Lee Hein

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: http://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: http://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
http://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:
http://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.

House of Representatives
State of Iowa
Eighty-Fourth General Assembly
STATEHOUSE
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Lee Hein
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Thirty-First District
Statehouse: (515) 281-3221

e-mail – lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us
HOME ADDRESS 11989 Richland Road Monticello, IA 52310

COMMITTEES
Agriculture, Vice Chair Environmental Protection State Government Ways and Means
APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Justice System

We’re beginning the month of June still with no budget resolution from Democrats, who are committed to shutting down state government. They have developed a shutdown strategy and have no plans to pass a budget before July 1. Democrats believe that they will win a political victory if a shutdown occurs. They believe Iowans will apply great amounts of pressure to Republicans to force us into spending more and more money.

At the start of the 2011 session, Republicans indicated that fiscal responsibility and economic certainty are keys to putting Iowa back on track and creating jobs. With that in mind, we approved legislation that provided broad-based tax relief. We toured the state to identify regulatory red tape that’s making it hard to create jobs. Our first bill contained multiple reforms to shrink government and save taxpayers over $500 million. These efforts have been largely rejected by Democrats.

When Republicans in the House and Democrats in the Senate released budgets in February, $147 million separated us. Negotiations began at that point.
After an entire session of joint budget meetings, we drilled down into the line items and spent three days with the Senate, working to identify and resolve differences in each budget area. We found agreement with the Governor and made an honest offer to close the $147 million difference by moving $101 million towards their position.

Knowing that Iowans chose to keep Democrats in charge of the Senate, we crafted a budget with room to move. Even by moving $101 million towards their position, the state is only spending 95% of total available revenue. We think this is a responsible and sustainable level of spending.

The budget disagreement boils down this: Democrats want to spend more money. In fact, the longer they are here the more they want to spend. Their own budgets blow past the targets they set for themselves. They want to continue the status quo and have threatened a government shutdown to do so.

This week, House Republicans tried a different strategy, one to make progress and avoid the Democrats’ shutdown. As Iowans have been asking for action, last week we proposed an omnibus bill, to try to move forward. This bill is made up of legislation that has already been debated – measures that have been made public for months. We held a public hearing on Tuesday and passed the bill through the normal committee process prior to debate on the floor.

The omnibus bill contains a large commitment to education. In addition to the $216 million in new funds for Fiscal Year 2012, it also includes 2% allowable growth for Fiscal Year 2013. House Republicans are committed to funding Iowans’ priorities and are showing that we can do that while being fiscally responsible.

Overall, this bill still spends $5.9 billion and restores good budget practices. We end the Democrats’ habit of spending more than the state takes in all while meeting the priority needs of Iowans.

Senate Democrats have already rejected this plan out of hand, even before they read the bill. While their shutdown strategy may be good politics for them, it is bad for Iowans. If they continue down this road, it will be difficult to stop them unless Iowans stand up and make their thoughts known.

Wednesday afternoon we passed the Omnibus bill out of the House. It is still another attempt to keep the process moving to close the session. We want to come to agreement but need to spend less than we take in, being responsible stewards of the taxpayer’s money. House Majority eagerly waits to continue negotiations with the Senate.

As always, you can contact me at lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us or (515) 281-7330. You can read any of my newsletters at http://www.iowahouserepublicans.com/members/lee-hein. Also, if you are ever in Des Moines make sure you stop by the Capitol to visit.

Sincerely, Lee Hein

Iowa House of Representatives
State Representative

Lee Hein

   Address: State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 281-7330
E-Mail: lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us
Website: http://www.iowahouserepublicans.com/members/lee-hein
http://www.iowahouserepublicans.com
follow on Twitter @iahouserepubs

   Recap of Week ENDING MAY 27TH

As another week comes to an end, we find ourselves almost four weeks beyond the traditional end to the session and still without adjournment. You may be asking why we have not finished. It would be easy to blame the lack of a budget agreement on differences in line items or policy provisions, but it would be misleading. What is unique about this session are the problems we face and our resolve to keep the promises we made to Iowans. Iowa’s economy is hurting and the recovery has been slow. Too many Iowans are out of work and are tired of watching an out-of-touch state government operate outside of the realities they face. With this in mind, House Republicans committed to an important set of principles:

Put Iowans back to work
Cut government spending
Make it easier to be an employer in the state of Iowa
Reduce the size and scope of government
We will not spend more than we take in

At the start of the 2011 session, Republicans indicated that fiscal responsibility and economic certainty are keys to putting Iowa back on track and creating jobs. With that in mind, we approved legislation that provided broad-based tax relief. We toured the state to identify regulatory red tape that’s making it hard to create jobs. Our first bill contained multiple reforms to shrink government and save taxpayers over $500 million. These efforts have been largely rejected by Democrats.

