Data released by Iowa Workforce Development showed that October’s unemployment rate remained at 6.0%.  The nation’s unemployment rate has now dropped to 8.6%. This number has been lauded by many as an accomplishment for the nation, but the reality is the 8.6% tallies those employed and looking for employment. It does not include those who have given up searching for a job, which many attribute to the large drop in the national unemployment level.  More individuals actually left the workforce (315,000) than got jobs (120,000), which is leading many to analysts to note that the 8.6% number isn’t as beneficial as it appears.

Non-farm employment rose by 2,300 jobs in Iowa from September to October, with the ‘construction’ (1,300), ‘manufacturing’ (1,300), and ‘education and health services’ (1,100) areas making the biggest gains. ‘Leisure and hospitality’ (-900) and ‘financial services’ (-700) saw the biggest decreases.  That leaves the number of non-farm employment in Iowa at 1,484,400.

The Workforce Development numbers also show that initial unemployment claims are holding right around 12,000 claims per month, while the number of continued claims decreased from 27,967 in September to 27,253 in October as more individuals run out of benefits.

News from District 31

I have been busy attending legislative forums that groups are holding around the district.  I am looking forward to bringing your issue to Des Moines at the start of the session on January 9^th.

I received a couple of emails from constituents in the medical profession.  I thought their message was a good one, especially for a possible New Years resolution.  I pasted one of the emails here for you to read.

 As your constituent, I am writing to share some resources and facts about heart disease and stroke with you.  Now that you are out of session, why not take some time for yourself and learn how you can take an active part in your heart and stroke health?

Because office visits are short (about 15 minutes), preparing can help you make the most of your time with your doctor. Researchers at Ohio State University developed the PACE Guide Sheet to give you an easy way to organize your feelings, questions and concerns before your visit. PACE stands for:

“P = Provide information about how you feel.
“A = Ask questions if you don’t have enough information.
“C = Clarify what you hear.
“E = Express any concerns you may have.

You can access the PACE Guide Sheet and get additional information about heart disease and stroke by visiting www.heart.org/questionstoask

So as the New Year approaches take time for yourself.  Get a physical, visit with your doctor and understand what he or she is telling you.  It could save your life and that is important to all of us.

As always, if you have any concerns or issues that need’s addressing, please contact me.  My email address is lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us or my phone is 319-480-1997.  Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Iowa House of Representatives
State Representative
Lee Hein
Address: State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319 Phone: (515) 281-3221
E-Mail: lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us
www.iowahouserepublicans.com
follow on Twitter @iahouserepubs

Tips For Upcoming Hunting Season
As the weather begins to turn and the hunting seasons are in full swing, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently issued information and tips on how to avoid problems getting a hunting license. They are as follows:

–According to the DNR, hunters who are now Iowa residents but had previously purchased an Iowa hunting license as a non-resident will need to fill out an application to update their residency status. Once the application is processed by the DNR, they may then go ahead and purchase a resident license.

–If the season has not started, the DNR will change the county/zone or season license for deer or turkey until the quota has been filled (for a small fee).

–Hunters are able to buy license and tags online at

https://jc.activeoutdoorsolutions.com/ia_customer/app/goHome.do

–Anyone born after 1972 is required to complete a hunter education course prior to purchasing a license. You can find information on education courses here: www.iowadnr.gov/training. Iowans under 16 years old who hunt with a licensed parent do not need to complete the course, a license or to pay the habitat fee.

–All hunters must have a deer or wild turkey license in order to hunt these animals.

For more information or to see a calendar of hunting season dates, please visit the Iowa DNR’s website at
http://www.iowadnr.gov/ or contact them by phone at (515) 281-5918.

Please use the proper precautions when hunting and have a safe and enjoyable season.

Iowa’s Unemployment Rate Inches Down
Iowa Workforce Development released September’s employment numbers and they showed that Iowa’s unemployment rate is now at 6.0%, a slight reduction from the 6.1% it was in August. Despite the drop in the unemployment rate, the state actually has 5,700 fewer nonfarm positions compared to August.

The industries that were affected the most include manufacturing (-1,000), trade, transportation and utilities (+1,400), leisure and hospitality (-2,300), and government (-2,100). Workforce Development said that 1,200 additional retail jobs helped the trade, transportation and utilities category to add jobs. Compared to a year ago at this time, the state has an additional 18,000 nonfarm employment positions. Six of the eleven category areas have more positions than were present a year ago in September.

