Under the Golden Dome, Too

By: 
Linda Upmeyer

Proposals and updates greet lawmakers during opening week of 2015 General Assembly

 

The 86th General Assembly has officially kicked off and I am looking forward to working hard on your behalf. It is a true privilege to continue to represent and serve you in the Iowa House. 

     In addition to committees beginning their work, this week was also a week of speeches on the House floor. As Majority Leader, I have the honor of delivering remarks during the session’s opening ceremonies. 

     As I stated in my speech, the task at hand this legislative session is a challenging one. First and foremost, we have a responsibility to craft a responsible budget. Fortunately, the Iowa economy continues to grow. According to the December meeting of the Revenue Estimating Conference, we will have an additional $200 million in revenue growth available this year. Continuing growth of the Iowa economy during a time when there is such pressure on the agriculture industry is something of which we should be thankful. 

     There are reasons for concerns, however. Consider just the costs associated with Medicaid. Today, we expect year-over-year costs for Medicaid to increase $206 million, which is a 7.6 percent increase at a time when revenue is growing at 4.9 percent. Taking a more long-term review, highlights the severity of the problem. Over the last ten years, the general fund has grown at an annual rate of 4.1 percent. Meanwhile, Medicaid has grown at an annual rate of 11.7 percent – for a staggering total of 170 percent growth.

     This is not sustainable. Each year Medicaid’s piece of the budget increases and it takes away our opportunities to put resources into other initiatives, like providing tax relief to the hardworking people of Iowa, increasing access to job training, or investing in a world-class education system, infrastructure, school choice, or renewable energy. These are the kinds of choices that begin to be taken away when we have an inflexible federal program whose growth outpaces revenue. 

     It’s important to remember that challenges also present opportunities. We will focus on ways to be more efficient and effective with the resources we have. We need to review our procedures for documentation, waivers, and grant applications. We need to focus on processes that eliminate fraud and tear down silos. This will allow the administration of services to be as efficient as possible so that more of the resources dedicated to those in need get there. 

     I continue to believe that if we are going to be successful, we need to insulate ourselves from the inflexibility and inefficiency of federal obligations. Medicaid is the example I’ve highlighted here, but it permeates many of the programs and policies we will address this year.

     We should not be restrained from finding Iowa-based solutions for Iowa needs. It’s unfortunate the federal government does not display the discipline we do here in Iowa. They do not follow our budgeting principles. They recklessly spend without regard for Iowans’ desire to live within our means. This is a dangerous partnership, and if we are not vigilant, it could bankrupt both of us. 

     To view my comments in their entirety, visit www.iowahouserepublicans.com

     The governor also addressed Iowans this week as he delivered his annual Condition of the State on Tuesday. Not only did the governor introduce a number of topics he’s interested in, but also presented his budget.

     I want to compliment Gov. Branstad on providing us with his budget recommendations on only the second day of session. By Iowa law, the governor actually has 30 days after the start of session to present his budget proposal. We are currently reviewing the Governor’s budget recommendations and look forward to working with him and the Senate to reach final agreement.  Have no doubt that we will continue to stick to our budgeting principles that have worked so well over the past four years. 

     We also heard from Chief Justice Mark Cady as he delivered the annual Condition of the Judiciary on Wednesday. I appreciated hearing the chief justice’s remarks about the efficiencies they are finding and the way the courts are utilizing technology to better deliver services.

     He also updated us on the success of family treatment courts, which seem to be making a real difference in peoples’ lives. I also look forward to hearing the results of a pilot project taking place in Johnson County focused on addressing the issue of over-criminalization.

     If you are planning a trip to the Capitol in the coming months, I would love to see you! Feel free to contact me anytime at linda.upmeyer@legis.iowa.gov or (515) 281-4618 to schedule a visit or to make me aware of any issues you care about.

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