Stewart Report

February 10, 2006

Topics

· Public forums scheduled

· Local schools share their needs

· Every child deserves a good start

· A new state commitment to preventing child abuse

· Legislation designed to boost ethanol use moves ahead

· Constituents visiting Des Moines

Ethel and Bob Soesbe of Clinton discussed
their concerns with me at the Iowa Statehouse on Thursday.
They had traveled to Des Moines for the annual AARP advocacy day.

Public forums scheduled

Saturday, Feb. 11: Clinton County Forums

9:30 a.m. at Clinton Chamber of Commerce

11:30 a.m. at DeWitt Community Center

Saturday, Feb. 18

9 a.m. at Maquoketa City Hall

Local schools share their needs

This week I visited with two constituents whose opinions I hold in high regard. The superintendent of the Clinton School District, Randy Clegg, and the superintendent of the Maquoketa School District, Kim Huckstadt.

Superintendent Huckstadt said they are raising the core graduating requirements in Maquoketa by adding one year of English, one year of science and a half-year of math. However, in the last three years Maquoketa had to reduce the staff by eight teachers. So they desperately need to add staff, especially in English and also a media specialist to take advantage of on-line courses. A 6-percent increase in state funding for our schools would help them accomplish that.

Superintendent Clegg, of Clinton, said that limiting an increase in state funding to 4 percent does not allow the district to keep pace with increasing health cost and energy expenditures. He also indicated that teachers in the area could receive $6,000 to $8,000 more in salaries per year by simply taking a job in Morrison, Illinois, only 10 miles from Clinton.

How can we keep the best and brightest teachers here in Iowa if our salaries are not competitive with other states? This is why I support a 6-percent increase in state funding for our schools. It’s necessary for student success and to retain quality teachers.

Every child deserves a good start

This week, Iowans who help our children get off to a good start brought their knowledge and dedication to the Statehouse. Local providers came to see me and talked about the positive impacts that programs like Empowerment, Shared Visions, Head Start and local childcare initiatives have on our children.

I definitely favor doing more to help every Iowa child get the best start possible. Research directly links the quality of a child’s early learning experiences to later success in school and in life.

A new state commitment to preventing child abuse

According to Prevent Child Abuse in Iowa, there were 14,500 confirmed cases of child abuse in Iowa in 2004, a jump of almost 35 percent since 2000. Six percent of those cases involved sexual abuse. The number of cases where a dangerous drug was manufactured in a child’s presence more than doubled since 2000.

Last year, we doubled the maximum penalty for the most grievous sex crimes, and especially toughened laws for sex crimes involving children. We also passed the nation’s toughest anti-meth legislation. Increasing penalties, however, is only part of the answer.

We need to engage more parents and community members in actively protecting children. That’s why I want to provide $1.2 million to enhance the state’s sexual abuse prevention program, to expand community partnerships to prevent child abuse, and increase services for children and families affected by methamphetamine use.

Legislation designed to boost ethanol use moves ahead

The Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee passed legislation this week to move Iowa forward in the use of renewable fuels and to reduce dependence on foreign oil. The bill calls for 25 percent of all Iowa fuel to come from renewable sources—including ethanol and bio-diesel—by 2015. While other committees may change the proposal, this a good start on one of my top priorities for the 2006 session.

Constituents visiting Des Moines

There are many receptions and events held in Des Moines during the legislative session. Visitors to Des Moines this week included Julie Allesee and Mary Jo Kinkaid from Clinton and Steve Tebbe and Diane Gravert from Jackson County, all here to staff booths at the Legislative event on Tourism held at the Fairgrounds Wednesday.

Bob and Ethel Soesbe of Clinton were here at the Statehouse representing the interests of AARP on Thursday while Wanda Wyatt from Clinton and Kathy Wiebel from Davenport were hosting a breakfast reception by the Association of Iowa Workforce Partners.

The Iowa Bankers held a meeting and legislative reception this week with Brig Tubbs of Gateway State Bank and Barb Miller of Maquoketa State Bank attending. Ron McGauvran and business associates of Clinton attended the annual meeting and legislative reception of the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa.

February 2, 2006

Topics

Activity increases in the Senate

Title Loans Car

Time to support student achievement

Health care and wage package will help working families

Bipartisan measure to increase sex offender penalties introduced in Senate

Visitors to the Statehouse

My upcoming public forums

Activity increases in the Senate

Things are beginning to heat up in the Senate. Many divergent ideas are being brought forward regarding the budget, tax policy, renewable fuels including ethanol and biodiesel, eminent domain and touch play machines. I encourage my constituents’ input on these issues as we try to reach agreement here in the Legislature. Let me know what you think.

