Iowa Nurses Association | Legislative Connection, Volume 4, Number 20 January 21, 2002

LEGISLATIVE CONNECTION
A communication of the Iowa Nurses Association
Volume 4, Number 20 January 21, 2002

Connecting with Nurses on Health Issues

This issue opens the eighth year of the INA Legislative Connection. This communication is designed to report to members of the Iowa Nurses Association and other interested individuals, the legislation introduced in the Iowa General Assembly of interest to the registered nurse.

The purpose of this publication is: 1) to share information about bills, committee meetings, floor debates, votes and association activity and positions with the registered nurse; and 2) to encourage comment and response from the INA membership and nurses in general which helps guide and shape INA advocacy with the state legislature and the Governor's office.

This communication will be published weekly until the anticipated session adjournment, April 13, the 90^th day. This issue is purposely numbered Number 20. This numbering demonstrates that each General Assembly elected goes for two years with a first session and a second session. We are in the second session of the 79^th Iowa General Assembly.

A special welcome to the student nurses who are accessing this communication as a part of their academic course work. We hope this will be a beneficial experience for you. To all subscribers, we hope the new email transmission will be efficient and timely.

The Legislative Connection is designed to have two sections. 1) a narrative section which will feature major activities of interest to nursing and background on issues; and 2) a bill summary section which will summarize each bill introduced of interest to nursing.

Access Legislative Information on the Internet

Find current legislation, bill history, publications, meeting calendars, legislator information, legislative committees, Iowa laws, legislative agencies, educational information, Capitol virtual tour and more by going to the legislative web site: www.legis.state.ia.us. The INA Legislative Connection will give you the bill numbers, legislator names and committee names to assist you in locating information more quickly.

Second Session of the 79^th General Assembly

Opened on Monday, January 14

Speeches by legislative leadership highlighted the goals to accomplish this year.

Governor Vilsack

The Governor made his annual "Condition of the State" speech to the Iowa General Assembly on January 15. The Governor said his administration made record progress in health care, education, job creation, while at the same time providing strong fiscal management of the state budget.

In the area of health care, he stated that quality health care was provided to over 30,000 previously uninsured children; created a landmark Senior Living Trust program providing an alternative to nursing homes; started the "Iowa Priority Prescription Savings Program" which will help make prescription drugs more affordable for the 15,000 Iowa seniors who have already signed up; and called for mental health and substance abuse parity in health insurance coverage.

President of the Senate, Senator Mary Kramer

Senator Kramer said that despite the difficulties faced by the Legislature this year that legislators will find lots of worthwhile work to do this year. She said that the legislative leaders need to "seek and find solutions" rather than listen to the reasons why there are no solutions this year.

Senate Majority Leader, Senator Stu Iverson

Senator Iverson said that legislators need to look at the state's budget problems "as an opportunity and not an obstacle." Iverson said that the Legislature needs to grow economic development in the state and "to remake state government to ensure that every tax-dollar . . .is spent in a wise and efficient way."

Iverson said that one of the priorities for legislators will be "Iowa Investment Initiative" which includes a contingent venture capital tax credit. Iverson said that the investment initiative will include proposals from Governor Vilsack.

The proposed venture capital plan would create a "fund of funds" to offer seed money as an inducement for potential venture capital shops to set up in Iowa. Under the plan, the state would offer up to $100 million in contingent tax credits to investors. The credits would only be used if the fund lost money. Backers of the plan believe that $100 million in credits could leverage $400 million in credits.

House Majority Leader, Rep. Christopher Rants

Rep. Rants said that he will work to avoid the partisanship of the last session. He said that the Legislature must focus on economic development and tax bills. Rants said that while votes in the Iowa House are always free votes, many retiring representatives would have the chance to cast votes that are "freeer than most."

Speaker of the House, Rep. Brent Siegrist

Speaker Siegrist began his last session by quoting Styx: "To tell you the truth, we've all seen better days." He said that the lag in state revenues creates a challenge for the Legislature but that the state is in better shape than in previous years because of the reserve funds. Siegrist said that raising taxes or spending money from the reserve funds, or other one-time monies, are not the answers for the state.

Siegrist said that the Legislature will pass bills on venture capital, to establish "Renaissance Zones", to streamline state government, and to limit the growth of property taxes. Siegrist said that the Department of Economic Development should be changed to improve the public-private partnership for economic development.

Siegrist said that the Legislature will also pass a bill to ban project labor agreements, such as one for the Iowa Events Center in Polk County.

Siegrist said that the House will not bring up a dove bill this year.

Senate Minority Leader, Senator Michael Gronstal

Senator Gronstal said that the upcoming session must be about building economic security. He said that Iowa is a low-wage state and will be unable to compete economically unless the Legislature takes steps to modernize the state economy in the long-term.

Gronstal said that the state needs to make prescription drugs affordable for seniors, to expand health care coverage for all Iowans, to raise the state's minimum wage and to help consumers make informed choices about purchases. He said that the state needs to improve schools while protecting them from budget cuts, to make government more efficient by putting services on-line and to take steps to improve the environment.

House Minority Leader, Rep. Dick Myers

Rep. Myers said that the Democrats "are offering an ambitious plan to provide economic security now and growth for Iowa's future." Like Gronstal, Myers said that the Legislature needs to make prescription drugs more affordable, to expand health care coverage, raise the minimum wage and help consumers make informed choices. Myers said that the Democrats will offer proposals which are fiscally responsible and make improvements to the education system.

Bills Introduced of Interest to Nursing

HF 2059/SF 2011 IPERS Nurse Retirement (Lensing/Freeman) Allows retired nurses covered by IPERS to return to work after one month of retirement and still receive IPERS benefits. (State Government).

HF 2036 NURSING FORGIVABLE LOANS (Drake) Creates the Nursing Shortage Forgivable Loan Program administered by the College Student Aid Commission. Allows forgiveness of up to 20% but not more than $2,000 of the loan per year the recipient remains an Iowa resident and is employed full-time in the profession. Appropriates $500,000 from the Tobacco Trust for the program. (Appropriations)

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