Voices of Iowans Move State Forward

Here is an an excerpt from the newsletter of state Rep.Tom Courtney, passed on to BFIA by a friend who lives in Muscatine County.  Senator Courtney serves the people of Iowa's Senate District 44: Des Moines, Louisa, and southwest Muscatine County.

Contrast the welcoming tone and message of Democratic Senator Courtney (D-Burlington) with the derisive, demeaning anti-democratic message of Senator Hamerlinck (R-Dixon) [see video below]. Both are speaking about the public's participation in the budget hearings at the state capitol. One, the Republican, tells the constituents to go home, that they don't belong there, that he's not interested in their “propaganda.”  The other values the public input, says he is happy that the people's voices are being heard and thanking those who shared their views. He closes with this statement:  “It takes active citizens to make democracy work.”

Who would you want to be your representative?  Elections have consequences.
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I participated in a series of public hearings on the state budget at the Iowa Capitol last week. These hearings give legislators a chance to learn how the state budget could impact Iowans.

Voices of Iowans move us toward common sense deal

Iowans are speaking out against deep cuts to schools, job creation initiatives and other state services. In the Senate, we’re listening.

We’ve organized daily budget hearings at the Capitol and have hosted close to 40 listening posts and community meetings around the state. Senate Democrats are learning first-hand from Iowans about  how Republican cuts will hurt Iowa families, students, communities and schools.

The Iowa House has taken a completely different approach, rushing through a super-sized spending bill loaded with special interest amendments.

House File 697 is a two-year budget and policy bill that is supported by all Republican legislators and Governor Branstad. The 600-plus page bill includes several pieces of legislation that previously failed to make their way to the Governor’s desk. You can read the bill for yourself by going to http://www.legis.iowa.gov and searching HF 697.

The good news is that the voices of Iowans ARE being heard, and efforts to find common ground are starting to move forward. For example, Republicans agreed to reverse cuts to child care services for low-income working Iowa families and to ensure that vulnerable Iowans get the care they need in their homes and avoid costly institutional care.

However, more must be done to avoid a two-year starvation diet for Iowa schools, as well as cuts to health care for Iowa families, assistance for out-of-work Iowans and job creation initiatives. With $600 million in our reserve funds and another $400 million to be added by the end of this fiscal year, we don’t need to make deep cuts that will hurt Iowa families, local schools and the vitality of our communities.

I’m particularly concerned about huge cuts in education funding at all levels. Republican-proposed budget cuts will surely impact student achievement, make higher education unaffordable for many middle-class families, increase class sizes and reduce course offerings.

In addition, we must invest in our state’s economic growth and continue to provide incentives and job-training to help Iowa compete in the global economy. With more than 100,000 Iowans still out of work, we’ve got to do all we can to continue our state’s recovery from the national recession, help Iowans get back to work, and encourage small business growth.

Thank you to all who’ve shared your views. It takes active citizens to make democracy work. Because of your involvement, I’m confident that the compromises Iowans want can be found.

To learn more about what Iowans have had to say on the state budget and to make your own voice heard, go to http://www.senate.iowa.gov/democrats/openbudget.