As part of the Iowa Republicans: Real Solutions for Iowa’s Families initiative, Iowa Republicans announced The Liberty Agenda: Putting People First

Iowa Republicans are united in support of returning to the notion that it is Iowans that run government, not the other way around. Since 2006, the final year in which Republicans controlled at least one chamber of the Legislature, Iowa’s government has become bloated and unresponsive. The focus has become on what is best for the bureaucracy and maintaining the status quo, rather than what is best for Iowa’s families.

As Iowans have seen numerous times over the past several years, government is erecting barricades in front of them instead removing roadblocks to their success. Government has become too large too fast and it is time to make sure government is accountable to Iowa’s families.

Here is what Republicans will do if Iowa voters give us the opportunity:

Allow Iowans the Right to Vote on Marriage
While Iowans differ on the ruling handed down by the Supreme Court, all Iowans can agree that the people’s voice has been silenced. There is currently a disagreement between the branches of government. A vote of the people will solve this disagreement. This single act by an individual has been held as the final arbiter in this state and this country for over two centuries. Yet this fundamental democratic act is being thwarted by Democrats who control the Legislature.

Republicans propose that the citizens of Iowa be allowed the opportunity to determine the definition of marriage in Iowa. This is a judgment that should be left in the hands of the citizens, not unelected judges or an unresponsive legislature. Iowans deserve a voice.

A Return to the Fundamentals of Government
As Iowa’s government has expanded, the role of government has changed drastically from one that focuses limited resources on priorities to one that intrudes into trivial matters at the expense of safety.

Since 1998, the final year in which Republicans were in control of state government, the bureaucracy paid for by the taxpayer has increased by over 4,149 employees. This increase has failed to provide additional investments into the men and women that protect us as we travel across this state. In fact, since 1998 Iowa has gone from 355 state troopers to only 288 troopers protecting Iowans. This reduction of 67 troopers occurred while the rest of the bureaucracy grew and state spending ballooned to the highest point ever recorded.

Iowa’s government has become unbalanced and out of touch with what Iowa families need and how they want their tax dollars to be spent. Over the past three years alone the bureaucracy has grown to include:

7 new employees in the Governor’s office [1]
2 new gardeners for the Governor’s mansion [2]
20 new employees to collect more taxes [3]
4 new employees to create a data warehouse that is not used [4]
Nearly 1,000 vacant but funded positions [5]
Republicans propose to return to the 1998 level of troopers within the next 5 years. While it took a decade for this reduction to occur, Republicans will be aggressive in identifying areas of savings that could be utilized to increase the number of troopers protecting Iowans.

The Iowa Good Neighbor Act
Synonymous with being an Iowan, is being a good neighbor. A neighbor offering to watch your child when the school bus comes in the morning or a grandparent spending time with their grandchildren are examples. These are gestures that can make a huge difference to a family looking to balance the demands of work and parenting. Republicans believe that government cannot be allowed to get in the way of Iowans who rely on family and neighbors.

This fall in Michigan a mother was singled out and nearly fined by Michigan’s version of the Department of Human Services for simply allowing the children waiting in her driveway for the school bus to instead wait inside her house if it was raining or cold. The state decided she was a daycare and attempted to fine her for being unregistered.6

This brought to mind Iowa Democrats’ attempts in 2007 to force grandparents to register as daycare providers if they were watching their own grandchildren on a regular basis. Iowans, whether they are neighbors or grandparents, should not be targeted by the Department of Human Services for simply offering a helping hand. This is why Republicans will offer the Iowa Good Neighbor Act to protect Iowans from the intrusive hand of big government. If Iowans want to lend a helping hand by watching a child, they should not be subjected to nanny-state meddling from government.

The Iowa Good Neighbor Act will put into Code specific protections for family members and neighbors who are simply being good Iowans. They will not be defined as a daycare or a daycare provider unless they are specifically offering that service.

