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Page Eight ° The Carlisle Citizen ° Thursday, April 1, 2010
Appel Files for Re-election
Senator Appel filed nominating petitions with Iowa Sec-
retary of State Michael Mauro recently•
Senator Staci Appel of
Warren County filed nomi-
nating petitions recently
with the Iowa Secretary of
State, making her re-elec-
tion bid official. Appel rep-
resents Senate District 37,
which includes all of War-
ren and Madison counties,
and a portion of Southwest
Dallas County.
"I am running for re-elec-
tion to the Iowa Senate so
that I can continue to listen
and represent hard working
families and small business
owners in Senate District
37. Every day of my first
term, I have worked to
make a positive difference
in the lives of citizens in
Warren, Madison and Dal-
las counties. I have been
able to do that by listening
and by taking action," Appel
said.
Appel says that Iowa's
children are the future of
our state and that's why she
has been a leading advocate
for policies designed to in-
crease educational opportu-
nities and expand access to
health care for children and
their families.
"I will also continue to
work hard to promote poli-
cies that create high-paying
jobs in our local communi-
ties, increase student
achievement and make
Iowa a leader in the devel-
opment of renewable fuels,"
said Appel.
Appel pointed to several
accomplishments by the
Legislature during her first
term, including:
• Balancing the state bud-
get without raising taxes
each year
• Increasing the state's
minimum wage for thou-
sands of working Iowans
• Expanding early childhood
educational opportunities
• Raising teacher pay from
42 nd to 26 th in the nation
• Making healthcare afford-
able and more accessible for
Iowa children and their
families
Appel serves as chair of
State Government and
headed up the Government
Reorganization Committee,
which worked to find effi-
ciencies and cost-saving op-
portunities in state govern-
ment.
"This year, on the heels of
the national economic reces-
sion, we faced an unprec-
edented revenue shortfall,"
said Appel. "We took the
extraordinary step of evalu-
ating the way we do busi-
ness in state government.
We consolidated resources
and passed a bi-partisan bill
that along with an early re-
tirement incentive program
for state workers and cuts
the governor made will save
Iowa taxpayers $270 mil-
lion."
"The ideas we used came
from many places including
professional organizations,
legislators---on both sides of
the aisle and from men and
women in Iowa," she added.
"The dozens of community
forums and legislative lis-
tening posts I attended this
year in Senate District 37
provided me with a great
quantity of input from con-
cerned citizens• I listened
and took their ideas and
concerns with me to the
State Capitol where we
worked to formulate the
very best way to keep mov-
ing Iowa forward."
"The best way for me to be
an effective voice for my dis-
trict is to hear from con-
stituents about what is im-
portant to them. I can al-
ways be reached at home at
(515) 961-6982," Appel said.
Carlisle Christian Church
Disciples of Christ
305 Market Street, Carlisle
Adult Sunday School - 9:00 a.m.
Sunday Worship Service - 10:00 a.m.
Rev. Karen L. Moore, Pastor
From The Desk of State
Representative Jodi Tymeson
March 19, 2010
Budget Bills Continue to Move Forward
We've entered the final two weeks of session that will
consist mostly of debate on budget bills. I have voted no
and will be voting no on all the budget bills for a number
of different reasons. There are large problems created for
next year by the use of one-time money. Fines are raised
in order to enable more government spending• Over $300
million in additional cuts were rejected by the majority
party.
Senate File 2366 made $51.1 million in supplemental
appropriations to several areas for the current FY 10 bud-
get. Funding was restored to ten education programs to
put the state back in compliance with the rules for using
federal stimulus money.
House File 2519 is the federal block grant bill that pro-
vides the mechanism for the state to receive $6.3 billion in
federal funds• This bill decreased general fund spending
of state aid to schools by $48 million then replaced the
state money with federal funds. This practice of using one-
time money for school aid is fiscally reckless.
House File 2526 is the health and human services bud-
get that appropriates nearly $955 million. This is an irre-
sponsible budget, as it uses $545 million in one-time money
creating a huge hole for the budget next year. The Senior
Living Trust Fund and the Underground Storage Tank
Fund have both been emptied. The majority party touted
the fact that 20,000 more Iowans are on Medicaid• How is
that a good thing?
House File 2525 is the Agriculture and Natural Resources
budget that appropriates $36 million to these two depart-
ments. I serve on the subcommittee for this budget. One
thing I learned that should be changed; DNR keeps their
fees and uses them for operations, but the Department of
Agriculture is not allowed to keep their fees. This has cre-
ated a real imbalance•
House File 2522 is the economic development budget that
appropriates $41.8 million to the Departments of Economic
Development, Cultural Affairs, and Workforce Develop-
ment. House Republicans offered an amendment (that was
rejected) to prohibit state employees from taking two or
more consecutive furlough days. This is necessary because
federal unemployment compensation rules allow employ-
ees who are furloughed for more than 2.5 days to claim
unemployment benefits. During debate, the question about
how much money the state would owe for unemployment
was not answered. We tried to stop funding for heated side-
walks, but this amendment was also rejected.
Senate File 2378 is the justice system budget that ap-
propriates $484 million to public safety, corrections, at-
torney general, public defense, and homeland security• The
bill raises all fines by a total of $9.1 million which will
also increase the amount collected from surcharges. Over
32,000 Iowans are charged with failure to wear a seat belt
each year. That fine will increase from $25 to $75 and be
assessed the 35% penalty surcharge. The Attorney Gen-
eral tried to raise (by rule) his 10% of cash in forfeiture
proceedings to 20%, meaning less would be retained by
local law enforcement agencies. The Legislature put lan-
guage in this bill that maintains the 10% allowance.
