Eggs and Issues for February 12
From left to right, Senator Paul McKinley, Rep Richard Arnold and Senator Tom Rielly
It is, what can easily be described as, one of the largest crowds to ever file into Smokey Row. Three of our local representatives, at the Iowa State House, were on hand to answer questions from the public.
Representative Richard Arnold (R), representing Iowa House District 72, started off the day. Arnold stated that the bills are just starting to come out of committee. The Republicans in the Iowa House have vowed this year to cut spending and to help reign in the budget. Arnold said, “this is the time when the different agencies are coming in, giving their wish lists and asking for their agencies and departments not to be cut.” Rich Arnold also stated, “Well, there’s gotta be cuts my friend.”
Arnold went on to say that, “The Republicans got labeled as ‘against preschoolers’, “and we’re not.” “I’m not against preschoolers.” Arnold continued. He explained that if people can afford to pay for preschool, they should and that the taxpayers of Iowa should not be paying for it. He explained further that if a family can’t afford it, then the State would help them. Preschool was one of the first steps in getting their financial house in order for Iowa. Arnold said, “We got to live within our budget, we can’t keep spending more than we’re bringing in.”
Rep. Richard Arnold talks with those in attendance at Eggs and Issues February 12
Representative Guy Vander Linden was not in attendance as he was ill, leaving Arnold to carry the Houses banner during the forum.
Arnold spoke of the passage of the marriage amendment law by the house. Arnold said “It’s my belief that people should have the right to vote on it.” (A marriage amendment to the Iowa Constitution)
The Iowa house also recently passed House File 111. Arnold stated that they passed the Insurance Reform Act, 59-39 in favor of the act, stating that Iowan’s don’t have to buy the federally mandated health insurance recently enacted by the US Congress. The Iowa House, including Arnold, spoke of concerns about unfunded mandates by the Federal Government to the State of Iowa. They used the 10th Amendment of the US Constitution which covers States Rights, in maintaining control over health insurance.
Senator Paul McKinley answers a question by a local resident during Eggs and Issues February 12
Senator Paul McKinley(R), of Senate District 36, was next up to the batters box.
McKinley started off the day with one of the more memorable statements stating, “I don’t have a great deal to add to that (speaking of Rep. Rich Arnold’s opening remarks) quite frankly. We haven’t done anything in the Senate yet. We’ve been there five weeks and we have passed a sum total of five bills.”
McKinley explained that two of them were ethics bills, one was a rules bill. Of the remaining bills, one had been before the Senate numerous times do to a technical correction, and the final one was one they had passed in past sessions.
McKinley stated he was disappointed because he thought that when the voters went to the polls last November, they had indicated that they thought something needed to be done.
Indicating the continued unemployment and the upcoming graduation of college and high school students in the spring, McKinley stated, “We got to start talking about how we’re going to get Iowa’s economy going.”
McKinley went on to explain then that small business needed to be focused on, and that reason is why the Republican’s were hosting a 10 stop tour entitled “Re-Open Iowa for Business.” That forum allows an opportunity for people to express what rules and regulations small business owners are finding difficult, and not allowing growth. McKinley stated that employers across the state, almost without exception, say that the way the unelected bureaucrats implement rules to govern them make it very very difficult to do business. McKinley stated, “This as one reason why businesses are moving their operations to other states.”
Senator Tom Rielly at Eggs and Issues February 12 talks about issues in the Iowa Senate
Senator Tom Rielly (D) of Senate District 38 opened with some humor, noting that this was the second weekend in a row that he and Sen McKinley agreed on something.
Rielly stated that he would like to get down to the budget, but instead they are talking about taking out traffic camera’s, doing away with the bottle deposit, talking about marriage amendment, talking about something that goes way beyond the marriage amendment. They want to go as far as people’s civil rights. “I’d love to get to the budget.” “I’d like to start moving towards creating jobs and a better business environment.” Rielly said of what the Senate has been doing so far.
Rielly stated that the Democrats have some initiatives that are now working into the committee process. Rielly outlined 10 of these initiatives that are currently in committee and not yet on the floor of the House or the Senate.
He said that after some recent meetings with local employers and local governments that everyone needs to do a better job of communicating with each other. Rielly also continued his promise from last time of not letting the topic of Universal Preschool drop, stating statistics that show it’s benefits.
Rielly also said that Iowa is going to have an ending surplus of 500 million dollars. He stated we should take a little of that and make sure that our schools are adequately funded at 2% growth and to support universal preschool before giving a tax break as the Republicans are suggesting.
Rielly also stated he’s working on health insurance exchanges to give more options for individuals and small business owners to shop for health insurance, pointing out that Wellmark is about 80% of the market, with 6 more insurance carriers being lost in the last year for various reasons.
As with last time, I will continue this story with the question and answer time with local residents in future articles.
