IDP Chair Sue Dvorsky: Vote NO On GOP Omnibus Budget Bill

DES MOINES – Below is the text, as prepared for delivery, of Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky’s testimony against the Republican omnibus budget bill:

“Mr. Chairman, members of the Legislature, thank you for holding this public hearing. This is a historic bill, not only because it’s the largest in Iowa’s history, but because it abandons the commitment our state has made to open, honest government. There’s no mistaking this action as a principled stand.

“Iowans have always been reasonable and willing to listen to the opinions and arguments of others. Unfortunately, when it came time to negotiate and find a way to avert teacher layoffs and responsibly fund education, Republicans in this body and Governor Branstad didn’t do their job. In fact, today, as this bill is debated, Governor Branstad continues to spend thousands of taxpayer dollars on a campaign tour across the state. We need a House Majority and Governor who will work in good faith, not resort to gimmicks.

“It’s also unfortunate that in the early months of this legislative session, countless days were wasted as Republicans pursued a divisive agenda, which failed to create a single job in Iowa or improve our quality of life.

“That time could have been spent having an honest debate about the priorities of our state and how to reflect that in the budget for the next fiscal year. You could have debated the merits of allowable growth, preschool funding, or the importance of our public universities and community colleges. Instead, funding for those priorities has been cut to unprecedented levels in this bill.

“The list of bad or rejected policies in these 600 pages goes on. Whether it’s attacking women’s rights or privatizing the state’s vehicle fleet – which will actually cost us money in the long run – it is impossible to address these concerns when they’re forced into an omnibus bill with little notice.

“Last fall, many of you campaigned on a promise to be careful stewards of taxpayer money and champions of government accountability. Forcing a budget bill of this size through the Legislature with little notice and little debate fulfills neither promise.

“If you wish to be the members who vote for the largest spending bill in state history if you want to end Iowa’s reputation of open, transparent government, then vote yes on this bill. If you want to uphold our state’s rich tradition and truly stand by our democratic principles, then I urge you to vote no.”

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