April 24, 2008

Budget Progress/No Adjournment

Governor Signs TIME – 21

Senate Passes Use Tax Increase

Water Use Fee Legislation Sent to Governor

Union Bargaining Bill Watch

Why I invest in IIPAC

Mike Ralston
President
515/235-0562

Public Policy Team:

John R. Gilliland
Senior Vice President, 
Government Relations
515/235-0566

Nicole Molt
Director, 
Government Relations
515/235-0567

Tamie Mullen
Administrative Assistant, 
515/235-0561

For questions regarding ABI Membership please contact:  

Leisa Fox
Vice President, Membership
515/235-0575

ABI ADVISORY COUNCIL

Resources & Links

Iowa Prosperity Project 
for
-Issue Alerts
-Write Your Legislator
-Legislator Voting Records
-Register to Vote

ABI Member Benefit -

For questions regarding the Iowa Prosperity Project (IP2) or your own FREE Prosperity Project Website send an email to:

IP2@iowaabi.org

Upcoming ABI Events - Mark Your Calendar!  For a full calendar of ABI events or to register click here.

April:

April 29th 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Workers' Compensation Seminar

Des Moines, IA:  EMC Insurance Companies

June:

June 10^th - 12^th

2008 ABI Convention

Coralville, Iowa:  Marriott Hotel & Conference Center

Copyright © 2008 Association of Business and Industry. All rights reserved. Text, graphics, and HTML code are protected by U.S. and International Copyright Laws, and may not be copied, reprinted, published, translated, or otherwise distributed by any means without explicit permission.

To be removed click here

Budget Progress/No Adjournment

As of late Wednesday evening, the General Assembly still had significant budget work to do before adjourning for the year.  Tuesday marked the 100th Day of the session, so we’re clearly going into extra innings.  Legislators do not receive per diem expense money for food and lodging after 100 days so there is motivation to complete their work.  Difficulty finding agreements between the Governor, Senate and House on budget priorities and last minute policy initiatives have caused the session to drag on.  Debate lasted late all week, starting with Monday’s debate lasting until nearly 2:00 a.m. 

The ABI government relations team of John Gilliland and Nicole Molt have continued to watch out for the interests of ABI members every minute of the session.  Many last minute attempts to add bad for business amendments to bills continue to be thwarted.  Pro-business legislators from both parties have been helpful in our success.  Of course, we are extremely thankful to ABI members who have continued to contact their own legislators.  

At the time of publication of this newsletter, it is unknown when session will conclude.  Please know that a session wrap up on key business bills will be published early next week.  In the meantime, know that “we got your back!”

Governor Signs TIME – 21

On Tuesday, Governor Chet Culver signed SF 2420, which provides new funding for transportation infrastructure (TIME – 21).  At a bill signing ceremony in the Capitol rotunda with ABI members, including ABI Board Member Tom Determann, Determann Industries, Camanche; and ABI staff present, both the Governor and Lt. Governor Patty Judge thanked business and industry for supporting the additional investment in highway infrastructure.

Senate Passes Use Tax Increase

On Tuesday, the Iowa Senate followed the House by approving the use tax increase on Iowa businesses by $40 million per year in passing HF 2663.   HF 2663 repeals the current school infrastructure local option (SILO) tax and replaces it with a statewide sales and use tax.  The Senate approved the bill 34-15, and the Governor is expected to sign it.   

Water Use Fee Legislation Sent to Governor

The House (87-9) and Senate (47-0) passed HF 2672 Wednesday.  HF 2672 establishes a fund within the Department of Natural Resources to collect fees for an enhanced water use permitting program.  The legislation places a cap of $500,000 in the legislation.  The previous fee for water use was $25 every ten years, or $2.50 a year.  The new fees will be collected annually and cannot exceed the cap placed on the Department.  After the bill is signed by the Governor, the Department will commence rulemaking to address the specifics of the legislation.

Union Bargaining Bill Watch

To date there have been no signs of a deal between the Governor and Legislature on HF 2645 allowing “open-scope" collective bargaining for government unions with binding arbitration.  The bill still sits in the Senate, under a Motion to Reconsider.  Speculation has been that agreed-to “changes” to the bill could be made in other pending budget bills.  To date, however, no language has shown up in any of the pending bills.

As this publication goes to print, Governor Chet Culver and legislative leaders have announced that the bill will be released and put on its way to the Governor's desk as is.  Now is the time to contact Governor Culver to urge his veto!

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION, TALKING POINTS, THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE TELEPHONE NUMBER, AS WELL AS A PRE-DRAFTED LETTER AND E-MAIL.

Why I invest in IIPAC

“I think that every year we get more than our money’s worth as the work we do with the Iowa legislators and lobbyists helps promote growth in Iowa and cultivates a pro-business approach for the state.”

- Toby Shine, President

  Shine Bros. Corp.

  Gold Level IIPAC Investor

Click here to make your secure IIPAC Investment!

                                 Iowa Association of Business and Industry
                         904 Walnut Street, Suite #100
                           Des Moines, IA  50309
                          www.iowaabi.org
                           515-280-8000 / 800-383-4224