Funding Infrastructure Improvements

The Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF) is a fund that consists of gaming revenues, riverboat license fees, tobacco settlement payments, and interest. The total resources available in fiscal year 2009 were $261 million. The Governor shifted $156 million out of the fund for general fund spending, not infrastructure. Now Governor Culver has been on the road trying to gain support for his IJOBS program, a $750 million bonding program that will take 20 years to repay (with interest) for a total cost over $1 billion. If the Governor would use the RIIF for infrastructure spending, not general fund spending, he could pay for his IJOBS program in three years, not twenty. While we might agree that funding infrastructure is important, we are currently not in agreement on how to pay for it. We should not be using infrastructure funds to grow government (paying for general fund expenditures and pork projects). I support paying for these projects as we go instead of incurring huge interest payments. We shouldn't borrow our way out of a recession.



More Work on Disaster Recovery

The House Rebuild Iowa and Disaster Recovery Committee passed HSB 271 (now HF 782) to appropriate $60 million from the Economic Emergency Fund and $40 million from the Cash Reserve Fund to be used for the following disaster recovery projects:

$20 million - flood prevention

$15 million - cultural and historical projects

$14 million - storm water drainage

$12.5 million - home buyouts

$9.5 million - multi-family housing

$6 million - soil conservation and water retention

$5 million - daycare re-location

$5 million - non-profit restoration

$5 million - parks, green space, and recreation repairs

$1.5 million - low-interest loans to prevent soil erosion

$1.3 million - Iowa Flood Center

$795,500 - agriculture land management and hydrology study

The bill has been assigned to the appropriations committee for discussion on the funding implications. We are in agreement that Economic Emergency Funds should be used for disaster recovery.

I haven't been convinced yet that we need an Iowa Flood Center.



Family Trout Fishing Events in Des Moines Area April 4

Two Des Moines area lakes will host a free family trout fishing day on April 4. An event at Summerset State Park, between Des Moines and Indianola, will be sponsored by the Warren County Izaak Walton League, Warren County Conservation Board and the Iowa DNR. Registration begins at 11:00, and the Warren County Izaak Walton League will provide a free lunch from 11:00 until noon. The DNR will be stocking rainbow trout at noon, and children may register to win door prizes. There will be a limited amount of fishing poles and tackle available for participants who don't have equipment. An event at DMACC Campus Lake in Ankeny will be sponsored by Des Moines Area Community College, Des Moines Izaak Walton League, Central Iowa Anglers and the Iowa DNR. Registration begins at 11:30 and trout will be stocked around noon. Door prizes will be provided, and parking will be available on campus lots. Both events are free, but participants age 16 and older must be properly licensed with trout fee. Children fishing with a properly licensed adult are not required to pay the trout fee, but their catch is counted toward the five fish daily limit.



March Legislative Forums

March 21, 9-10 a.m. Norwalk, Daily Grind Coffee Shop

March 28, 9-10 a.m. Winterset, Madison County Courthouse