House File 2518 is the biennial bill that deals with
changes to several public retirement systems - IPERS,
Public Safety Officers, and Statewide Fire and Police Re-
tirement System. This bill compounds the state's finan-
cial problems by making an ongoing commitment of $5
million per year for at least 20 years to shore up the Pub-
lic Safety Officers fund. In addition, there will be a $30
million commitment for schools, on top of the property tax
impact from the state underfunding state aid. I voted no.
It appears at this point there will not be the traditional
salary bill this year. Usually, the legislature passes a bill
to at least partially fund the negotiated salary and benefit
increases. With no bill, the departments will have to fund
the increases from their budget which will probably re-
sult in further layoffs or furloughs.
Senate File 2380 is the bill that changes tax credits in
Iowa. The end result of this bill, according to the fiscal
note, will be tax increases of $5.4 million in FY 11, $53.7
million in FY 12, and $82.1 million in FY 13. We tried,
without success, to have this money deposited into a prop-
erty tax relief fund instead of the general fund. Several
tax credits have been reduced or eliminated. The film tax
credit will be suspended until July 1, 2013. House Repub-
licans were successful in adding an amendment to estab-
lish a tax expenditure review panel and schedule of tax
credit review that will review all credits. House Republi-
cans were also successful with amendments that sustained
the Beginning Farmer Agricultural Asset Transfer pro-
gram and the School Tuition Organization tax credit• Even
though we were able to save some of the credits, I voted
no, as this bill is a tax increase•
How to Contact Me
I can be reached at jodi.tymeson@legis.state.ia.us, or by
telephone at the Capitol 515-281-3221, directly to my desk
in the House Chamber 515-281-7615, or at home 515-462-
5081. PleaSe send mail to my home at 1524 Highway 169,
Winterset, IA 50273, or the State Capitol Building, Des
Moines, IA 50319. I appreciate hearing from you.
The Appel Report
By Senator Staci Appel
March 25, 2010
Legislature wrapping up fiscally responsible plan
to help middle-class Iowans, small businesses
In the last days of the 2010 session of the Iowa Legisla-
ture, we are wrapping up the final pieces of a fiscally re-
sponsible plan to help middle-class families, small busi-
nesses and other Iowans recover from the national reces-
sion.
I remain committed to balancing the state's check book
without raising your taxes. I've worked hard this session
to ensure that state government works for you, not against
you. That's why I'm supporting a responsible financial plan
that includes saving more and spending less.
I'm making sure Iowa families and small business own-
ers recover from this national recession stronger than ever
by giving them the tools they need now, including good
jobs, affordable health care and quality education.
Throughout this session, I have been guided by your sug-
gestions and common-sense principles, including:
** No new taxes for middle-class families.
** Eliminating wasteful government spending.
** Expanding job-creation incentives for Main Street busi-
nesses.
** Improving government efficiency for taxpayers.
Based on these principles, I have supported initiatives
this year to:
** Make state government leaner and more accountable
to the public with a sweeping plan to reorganize and
streamline services, saving taxpayers more than $120
million.
** Save nearly $60 million a year with an early retire-
ment plan for state employees.
** Save more than $70 nillion through an executive order
by Governor Culver that makes state government more
efficient•
** End some business tax credits, cut many remaining
credits and dramatically increase accountability for all tax
credits. These steps will reduce Iowa's tax credit liability
by more than $115 million.
** Shift the focus of our state's tax credits away from Wall
Street by investing more in our Main Street businesses•
This is our first step toward ensuring that tax credits will
be eliminated if they aren't creating jobs or accomplishing
their goals•
These are difficult times for family budgets, and the state
budget is no different. We face significant challenges, but
Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature have
worked together to focus on the priorities of Iowans and
small businesses.
Representative Kent Sorenson
Promotes Bear Project
Representative Kent
Sorenson announced he is
encouraging Iowans to par-
ticipate in the Iowa Na-
tional Guard Officers
Auxiliary's (INGOAux)
"Bear Hug" project.
Since 2001 the
INGOAux has been assem-
bling and distributing cus-
tom made Teddy Bears for
each child under the age of
12, of a deployed Iowa sol-
dier or airman. The Teddy
Bear serves as a source of
comfort and as a link to the
soldier.
In the fall of 2010, the
Iowa National Guard faces
the largest deployment
since World War II. The
INGOAux has set the goal
of raising $30,000 to help
provide a Teddy Bear for
the 5,000 children who will
be affected.
"Iowa's brave soldiers
and their families make sac-
rifices every day," said Rep-
resentative Sorenson. "This
project is just a small way
we can support the families
and children of those de-
ployed."
According to Representa-
tive Sorenson, a check can
be mailed to the INGOAux
at Polk County Bank, P,O.
Box 79, Polk City, Iowa
50226• You can also get
more information by visit-
ing: www.iowaofficers.org.
Carlisle Veterinary Clinic
550 S. 2nd St - Carlisle
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Microchipping, Acupuncture, Emergencies & TLC
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8 to 12 noon Saturday
CLOSED Wednesday
Drop Offs Welcome
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1514 North Lincoln, Suite C • Knoxville, IA
641-828-7172
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