Newsletter Week Fifteen

Chuck Holz COMMITTEES STATE REPRESENTATIVE Fifth District Statehouse: (515) 281-3221 e-mail: [email protected]...

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Chuck Holz

COMMITTEES

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Fifth District Statehouse: (515) 281-3221 e-mail: [email protected]

HOME ADDRESS 17585 Lake Avenue LeMars, IA 51031 Home: (712) 546-7547

House of Representatives State of Iowa Eighty-Sixth General Assembly

Agriculture Commerce Economic Growth Transportation APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE

Agriculture and Natural Resources

STATEHOUSE

Des Moines, Iowa 50319 Friends, As we start this week, I believe the Legislature is entering its final week or two of session. We are basically down to funding the budget to help keep the state operating. These budget bills must be passed in both houses in the same form and sent to the Governor for approval. If one either the House or Senate doesn’t agree then they must go through a conference committee to reach an agreement. The end of last week we did pass a budget bill in the Subcommittee Agriculture and Natural Resources. This has remained steady for the last few years. Earlier we passed the Justice Department bill which helps fund the Judicial Branch, and public safety. We were also passed the Economic Development Authority Budget. Right now were working on a bill for the Health and Human Services. This is an important bill since it pertains to Medicaid issues that we’ve been dealing with throughout the session. Another important bill regards the mental health and disabilities services. These are county wide budget that is monitored for how much can be assessed for property taxes to cover these expenses. Currently, there is a wide range of assessed amounts throughout the state. The Senate version of the bill would cap this at $47.28 per resident. This is the highest amount that is charged by any county in the State of Iowa. Currently, Plymouth County, Woodbury County and Sioux County are in a group. Their assessed values are lower than that. At some point in time it is likely that we will have to equalize in these various groups in order to cover these mental health/disability services that each county group has to cover. I am very pleased that we were able to passed HF 2460 which is a bill regarding health and human services budget for 2017. This is a $1.8 billion budget and makes up a large percentage of the state’s budget. This bill has major changes to the Medicaid portion. There is an autism support program, mental health redesign program and many other issues along the mental health area. This is a responsible bill and we are trying to maintain the state’s physical integrity and yet provide the services that are important to the people of Iowa. This bill passed in the House with a vote of 56-42 which is basically party lines. It is likely that this bill will end up in Conference Committee. An oversight proposal was attached to this bill which will be hammered out by the House/Senate in order to keep good oversight to the Medicaid Privatization Program that went into effect as of April 1st. This is a good bill for Iowa and helps keep the state with a balanced budget. SF 2314 is the 2017 Administration and Regulations Appropriations Bill. This bill is approximately $50.8 million budget that funds many activities at the statehouse which includes the Governor’s Office, the State Auditor’s Office, Inspections and Appeals, Management, Human Rights, Secretary of State, Department of Revenue, Treasurer’s Office and the Ethics Campaign Disclosure Committee. All of these are important to the State of Iowa and need certain funding. There was approximately $1.1 million in reduction of funds to these departments. In appropriations, the Bank Examiner’s Board received an increase in funding to hire more personnel. This bill passed in the House along party lines 56-42. I’ve really enjoyed serving the people of District 5 and I want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to do so. Please visit me at the town hall forums. Feel free to contact me anytime using the information at the top of the newsletter or let me know of anyone who would like to receive this newsletter. Sincerely, Chuck Holz