Under the Golden Dome, Too

Budget policy, road funding top fourth week of General Assembly
                                                
     With the conclusion of the fourth week of the legislative session, our committees have been working hard on reviewing and passing policies that benefit Iowa families. I’d like to take this opportunity to update you on a few pieces of legislation that are currently working their way through the House.
     The first bill filed in the Iowa House this session is intended to ensure responsible budgeting practices in state government for years to come. HF 1 is a zero-based budgeting bill, which requires state government departments to provide supporting data every year to justify each expenditure in its proposed budget, as opposed to the current system where they submit requests on the assumption of 75 percent and 100 percent of the previous year’s allocation. This type of budgeting would ensure state government programs are operating in the most efficient manner possible, thereby saving taxpayer dollars.
     This week, the House Ways & Means Committee passed legislation commonly referred to as the “coupling” bill. In December, the federal government passed an update to the Internal Revenue Code which extends various income tax credits for tax year 2014. HF 125 will “couple” with the federal extenders so that our state tax laws match the federal tax code. The reason this is important is because it will provide many Iowans with access to tax relief and certainty when filing their taxes this year.
     In stark contrast to the President’s proposal to punish families who save for higher education, we have a bill that helps them. The House Ways & Means Committee passed a bill that creates a deadline extension for 529 College Savings contributions. HF 124 will increase Iowa families’ access to the tax benefits of these college savings plans while helping them save for their children’s higher education goals.
     Another topic that has been gaining attention is the discussion involving our infrastructure needs and finding the resources necessary to address those needs. The Iowa Department of Transportation has estimated there is a $215 million annual shortfall needed to improve our roads and bridges that are considered in critical condition. It is clear that additional funding is needed to improve the safety of our roadways, but the source of revenue remains up for debate. One thing that is certain is any new funds generated should be constitutionally-protected and used only on our roads and bridges.
     Now is the time for people to engage in the conversation about finding solutions for our roadway needs. I want to hear from you. How do you think we should pay for these improvements? Please feel free to reach out to me at linda.upmeyer@legis.iowa.gov or (515) 281-4618 with your thoughts and feedback.