I fully support budget savings and streamlining government, making it more effective and efficient. However, The Big Government Reorganization bill voted on today, created short-term savings with long term problems. The bill produced temporary quick fixes to a budget.
It is riddled with severe consequences for many Iowans.
- It affects the mentally handicapped
- It affects the organizations that provides services to these people
- It creates 23 more government employees.
- It creates another layer of bureaucracy
- It hurts property tax payers
Senate Republican tried to amend the bill by:
Government reorganization starts by changing the culture of reckless spending. True reform in government starts with basic parameters that hold down spending. The Republicans had the following amendment that started this process.
- Sunsets all government programs over a 4-year period. This will allow the legislature and agencies to see whether each program is producing results. Decisions can be made on whether we cut or continue each program.
- Creates a 2/3rds vote on the passage of all bonds. In the past few years it’s been the bond spending that has created a deep financial hole. This will stop the thought of whimsically spending Iowa’s future revenues.
- Propose that the legislature pass a Constitutionally 99% spending limit
- Creating a government wage system that pays employees like the private sector. It also gets government wages in-line with the private sector.
- Ends taxpayer funded lobbying
- Requires state employees to share in the cost of health insurance. This allows for a strong partnership between the government and its employees.
Bi-partisanship works by talking and working together. If this would have occurred last year, we could have already saved 25 million this year! We offered the Phantom employees amendment but, the amendment had an “R” behind it last year and it was not taken.
As you can see again this year, since we were cut out of the process by the governor, we again offered an opportunity to work together by making this a better bill, but it was refused!!! Every amendment was refused!!!! So much for bi-partisanship! I guess the executive and legislative branches are one in the same. Very disappointing. I can only hope the House uses better reasoning, and this bill comes back as better policy. We owe that to the taxpayers of Iowa.
Final Bill vote: 35 yes votes 15 no votes