This accident has brought a large amount of attention to Iowa's bridges and their safety. One of the words many have focused on is "structurally deficient." A bridge is classified as structurally deficient if there is a deteriorating structural component(s). The DOT states that this term does not mean a bridge is unsafe. In fact among the 4,000 bridges on Iowa's state highway system, 6.4 percent are classified as structurally deficient.
The latest information that I have seen from the DOT indicates there are 26 structurally deficient bridges in Hamilton County and 22 in Story County (the two counties that are part of my statehouse district). This includes bridges owned by federal, state and local cities as well as the counties.
Only a few weeks after the Minnesota bridge collapse, the DOT brought to the public's attention a July federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) report that indicated states may receive substantially less federal Highway Trust Fund dollars in federal FY 2009 and beyond than had been previously projected. The new prediction includes a $4.3 billion shortfall. The shortfall is attributed to the lower than expected fuel tax receipts and continued financial outlays at levels based on the original revenue estimates. For fiscal year 2009, Iowa has projected it will receive approximately $386.6 million in federal-aid formula funds for its highway programs. This represents 26 percent of Iowa's total highway program funding.
Just last week, Governor Culver reiterated his position that he does not support a gas tax increase. He indicated support for increasing funding for Iowa's infrastructure, however, he believes there are a lot of other alternatives to the gas tax. Those alternatives could include an increase in registration fees for pickups and cars.
All of this news will likely lead to many interesting discussions for the interim committee that meets later this fall to look at road funding.
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for Iowa Courts
eJuror, a new online service of the Iowa Judicial Branch, enables Iowans called for jury duty to use the Internet to respond to the court summons, complete a standard juror questionnaire, ask to reschedule jury duty and obtain information about serving on a jury.
How does eJuror work? If you receive a jury summons in the mail, you can respond to the summons at the eJuror site- https://ejuror.iowa.gov/ejuror/. Log on with the jury number indicated on the summons. After you log in to the system, the eJuror will allow you to answer the standard juror questionnaire and electronically send the completed questionnaire to the clerk of court. eJuror also contains links to useful information about jury service, an e-mail contact address for each clerk of court office and an option for requesting a one-time rescheduling of jury service.
According to Iowa law, the courts randomly select prospective jurors from a master list that includes licensed drivers and registered voters. More than 60,000 Iowans are summoned for jury duty each year. Iowa law provides that a person shall not be required, in any two-year period, to serve a term of more than three months unless to complete service in a particular case, to serve on more than one grand jury or to serve as both a grand and petit juror.
You must have a summons jury number to view the eJuror Web site, but sample pages may be viewed at www.judic-ial.state.ia.us.
Refocusing Sell Iowa
Grown Products Program
On Wednesday, Aug. 1, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced that his agency was relaunching its effort to encourage the sale of Iowa-grown products which involves a new name for the program and that an agreement for such sales has been made with Wal-Mart stores across the state.
The new program is titled -"Choose Iowa" and it replaces the "Taste of Iowa" program that was initiated a number of years ago. The new program shifts the focus of the effort from showing Iowa consumers that attractive and high-quality produce can be produced by Iowa farmers, to encouraging retail marketers in the state to stock these products in their stores for Iowa consumers. The prior program did a good job of linking Iowa-grown products with local farmers' markets, and the new program will make the next step of getting more of such products in the retail venue where most Iowa households purchased their food.
Secretary Northey says that there will still be a farmers' market aspect to the initiative, but the new program will have a greater emphasis on getting more of the product sold to local consumers. The prior success of the "Taste of Iowa" program, which reacquainted and introduced a new generation of Iowa-grown products via local farmers markets, has set the table for the next step of offering products in the retail market where most of Iowans food is bought.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact me. Capitol phone: 515-281-3221; Home phone: 515-382-2352; E-mail: Dave.Deyoe@legis.-state.ia.us.
