From Rep. Sharon Steckman –
It has been a long hard week with two sessions lasting until just short of midnight. We are debating and voting on most of the major appropriations bills that I spoke of last week.
One of the longest discussions involved the Health and Human Services budget bill. We tried out best to build some oversight of the Medicaid privatization situation into the bill through several amendments…all of which were defeated. We continue to hear from constituents about their many problems as they try to deal with losing their healthcare providers, having to switch medications and difficulty with signing up with the three MCO’s that have been designated to handle the healthcare of 360,000 vulnerable children, elders and people with severe conditions.
A conference committee will no doubt be formed to deal with the differences between the Senate and the House on this budget.
The Education appropriations bill is scheduled to be debated on Thursday afternoon, and, as I write this, we are looking at amendments to improve it.
We still have much work to do although we have now passed the anticipated April 19 end of session date. There is no doubt that we will be back next week. The chamber population will be diminished as our clerks’ last day is today, and they will be sorely missed. We will be navigating their filing system on our own.
Other news:
• Students at Iowa’s 15 community colleges will be paying higher tuition next year. Local leaders said state funding won’t keep up with their rising costs again.
• Plans to renovate the State Historical Building are in limbo after a budget plan released by lawmakers included just $1 for the effort.
• Following Johnson County, Polk County took the first step in exploring a plan to raise the minimum wage.
• After years of stagnant state funding, the Cedar Rapids School District said this week they will cut 23 teachers next year.
• After allegations of abuse at a private boarding school last fall, lawmakers are working on a bill to protect children by providing more state oversight.
