March 29, 2024

Legislators have many roles besides promoting own bills

Kelley is ranking member of admin budget committee

DES MOINES — While the education funding debate is holding up a number of other Iowa State Legislature budget discussions, Jasper County lawmakers have played other roles in the state capitol.

Rep. Greg Heartsill (R-Columbia) and Sen. Chaz Allen (D-Newton) combine to have a few bills remaining, which might become law as the 110-day session winds down.

Bills sponsored by Heartsill and Allen were discussed in Wednesday's Newton Daily News. Rep. Dan Kelley (D-Newton) and Sen. Amy Sinclair (R-Allerton) didn't have any bills remain eligible past the second funnel date of April 3, but both have roles not related to their own sponsored proposals.

“Since I am in the minority party, bills I have sponsored are less likely to be alive at this point,” Kelley said. “My responsibility is to find bills important to our district and work on the bills I've been assigned.”

Sinclair serves as a ranking member of Education Committee, and is on the bicameral Education Appropriations Subcommittee. However, the fight over how much funding can be found for K-12 education is being debated by the leadership of the Democratic and Republican parties.

Sen. Michael Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs) and Rep. Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) and their parties don't agree on how many millions are available for this year's budget, so education funding is at an impasse.

The partisan debate involves a great deal of blaming, as the House Democrats' website featured a Tuesday article titled “209 GOP Pink Slips to Teachers” and the House Republicans countered with a Wednesday headline of “Democrat Games Push Schools Past Deadline.”

The GOP also released its budget-area targets Wednesday, with education to receive $977.6 million. Paulsen has said several times that schools, under the Republican plan supported by the Republican governor, Terry Branstad, would receive $100 million than on the last budget year.

“If they (Democrats) think this is some kind of negotiation, like over a used car, then I think they better get their priorities straight,” Paulsen said at a news conference last week. Kelley is the ranking House member of the Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee.

“We set the budget for 13 departments, offices, and agencies — including the Governor's Office, Office of Drug Control Policy and the Department of Inspections & Appeals,” Kelley said. “I am working to reduce spending, establish a balanced budget, and meet the critical needs of Iowans, particularly those most vulnerable —children and seniors.”

Kelley said the school funding gridlock is a serious concern — not only because most of the state's budget work can only be done after the massive school budget chunk is taken out, but because the delay seems to hurt schools.

“I am disappointed that once again, children's educations are being used as a political bargaining chip between the Speaker of the House, Senate leaders, and the governor's office,” Kelley said. “It's Washington-style politics, and has no place in Iowa. Rank-and-file legislators, like myself, are not part of those negotiations. Therefore, quality work on the Administration and Regulations budget is my best effort towards resolving this education funding crisis.”

One bill Kelley said he helped support — once it was amended — was SF 415, which is on its way to the governor's desk.

While he voted against the House version of the bill, which called for the county offices of auditor, treasurer, and recorder to have two deputies paid 80 percent of the principal officer's salary, and other deputies would make 80 percent of the principal officer. Allen and Sinclair both voted for the Senate version of the bill when it passed by a 40-9 margin.

However, a House amendment took out the proposed salary minimums, and Kelley and Heartsill both voted for SF 415 when it was passed by the full House, 92-0. Because it had been amended, the bill required a second Senate vote. Allen voted in favor of the amended bill, while Sinclair was the lone senator in opposition as it passed, 47-1.

“I worked across the aisle to amend this bill,” Kelley said. “It would have allowed for county officials to hire a third deputy at 85 percent of the office holder's salary. For instance, if the office holder makes $70,000, the third deputy would make $59,500. Two deputies are already allowed at this pay scale. These deputy positions could be used to work or game retirement benefits. The 85 percent salary is unnecessary, and burdensome to the taxpayer."

Kelley said he is spending a lot of his time this week on SF 414. The bill would allow first-time home buyers to establish special savings accounts.

“This bill is long overdue,” Kelley said. “The real estate market is picking up, and passing this bill will help further improve the real estate market for buyers and sellers. These accounts would provide a tax credit to those saving to purchase their first home.”

There are several other bills Kelley is supporting, including HSB 242 and 243, which would improve provisions for energy tax credits.

“Jasper County has made a major investment in renewable energy,” he said. “Jobs depend on progress in these efforts.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com