Hawkeye Review

Legislative Action Alert: Protect School Board Rights

This Legislative Action Alert was released by Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen last evening.

As we move closer to adjournment for the year, we’ve been hearing that the Democrats may try to make one last go at some big-labor bills that will hurt Iowa taxpayers and our economy.

One issue that seems to be gaining steam is instituting changes to Iowa’s collective bargaining law. The unions want to take away a school board’s authority to get rid of bad teachers. Under the proposal we’re hearing about, current school board rights are at risk. In 2008, the Democrats tried to gut school boards’ rights and this proposal would be similar. They would:

--change the right to let a bad teacher go after the first year of employment with no questions asked. Today, bad teachers who don’t fit in the district don’t have to be re-hired and the school district doesn’t have to go through a long termination process. Legislation last year got rid of this right.

--change the right for the school board to participate in the termination of a teacher. Legislation last year removed the school board as a party to a teacher termination procedure.

--change the right for the school board to appeal the reversal of a termination. Legislation last year said that the government’s administrative law judge was the final decision-maker and the school bard can’t appeal that decision.

It’s time to engage and make your voice heard. Please call your representative at (515) 281-3221 or email them:

http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/legislators.do?ch=h&ga=83

and tell them not to gut Chapter 20 and protect the rights of our elected school boards.

Legislative Action Alert: Federal Deductibility ** Updated **

Updated: Thursday April 2, 5:15 p.m.

No debate has been scheduled tomorrow for Federal Deductability! 

Sources at the statehouse confirm Democrats have decided to stay the debate due to unsure support from members of their caucus! 

This indicates your efforts are succeeding and it requires us to continue our lobbying initiatives to defeat this legislation.

  HR's inside sources at the state capital inform us of an urgent request to make contact with the following two State Legislators who need to hear from Iowans today.

Please be civil and constructive with your comments!  This is a great opportunity to shape policy but this won't occur via threats and insults.  Be pro-active and thoughtful in your dialog. Do you want more information or "constructive talking points?" Click here to read a post from Contributing Editor Christian Fong that lays out powerful rationales for defeating this house bill.

The number for the House switchboard is:  (515) 281-3221

                                       

     Rep. Paul Bell  (D) House District 41

     Update: Rep. Bell has indicated he will not support the bill to eliminate federal deductibility. Please Email him and thank him for his courageous opposition!

     E-mail: paul.bell@legis.state.ia.us
     Home Telephone: 641-792-9514

 

 

    Rep. Elesha Gayman  (D) House District 84

    E-mail: elesha.gayman@legis.state.ia.us
    Home Telephone: 563-650-6140

Legislative Action Alert: The Elimination of Federal Deductibility

From House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen

Late last week, Democrat leadership rolled out their plan to eliminate Iowans’ largest tax deduction, federal deductibility. This bill is HSB 284.

In Iowa we have the opportunity to deduct our federal income tax burden from our ordinary income prior to calculating our taxable income. This is regardless of whether or not you itemize.

Democrats claim that eliminating federal deductibility will allow Iowans to pay their bills, pay for college tuition and cover day-to-day expenses. But according to their own math, it will only give the average Iowan an extra 17 cents a day.

17 cents a day will do nothing for middle class Iowans or small businesses who are feeling the pain of this recession. Republicans stand ready to cut taxes for hard-working Iowans by far more than 17 cents a day. If Democrats want tax cuts, we’ll help them pass REAL tax cuts. We are not interested, however, in eliminating the largest tax deduction that Iowans’ receive.

What they are masquerading as a ‘middle-class tax cut,’ in reality is a major tax increase. It seems clear to me that this plan is designed to try to satisfy state government’s insatiable appetite for spending.

The tax increase impacts Iowans like this; the plan would go into effect the next tax year and basically be revenue neutral as to total state revenue. The real impact occurs when the federal income tax rates go up on January 1, 2011. When that occurs Iowans will have to pay state taxes on this increased federal tax burden. The inability to use this deduction will result in Iowans paying approximately $125 million more in income taxes.

The bill is being debated at the committee level today and there is a public hearing at the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 31 from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm on House Study Bill 284.

If you would be interested in speaking at the public hearing, please contact my office at (515) 281-3521. Even if you do not want to speak, you can still support our efforts to protect federal deductibility by being present and showing your support during the discussion.

Right now it is unclear whether the votes exist to pass this bill. If you support keeping this important deduction for hard working Iowans, now is the time to contact legislators. Click HERE for a link with phone numbers and email addresses of your state representatives:

I’ll keep you updated on any movement on this bill, or any other proposals in the House that are not in the interest of the taxpayer. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at kraig.paulsen@legis.state.ia.us

Legislative Action Alert: Prevailing Wage Vote

Legislative Action Alert

 

Prevailing Wage Debate In Progress

Call your Legislator: 515-281-3221

Freedom is not free...honor those who paid in full for your freedom this afternoon by taking one minute out of your day to pick up the phone and send an Email to your State Representative. 

State Representative Larry Marek, Democrat -- 89^th District, stated as recently as last Saturday that he opposed this legislation because "I don't want to see property taxes go up."    (Washington Evening Journal, February 16)

        larry.marek@legis.state.ia.us

However, sources inside the Iowa House this morning suggested that Rep. Marek is under tremendous pressure from labor unions and their dozens of State House lobbyists and may provide the 51^st vote to pass the legislation later today.