Legislature is less contentious

Up to this point, to my surprise it appears the legislative factions are more cooperative than usual. Perhaps it is a mutual understanding that the partisanship drama at the federal level has resulted in a “pox” on us all, and it is essential we provide state leadership to quickly and efficiently direct our provincial affairs. Our budget targets will be distributed this week, and thus I see a short session. In fact, as chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, I have already developed and presented the FY2012-13 budget for the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources to my subcommittee members, who have approved its content. Thus, we are ready to order a bill draft, and present our plan to the full Appropriations Committee for deliberation. From there, it would go to the floor of the Senate for debate.

The solution to the big issues of tax reform, education reform, mental health care and job creation continue to be elusive. In fact, I notice with the passage of each day that more and more distance occurs in the approaches to solving these very important issues. Frankly, it boils down to the different ideologies of the Republicans and Democrats. That is to be expected, yet it provides a great opportunity for the General Assembly to get serious with compromise. “Lines in the sand” prohibit any movement, and I fear adjournment will come with no solution to at least a couple of these most important aspects of state government.

New figures were released that show how important some of these issues are. The budget has approximately 58 percent going to education, 26 percent going to health and human services and 10 percent for public safety. That leaves just 6 percent for all other budgets of state government. My appropriation for agriculture and natural resources protection consumes about a quarter of a percent of the state budget. Sad, because Iowa is agriculture, and the products of our land have kept Iowa’s state budget in the black. Likewise, we have had our funding for soil conservation and water quality enhancement cut 50 percent in the past 10 years. This can’t continue, and if it does, short term solutions are absolutely futile. After all, it takes 100 years for the natural creation of an inch of topsoil.