IPERS, CAFOs among items discussed at first legislative forum of 2018 held in Waukon
by Lissa Blake
More than 30 people attended a legislative forum Saturday, January 20 hosted by Iowa Senator Michael Breitbach of Strawberry Point and State Representatives Kristi Hager (District 56) of Waukon and Mike Bergan (District 55) of Dorchester. Each of the three legislators - all of whom are Republican - gave a short introduction explaining their recent work in Des Moines.
Hager said she is working on a bill which would allow State departments to save up to 10 percent of their general funds, as long as the budget is growing every year. She also has been working on a bill that would allow the public to purchase property owned by the State that has been vacant for over five years. If someone is currently leasing the property, they would have the first chance to buy it.
She also talked about the “tax me more” fund, where state residents would be able to earmark additional tax liabilities for certain State causes, such as improved water quality. Hager said she also has advocated for having a bible literacy course being taught as an elective through public high schools.
“It would deal with the bible’s historical relevance to the faith of the founding fathers … many of their speeches came out of the bible,” said Hager, adding 45 states have already enacted a law allowing for bible education as an elective.
When one attendee asked why other religions wouldn’t be offered the same opportunity, Hager said she was “focusing more on the bible’s political and historical significance in framing America.”
Bergan said he has been busy working on modifications to the State’s mental health and substance abuse commitment rules and tweaking the child abuse investigation process.
Breitbach said he continues to push for a transportation equity bill, which would level the playing field with regard to urban and rural school districts in Iowa. “Right now, transportation comes out of a district’s general fund. In rural districts, they have less dollars per student to spend on actual education,” said Breitbach.
PUBLIC QUERIES
When one forum attendee asked Hager if she voted to close Luster Heights, she responded she voted to de-appropriate the Department of Corrections. When asked if she felt it was a conflict of interest because Hager later put forth a proposal for an alternative use for the property, Hager said she was just trying to find another use for the property.
For several years Hager ran an organization called Living Stone, an organization which helped women who were recently released from jail get back on their feet. The organization was funded primarily through the donations of churches and others.
“It was not for personal gain. I never took a paycheck from Living Stone,” said Hager, adding even though she had 285 signatures backing her proposal, it was turned down.
According to Breitbach, the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife is slated to lease that Luster Heights property in the near future.
IPERS
On the subject of the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS), one attendee asked Breitbach how he felt about rumors the fund could change to a 401K. Breitbach, who serves on the State’s IPERS Review Board, said the IPERS program is close to being in trouble.
“If you talk with actuaries, the optimum goal of a program like this is to have it 100 percent funded. A fund is considered in trouble at 80 percent. Iowa is running at about 81 percent (funded), which means we are about $7 million short,” said Breitbach.
Breitbach said in order for IPERS to convert to a 401K, it would have to be 100 percent funded. He said he realizes this might not be good for attracting young people to State jobs. “When you look at millennials … I’ve got four kids, and none of them has ever stayed at a particular job for more than six years. Young people want their retirement funds to be portable,” he said.
CAFOS
When another attendee asked Breitbach if he still held the opinion that decisions for locating and siting confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) should not be made at the county level, Breitbach said he does.
“I have talked to several supervisors … they don’t have the expertise. The Department of Natural Resources has people who are specifically and specially trained … What are the qualifications to become a supervisor? Living in the county and getting more votes than anyone. The same qualifications required for me to become a senator. Does that make me an expert in deciding how and where a CAFO should be located? If you expect our supervisors to do that, how are you going to train them?” said Breitbach.
HOME SCHOOL VOUCHERS
On the subject of home schooling, one attendee asked if the legislators supported home-school scenarios being able to receive the State’s per pupil funding (currently around $6,600) for education at home. “I do support a $500 tax credit for books,” said Hager.
Breitbach said with the state’s declining enrollment and the speed at which technology is changing, he does not support a home school voucher.
JOB TRAINING
When another attendee asked the legislators how they are planning to support community colleges in their effort to create a qualified workforce, the legislators talked about the difference in funding streams to community and state colleges. Bergan said he felt it was extremely positive that many high school students are able to take college courses while still in high school.
Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) President Dr. Liang Chee Wee, who attended the forum, said his school is doing its part to narrow the disparity for student funding. He said many of the college’s training programs, such as the John Deere tech program, are made possible through partnerships.
TERM LIMITS
When someone asked if the State would ever see a constitutional convention to impose term limits for political office, Breitbach said, “I don’t know …”
When that same person asked, “What do we need to do?”, Breitbach answered, “I don’t know what it’s going to take. One side doesn’t care at all, the other side seems to be split.”
