Rep. Steckman says budget is biggest issue facing legislature as session edges closer to end

The following is a legislative update from Rep. Sharon Steckman of Mason City:

Friday of this week marks the deadline for candidates to file their papers if they intend to run in the November, 2018, election. As you know, House members run every two years, so I have been watching with interest to see who has filed and who has not. As of now, at least ten Republicans will be retiring from the House along with four Democrats. I had the pleasure of running into Ken Kline, former auditor for Cerro Gordo county, and currently Deputy Commissioner of Elections in the Secretary of State’s office. This is a very busy time for him.

Most of the bills we debated this week were non-controversial. One of them dealt with some small steps taken to deal with some of the egregious situations that have arisen out of the privatization of Medicaid. We will continue to work next session to address even more of the problems that come from the fact that MCO’s are first and foremost businesses and their first priority is to make profits.

Some problems with the Voter ID law came to light last week during a local election in Polk County. It was clear that many poll workers did not understand the law, including the fact that most of its provisions do not take effect until January 2019. Let’s hope the bugs get worked out before November. I am pushing for more poll worker and voter education regarding the changes made to these laws last year. Voting is our constitutional right and needs to be protected.

I spent some time with representatives from the honey bee industry who are striving to address the issues that threaten the bees’ very existence. It is amazing to reflect on the impact that these tiny creatures have on our economy and our food chain.

The two most important tasks that still lie in front of us are:

– The de-appropriations bill that will cut money from the 2018 budget. That fiscal year ends this summer, meaning that the various departments affected have no idea what money they will have in order to finish out the year.

– The 2019 budget. Will cuts continue to be made which will make it difficult for the state to provide the services that Iowans depend upon?
Also, the Majority party is still looking at a tax cut which seems to me to be fiscally unsound.

There are officially eighteen days left in the session. We just completed the second funnel week. Only those bills which have passed through committees in both the House and Senate have survived – unless they are budget bills.