Capitol Update – January 28

When lawmakers returned to Capitol this January we came back with an obligation to respond to pleading from Iowans to take our role as fiscal stewards seriously.  This challenge is what should motivate us to make responsible budget decisions, because the reality is that talking about these expectations is not enough, we must prove to Iowans that we can be trusted to put them first.

A big part of this challenge is my commitment that I will not support a budget that spends more than it collects in revenue.

Governor Branstad presented his Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Budget to the Legislature in a joint meeting on Thursday, Jan. 27. The Iowa Constitution requires the Governor to propose a budget and then the Legislature approves the budget through the regular legislative process.

I was encouraged to hear that the Governor agrees with House Republicans’ commitment to stop the unsustainable growth in the size and cost of government.

The Governor promised to cut the state budget and focus on creating jobs.  Voters were clear this fall that they want budget accountability and I consider this an opportunity to keep our promise to end the recent trend of spending beyond our means.

Governor Branstad’s proposal cuts state agency spending by 6 percent and does not propose any funding for the salary increases pushed through by Governor Culver in the final days of his administration.  For agencies to fund these pay raises, they will have to find the money from within their existing operations budget.  It is my hope that our public employees will return to the bargaining table, to help us fix our budget mess.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee I am eager to get to work on implementing cuts like the ones in Governor Branstad’s proposal.  House Republicans will lead the charge to bring about this change to legislative thinking about government spending.

Capitol Update – January 18th

Last fall, I campaigned in large part on a promise to help build a responsible, balanced budget that reduces the size and the cost of government.  Part of that promise is a commitment that this year’s budget will not spend more money than is collected in revenue.

As evidence of this commitment to spend less, the first bill introduced this year is the Taxpayer First Act, which removes $544 million in government spending over the next three years.  Any time that government programs are cut, there will be people unhappy with our choices.  Unfortunately, we as taxpayers can no longer afford an ever-growing government, and now the time has come to start making tough decisions.

The bill creates a Tax Relief Fund, which changes the law so that after our cash reserve funds are replenished, any surplus money will go to tax relief rather spend more on growing government.  This fund will help put an end to the budget-busting practice of using one-time money for ongoing state expenditures.

The bill also recognizes there are critical functions of government which were not adequately funded in the last budget.  Among other things, the bill makes a $25 million appropriation for mental health services to help get people the services they need.

After this bill cleans up our current fiscal year budget, we will move forward to work on fiscal year 2012.  You have my commitment to help craft a budget which always considers the taxpayer first.

As we continue to move through the legislative session, I will continue to look for opportunities to protect your tax dollars.  Just as we all work to make tough budget decisions as home, we should all expect government to do the same. As always, I welcome your ideas and input.  You can reach me at chris.hagenow@legis.state.ia.us