Newsletter for April 24, 2008

      As of Thursday morning the legislature is slowly grinding out individual budget bills that will comprise the overall state budget for next fiscal year.  The two remaining budget bills are the RIIF (Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund) and the very large Standing Appropriations bill.  There is a possibility that the General Assembly will complete its work by sometime this weekend.

      In addition to the budget there are serious policy issues still unresolved and “up in the air” including the Chapter 20 – Public Employee Collective bargaining bill that has still not been sent to the Governor for his approval or veto, and the Model Core Curriculum bill that would establish a statewide model for what must be taught in all Iowa school districts.  The House amended this bill with language that would also include the requirement of statewide standards or educational outcomes along with the model core curriculum.

      Next week’s newsletter should be able to reveal the final numbers on next year’s state budget and a wrap up on these important policy issues.

      On a personal note, I will be accompanying Governor Culver on an official trade mission to China May 16th through the 25th.  The purpose of the trip is to promote trade between the state of Iowa and China.

China has become a significant export market for Iowa’s agricultural products.  China has become our fifth largest trading partner.  Iowa’s trade delegation will include the Governor, the Director of the Department of Economic Development, Senator Dennis Black from Newton and myself representing the Iowa House.  There will also be business leaders from Iowa who will travel with us.  We will have meetings with Chinese business officials as well as government trade officials.  The itinerary includes four days in Beijing, one day in Shanghai, one day in Shijiazhuang where we will make a formal visit to Iowa’s “sister state” in China, and one day in Hong Kong.

      As this year’s legislative session draws to a close I would like to express my appreciation to you, my constituents for the honor of serving you in the Iowa House.  I look forward to the upcoming campaign and running for re-election to another term in the Iowa House.  During the interim please feel free to correspond with me via my constituent email address of rod_iowa@yahoo.com