The counties that remain the most heavily affected by the economic downturn include: Hamilton (10.5% unemployment), Lee (9.6% unemployment), Wapello (8.6% unemployment), and Davis (8.1% unemployment). The counties in the best unemployment shape are: Lyon (2.9% unemployment), Sioux (3.3% unemployment), Shelby (3.8% unemployment), and Kossuth (3.9% unemployment).

The September national unemployment rate held at the same 9.1% as it was in August. The country saw an additional 103,000 positions added in September, however the increase was largely due to the return to work of 45,000 Verizon workers who had been striking in August. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 25 states saw a drop in September unemployment numbers, 14 states increased their rate, and 11 states remained the same.

Vilsack Announces Funding for Advanced Biofuels
On Monday, October 31, 2011, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced payments for 156 advanced biofuel producers across the country totally $44.6-million to support the production and expansion of advanced biofuels that included five Iowa businesses.

The funding is being provided through USDA’s Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels program. Under this program, payments are made to eligible producers to support and ensure an expanding production of advanced biofuels. Payments are based on the amount of biofuels a recipient produces from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch. Eligible examples include biofuels derived from cellulose; crop residue; animal, food and yard waste material; biogas (landfill and sewage waste treatment gas); vegetable oil, and animal fat. USDA is working to support the research, investment and infrastructure necessary to build a biofuels industry that creates jobs and conserves natural resources across America.

One of two examples of the projects supported by these grants cited by the USDA press release involves a Dubuque business, Western Dubuque Biodiesel, LLC which received a $487,871 payment. This biodiesel production facility produces 30 million gallons per year using soybean oil, canola oil and tallow esters as feedstock. The operation is expected to save 18 jobs. The full list of Iowa businesses receiving these awards is as follows–
• Clinton County Bio Energy, LLC: $131,831.49 for biofuel from waste products.
• Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC: $138,360.72 for biofuel from waste products.
• Renewable Energy Group, Inc.: $3,739,128.61 for biodiesel trans-esterification.
• Western Dubuque Biodiesel, LLC: $487,871.16 for biodiesel trans-esterification.
• Western Iowa Energy: $658,243.95 for biofuel from waste products.

A complete list of the 156 awardees can be accessed at:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?conte ntid=2011/10/0466.xml&contentidonly=true

NEWS FROM DISTRICT 31
As most of you know elections were recently held across the state to determine who would serve as our voice on our local city councils and as mayors.

Whether successful or not, putting your name on the ballot and being willing to lead our local communities in the future is commendable. Thank you to all of those who were candidates for local office and congratulations to those who were successful. I look forward to working with you to ensure our communities continue to succeed and grow.

Also of note is the tax vote that took place regarding the Lake Delhi dam. That community voted, with 95% of the vote, to pay over $6 million in additional taxes over the next 20 years to rebuild the dam. This is another step in the process for those interested in rebuilding the dam. I look forward to continuing to listen to eastern Iowans on this and many other issues.

Things are gearing up for the start of the session. It begins on January 9th. I will be busy attending meetings and listening to constituents throughout the district. If you have any concerns or issues that need’s addressing, please contact me. My email address is lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us or my phone is 319-480-1997

Iowa House of Representatives
State Representative

Lee Hein

Address: State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 281-3221
E-Mail: lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us
Website: www.iowahouserepublicans.com
follow on Twitter @iahouserepubs
Employers Receive Good News Regarding Unemployment Insurance Tax
Iowa’s employers were greeted with some good news last week when Iowa Workforce Development announced that the rate tables that determine the amount an employer pays in unemployment insurance taxes are going to be adjusted down. Workforce Development said the move from tax Table 3 to Table 4 will mean a tax savings of $96 million for employers and the average unemployment insurance tax rate for employers in Iowa is estimated to fall from 2.8% to 2.4%.

Iowa’s Unemployment Insurance tax system is different than that of some other states. All of the money that accrues into the Unemployment Trust Fund comes solely from unemployment insurance taxes that employers pay based on a sliding scale and an experience rated system. This system requires that employers with a high cost of unemployment claims pay a higher rate than employers who have low unemployment claims. A formula and a rate table are used to determine the sliding scale at any given time. This method ensures that Iowa’s unemployment insurance fund remains solvent.

