The View From Here

The sixth week of the legislative session was a blur of activity as we worked to sort out which bills would meet the first deadline of the session.  Any bills not passed out of both subcommittee and full committees are dead (with the exception of Ways and Means bills and Appropriations bills). I participated in 5 subcommittees and 6 full committee meetings during the week and helped to advance over 35 bills.

An important bill was SSB 3140 which addresses the verification of residency for SNAP benefits. We want those benefits to go to Iowans that need them the most. By requiring HHS to use the federal SAVE database to verify eligibility, the state will align with federal law and ensure public assistance is not diverted to people here illegally. This also protects us from fraud and abuse, reduces errors, and avoids costly federal penalties.

The State Government Committee, which I sit on, also passed SSB 3134, which requires all public buildings to fly the United States and Iowa flags at half-mast when so directed by a Governor’s proclamation. Violations may be reported to the Attorney General, who may initiate an action in the name of the state to obtain compliance. Flag flying at half-mast is how we, as a nation and a state, show respect and mourn when we face a disaster or tragedy. It is fair to ensure all public buildings follow the Governor’s proclamation when we as a state feel it is appropriate to pay our respects.

The most satisfying bill that I ran this week was SF 2315. This bill deals with Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities (MEPD). Too often, when a person with disabilities gets a job and begins earning a paycheck, they have to begin paying for their Medicaid premium. This bill will raise slightly the income that can be earned before they must pay the premium and also gradually shares that premium as earning ability goes up. It also allows a disabled person to acquire some money in a pension without being penalized.

I have witnessed how much pride the disabled have in their ability to contribute to society and how co-workers appreciate having them “on board.” I discussed with one disabled entrepreneur that having this bill signed into law might depend on how much it costs the state.

His response was:“I think it’s important to look at it as a long-term investment. I paid $4000 to the IRS last year in taxes. Granted, most of those were federal.  But I also didn’t collect food stamps, rent assistance, or other public assistance. Not to mention, if I were really pushing it, I could grow my business to hire multiple people and create jobs.”
So while the cost to the state is pretty fixed, there’s really no telling how much could be saved by getting Iowans with disabilities to work.

He added, “I don’t know if you are a Christian or not, but I am.  And because of my faith, abundance is a core belief of mine. I believe that encouraging Iowans with disabilities to work will produce wealth, not take away from it.”
I couldn’t agree more!

I mentioned there was a forum last week, but had the wrong month in my newsletter. I apologize to any who showed up in Humboldt and didn’t find me.

"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude." -Thomas Jefferson