Sheets Snapshot 3-6-2014
Rep. Larry Sheets (R) (photo by Don Hubbard)
by Rep. Larry Sheets
These last two weeks have been filled with scores of code changing debates on the floor of the House. If you recall, I had initiated a Bill to prevent automatic sentence reductions for heinous crimes towards children. This was an effort to thwart any reoccurrences like the Shepherd girl murder. That Bill was absorbed into a larger Judiciary Committee Bill (HF2253). It passed the House and was sent on to the Senate. The mobile home parks Bill I mentioned last Snapshot passed unanimously (98-0) out of the House. It was an example of successful bipartisan work. This kind of Bill doesn’t receive much press, but does keep the machinery of state working smoothly.
A Bill to allow Iowa citizens the right to own a federally registered suppresser (silencer) passed out of the House by a resounding 82-16 bipartisan vote. It was generally understood that law abiding citizens wanted to preserve their hearing, and criminals didn’t care about the law anyway.
To protect the credit instruments used by youth, a Security Freeze Protection Bill (HF2368) passed the House with a 93-0 vote to protect individuals who are either under sixteen years of age, or an incapacitated person or a person for whom a guardian has been appointed. While a security freeze is in effect, a consumer reporting agency shall not release a consumer credit report or any information derived from it.
The General Fund budget has been agreed to by House Republicans and Senate Democrats. We have stuck to the principles for good government and have resisted efforts to spend more than we take in. The ongoing revenue is estimated to be $6.98B while the actual spending is budgeted to be almost $6.97B (99.8% of ongoing revenue). The actual spending rose almost $500M. The primary reasons for that increase were caused by the Education Reform, 4% supplemental state aid to schools, property tax relief, and Medicaid Expansion all passed last year.
I’ve had several meetings these last two weeks to formulate strategy with likeminded legislators regarding two subjects: a Bullying Bill promoted by our Governor, and the federal Common Core/Smarter Balance scheme to usurp our local control of curriculum. I stand firm on the first amendment rights of our citizens, young or adult. I also believe that our youth deserve an uncommon core curriculum rather than a lowest common denominator core curriculum. An Iowa Uncommon Core curriculum should set the standard high enough that other states would copy it, as they have our earlier standards. We should be in search of excellence, not mediocrity.
