And now a word from State Senator from Iowa City, Joe Bolkcom.

Happy New Year!

The 2015 Legislative session kicks off on Monday! I am looking forward to getting back to work at the Statehouse. It is always good to see colleagues, staff and even lobbyists! There are several newly elected Senators that will begin work as well. I will be taking the oath of office on Monday for the start of my fifth term. I maintained all of my current committee assignments for the coming two years, and I will continue to serve as the Senate Majority Whip.

It will be a challenging session. Governor Branstad’s overly generous commercial and industrial property tax cuts and tens of millions in tax giveaways to large corporations have depleted our state revenues. This will make it extremely hard to adequately fund our local schools, mental health care needs of vulnerable children, support for higher education, clean water or anything else that needs attention. Republicans are calling for both cutting budgets and more tax cuts!

Some of my priorities include getting tough on Iowa’s number one crime, wage theft. I will also be advocating for the strongest appropriation for our local schools and higher education. I will be working to increase enrollment in our Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, and to change the Board of Regent’s ill-conceived Performance Based Budgeting proposal. I will continue to work on getting access to medical cannabis for suffering Iowans. I will also press for conservation funding to address soil erosion and water quality. There is no shortage of issues in 2015!

Please feel free to contact me on any issue of interest. My best email address during session is joe.bolkcom@legis.iowa.gov.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Sign up for health insurance through Feb. 15

If you’re looking for health insurance, you can enroll through the Healthcare Marketplace until February 15. Sign up online at www.healthcare.gov, through the call center at 1-800-318-2596 or in person. To find in-person assistance from someone who can explain coverage options and walk you through the enrollment process, visit http://localhelp.healthcare.gov.

If you’re enrolled in a 2014 plan through the Healthcare Marketplace, your coverage ends December 31, 2014. To continue health coverage in 2015, you can renew your current health plan or choose a new plan. Find out more at www.healthcare.gov/keep-or-change-plan.

Keep in mind that you can enroll in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time. In addition, small businesses can start offering coverage to employees any time.
College students can help businesses reduce pollution

College students are invited to apply for the 2015 Pollution Prevention Intern Program. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources provides funding for the summer internships and matches volunteer host companies with students. This year, 14 upper-level engineering students helped 14 Iowa host companies reduce waste, conserve water and energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the program. Environmental reductions achieved with 2014 intern efforts include:

• 440,276 gallons of water

• 1,351 tons of solid and special waste

• 219 tons of hazardous waste

• 1.5 million kilowatt hours

• 7,316 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents

Further information and application materials are available at www.iowap2interns.com.

Operation AmeriCorps grants tackle community concerns

Through January 13, applications are being accepted for Operation AmeriCorps program grants. Operation AmeriCorps is a new program to address a community’s most pressing local problem. Through Operation AmeriCorps, local leaders identify a high-priority local challenge that AmeriCorps can address within a two-year timeframe. The proposed solution may be a new initiative, or it may use national service to scale up an existing successful effort.

The grant competition is open to tribal and local governments, including counties, cities, towns and school districts, as well as Councils of Governments and non-profit regional development authorities. For more information and application materials, go to www.nationalservice.gov/build-your-capacity/grants/funding-opportunities/2015/fy-15-operation-americorps-competition.
Grants provide legal assistance to low-income Iowans

Through March 5, applications are being accepted for grants from the Interest on Lawyer Trust Account. The grants are awarded to public purpose projects that provide legal services to low-income people in civil cases, law-related education and other programs that improve justice in Iowa. Grant applications and complete details are available at www.iowacourts.gov/wfdata/frame4512-1215/GrantApp.doc.

The Iowa Supreme Court created the Lawyer Trust Account to provide legal services using the interest from lawyers’ pooled trust accounts. The lawyers’ pooled trust accounts hold clients’ funds that are so small in amount or held for such a brief period that it is not possible for the funds to benefit individual clients. Since the first awards were made in 1986, the program has granted more than $24 million.

Awards for Excellence in History seeks nominations

The State Historical Society of Iowa is seeking nominations for its Awards for Excellence in History programs, which recognize individuals, organizations and communities that made outstanding contributions to Iowa history during 2014. Five awards recognize publications, local history initiatives and significant, long-term achievement in Iowa history.

Nominations are due February 1. More information can be found at www.iowahistory.org/about/awards.html or by contacting the State Historical Society of Iowa at 515-281-5111.