We have committed to passing a budget that’s both honest and sustainable. While it wasn’t going to be easy, it’s what Iowans expect. We started with a nearly $1 billion hole to fill because previous budgets had underfunded commitments and used one-time money to pay for ongoing expenses.

When Republicans in the House and Democrats in the Senate released budgets in February, $147 million separated us. Negotiations began at that point.

After an entire session of joint budget meetings, we drilled down into the line items and worked to identify and resolve differences in each budget area. We found agreement with the Governor and made an honest offer to close the $147 million difference with the Senate by moving $100 million towards their position. Unfortunately, they have already moved the opposite direction by spending an additional $100 million.

The budget disagreement boils down to this: Democrats want to spend more money. In fact, the longer they are here the more they want to spend. Their own budgets blow past the targets they set for themselves. They want to continue the status quo and they appear ready to threaten a government shutdown to do so.

This is unnecessary and unproductive. We have plenty of time to do the job Iowans sent us here to do and reach an agreement that keeps your priorities in mind. We need to remain firm in the message of fiscal stability and responsibility. We need to keep the focus on growing our economy and creating opportunity. With Iowans in our corner, we will continue to stand by our principles and we will get this done.

As always, you can contact me at lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us or (515) 281-7330. I do check my email and get voice messages sent to my home computer.

Sincerely, Lee Hein

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: http://www.iowahouserepublicans.com/members/lee-hein
IOWA … House Republican Newsletter

Once again it was a short week in Des Moines. We were there on Tuesday for an update on budget talks that continue with the Senate. Things do not seem to be moving a in the right direction for a settlement any time soon. We were told that last week the Senate over spent their own targets by passing bills that added S100 million to their budget.

We are about $250 million apart. As I said last week the House Republicans and the Governor agreed to keep the total budget under $6 billion. The Senate is currently at $6.25 billion. It is still our goal to spend less than we take in.

We did debate some bills late Tuesday afternoon. The most important one was HF 691.

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: http://www.iowahouserepublicans.com/members/lee-hein
IOWA … House Republican Newsletter
NEWS FROM DISTRICT 31
It was a short but very busy week. This is the first week I did not have the help of my clerk Kevin Kuhle. The official end of the session was April 29th, the clerks and most of the pages were finished up their work. Things were not the same around the Capital.
We passed Senate File 531 the Bio-fuels bill Wednesday morning which will help Iowa remain competitive in the Bio-fuels industry.
On Tuesday, May 3, the House and Senate Republicans and Governor Branstad agreed to the total amount of general fund spending for FY 2012. The general fund budget will be just less than $6 billion. This amount is 97 percent of ongoing revenue and over $200 million less than the adjusted FY 2011 budget. It leaves over $300 million in the ending balance and brings the budget back to FY 2009.
The next step is getting the Senate Democrats to agree on the spending level. Once that is accomplished, the appropriations bills can be approved by both chambers and sent to the Governor.
As always, you can contact me at lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us or (515) 281-7330. You can read any of my newsletters at http://www.iowahouserepublicans.com/members/lee-hein. Also, if you are ever in Des Moines make sure you stop by the Capitol to visit.
Sincerely, Lee Hein
Century & Heritage Farm Owners Deadline
On Friday, April 29, 2011, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) issued a press release in which Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey reminded eligible farm owners that June 1, 2011 is the deadline to apply for the 2011 Century and Heritage Farm Program. The program recognizes families that have owned their farm for 100 years in case of Century Farms and 150 years for Heritage Farms.
Farm families interested in participating in the Century or Heritage Farms Program must have their applications postmarked no later than June 1, 2011. Applications are available on the Department’s website at http://www.IowaAgriculture.gov by clicking on the Century Farm or Heritage Farm link under “Hot Topics.”
Applications may also be requested from Linda Rosky, Coordinator of the Century and Heritage Farm Program via phone at 515-281-3645, email at Linda.Rosky@IowaAgriculture.gov, or by writing to Century or Heritage Farms Program, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Henry A. Wallace Building, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50319.
Revenue Below REC Estimate, Aberration or Warning Sign?
On Monday, May 2, the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) released the revenue numbers through the end of April. After exceeding the Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) estimate for most of the past year, actual revenue in April was down considerably compared to the most recent REC estimate.
Net general fund revenue through April increased by $175.9 million, or 4 percent above actual FY 2010, however this month was $41.5 million below the previous April. LSA noted in its memo that some of the decrease is due to timing issues regarding the Unclaimed Property Fund and fee revenue.
The bad news is that corporate income tax receipts are down and income tax refunds are up. Sales and use tax receipts were also slightly below the estimate. With April coming in negative, actual year-to-date revenue is up 4 percent, which is below the REC estimate of 5 percent.
Personal income tax receipts were up 6.2 percent year- to-date, which is right at the REC estimate. The inheritance tax, insurance premium tax and tobacco tax receipts were all above the estimate.
While it is too early to panic, there is concern that high gas prices are starting to impact the economy. In addition, the slow planting season could mean a reduced supply and lower productivity in the agriculture sector. There is no doubt that the strong ag economy in 2010 helped deliver revenue increases.
House Republicans believe these numbers prove that caution is needed and why only the most conservative budget increases should be approved for the FY 2012 and FY 2013 budgets.