Title Loans Car

Monday morning I participated in a press conference with Governor Vilsack, Attorney General Tom Miller and a bipartisan group of other legislators. The purpose was to put a spotlight on the high interest rates charged by auto title loan companies. The key test of any car title legislation is the interest rate. Car title loans in Iowa often carry interest rates of 264 percent or more. In a matter of months, those who borrow a few hundred dollars may find themselves owing hundreds more than they borrowed—and losing their cars in the process.

The loans are secured by putting a lien on the car’s title. The Auto Title companies also request a set of keys for the car they have the loan on. Last year I was the floor manager of a bill passed in the Senate that would have limited the interest that could be charged on these types of loans to 21 percent. The bill stalled in the House. With the help of the Governor and the Attorney General, I am hopeful that we can pass legislation this year that would curtail this type of predatory lending.

Time to support student achievement
We are approaching the one-month mark of the 2006 session. Next week I hope we will vote on a proposal to increase basic state aid to schools.

After several lean years, we should renew our commitment to improving our local schools. This is important for our children and grandchildren, and it is essential to maintaining one of Iowa’s best economic advantages—our excellent local schools.

This week I joined my colleagues in releasing a survey of Iowa school superintendents. Iowa’s educators told us they are ready to improve our schools. Three of their top four priorities directly deal with improving the classroom performance of Iowa children. Their fourth priority is to address high energy prices.

We should respond by making a new commitment to local educational opportunity and moving quickly to approve a six-percent increase in basic state aid to local schools.

Health care and wage package will help working families
Working Iowa families would receive much-needed protections under two proposals I support. One is a long overdue increase in the state’s minimum wage by a dollar, and the other is an expansion of a statewide program that provides affordable health insurance to the children of working parents.

Iowa’s minimum wage of $5.15 an hour is far from a living wage, and it hurts working families who play by the rules and are trying to get ahead. Three-quarters of those in minimum wage jobs are adults and one-third are caring for a child under 18.

The second proposal calls for covering more low-income children with Iowa’s children’s health insurance program (hawk-i) or Medicaid. Hawk-i provides health insurance for children of parents who cannot afford health insurance. More than 17,000 Iowa children are eligible for health insurance but are not signed up. (Learn more at www.hawk-i.org)

Providing kids with health insurance is the smart thing to do, the most cost-effective thing to do, and it is the right thing to do. Some have suggested we add working parents who aren’t able to get insurance to these federally subsidized programs. When you consider the costs to tax payer of uninsured health care, that may also be a good idea.

Raising the minimum wage and expanding health care coverage are two steps to strengthen Iowa families and build a stronger economy.

Bipartisan measure to increase sex offender penalties introduced in Senate
Legislation recently introduced in the Senate will impose dramatically longer prison terms on sex offenders who prey on young children. Any conviction of major crimes against children 12 or younger will draw an automatic 25-year sentence with the possibility of an additional “special sentence” of life imprisonment without parole.

The legislation also establishes a new felony, with up to five years in prison, for anyone who fails to notify law enforcement about the whereabouts of, provides false information about, harbors, or conceals an individual who is required to register as a sex offender but is not in compliance with the requirements of the Sex Offender Registry or is eluding law enforcement.

Visitors to the Statehouse

This week I hosted Maquoketa City Manager Brian Wagner, Councilperson Marsha Myers and Economic Director Linda Sturtz. I am looking forward to the Clinton Area trip to Des Moines on Feb. 16.

My upcoming public forums

· Saturday, Feb. 4, Legislative Cracker Barrel
9:30 a.m. at the Harbor View Room
Diamond Jo Casino, Dubuque

· Saturday, Feb. 11, Clinton County Forums
9:00 a.m. at the Clinton Chamber of Commerce
11:30 a.m. at the DeWitt Community Center

January 27, 2006

Topics

· Creating ‘Great Places’ across Iowa

· Newton Race Track continues on course

· New vision to improve schools for Iowa children, educators

· New Enterprise Zones certified in Clinton County

· Iowa election reforms making substantial progress

· Warming the homes of more Iowa families

· Free book of energy-saving tips

Creating ‘Great Places’ across Iowa
The Great Places signing at the State Capitol Rotunda Tuesday was a great event. All those people on the committee who worked hard to put the package together and present it should be applauded. I believe some real rewards and benefits can come to Clinton in the months ahead as a result of everyone’s efforts.

Clinton, Coon Rapids, and Sioux City are the initial “Great Places,” chosen after a process which produced applications from more than 100 Iowa communities. I support the Department of Cultural Affairs request for $500,000 to create additional Great Places initiatives across the state, but we should make sure that the original three designees are supported with their projects.

Creating a prosperous, successful Iowa future must include expanding our cultural and recreational opportunities. State government can help communities cultivate the unique and authentic qualities that make Iowa places special and thereby contribute to a higher quality of life. Teaching state agencies to do a better job of supporting local communities in this way is the goal of the “Great Places” program.

