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Your Capitol Voice: Looking into flaws, delays of new prison
by Bobby Kaufmann, State Representative · Op-Ed · February 05, 2015
The first full week of session has come and gone and this means committees are in full swing and bills are pouring into the chambers from individual legislators and committees.
This column will outline my trip to the Fort Madison prison as well as a brief summary of the bills I have filed so far. (There are many more to come.)
As Chair of the Government Oversight Committee, my chief job is to guard against the waste of your tax dollars.
Over $130 million of your tax dollars have been invested into a new prison facility designed to protect citizens from criminals.
This facility is behind on its opening date by over a year and still has some major issues to fix before it can be fully operational.
On Friday I took a bipartisan group of Representatives and Senators to tour both the old facilities and the new. It is clear that a new facility was needed.
The old facility has some significant structural concerns, including leaking walls and ceilings and ancient equipment. I commend the prison staff for making do with what they have.
I am also supportive of the new facility because when it opens it will be an excellent addition to Iowa’s criminal justice system.
My job in the coming weeks is to find out who is responsible for all the costly flaws and delays, if the state can recoup tax dollars, and find a way to get this facility open.
During the campaign and before session started I had spoken with many of you about bills you wanted me to file and support.
Here is a list of some of those, although know that there are many more. Also know that there is a two-year period in which these bills are “live.” Our General Assembly sessions are set up in two-year increments of time for bills.
Local foods – I have met with many of the local foods producers in the area and have filed a bill that will strengthen opportunities for new local foods producers as well as tools to help existing producers.
Seniors – I have co-sponsored language with Democrats and Republicans that would invest $1 million dollars into a state match program to help feed hungry seniors and strengthen our local senior centers and “Meals on Wheels” programs.
Veterans – Language is almost complete that will provide protections for fallen soldiers. It should never be legal to protest and disrupt a funeral. Families mourning their loved ones also have a First Amendment right to a peaceful funeral. I will not back down from this.
DHS – Many of the childcare providers in the area have met with me and expressed many concerns regarding DHS. We are going to start the process of putting together language that will aid those providers and allow them to focus on what they do best – care for children.
Eminent Domain – I have filed half-dozen bills that are aimed at protecting private property rights. Whether it be the lake in Clarke County or the Rock Island Clean Line, I will push hard to ensure that one of the most fundamental rights we have as a citizen — the right to not have our property seized — is protected.
EMS – Language is being worked on that will provide another increase to our EMS and firefighter volunteers tax credit. I will also continue to look for way to help EMS become an “essential service” in Iowa code. This designation is the only permanent solution to our EMS/firefighter funding issues.
Education – Next week I plan on focusing my entire article on K-12 spending as well as higher education. This is one of the most hotly debated issues and the fiscal challenges here are monumental.
Amidst all of the policy bills including the issues above, the budget process has also started.
Because of built-in spending commitments in Medicaid, education reform, and backfilling local government as part of property tax reform, the budget is tight.
The scaled-back Revenue Estimates also place pressure on the budget which does have new money, but not nearly as much as predicted in the interim.
In the end, this will likely be the greatest challenge of the session.
Much more about that in many more future columns.
Capitol Visitors: Wayne Frauenholtz, Joanne Brookshear, John Phillips, Mike Owen, West Branch; Robert Metzger, Wilton; Mike Gaeta, Muscatine.
You may contact Rep. Kaufmann at bobby.kaufmann@legis.iowa.gov, 515-281-3221 or 1527 330th St. Wilton, IA, 52778
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