There are a total of 8 different tables with 21 different ‘steps’ or Benefit Ratio Ranks within each table that are used depending on economic factors. The most favorable table (Table 8) has a range from a 0% rate for the first three steps up to 7.0% for the last one. The range in Table 4 encompasses a 0% rate for employers who have not had benefit charges over the last five years all the way up to 9% for employers with more benefit claims. In 2011, there were 30,261 employers (52.2% of employers in the state) that were taxed at a 0% rate. Based on employer data from 2011, 53% of employers will see no change (most of those being at the 0% rate already), while 32 percent of employers will see a savings of 0.1%-0.5%, 10 percent of employers will have a savings of 0.6%-1.0%, and 5 percent of employers will save between 1.1%-1.6%.

When the system was first introduced in the 1980s, the state was at Table 3, and fell to the lowest mark, Table 1, for the years 1984-1987. The last time the state was at Table 8 was from 1995-1999, and had lost ground ever since: 2000-2002: Table 7, 2003-2009: Table 6, 2010: Table 4, 2011: Table 3.

This move represents a real cost savings of millions of dollars to Iowa employers and, hopefully, is a sign of things to come for the economy of the state.

Education Reform Framework Announced
While the full details won’t come for another couple of weeks, Education Director Jason Glass laid out the framework for the Governor’s education reform efforts that will see legislative action next year. Following a tour around Iowa to visit with communities about changing the education system and a two-day Education Summit that saw leaders in education come together from around the nation, the beginning steps were unveiled to select legislators and the press this week.

The take away from the information is that this is a comprehensive package deal, not a plan where individual pieces can be chosen or tossed aside. The governor’s office is planning for an all or nothing approach. It’s a systemic change that they feel is needed to start moving Iowa down the correct path towards educational excellence.

And don’t expect immediate results, they warned. This is going to be a long process, with pieces of the legislation going into effect over the next five or so years and results taking even longer to show up.

The plan is going to involve several components that include high expectations and fair measures, great teachers and leaders, and a spirit of innovation.

Teachers: We need to make sure that teacher preparation programs are providing the right education for our teachers, that the state is giving support for continuing professional development and mentoring during a teacher’s career, and that we can effectively and fairly evaluate the job that teachers are doing. The plan will involve a new pay system for teachers that won’t necessarily be based on longevity alone and will provide for a career ladder that teachers can look forward to as they hope to advance their careers. There will be a master teacher and mentor teacher rung on that ladder that will allow advanced teachers to share knowledge and experience with other teachers, providing feedback, flexibility for further development, and mentoring.

Administrators: Similar to teacher prep and mentoring, we need to make sure that we have strong administrators in the school buildings who can effectively do the job they should be doing. We need to take a look at administrator preparation programs, administrator mentoring opportunities, and professional development. We need to give administrators the time they need to be the lead in their building and to work with staff on instruction, professional development, and evaluating. Too much of their time is being taken up with paperwork and not enough time is available for them to be in the classrooms helping their teaching team succeed.

Students: We need to re-evaluate the Iowa Core to make sure students are learning what they should be learning. We need a strong set of standards in place so that we aren’t selling our kids short on the knowledge they need to have when they leave the school system and go out into the work force. And we need a strong set of matching assessments to measure how effective the system is. There is talk of having all juniors take the ACT (of our neighboring states we have the lowest percentage taking the ACT exam), of having an exit exam for graduating seniors (whether passing will be a graduation requirement or not has not been determined yet), and perhaps the PISA examination for 15 year olds, the international examination that shows how we are doing compared to other nations.

Other: Choice will be a part of the plan as well in some form. Director Glass expressed that he is in favor of Charter Schools, but making sure they are effective and necessary and should be closed when they fail. He also is interested in changing reduction in force procedures, by putting in place a panel of teachers that helps make the decision of who is let go and who is kept on staff, based on performance and skill, instead of seniority only.

There are many details yet to come, including a price tag on these reforms and a solid timeline of action. The first week of October should see a reveal of more details of the plan. Whether price and timeline will be a part of that reveal are yet to be seen. It’s likely those details won’t be available until we get closer to the beginning of session.

Iowa Pheasant Population Continues to fall
Hunters planning on seeing increased pheasant population numbers this fall are likely to be disappointed. The Department of Natural Resources recently completed the statewide survey and it showed the Iowa pheasant population has fallen to a new all-time low, with a statewide average of 7 birds counted for each 30 mile route driven. The statewide average in 2010 was 11 birds per route.

