http://chrishagenow.com Chris Hagenow - State Representative - Iowa House District 59 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:58:45 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The Legislature was put into overdrive last week, as we faced the first of two “funnel” deadlines where bills had to be voted out of committee in order to be eligible for further debate.  Several high-profile bills managed to make it through, and now will be placed on the Calendar ... http://chrishagenow.com/2010/02/funnel-week-update/ State Auditor David Vaudt completed his audit of Governor Culver’s FY 2011 budget this week and the results were troubling.  Auditor Vaudt used numbers from the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency, and found that the Governor’s budget may be as much as $400 million out of balance.  Auditor Vaudt’s review also ... http://chrishagenow.com/2010/02/state-auditor%e2%80%99s-review-of-the-2011-budget/ Currently working its way through the legislative process is a massive 250 page bill with a plan for reorganization of state government.  We should always be looking for ways to streamline government, but the need is especially great this year, given the $1.1 billion spending gap for the coming fiscal ... http://chrishagenow.com/2010/02/newsletter-february-8-2010/ This week Governor Culver released his budget to Iowans.  While the budget is smaller than in previous years, spending is still too high.  The budget includes a $170 million dollar property tax increase that Iowa’s families and business simply cannot afford. The Legislature will now get to work to determine the ... http://chrishagenow.com/2010/02/newsletter-february-1-2010/ As many predicted, Iowa’s budget has quickly come to the forefront of this year’s legislative session.  Many lawmakers continue to suggest ideas to help fix our state’s $1 Billion budget gap.  In the same spirit of protecting Iowa taxpayers, I am working to assure that we balance the budget not ... http://chrishagenow.com/2010/01/newsletter-january-22nd-2010/ As the session begins, there is not only an atmosphere of excitement, but also one of trepidation.  It is no secret to most of you that Iowa faces many challenges, but as public servants I believe we should be here to meet those challenges head-on, rather than try to hide ... http://chrishagenow.com/2010/01/newsletter-january-15th-2010/ “…And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account, to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.” – President Obama, Inaugural Address, January 20th ... http://chrishagenow.com/2009/12/newsletter-december-30-2009/ Greetings! With the 2010 legislative session quickly approaching, it is time to begin my regular newsletters once again. Over the next several weeks, I want to provide a preview of the upcoming session, so we can work together to address the concerns which are ahead for Iowa. These are difficult financial ... http://chrishagenow.com/2009/12/249/ My wife Amanda and my son Owen went out for a walk today, and ended up at Colby Park here in Windsor Heights.  Amanda sent me a picture message from her phone of a new sign in front of the job site for the new community center: I suspect that the ... http://chrishagenow.com/2009/11/owens-tax-dollars-at-work-in-windsor-heights/ This chart was forwarded to me today.  The following chart displays state expenditures over the past ten years.  This clearly illustrates how the Gov. Culver has passed the three largest budgets in state history, even factoring the recent 10% across-the-board cut. Do not be misled by claims that this is just ... http://chrishagenow.com/2009/11/general-fund-spending-chart/