James Q. Lynch, CR Gazette –
A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Wednesday, April 18, 2012:
EGGING ON OPPOSITION: State legislators in Missouri and Iowa have filed parallel resolutions calling on Congress to reject legislation containing new regulations on egg farmers written, in part, by an animal rights group.
Rep. Erik Helland, R-Johnston, said the federal legislation would cost America’s egg farmers billions of dollars “driving up the cost of food for our families and potentially killing thousands of jobs.”
The American Farm Bureau Foundation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Pork Producers Council oppose the bill because they believe the new regulations could lead to further federal control of American agriculture.
TRAINING MEASURE: The Senate approved SF 2235 35-13 to combine training for law enforcement, fire and other public safety personnel into one facility.
It authorizes a task force to study the concept and eventual establishment of a governing board to oversee earmarked fund that would flow into a special Public Safety Training and Equipment Trust Fund that could grow to $8 million over the next five years. The task force report would include recommendations concerning consolidation of public safety governance within a single board and the membership of the board, the development of a consolidated fire and police public safety training facility, including possible locations, building recommendations, and financing options, and any other recommendations relating to public safety standards, training, and facilities requirements.
Sen. Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock, expressed concern about earmarking general fund proceeds to be placed “at the front of the line” in budgeting, but Sen. Rick Bertrand, R-Sioux City, called it a creative solution for governmental functions that deserved priority consideration.
Quote of the Day: “It’s like being in a hot air balloon heading for the trees, you’re trying to throw stuff overboard to get on top. – Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, describing efforts to craft legislation to reform Iowa’s tax increment financing (TIF) system that can make it to Gov. Terry Branstad’s desk yet this session
–Compiled by the Des Moines Bureau