The survey showed a small gain in pheasant numbers in southern Iowa and fewer birds across northern Iowa. This past winter was the fifth in a row with above normal snowfall followed by a wet nesting season. Todd Bogenschutz, a wildlife biologist with the DNR summed it up best “Plain and simple, we have lost hens and nests consecutively each of the last five years because of unprecedented weather patterns for Iowa.”

The drop in the pheasant numbers is also being felt in neighboring states. Nebraska counted 20 percent fewer birds than last year; Minnesota was down 64 percent and South Dakota is down 46 percent.

The 2011 pheasant hunting season runs from October 29 through January 10, 2012.

NEWS FROM DISTRICT 31
I attended the dedication of the artifact from the World Trade Towers here in Monticello on Sunday. It is a nice tribute to those who lost their lives that day and to those who have gave their lives since 9-11. If you are in Monticello, drive by it and have a look. It is east of the new Police building.

September is here and I am looking forward to the harvest season. The combines will be moving up and down the roads soon. As a reminder to everyone, be safe. When approaching and passing the slow moving farm equipment, a few extra moments will not be missed. The accident caused by being in a hurry could last a life time.

We have one more parade. That will be in Anamosa at Pumpkinfest and I look forward to seeing everyone there. The 2012 session starts in January. That is just around the corner, so if you have any concerns or issues that need’s addressing, please contact me. My email address is lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us or my phone is 319- 480-1997

Iowa House of Representatives
State Representative
Lee Hein
Address: State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 281-3221
E-Mail: lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us
Website: www.iowahouserepublicans.com
follow on Twitter @iahouserepubs

Employers Receive Good News Regarding Unemployment Insurance Tax
Iowa’s employers were greeted with some good news last week when Iowa Workforce Development announced that the rate tables that determine the amount an employer pays in unemployment insurance taxes are going to be adjusted down. Workforce Development said the move from tax Table 3 to Table 4 will mean a tax savings of $96 million for employers and the average unemployment insurance tax rate for employers in Iowa is estimated to fall from 2.8% to 2.4%.

Iowa’s Unemployment Insurance tax system is different than that of some other states. All of the money that accrues into the Unemployment Trust Fund comes solely from unemployment insurance taxes that employers pay based on a sliding scale and an experience rated system. This system requires that employers with a high cost of unemployment claims pay a higher rate than employers who have low unemployment claims. A formula and a rate table are used to determine the sliding scale at any given time. This method ensures that Iowa’s unemployment insurance fund remains solvent.

There are a total of 8 different tables with 21 different ‘steps’ or Benefit Ratio Ranks within each table that are used depending on economic factors. The most favorable table (Table 8) has a range from a 0% rate for the first three steps up to 7.0% for the last one. The range in Table 4 encompasses a 0% rate for employers who have not had benefit charges over the last five years all the way up to 9% for employers with more benefit claims. In 2011, there were 30,261 employers (52.2% of employers in the state) that were taxed at a 0% rate. Based on employer data from 2011, 53% of employers will see no change (most of those being at the 0% rate already), while 32 percent of employers will see a savings of 0.1%-0.5%, 10 percent of employers will have a savings of 0.6%-1.0%, and 5 percent of employers will save between 1.1%-1.6%.

When the system was first introduced in the 1980s, the state was at Table 3, and fell to the lowest mark, Table 1, for the years 1984-1987. The last time the state was at Table 8 was from 1995-1999, and had lost ground ever since: 2000-2002: Table 7, 2003-2009: Table 6, 2010: Table 4, 2011: Table 3.

This move represents a real cost savings of millions of dollars to Iowa employers and, hopefully, is a sign of things to come for the economy of the state.

Education Reform Framework Announced
While the full details won’t come for another couple of weeks, Education Director Jason Glass laid out the framework for the Governor’s education reform efforts that will see legislative action next year. Following a tour around Iowa to visit with communities about changing the education system and a two-day Education Summit that saw leaders in education come together from around the nation, the beginning steps were unveiled to select legislators and the press this week.

The take away from the information is that this is a comprehensive package deal, not a plan where individual pieces can be chosen or tossed aside. The governor’s office is planning for an all or nothing approach. It’s a systemic change that they feel is needed to start moving Iowa down the correct path towards educational excellence.