The law will put strength behind families and neighbors, not behind the intrusiveness of government inspections. Paternalistic, nanny-state policies are on the rise at the national level and Republicans want to make sure they don’t spread to Iowa.

References:
[1] 2007 HF 874 Administration and Regulation Budget and 2008 SF 2400 Administration and Regulation Budget
[2] 2007 HF 874 Administration and Regulation Budget
[3] 2007 HF 874 Administration and Regulation Budget
[4] 2007 SF 588 Education Budget
[5] 2009 LSA Projection
[6] ABC News Website 11/19/2009 http://abcnews.go.com/US/michigan-mom-shun-daughters-schoolmates/story?id=8712305

Iowa Republicans: Real Solutions for Iowa’s Families is a joint project of the Republican Party of Iowa and the Republican Iowa House and Senate Caucuses. Through this project Iowa Republicans will promote a series of bold solutions to the problems facing our state in areas ranging from the budget to education, the environment and energy, family, health care and transparency.

The Legislative Democrats have been claiming that they cut spending this year (not including the Governor’s 10 percent across-the-board cut). That really isn’t accurate.

Even discounting the $150 million of general fund stimulus funds used in FY 09, the FY 09 general fund budget was larger than the FY 08 budget. The only real cut in spending is the 10 percent across the board cut. And the primary reason for that cut was the overspending by the Democrats over the past 3 years.

Here is a chart of general fund spending, including stimulus funds and the across the board cut, going back several years. It shows that Democrats approved the three largest budgets in the history of the state, even after the 10 percent cut. The numbers used in the chart are from the Legislative Services Agency.

General Fund Spending

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Contact: Josie Albrecht (515) 419-1038

Paulsen Issues Statement on Governor’s Budget Announcement

(DES MOINES)—Today House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) issued the following statement in response to the governor’s budget plans:

“If the governor had not signed the largest budget in the history of the state, we would not be in this fiscal mess.

“Adding to our problems, I am concerned about the lack of leadership from the governor’s office on the $250 million tax increase that he has pushed on the backs of Iowa property taxpayers. Now is certainly not the time to be raising taxes.

“A year ago House Republicans undertook the job of diving in to the state’s budgets to try to find efficiencies and savings. We will continue our efforts of a line-by-line review of state spending, offering positive solutions to bring the budget back in check.”

###

The following editorial ran in the Des Moines Register on October 14th:

What to cut from state budget? For a start, cut state employees’ pay
by: House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen

Gov. Chet Culver and legislative Democrats have a spending problem. They spent too much and cut too little. As a result of this self-created crisis, the governor forced his hand and ordered a 10 percent across-the-board budget cut - an across-the-board cut that was almost entirely avoidable. These cuts are the result of two things: bad planning and back-room decisions in the middle of the night.

To read the rest of the article, click here:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009910140330

Windschitl and Deyoe Elected to Republican Leadership

(DES MOINES)—Today Reps. Matt Windschitl (R-Missouri Valley) and Dave Deyoe (R-Nevada) were elected as Assistant Minority Leaders in the Iowa House.

As Assistant Leaders, Windschitl and Deyoe will work with the leadership team to set the agenda for the House Republican caucus. Working directly with the Minority Leader and Whip, the two will relay information to fellow representatives, while also serving as a point-person on key legislative issues. They also work with new legislative members to ensure a smooth transition.

Windschitl was first elected to the Iowa House in 2006. He works for the Union Pacific Railroad and is also a gunsmith. He and his wife, Ivy, have two children.

Deyoe was also elected in 2006 and is a farmer on his family farm. He and his wife, Deborah, have two children.

“Reps Windschitl and Deyoe are valued assets to our caucus in the House,” said House Republican Leader Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha). “They are both dedicated representatives who will no doubt bring a great deal of insight to our leadership team.”

Windschitl and Deyoe were elected by their Republican colleagues Tuesday.

###