called for legislators to pass a resolution allowing the voters of Iowa a direct say in defining marriage as a union or contract “between one man and one woman”. The resolution would allow Iowans the opportunity  to place the legal definition of marriage in the Iowa Constitution in the form of an amendment. I support this resolution and I hope that Speaker Murphy and President Kibbie will allow members of the Iowa House and Senate to debate this issue.

     My contact information during session is (515) 281-3221 or rod.roberts@legis.state.ia.us.