And don’t expect immediate results, they warned. This is going to be a long process, with pieces of the legislation going into effect over the next five or so years and results taking even longer to show up.

The plan is going to involve several components that include high expectations and fair measures, great teachers and leaders, and a spirit of innovation.

Teachers: We need to make sure that teacher preparation programs are providing the right education for our teachers, that the state is giving support for continuing professional development and mentoring during a teacher’s career, and that we can effectively and fairly evaluate the job that teachers are doing. The plan will involve a new pay system for teachers that won’t necessarily be based on longevity alone and will provide for a career ladder that teachers can look forward to as they hope to advance their careers. There will be a master teacher and mentor teacher rung on that ladder that will allow advanced teachers to share knowledge and experience with other teachers, providing feedback, flexibility for further development, and mentoring.

Administrators: Similar to teacher prep and mentoring, we need to make sure that we have strong administrators in the school buildings who can effectively do the job they should be doing. We need to take a look at administrator preparation programs, administrator mentoring opportunities, and professional development. We need to give administrators the time they need to be the lead in their building and to work with staff on instruction, professional development, and evaluating. Too much of their time is being taken up with paperwork and not enough time is available for them to be in the classrooms helping their teaching team succeed.

Students: We need to re-evaluate the Iowa Core to make sure students are learning what they should be learning. We need a strong set of standards in place so that we aren’t selling our kids short on the knowledge they need to have when they leave the school system and go out into the work force. And we need a strong set of matching assessments to measure how effective the system is. There is talk of having all juniors take the ACT (of our neighboring states we have the lowest percentage taking the ACT exam), of having an exit exam for graduating seniors (whether passing will be a graduation requirement or not has not been determined yet), and perhaps the PISA examination for 15 year olds, the international examination that shows how we are doing compared to other nations.

Other: Choice will be a part of the plan as well in some form. Director Glass expressed that he is in favor of Charter Schools, but making sure they are effective and necessary and should be closed when they fail. He also is interested in changing reduction in force procedures, by putting in place a panel of teachers that helps make the decision of who is let go and who is kept on staff, based on performance and skill, instead of seniority only.

There are many details yet to come, including a price tag on these reforms and a solid timeline of action. The first week of October should see a reveal of more details of the plan. Whether price and timeline will be a part of that reveal are yet to be seen. It’s likely those details won’t be available until we get closer to the beginning of session.

Iowa Pheasant Population Continues to fall
Hunters planning on seeing increased pheasant population numbers this fall are likely to be disappointed. The Department of Natural Resources recently completed the statewide survey and it showed the Iowa pheasant population has fallen to a new all-time low, with a statewide average of 7 birds counted for each 30 mile route driven. The statewide average in 2010 was 11 birds per route.

The survey showed a small gain in pheasant numbers in southern Iowa and fewer birds across northern Iowa. This past winter was the fifth in a row with above normal snowfall followed by a wet nesting season. Todd Bogenschutz, a wildlife biologist with the DNR summed it up best “Plain and simple, we have lost hens and nests consecutively each of the last five years because of unprecedented weather patterns for Iowa.”

The drop in the pheasant numbers is also being felt in neighboring states. Nebraska counted 20 percent fewer birds than last year; Minnesota was down 64 percent and South Dakota is down 46 percent.

The 2011 pheasant hunting season runs from October 29 through January 10, 2012.

NEWS FROM DISTRICT 31
I attended the dedication of the artifact from the World Trade Towers here in Monticello on Sunday. It is a nice tribute to those who lost their lives that day and to those who have gave their lives since 9-11. If you are in Monticello, drive by it and have a look. It is east of the new Police building.

September is here and I am looking forward to the harvest season. The combines will be moving up and down the roads soon. As a reminder to everyone, be safe. When approaching and passing the slow moving farm equipment, a few extra moments will not be missed. The accident caused by being in a hurry could last a life time.

We have one more parade. That will be in Anamosa at Pumpkinfest and I look forward to seeing everyone there. The 2012 session starts in January. That is just around the corner, so if you have any concerns or issues that need’s addressing, please contact me. My email address is lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us or my phone is 319- 480-1997

Iowa House of Representatives
State Representative

Lee Hein

Address: State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 281-3221
E-Mail: lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us
IOWA HOUSE REPUBLICAN NEWSLETTER
www.iowahouserepublicans.com
follow on Twitter @iahouserepubs

Iowa Agriculture Exports Top $7 Billion in 2010
Ag Product Exports Grow 8%
On Monday, July 25, 2011, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) Director, Debi Durham announced in a press release that international demand remains strong for Iowa’s agriculture products. Recently released numbers by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) showed that Iowa exported $7.04 billion in agricultural goods in fiscal year 2010.

