From Rep. Sharon Steckman –
With one week left to go before the scheduled end date – May 4 for the 2013 session – we still have much to be accomplished. At this point, the conference committee on Education Reform has not reached agreement between the Senate and House versions. Several appropriations bills have been sent to conference committees for negotiation. The Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee has not even been able to vote their bill out of committee.
Last Thursday afternoon (after my column was written), the Senate Democrats offered their ideas for compromise on Education Reform. The conference committee has not met since.
Other items of interest:
Some Iowans will be able to renew their driver’s licenses online. The DOT estimates about 400,000 would take advantage of the online renewal.
The Senate approved a new tax break for small businesses if they help cover part of their employees’ health insurance.
Iowa’s unemployment rate dipped to 4.9% last month; this is only the second time since 2008 that it has dropped below 5%.
Facebook will be building a large facility in Altoona, IA… good news for Iowa’s emergence into the high tech industry. They credited Iowa’s use of wind energy as one of its advantages.
Recently, House Minority Leader, Kevin McCarthy, re-appointed me to a two-year term on the Midwestern Higher Education Compact. I am looking forward to continuing to serve on this Board.
Many of you asked me to support fully funding REAP (Resource Enhancement and Protection) at $20 million and I did. However, the House majority only included $12 million in their plan.