Government : The Driscoll Dispatch by Senator Dawn Driscoll

This week in the Senate looked very similar to last week as we worked on a number of issues prior to finishing the session for the year. Now in the fifteenth week, the Senate debated several bills, confirmed governor appointments to boards and commissions, and continued work on budget bills.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee passed Senate Study Bill 1269 this week, which includes policy initiatives Governor Reynolds addressed in her Condition of the State speech earlier in session. Senate Study Bill 1269 addresses future housing needs and a backlog of housing projects requiring support by providing a $15 million increase to the Workforce Housing Tax Credit Program. Additionally, it creates a new Manufacturing 4.0 Grant Program to help Iowa manufacturers compete globally and award financial assistance to manufacturers needing support. It also redesigns and updates the Energy Infrastructure Revolving Loan Program, a program largely unchanged since it started in the late 1990s, and provides financial assistance for the development and construction of energy infrastructure. Affordable housing, especially in rural Iowa, has been an issue brought to senators by constituents. This bill is one way to address the issue, bring more people to rural Iowa, and fill job openings in those areas of the state.

Another important bill was Senate Study Bill 1267, which went through the Senate Appropriations Committee this week. This bill is the Health and Human Services budget and it appropriates $2.03 billion from the general fund, providing an increase of over $36 million for healthcare funding. When including Senate File 587, which provides a sustainable and predictable source of funding for mental health, that increase in healthcare funding jumps up to over $96 million. Senate File 587, now awaiting discussion in the House, eliminates the property tax levy for mental health, and instead provides state funding for these important services. Elimination of the property tax levy gives Iowans over $100 million in property tax relief and state funding of mental health provides consistent revenue for a service that has become more important, especially after this last year. Additionally, eliminating a property tax levy provides continued tax relief for property taxpayers in the future.

Mental health funding and providing mental health services to Iowans who need them are regularly brought up to us. Legislators have made it a priority to not only provide funding for mental health, but also continue implementing tax relief to hard-working Iowans. The budget we are working on reflects these priorities, while providing responsible funding amounts for priority areas, like education, health care, and public safety.

Senate Study Bill 1267 includes another important policy, crucial to ensuring public assistance programs are there for those who need them most. The Iowa Senate has advanced legislation to improve the implementation of welfare programs in the state by using technology to eliminate error, fraud, and abuse in the system each of the last three years. This year it was included in the Senate version of the Health and Human Services budget bill.

Both SSB 1269 and SSB 1267 include language addressing the triggers put into place in the 2018 tax bill. The reason this policy is included not only in these bills, but in other bills passed this legislative session, is because us senators believe providing certainty about tax relief for Iowans and their families is important for their future plans and implements more meaningful pro-growth policy for Iowa.

Personally, I had lots of visitors come to see me in Des Moines. On Tuesday, a fourth grade class from Central Lutheran Schools came to take a tour of the Capitol. Once their tour concluded, Representative Gerhold and I got the opportunity to sit down and meet with them. We gave them a little insight on what our duties are as state legislators, as well as answered any questions they had. We also were able to show them the beautiful law library and learn a little history about it. I enjoyed my time with the fourth grade class and I hope they enjoyed their time here as well.

My two high school children were also in Des Moines for the Iowa FFA State Convention, so I was able to have them come visit me. This was my daughter Erin's first opportunity to get to see me in action here at the Senate. My son, Andy, has been here before, but he enjoyed his visit so much last time that he decided to come again. They were able to see me in my Natural Resources and Environment committee meeting and learn a little more about what we actually do down here in Des Moines. We also got the opportunity to get a tour of the governor's office and meet with Governor Reynolds herself. As you can see, Tuesday was filled with lots of good company, which I enjoyed because I love showing my constituents and family what it is like here!Representative Gerhold and I showing our visitors from Central Lutheran School the beautiful law library.My son, Andy, my daughter, Erin, and I smiling with Governor Reynolds after receiving a tour of her office.