Sheets Snapshot – February 2, 2017

Rep. Larry Sheets (R) (photo by Don Hubbard)

This is going to be a much different Session than before because of the new Senate makeup. After all the ceremony, most of our efforts have been toward the cutting of the budget for this year. The revenues did not support the budget prepared last Session. We completed that work on Monday of this week. We’ve now turned to voting on next year’s Supplemental State Aid and decided on a $40 Million increase. This contributes to an over $600,000,000 increase in education expense over the last 5 years. We are now budgeting for FY18.

Due to the volume of activity this week, I am constrained to be brief to get the information to you and not abuse your editor’s good will by being wordy. Below is a list of known issues that will be considered in their respective committees:

  • Labor to address Chapter 20 issues that haven’t changed for 40 years, such as collective bargaining reform, statewide healthcare contract for state employees.
  • Health and Human Resources will challenge taxpayer funded abortion, Life at Conception Bill, Restructuring Family Planning, Welfare Reform, Lyme Disease alternate treatment procedure
  • Judiciary will address 2nd Amendment issues, Religious Liberty,
  • Education should tackle the rural and city transportation costs inequity, two year budgeting, Common Core termination, Repeal of Smarter Balance Test, School Choice, Reform of the Prexis Test… We are also seeking more flexibility for the local schools as to how they may spend their funds.
  • State Government will address Voter ID issue, Tax Reform, Tax Coupling, business friendly climate, Veterans’ Organizations’ gaming revenue access, and Many others
  • Local Government might modulate Compensation Board membership, plus many other small issues.
  • Environmental Protection on Water Quality Issues
  • Government Oversite on Property Rights and Emanate Domain Abuse
  • Every issue that was stymied by Sen. Gronstal will probably be addressed.

I anticipate debates late into the nights, with considerable emotion and vitriol directed at the majority party. However, there will be a clear absence of gridlock, with the passage of many of these bills.
T
he debates over taxpayer-funded abortions have begun in the Senate, with the Committee passage of Senate Bill 2. That Bill has now been debated on the floor of the Senate and passed there today, Thursday, Feb. 2. This Session may prove to be the most stressful to date. I overheard a conversation between a 23 year veteran legislator and a relative newbie. The elder was asked “which Session was the most difficult”, and he replied, “This one!” He went on to say that he thought “it will be physical.” There will be so many controversies this year that I will try to explain as they emerge. Thank you for your support.
Upcoming forums:
* February 4: League of Women Voters @9:30am at the Bridge View in Ottumwa
* Feb 25: “Osky Eggs & Issues” @ 8:30am at Smokey Row in Oskaloosa.
* March 18: “Legislative Coffee” @ 10am in Centerville at the office of Chariton Planning and
Development; 308 North 12th Street.
Please contact me with any questions or concerns at larry.sheets@legis.iowa.gov or 641-895-6153.

Posted by on Feb 3 2017. Filed under Local News, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Comments are closed

         

Search Archive

Search by Date
Search by Category
Search with Google
Log in | Copyright by Oskaloosa News