The $7.04 billion in exports in 2010 is up from $6.55 billion in 2009, but did not exceed the $7.38 billion level reached in 2008. According to the USDA, in 2009, every $1 billion in US agricultural exports required 8,400 American jobs. Iowa’s leading agricultural export is soybeans and soybean products, which was $3.29 billion in 2010. The next two leading products are feed grains and products at $1.87 billion and live animals and meat, excluding poultry, at $1.4 billion. Other agriculture exports include feeds and fodders ($172.1 million), poultry and products ($66.8 million), dairy products ($59 million), hides and skins ($56.1), and fats, oils and greases ($44.4 million). Other exports include wheat and products, seeds, and other.

Durham and Northey both traveled to South Korea and China with Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds in June to promote Iowa exports with these key Iowa trading partners. A full breakdown of agricultural exports from each state over the last four years can be found on the USDA’s website at:
www.ers.usda.gov/data/stateexports/2011/SX5yr.xls

Iowa’s Education Summit
The Education Summit that Governor Branstad put on last week ended with the Governor receiving a standing ovation from the 1,600 in attendance. It was likely a reflection of the importance of the event and what it will mean for Iowa’s Education future going forward.

The message echoed by many of the presenters came out loud and clear. If we are going to fix Iowa’s slide to mediocrity in education, we have to recognize first that there is a problem, and then come together to find a solution. A strong educational system isn’t a partisan issue. While there may be differences between the right and left on how to achieve it, the fact remains that both Republicans and Democrats want to see our children afforded the best education possible so they can achieve their dreams without limits. How we get there, though, has yet to be uncovered.

The Summit was a first step. Going forward, the Governor is planning another series of town halls across the state to share ideas gleaned from the myriad of speakers and panels, presenters, and attendees at the summit, and to formulate a plan. He will then issue a legislative package proposal at some point probably in the fall.

The plan will likely focus on teacher preparation and evaluation, student achievement and assessments, stronger standards and a more developed curriculum, and leadership training for principals and superintendents. There will be other ideas taken from states that have led successful reform movements, like Massachusetts and Florida, and from other countries around the world who are steadily passing the United States in educational success.

If you were unable to make the Iowa Education Summit you still have a chance to see some of the action. IPTV is running a number of the speeches in July and August.
For the schedule of airings, visit:

http://www.iptv.org/series.cfm/15841/intelligent_talk_television

A transcript of Gov. Branstad’s opening remarks can be found on the Governor’s site here: http://bit.ly/n8Gd5I.

A transcript of Sec. Duncan’s speech is available on the US Department of Education’s site here: http://www.ed.gov/news/speeches/iowas-wake-call.

Finally, the Iowa Department of Education handed out a report to all conference participants titled “Rising to Greatness: An Imperative for Improving Iowa’s Schools.” The report is 28 pages and full of rankings and statistics on Iowa’s standing in educational achievement. The report can be found in PDF form here: http://bit.ly/n14suB.

Governor Signs Mental Health Redesign Bill
Governor Branstad signed the mental health redesign (SF 525) on Tuesday, July 26, marking the start of what will be the busiest interim in years in the health care area.

Senate File 525 provides a blueprint for the redesign of adult mental health systems in Iowa. The bill expresses legislative intent for the state to assume responsibility for the provision and funding of those services that are part of the state Medicaid program, while non-Medicaid services would be the responsibility of counties or the still to be created regions.

The Department of Human Services is directed to set up a number of work groups and committees to address specific, specialized issues and provide recommendations to the interim. The work groups will begin their work in August, in order to provide preliminary recommendations to a legislative interim committee in October.

The bill calls on the Legislative Council to create an interim committee, which would be responsible for establishing a plan for revising disability services for adults during the 2011 interim. The plan developed by the interim committee would be presented to the 2012 legislative session for consideration, with full implementation of the changes to occur by July 1, 2013. The plan would include who is served in the new system, core services that will be provided across the state, outcome measures, and provider accreditation. There are five work groups designated in the bill. They are:
• Adult Mental Health Services
• Adult Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• Brain Injury Services
• Children’s Services
• Regional Administration
It is possible that the Legislative Council will approve the mental health redesign at its August 16 meeting, allowing the work to begin in September.

