Issues in education – safety, funding and transportation – were the primary topics of discussion between Iowa House Representative Tom Moore, Senator Tom Shipley and their constituents during a community legislative coffee Saturday in Creston.
Two companion bills – House Study Bill 598 and Senate Study Bill 3080 – that seek to provide incentives for schools to use “therapeutic classrooms” and other options to address increased reports of volatile behavior in classrooms moved to through the legislative process last month and have been added to the debate calendar.
“That’s a very big deal for safe classrooms,” said Shipley. “There are stories all over about … I had never heard the term ‘room clear’ until the last couple years. It’s where one kid’s causing trouble, starting to tear the room apart and they got to take everybody else out of the room while he gets it out of his system … it happens a lot of places.”
Shipley said in some cases, students have been removed from classrooms for long periods of time as educators address violent behaviors of one child, which is disruptive to the learning process. The goal of new legislation seeks to improve the learning environment and safety for all students.
Education transportation
State lawmakers approved SF2164 which provides additional funding to help address the growing costs of transporting students to school.
The Iowa House and Senate appropriate just over $7.6 million to this fiscal year’s budget for transportation equity funding. The additional money would be distributed to schools who spend more than the statewide average to transport their students to school.
“You’ve heard me rail on that for years,” said Shipley.
Shipley said Creston will not receive as much because its transpiration costs per student are $246 per student as most of its students live in town. Shipley compared Creston to CAM Community and Southwest Valley school districts, where transpiration costs per student are $632 and $935 per student, respectively. Shipley said Corning has one of the highest transportation costs in the state, and therefore will receive approximately $234,000.
“What’s important to point out, that $243,000 is now not being spent on bussing, but is now in their general fund that they can spend for other things for students,” said Moore.
“In my Senate district, (the increase in funding) ... will amount to over $1 million,” said Shipley. “That just gets those kids similar opportunities to what those kids get in Waukee, Norwalk, Johnson and I think that’s kind of important.”
Felon voting rights
Last week, felon voting rights were a topic of debate in the Iowa Senate.
“It’s not going as far as what the governor would like,” said Shipley. “We aren’t going to let just any felon have their rights back.”
Shipley said there will be a proposed constitutional amendment to address sexual assault, murder and other violent crimes.
“The bill we passed would put some definitions and limitations on what that amendment … would be able to do,” said Shipley.
Despite what the state legislators pass, the governor will maintain the power to grant a felon their voting rights back on a case-by-case basis.
SNAP
Rules and regulations around the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program were discussed as Iowa overpaid SNAP benefits by $40 million in the last fiscal year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“Iowa was fined $1.8 million dollars because it misappropriated money on food assistance,” said Shipley.
Shipley said SF2366 – a work requirement plan will map out who’s eligible and what individuals need to do to maintain their benefits, should they need them.
“All you have to do to still keep on those benefits is volunteer for 20 hours …or working 20 hours a week,” said Shipley.
Some exceptions would be made for women who are pregnant, home school, working or medically exempt, among other things.
“If you choose to not work and stay home or just do whatever because you don’t want to, most people in Iowa seem to believe in Iowa that’s not right,” said Shipley.
Coming up
Shipley, who serves as co-char on the ag and natural resource appropriations committee said issues such as water conservation will be discussed tomorrow. A new budget is being discussed, but he said he still disagrees on some things.
Questions
Moore and Shipley were asked if they support Invest in Iowa Act with the regressive sales tax.
“The invest in Iowa act is a greater picture to be inclusive of the Iowa recreational land trust that everybody voted on 10,12 years ago …that if sales increased, 3/8 of a penny of that would go to water quality, trails, natural resources, Iowa department of land, parks and all of that,” said Moore. “Do I support that? You bet. The problem with that, you have to raise the sales tax.”
Moore said a sales tax increase from 7 to 8 cents would harm Iowa’s most vulnerable – the poor. He said lower income people won’t benefit from tax breaks found in property or income tax relief packages because most low-income residents do not own their own homes and make so little.
“Their income, being smaller, is affected more greatly by sales tax. We have all kinds of exemptions within our sales tax, like food being one of them,” said Moore. “As senator said, the Invest in Iowa Act raises sales tax a penny … that doesn’t sounded like a lot, but it’s going to affect everybody.”
Wind energy
The legislators were asked what the legislature has done, or is doing to alleviate the crisis in communities with the rapid installation of wind turbines.
Moore said this is a county issue.
“They are the ones that allow those setbacks, and the rules and regulations around that,” said Moore. That’s a local issue ... The number one thing we in the House get criticized for … is taking away local control.”
“Private property right is part of that equation too,” said Shipley. “Who am I to tell somebody what they can and can’t do with this place … It’s one of those things that sounds simple, but its not simple anymore.”
Meet your legislators
The next legislative coffee with Moore and Shipley is 8 a.m. April 11 at the Creston Restored Depot. The event is open to the public of all ages and runs approximately one hour.