“Great Places redefines the way government does business with the people of Iowa,” says Anita Walker, director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. “Rather than asking communities and local leaders to make their plans fit state programs, we have identified the state programs and resources that can be used to make their dreams and visions come true.” More information at: www.iowagreatplaces.gov/

Newton Race Track continues on course

Another Iowa attraction upon completion will be the Newton Race Track. Race car legend, Rusty Wallace, was at the capitol Wednesday and in a Senate Resolution was made an honorary Iowan. The completion of the 7/8 mile-long track will be the first track in the country designed by a Nascar race track driver.

At a dinner later Wednesday evening, Wallace and other race officials described the new track as a state of the art project. The first races will be held this fall and it will be a great venue for all race car fans. Initially, seating capacity will be 24,000 people. I am proud of the work I was able to do in the Senate to help the project become a reality.

New vision to improve schools for Iowa children, educators
Iowans consistently tell me that one of their top priorities is doing the right thing for Iowa schoolchildren.

That’s why I came out last week in support of increasing basic state aid to local schools. This commitment to Iowa students would be a first step to repairing the damage done to Iowa classrooms during several lean years.

Increasing educational accountability, parental involvement, classroom discipline, and funding for Iowa schools should not be partisan issues. These are not controversial in our communities, and I expect to find broad, bipartisan support for them in the Iowa Legislature. If we keep working together, I believe we can make our vision for better Iowa schools a reality.

New Enterprise Zones certified in Clinton County
Last week, the Iowa Economic Development Board approved a Clinton County proposal to include 174 acres in an Enterprise Zone for development. This property is south of the Jackson County line and has been annexed by Maquoketa. The designation provides tax benefits to encourage business and housing investment.

Iowa election reforms making substantial progress
“Every voter counts and every vote is counted.” I grew up thinking that was a truism in our democracy but the 2000 Presidential election exposed shortcomings across the country. Congress passed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) to help modernize voting systems, increase voter access to the polls, and boost voter turn-out.

Wednesday in the Administration and Regulation Committee meeting, which I chaired, Charles Krogmeier from the Secretary of State’s office spoke on the status of HAVA voting systems and their implementation by each county. Iowa received more than $30 million in federal funds to improve our elections..

The new initiative also includes a comprehensive voter-education effort and consistent training methods for local election offices and poll workers. You can learn more at www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/hava/

Warming the homes of more Iowa families
Last winter, a national survey found that 20 percent of households went without food at least one day a week and 32 percent went without needed medical care or prescription drugs due to unaffordable energy bills. How much more difficult will this winter be, giving the shocking increases in prices?

I am working with other senators to pass legislation to help low-income and elderly Iowans survive this winter safely. We hope to provide $6 million in additional state funds to the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). For more information, contact your local Community Action Agency (www.dcaa.iowa.gov/app_sites/liheap_map) or call Jerry McKim at 515-281-0859.

Free book of energy-saving tips
Looking for ways to save money on your home heating bill this winter? The Iowa Energy Center is passing out books containing energy-saving tips. To get your free book, send a request to iec@energy.iastate.edu, call the Iowa Energy Center at 515-294-8819, or call your local utility company.

January 20, 2006

Topics

Iowa Veterans, service members recognized with assistance package
Leadership Iowa Class of 2006
School Administrators visit Statehouse
Bipartisan support for increased school funding, more accountability, and stronger economy
“Ethanol teach-in” is a sign the Legislature is getting serious
You are invited to a forum
Additional Information

Iowa Veterans, servicemembers recognized with assistance package

Wednesday I co-floor managed, with Senator Jeff Angelo, the very first bill passed by the Iowa Senate this year. The bill appropriated $1 million for the implementation of a new veterans’ appreciation program for providing hardship grants to military veterans seriously injured in a combat zone since September 11, 2001.

It also appropriated $2 million for the Home Ownership Assistance Program for eligible members of the armed forces. Eligible members include those who have served at least 90 days of active duty between September 11, 2001 and June 30, 2007.

In addition, we increased spending by $75,000 for the National Guard Education Assistance program. More information can be found at www.iowasenatedemocrats.org/Issues/Veterans

Leadership Iowa Class of 2006

Last Friday, along with Senator Mike Connolly and Representative Jodi Tymeson, I had the opportunity to speak to Leadership Iowa Class of 2006, an issues awareness program sponsored by the Association of Business and Industry Foundation. This was a group of approximately forty men and women who were chosen because of their business leadership accomplishments. They gathered in Des Moines to participate in a number of educational forums. One of the members chosen for her accomplishments was Rebecca White, of Clinton, who works for Lyondell Chemical Company in Clinton. She and I are pictured here during her visit to the Statehouse.