Iowa House of Representatives
State Representative
Lee Hein
Address: State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 281-7330
E-Mail: lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us
Website: http://www.iowahouserepublicans.com/members/lee-hein
http://www.iowahouserepublicans.com
follow on Twitter @iahouserepubs

Recap of Week 16

This week is ending short again as the House is finishing up its business. The last official day of the session is Friday, April 29. While this is the case, we still have much to accomplish before the session is over. The biggest issue that needs to be hammered out yet is the budget bills. The Republican majority in the House, the Democrat majority in the Senate and the Governor have all proposed very different budget plans. The House has passed each of the budget bills and is now waiting on the Senate to take action. The one budget bill that was passed by both the House and Senate was vetoed by the Governor because it was not a two year budget. The Governor and House Republican are committed to passing a two year budget and the Governor has vowed he will not sign anything less. The negations and discussions will continue and I will be back next week to hopefully wrap up the business of the legislature.

On the 26th we debated HF 687, the bill that addresses the Lake Delhi issue. The legislation will increase the size of the board of trustees from 3 to 7 people, which more closely mirrors other municipal boards, and aid in the work load of rebuilding the dam. The bill also gives Lake Delhi bonding authority similar to a city to generate revenue for purposes of rebuilding. Bonding would require 60% approval of the registered voters in the district. The bill also changes current code to allow any land owner to serve on the board. This opens up the pool of eligible people to participate on the board. I believe this bill is the first step to allow the people of Lake Delhi to rebuild the dam and restore this area. I voted in favor of this bill and it passed the House with 71 ayes and 26 nays. The Senate passed this bill as well with 33 ayes and 17 nays. It will now go to the Governor where he will hopefully sign this bill into law.

We also passed HF 561, a bill that acts as the next step in the process of exploring the potential for constructing additional nuclear generation capacity in Iowa. This bill provides a process under which the Iowa Utilities Board would be able to authorize a utility to proceed with exploring the construction of a next-generation nuclear facility. House File 561 does not authorize any utility to build a nuclear generating facility. Nor does it include the authorization for any utility to increase electric rates. These decisions will be made by the states’s board that regulates utilities ␣ the Iowa Utilities Board. Ensuring that Iowans have safe and affordable energy is a priority of all. With new EPA regulations being implemented it is getting harder and more costly for traditional fossil fuel power plants to operate. This bill allows Iowa to look at the possibility of using nuclear power for affordable and clean energy.

As always, you can contact me at lee.hein@legis.state.ia.us or (515) 281-7330. You can read any of my newsletters at http://www.iowahouserepublicans.com/members/lee-hein. Also, if you are ever in Des Moines make sure you stop by the Capitol to visit.

Sincerely, Lee Hein