Under the Golden Dome, Too

Tough budget decisions highlight extended 2015 session
 
     With the final adjournment of the 2015 legislative session, our work at the Statehouse is complete for the year.
     In my role as the House Majority Leader, I have the opportunity to provide closing remarks at end of the legislative session. In my comments this year, I noted that we started this session with a difficult budget situation. Our growing obligations exceeded the amount of revenue coming in.
     To some, this was yet another opportunity to return to the days of spending more than the states takes in. It is far too easy to build the ending balance into the ongoing expenses. Well, I should say, it's easy until it isn't. It's easy until revenue drops and there isn't anywhere to go but to budget cuts and broken promises.
     The state has been down that path many times before. Instead, we chose a wiser path for our state. As we have for the previous four sessions, we have aligned ongoing expenses with ongoing revenue. Not spending more that you take in is something that has always made sense to Iowans. You should be glad to know your legislators are doing that too. Who knows, maybe someday the federal government might even pick up on the idea!
     That might seem like a dream, but what isn't just a dream in the state of Iowa is the fact that Republicans and Democrats can come together and find common ground. You might read about our differences in the paper, but if you take the time to watch the actions in the State Capitol you will see something different. You will see bipartisan work, bipartisan friendship, and in the end, bipartisan results.
     It is that kind of bipartisan work that is going to be needed to address one of our biggest budget challenges, the unsustainable growth of Medicaid. In my opening speech of the legislative session, I highlighted that over the last 10 years, the general fund has grown at annual rate of 4.1 percent while Medicaid has grown at 11.7 percent. This year isn't any better. We are spending an additional $151 million on Medicaid with this year's budget.
     Medicaid is on a collision course with other priorities like education, workforce training, and a competitive tax climate.
     Thankfully, this year we have taken steps to begin changing course. The Medicaid asset verification system will help ensure benefits are going to those intended. The new managed care system will help deliver services more efficiently. However, more reforms are needed. We can do a better job of reviewing eligibility of applicants to reduce fraud; we should review and revise our waivers to focus our efforts; and most importantly, we must push for meaningful reforms and flexibility from our federal government.
     Throughout the interim we will continue to work on solutions that are good for Iowans. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments. I can be reached at 515-281-4618 or linda.upmeyer@legis.iowa.gov.