School Administrators visit Statehouse

Maquoketa Superintendent Kim Huckstadt and Delwood Superintendent Mary Jo Hainstock were at the Capitol on Tuesday to discuss educational issues. I was disappointed that I missed seeing Superintendent Virgil Murray from Bellevue who was also here.

Bipartisan support for increased school funding, more accountability, and stronger economy

Historically, Iowa businesses could thrive on Iowa-built machinery, natural resources and local labor. Today, technology skills drive the global marketplace and our schools are in an international competition.

Last session, the Legislature asked the Institute for Tomorrow’s Workforce to examine these critical education and economic issues and to propose bold reforms. The group is co-chaired by Des Moines business leader Marvin Pomerantz and Robert Koob, president of the University of Northern Iowa.

This week, they released their 10-year strategy for improving Iowa schools, which includes:

Raising Iowa teacher salaries to the national average

Making changes to the way Iowa funds education to eventually boost per-student spending to the national average

Considering raising standards by requiring high schools to meet ACT-recommendations of four years of English, three years each of math, science and social studies, and two years of foreign language

The Institute for Tomorrow’s Workforce’s full report can be found at www.tomorrowsworkforce.org.

Ethanol teach-in” is a sign the Legislature is getting serious
Renewable fuels, including ethanol and biodiesel, are key assets to Iowa, currently contributing more than $2.5 billion annually to our economy. Ethanol production employs nearly 4,000 Iowans directly and indirectly.

Last week, I and many other legislators attended a special “ethanol teach-in” with experts from the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. This attention from lawmakers is a sign that 2006 may be a banner year in the Iowa Legislature for ethanol. I’m working with Democratic and Republican legislators to create a comprehensive renewable fuels plan including both ethanol and biodiesel.

You are invited to a forum

I always appreciate my constituents’ input on Iowa’s issues, so I hope you’ll join me at a public forum on Saturday, Jan. 28. The Maquoketa Area Chamber of Commerce and Farm Bureau forum will be at 9 a.m. at Maquoketa City Council Chamber.

Additional information
For additional information, you can visit www.iowasenatedemocrats.org/weeklyreport
See photos of my visitors at www.iowasenatedemocrats.org/Stewart

Monday January 9, 2006

I welcome your feedback, just e-mail me at Roger.Stewart@legis.state.ia.u

Let’s keep in touch as session begins

The Iowa Senate opens its 2006 session today.

It’s a great honor to be one of Iowa’s 50 state senators. We are still the only state in the nation with an equally divided senate. That means the Iowa Senate is presided over by two co-presidents, Democratic Senator Jack Kibbie, of Emmetsburg, and Republican Senator Jeff Lamberti.

This balance extends to every part of the Senate. Every committee, for example, has an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. I will continue as the co-chair of the Administration and Regulation Budget Subcommittee and on the Appropriations, Commerce, Ways and Means, Local Government, and Economic Growth committees. I will again be working hard to find the areas of agreement between Democrats and Republicans on education, jobs, health care, and public safety.

If you have the opportunity to visit the Senate while it is in session, I encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity. Visiting with legislators one-to-one is a great way to further your concerns. I would welcome the chance to talk with you, introduce you to other lawmakers, and give you a look at our world-class Capitol building.

I want to thank all the people in the district who have shared their ideas and concerns with me during the last several months. I encourage everyone to keep in touch with me while the Senate is in session.

I’ll be home every weekend; you can call me there at 563-689-4523. Reaching me at the Statehouse is easy, and your comments are appreciated. The Senate switchboard is 515-281-3371.

I will be writing e-mail newsletters throughout the session; let me know if you’d like to be on my list. My e-mail address is Roger.Stewart@legis.state.ia.us. The Legislature’s Web site is www.legis.state.ia.us, and I have a page at www.iowasenatedemocrats.org/Stewart.

Thanks so much for your support and interest in the future of our state.

Topics

·         A new start and a familiar routine

·         At the Statehouse

·         Iowans count on legislators to set aside partisanship

·         Iowans deserve state efforts to boost funds to help pay heating bills

·         Additional Information

A new start and a familiar routine

The first week of the session is complete and our compass in the Legislature has been set by two key speeches – the Condition of the State address by Governor Vilsack and Chief Justice Louis Lavarato’s State of the Judiciary message.

The Governor’s address featured Education, Economic Development and the Environment. Most of us are in awe of the Governor’s ability to speak nearly an hour on complex issues without hesitation on a single note. He has a gift.

I had the honor Wednesday to escort the Chief Justice Louis Lavarato to the annual State of the Judiciary address in the House Chambers at the Capitol. I was especially impressed with Judge Lavarato’s speech in which he said judges must base decisions “on the rule of law, not personal views or the views of politicians or special interest groups.” The Judge also raised concerns about courthouse security and that has been a worry of mine.