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Words from Windschitl
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By: State Representative Matt Windschitl (R-56th District, Missouri Valley)
| 04/25/2008 |
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The much talked about and rather controversial proposal to increase funding for our failing road infrastructure has passed the House and the Senate and is on its way to the Governor for his signature. The bill House File 2691, also known as the TIME-21 bill, has been in the works for a few years, and I voted for it.
It has been difficult to reach an amicable agreement on how to properly and equitably fund the TIME-21 proposal. Numerous proposals have been scraped because an agreement could not be reached; once one problem with the legislation was solved two more issues would surface.
Some people will argue this bill is not equitable and a different method of funding should have been used to generate the needed money, to an extent that argument is correct. Options considered last year, which would have more evenly distributed the burden of this proposal were taken off the table by Governor Culver.
Below is a breakdown of what HF 2691 does and does not do to generate revenue for TIME-21;
* Gas Tax - No increase
* Motor Vehicle Use Tax/Fee for New Vehicle Registration - No increase
* Car/Minivan/SUV Registration Fees - Value Component Extended by two years, $50 floor
* Regular Pickup Truck Registration Fees - Moved to Weight/Value formula like cars, $50 Floor
* Business-Trade/Farm Truck Registration Fees - $150 on up
* Special Trucks Registration Fees - Increased between $20 and $45 depending on weight
* Title Registration Fees - Increase from $10 to $20; Salvage Title Fees - Increased from $2 to $10
* Trailer Registration Fees - Increase from $10 to $20 or $30 depending on size, travel trailers increase from $.20 per square foot to $.30 per square foot.
The bill creates a Business Trade Truck option for those Iowans who use their pickup trucks for business or farm applications. Under the bill, applicants have to meet certain requirements for the Business Trade Truck option. If an individual improperly applies for the business trade truck, they are required to pay the difference between the regular registration fee and the business trade truck fee.
The bill repeals the Motor Vehicle Use Tax and creates a "Fee for New Vehicle Registration". The purpose behind this is to put these funds into the constitutionally protected account. The amount of the fee paid is exactly the same as the Motor Vehicle Use Tax.
This bill is not perfect, but I believe it addresses the need to fund our roads. While it does not do it perfectly it is a step in the right direction, even if it is an unfavorable way of going about it. This is not the end of the TIME-21 discussion; it will be revisited numerous times over the next few years.
I was greatly disappointed that we could not do more for our roads in rural Iowa this session by using means that are more equitable. I believe this proposal was the only vehicle available to address the problem this year, and anyone who travels our rural roads will tell you that we desperately need to address the problem now, not later.
Win on State Education Standards
Thanks to a bi-partisan effort in the House, Iowa's school children will be better prepared to succeed in the workforce.
Senate File 2216 is the Model Core Curriculum bill, which I have covered in a previous article. The bill attempted to raise the state education standards, but it lacked real strength in the proposed language.
By a bi-partisan vote of 56-41 the House approved an amendment to SF 2216, setting the learning bar much higher than last year. The amendment states the rigorous content standards need to be in place by 2012 and fully implemented by 2014, these dates coincide with the expiration of No Child Left Behind. Nine Democrats and 46 Republicans voted for the amendment.
SF 2216 also deals with the two other key pieces of student achievement- curriculum and assessments.
Four key features of the bill are as follows:
1. Requires development of rigorous state content standards by 2012 with implementation by 2014.
2. Requires development of rigorous performance standards with recommendations due by 2014.
3. Requires an impartial review how Iowa assesses students including consideration of national and international assessments.
4. Mandates model core curriculum for grades 8-12 by 2012 and for grades K-6 by 2014
Some other key points about the bill are;
* The "model core curriculum" contains broad general guidelines for school districts and accredited nonpublic schools.
* Schools cannot be forced to buy a certain textbook or curriculum. They can't be forced to use a particular vendor either.
* Another amendment would have made the curriculum voluntary for nonpublic schools, but it failed by a vote of 48-50.
* Home school students are not impacted by the bill, except for the course they choose to take at the public school.
Public safety bills
I have received many contacts from constituents regarding the fate of House File 2381, animal fighting, and House File 2613, permit to carry weapons, while I cannot predict the future, my thoughts regarding the fate of these good bills is not very promising.
As we enter the final week of session, debate on the top priorities of the Public Safety Committee are stalled in the House and Senate.
House File 2381, the "Michael Vick" animal fighting bill, has been held up by the filing of an amendment to bill that would weaken the original language in the bill. This is the bill that increases the penalties for being a spectator at an animal fight.
House File 2613, the "shall issue" concealed carry weapons permit bill, has been sent to the Ways & Means committee, presumably to keep it alive. However, Representative (Paul) Shomshor (Council Bluffs) the committee Chairman, has not scheduled the bill for debate and appears to be running out the clock. I am assigned to serve on the sub-committee for this bill and we have yet to meet for the first time.
As always, please feel free to contact me at any time on any issue. My number at the Statehouse is 515-281-3221, and at home is 712-642-4334, or e-mail me at matt.windschitl@legis.state.ia.us.
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