February 12, 2010

Week Five
Visitors to the Capitol this week
Increasing productivity and safeguarding public health through sick leave
Smart planning can prepare us for future disasters
Save time and money when filing taxes
Save money, energy with appliance rebate program
Protecting Iowa’s land, air and water

Week Five

This week marked the first funnel deadline. A bill needed to be approved by at least one committee to stay alive for the session. Many bills died today, including payday loan reform, renewable energy legislation and the medical use of marijuana. Health care reform legislation was approved in the Senate Human Resources Committee in anticipation of some sort of federal reform initiative. Several consumer protection bills were also approved by Senate Committees.

One of the bills approved yesterday in the Senate Commerce Committee was SF 1. This amended bill begins the process of requiring private insurance companies to pay for costs associated with Autism. The bill marks several years’ worth of work to address this important issue.

Some progress was made on SF 117, the bike safety bill yesterday. It passed out of subcommittee in the House Human Resources Committee. Now it goes to the full committee. Maybe we are going to make progress on this issue still this year. The 5 foot passing distance remains in the bill. Good work to Rep. Sharon Steckman (D-Mason City) and Rep. Mark Smith (D-Marshalltown) for moving this bill forward.

I continued to work on tax credit spending reform this week. I had several meetings with business leaders and colleagues working to make these programs more accountable and transparent for results.

Visitors to the Capitol this week

Janelle Rettig, Johnson County Supervisor
Doug Gustafson, Kirkwood Community College
Bob Sessions, Kirkwood Community College
Mike Carberry, Executive Director, IRENEW
David Leshtz, Commander, Congressman Dave Loebsack
Mike Townsend, Goodwill Industries
Charlie Funk, President, MidWestOne Bank
Geoff Lauer, Executive Director, Brain Injury Association of Iowa
Sorry if I missed you.

Increasing productivity and safeguarding public health through sick leave

During the recent H1N1 outbreak, government officials requested that sick workers stay home to prevent the spread of the virus and ensure workplace productivity and public health. However, many Iowa workers don’t earn sick leave and must go to work even when they are sick.

Legislators are now looking at ways to ensure that Iowa workers get the sick leave they need.
Employers who provide paid sick leave keep employees longer, while preventing workers from coming to work sick, spreading illness and lowering overall productivity

Paid sick leave is also a smart way to ensure a healthier Iowa workforce. It would allow workers to be more productive on the job, improve public health and encourage Iowans to take appropriate care of their family’s medical needs without losing much-needed income.

SSB 3176 was approved by the Senate Labor and Business Relations Committee yesterday.

Smart planning can prepare us for future disasters

The Senate Rebuild Iowa Committee is focused on rebuilding our state in a safer, stronger, smarter way after the storms and flooding in 2008.

Senate Study Bill 3098 was developed as a result of recommendations from the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission and is designed to develop “Smart Planning” principles for recovery and rebuilding.

The bill would establish a Smart Planning Task Force to develop incentives that encourage comprehensive planning, develop a model for regional planning within Iowa, and develop recommendations for administering a program that carries out the Iowa smart planning principles. The Task Force will prepare a report for the Legislature and Governor by November 15 of this year.

Save time and money when filing taxes

During this economic downturn, I want to be sure Iowans get all the information they need to maximize their returns this year.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

** Take advantage of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit: Iowa families earning up to $48,279 per year may qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. Unfortunately, one in four eligible Americans fail to claim it, meaning they miss out on as much as $5,600.

In 2007, we made the state-level Earned Income Tax Credit available to more than 85,000 additional Iowans. In the 2007 tax year, 202,100 Iowans received $23.6 million in lowered taxes and tax refunds.

** Avoid costly Refund Anticipation Loans: To receive their income tax refund as soon as possible, many Iowans use tax refund anticipation loans. Unfortunately the high interest rates and fees on these loans can significantly cut into your refund. A better choice is to file electronically to get your full tax refund in just a few days.

** File electronically: If you file a paper form, you may wait up to 16 weeks for your refund. On the other hand, you can get your return in less than two weeks if you file electronically, which is what 74 percent of Iowans did last year.

** File for free: Free tax preparation and e-filing is available to families with an adjusted gross income of $57,000 or less in 2009. A list of free tax preparation sites and free electronic filing sites for eligible Iowans can be found on the Iowa Department of Revenue Web site, www.iowa.gov/tax/.

On February 8, Lori Baux of Ames was at the Statehouse to encourage Iowans to maximize their income tax returns this year by filing electronically for a quick refund, avoiding costly refund anticipation loans and taking advantage of state and federal Earned Income Tax Credits. Many Iowans may also qualify for free electronic filing of their taxes, including low and moderate-income taxpayers, active-duty military, students and seniors. Learn more at the Iowa Department of Revenue's Web site at www.iowa.gov/tax.

Save money, energy with appliance rebate program

A consumer rebate initiative funded by the federal recovery act starts soon and could save you money on new appliances and your energy bills.

Similar to last year’s “cash for clunkers” automotive rebate program, the Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate program gives consumers money back when they purchase new, energy efficient appliances.

Another benefit is that these new appliances—including furnaces, air conditioners, refrigerators, washers and dryers—cost less to operate.

A total of $2.8 million will be available for Iowa rebates ranging from $100 to $500. Rebates are for appliances purchased after March 1 and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Funds are expected to be exhausted within two weeks, so if you’ve been thinking of getting new appliances for your home, act quickly.

Also keep in mind that the appliances purchased through this program may be eligible for tax credits, as well as additional rebates offered by your utility companies.

Learn more about the appliance rebate program at www.energy.iowa.gov.

Protecting Iowa’s land, air and water

This fall, Iowa voters will have the opportunity to create a Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. This would be a protected funding source for Iowa’s natural resources, soil conservation and water quality.

The Senate Natural Resources Committee recently passed Senate Study Bill 3198, which outlines how the trust fund would be managed. The bill requires an annual audit to ensure that all funds from the trust are spent properly.

The effort to establish the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund is the result of three years of work by the Sustainable Funding Advisory Committee, which was created by the Legislature to find ways to improve state programs for natural resources and outdoor recreation. I voted to support this bill.