The 2010 legislative session is underway and we have a lot of work ahead of us. My priorities this year include balancing the budget, quality education and creating good jobs. I encourage you to contact me with your ideas and suggestions.

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Please contact me with any questions or concerns. I look forward to serving you.





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Greetings From Des Moines

Staying late for Government Reorganization: We will be staying longer this week to pass SF2088, the state government reorganization bill. As I have said before, this bill will be a key in passing a balanced budget that protects health care and education and saves jobs. This has been a long and intensive process starting last summer with recommendations from both the legislative and executive branch. It touches almost every branch of state government and will bring about more transparency, greater efficiently and save the state some much needed revenue. The 350 page bill also eliminates fourteen different boards and commission, cuts spending and contains over fifty different measures to improve state government.

Some of the legislation I have been working hard on this week includes HSB664 which requires the Department of Natural Resources to convene an air quality planning task force that will review the sources of the air contaminates in the State. The task force will report its findings to the governor and legislature with recommendations about how Iowan’s can improve their air quality.

HF823 requires schools and state agencies to purchase environmentally safe cleaning supplies and use green cleaning processes. Our children’s health and safety should be of upmost importance. Cleaning up the environment that surrounds our children at school will help us keep our children be a little safer. In addition to our children, our teachers support staff and maintenance personnel in our public buildings will have a safer work place in which to work.

HF2166 make is so that LIHEAP customers are able to receive the propane they need though out the winter. As you all know the winters in Iowa can be bitterly cold, and some families are left without any heat. This is especially hazardous for families with small children and the elderly. HF2166 requires that LIHEAP families will receive propane delivery from November to April if they have a LIHEAP voucher or cash. This measure will insure that families who are in need can receive winter heating propane.

Next Saturday is my forum on Air Quality at Garfield school. Please join me and other presenters on the 20th from 1:00 to 4:00 for a discussion on the poor air quality of Muscatine. We will have some short presentations from experts from the University of Iowa and then there will be a round table discussion on where we can go from here to improve our air quality. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

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Families Can Apply for Tax Refund; Free Tax Filing

Thousands of hard-working, middle class families are struggling to pay their bills in these tough economic times and many do not realize they are eligible for a refundable tax credit when they file their 2009 federal and state income taxes.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the largest federal cash benefit to low-income workers.

For the federal income tax, workers with one child and earning less than $35,463 in 2009 are eligible for a tax credit up to $3,043. Workers raising more than one child with income less than $40,295 can get up to a $5,028 credit. Working individuals between the ages of 25 and 64, who are not raising children in their home, and had income less than $13,440 are eligible for a $457 tax credit. Read More

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Texting Ban Passes Committee

Under separate bills that passed out of committee, texting while driving a motor vehicle would be illegal and young drivers in the graduated driver’s license program would only be able to have one unrelated person in the vehicle.

These bills were done in response to studies showing the increased likelihood of accidents when persons are texting, and the likelihood of accidents among young drivers due to inexperience and distractions in the vehicle. Read More

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Protecting Iowans from Dishonest Auto Repair Shops

Dishonest auto repair shops will no longer be able to hold a customer’s car ransom, in order to coerce payment of a disputed bill, thanks to legislation passed by the Iowa House. Senate File 2108 will now go to the Governor. If he signs the bill, it will take effect on May 1, 2010.

Under the current Artisan Lien Law, a person who repairs another’s property has a lien on the property and may hold it until agreed upon or reasonable compensation is paid for the repair work. Read More

Protecting Iowa’s Auto Dealers

Iowa’s Disaster Case Management System a National Model

Protecting Older Iowans Rights

Prevailing Wage with Local Option Passes Committee