Bacon Beacon The Iowa House of Representatives continued our progress on passing a budget that lives within ongoing state revenue at a time when national indicators point to an economic slowdown. By the end of this week, the House will have debated the five budget bills that we are responsible to start: Federal Block Grants, Transportation, Infrastructure (RIIF), Administration & Regulation, and Education. Additionally, the House Appropriations Committee is expected to have considered four of the budget bills started by the Senate: Agriculture & Natural Resources, Economic Development, Judicial Branch, & Justice Systems. This will leave two bills yet to begin the process - Health and Human Services and Standings. Both of these bills are to start in the Senate. All of the budget bills moved by the House will be funded within the on-going revenue estimate for FY 2016 which is $7.1755 billion. The need to keep on-going state spending within this amount was evident again on Wednesday when the U.S. Commerce Department released figures on the first quarter’s gross domestic product. First quarter GDP for calendar year 2015 slowed to 0.2 percent growth. (Ouch). The Washington Post stated that the national economy “ground nearly to a halt.” The actual growth rate was well shy of the 1.0 percent growth predicted for the quarter and the 2.4 percent growth rate experienced in 2014. The sluggish economy is sending cautionary signals to economists and policymakers across the country. Here in Iowa, the recent discovery of avian influenza in major turkey and chicken flocks has the potential to have a major impact on the ag economy. And state revenue growth for Fiscal Year 2015 still remains below the figure projected by the Revenue Estimating Conference. Also on Monday, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Northey appeared before the House Appropriations Committee to describe this outbreak and what additional state financial resources are being used by the state/IDALS in this investigation and eradication and clean-up effort. Also discussed was what additional funds might be needed in this effort. IDALS noted that Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Iowa Department of Public Health considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low. No human infections with the virus have ever been detected, and there is no food safety risk for consumers. IDALS is cooperating in partnership with the Iowa Department of Public Health are working directly with poultry workers at the affected facility to ensure proper precautions are being taken. People should avoid contact with sick/dead poultry or wildlife. If contact occurs, wash your hands with soap and water and change clothing before having any contact with healthy domestic poultry and birds. The IDALS press release advised that all bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard flock owners, should continue to practice good biosecurity, prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to state/federal officials.