NOTES FROM DISTRICT 31
July has been a busy month with parades and county fairs. I have enjoyed my visits as I travel throughout the district. Summer is fast coming to an end, as schools will be starting up again in just a couple of short weeks. As always, you can contact me at lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us or (515) 281-7330.

IOWA HOUSE REPUBLICANS

“Be sure  you put your feet in the right place, the stand firm.” – Abraham Lincoln

LEE HEIN:

July 1, 2011,

On Thursday, June 30th, the House has finally adjourned. Being my first session I had nothing to compare it to. But history says it was the 3rd longest session to date. It lasted 172 days. The learning curve was high. I got to help draft some legislation, floor manage a couple of bill and even got a one signed by the Governor. It will be a year to remember.

I realize there has been a lot of frustration about the perception that we were not moving fast enough to reach agreement on the many issues that divided us. The reason it has taken so long is because the majority in each chamber have very divergent views as to the philosophy of government and the level of spending. It was not until the Senate agreed to the spending level, $5.9 billion, which the two sides finally began to move together. In the period of one week both chambers in a bipartisan manner hammered out their agreement and passed out a budget of $5.9 billion.

I recognize some of the frustration that was felt by those who thought our spending proposals were inadequate. However, as I have said before, we needed to exercise fiscal discipline and construct a budget that would be sustainable in the years to come. For the past 8 years the state has spent more than it has taken in. Last year was the culmination of this practice with the spending of $650 million of federal one time monies in our budget. This year that federal money had to be replaced. In Medicaid money alone we used $450 million of General Fund money to backfill Medicaid, our health services for the poor.

The budget we passed this year represents 97% of the money received including the ending balance. We will come back next year with the resources and the opportunity to address additional needs while passing a budget we can afford. It just took a year of “dieting” to get us on the right track. The big frustration this year was our inability to address property tax reform. I served on the Ways and Means Committee. Our Chairman Representative Tom Sands worked very hard on designing a plan that the House felt would be very effective in reducing the property tax burden of all Iowans. It involved property tax relief for commercial property as well as reducing property taxes that support our K12 education. The Senate had another version which would offer income tax credits to relieve the property tax burdens of small businesses. The two chambers could not come to agreement. We continue to have some of the highest commercial property taxes in the nation. We will be back here to address this again next year.It has been a pleasure to serve as your representative this session. It has been an exciting one and I think we have accomplished much. I realize it has taken some time but I think that time has been well spent and after May 1st it was on our dime and not yours. I will look forward to visiting with you in the coming months until next January. I will be attending several parades and events and will remain accessible at all times to your concerns and needs. Always feel free to contact me. I am at your service. See you next year.

My mailing address is:

Lee Hein, State representative, State House, Des Moines, Iowa 50319 Phone: 515‐281‐3221 E‐mail: lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us Or my homes address:

Lee Hein, 11989 Richland Rd., Monticello, Iowa 52310 Phone: 319‐465‐5805

If you have any issues or concerns, please contact me. Be sure to include your name and address with any communication.

State Rep. Lee Hein, R‐Monticello, represents the 91st House District, which includes all of Jones County and the southwestern Dubuque County.

(Monticello) – Rep. Lee Hein (R-Monticello) has announced he intends to run for re-election in House District 96.

After redistricting, district 96 is comprised of all of Delaware County and portions of Jones County.

Hein is the third generation to work on his family farm operation, growing corn and soybeans along with raising hogs and cattle.  He has been very active in the Iowa Farm Bureau, the Iowa Farm Business Association, and the Jones County Pork Producers and Cattlemen’s Association.

Hein will continue his focus on job creation, limited government spending, and strengthening Iowa agriculture.

“I have been working to make sure the state does not spend more than it takes in and gives the taxpayers a seat at the table again,” said Hein.  “While our state’s economy is improving, we must do all that we can to get government out of the way and give employers the opportunity to begin hiring again.”

Hein has previously served on the Monticello School Board for nine years, serving as president for five.  In the House, Hein is the Vice Chair of the Agriculture committee and also serves on the Environmental Protection, State Government and Ways and Means committees as well as the Justice Systems Appropriations Subcommittee.

Lee and his wife, Jacky, have two grown children.