Sheets Snapshot – April 5, 2016
Rep. Larry Sheets (R) (photo by Don Hubbard)
Dear friends in District 80,
Even though I’ve finished this report on April Fools Day, I really am telling the truth! The House and the Senate really did reached an agreement on Supplemental State Aid at 2.25%. This percentage translates to $153 Million out of $176 Million new money available to spend under the expenditure limitation law. That makes 87% of all new state spending this year going towards K-12 education. It leaves only 13% for all other areas of the Budget. Can there be doubt that education is our highest priority?
Ongoing education spending has increased by $660 million and the number of teachers in classrooms has grown by 809 since Republicans became the majority in the Iowa House. The average teacher salary in the state of Iowa is $55,536, which has increased 37.6% over the last 10 years. This will be the sixth year in a row where schools receive an increase and the state has followed through on its commitment. The 10% across the board cut when I was on a school board was painful and something to avoid.
As the House passed a ban on Fetal Tissue Sale that prohibits a person from acquiring, providing, receiving, transferring or using a fetal body part in Iowa, it now sits dormant in the Senate. The current Iowa Attorney General would not investigate such practices, making the excuse that there was no law against it.
Some say the session will end soon. It hasn’t happened in the last 3 years and I’m skeptical. “Coupling” and “Consumables” have been dealt with, but there is still more to do. Managed Medicaid oversight needs definition, and hopefully there will be a balance that simplifies the transition to Iowa’s Managed Care plan while we thwart abuse of the Medicaid system and encourage personal responsibility for one’s health. The last big battle in the Capitol will be over the Health and Human Services Budget. As you know, one of my enduring fights is to prevent Iowa taxpayer money from funding those organizations that provide abortions.
On a personal note, my daughter, Debbie, has returned to Iowa after completing medic training in Texas. She’s in the Iowa National Guard. My family is traveling to Indiana in April for my Mother’s 100th birthday party and a chance to honor that grand old lady who has meant so much to me. Soon we’ll have the campaign with its parades and speeches. I’m told I have Democrat and Libertarian opponents this Fall. I hope you offer them the same courtesies you have provided me.
Please contact me with any questions or concerns at larry.sheets@legis.iowa.gov or 641-895-6153.
