Spend it While You Got it

Yesterday, State Auditor David Vaudt released his report on the growing revenue and spending problem the state is facing. Iowa will receive federal stimulus money that will, for one time only, helpt to alleviate the bleeding. But if Iowa continues at the current rate, in 2011, the budget will be 61% less than the previous year. That's huge!

Auditor Vaudt gave a good example: for every $1.00 brought into Iowa, the state spent $1.14. Doesn't seem like a lot, but boy does it add up. The bonding numbers are worse. For every $1.00 borrowed, Iowa will end up spending $2.18 to pay it back. How is this fiscal responsibility?

Here's the clincher - if spending would have been kept in line with inflation, Iowa would have had a 2% surplus this year! People need to speak up. Iowans will unfortunately feel the ramifications of this in their higher taxes and raised fees next year.

Swine Flu

The new, deadly virus has hit Iowa and hit it hard. Not only are there reported cases of the H1N1 virus throughout the state, today, China stated they would no longer accept Iowa pork exports. That is devastating news.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey, released this statement: “Iowa pork, and all pork for that matter, is safe and China and the other countries that are banning pork imports are not acting based on science. It is unfortunate that these unjustified actions are being felt most dramatically by the farmers who raise pork. The industry has already been facing very difficult economics for the last several months, and this just adds to the difficulties experienced by Iowa’s pork producers.”

Why are we not hearing more state officials speak out on this? This has a huge affect on Iowa's economy and we can't do enough to correct misconceptions about the virus and Iowa pork.

Iowa Senate Republicans

The Fall of the Gavel

It is 5:42 a.m. on Sunday morning at the State Capitol and the end is here. The final bill of the session is on the Senate floor, the budget is balanced, Iowa has bonded and borrowed so much money that it is insane. The standings bill (pork barrel spending bill) passed and everyone is tired and cranky. Let's do it again next year!!

Down Time

There is a lot of down time today. Most everyone in the Senate has been at the Capitol for roughly 11 hours and seen only 2 minutes of actual bill work take place. The bills that will hopefully be dispensed with very soon are the Health and Human Services budget bill, a health care bill coming back from the House and a bill regarding flood insurance.

Earlier this week Democrats passed a bill appropriating money to 13 state agencies. Amendments were tacked onto the bill that gave the OK for the state to purchase brand new vehicles – even though perfectly good newer vehicles are sitting, gathering dust in parking lots. These new vehicles will have all sorts of upgrades thanks to this amendment. Some of those upgrades include leather seats, satellite radio, GPS, running boards, truck toppers and new floor mats. Pretty nice considering the state is so cash strapped lately. It’s nice to see that tax dollars are being put to good use.............

***Update***
On a positive note, the new Adam Walsh bill just passed in the Senate tonight. The bill is tougher than the old sex offender law and provides for a 2000 plus foot rule. This was a truly bipartisan bill that will help protect Iowa children. The bill is now on to the House.