Johnson County health director Ralph Wilmoth asks about bill for food inspection fee increase. Bolkcom expects progress, has been meeting this week. Need to fund adequate personnel. Wilmoth says inspections split between counties and state; some counties sending responsibility back to state; staffing inadequate. Johnson County spends $230,000 on it; half tax dollars half fees. Mascher notes e.coli outbreaks and says this raises public awareness of the importance.
Foege notes that legislation has "three p's: Partisanship, policy, and personalities." And veto of previous bill had much to do with personalities. Wilmoth said food inspection is not about punishment, it's about protection.
Liz Crooks from the school board asks about early childhood.
Mascher says many K12s have preschools included now, but not one per building and some districts have none. Looking at allowable growth for other preschools in area, for consistency and continuity. Also looking at hiring and qualifications. Important not to shut down private programs. Some districts have private providers in the K12 building, and many provate providers making important contributions. Need private provider registration. Everyone should be registered in 3 to 5 years.
Foege says it's great that Mascher is so passionate about this issue that she ran through the timer's STOP sign (many chuckles) Important that kids get home visits from day one.
Schmitz says Senate looking at same issues; districts crying out for help in this area.
You know, I almost miss the old bash the Republican leadership rhetoric. Almost.
Some discussion of kids with disciplinary issues and the difficulties thereof. Jacoby says need to work with DHS on payments, current rate structure antiquated.
Bob Welsh encourages bipartisanship (with trifecta what's the point?!?) Senior Living Trust Fund restoration and livable communities.
Dvorsky suggests amending stem cell research to clone Bob Welsh. Jacoby discussed joint communication centers, says he's had help from rural Republicans. Not all splits in legislature are partisan. Dvorsky notes bipartisan help on minumum wage. Foege says he was always included in process while in minority because of some personal relationships, those relationships remain even though roles have changed.
So they disagree with me on the bipartisanship. Oh well... the difference btween the legislators who have to get stuff done with the other side, and the activist who's focused on elections.
Mascher notes that only one House Republican has ever served in the minority. (she ignore Dough Struyck who served as a minority Dem and then turned traitor). Dvorsky says only two GOP senators have been in minority, but the 2005-06 tie has helped working relationships. Schmitz notes a "hazing" question from a GOP senator; other GOP senators apologized later.
Pat Jensen asks about electoral reform issues. (speaking of I'm now noting the presence of Auditor Slockett as well)
Lensing has electronic filing bill; it's bipartisan. Main argument against has been that some legislators have computer-illiterate camwhich paign treasurers (!) Campaign reform election being split into smaller pieces, as many as 60 bills.
Jacoby says chair Pam Jochum is very active. Elctronic filing: timing is another question. Good joke: "Data entry error: couldn't tell if Rants got $100,000 or $1 million from tobacco."
Bolkcom supports public finance, but not sure if public support is there. Current e-filing system is very archaic and tedious. Bill filed to make stricter referendum filing (cited public power) and mentions smae day voter registration (I applaud but no one else does)
Dvorsky notes public finance passed but vetoed in Branstad era. Praised Mike Mauro and expects initiatives from his office including same day legislation.
Mascher: "yes, yes, yes." Foege: "Ditto." Foege notes that legislators specialize and he's looking to Lensing and Jacoby's leads on these issues. Dvorsky says Charlie Smithson underfunded.
Janelle Rettig asks broad question about alternative transportation: aviation, trails and ethanol.
Bolkcom expects trail $ to double to 2 million. Bill Dotzler looking at bonding to raise funing to 30 million. Rails good in long run but in short run should increase bus and van in IC-CR corridor. Not much point in putting ethanol in 18 MPG vehicles, need to look deeper.
County Attorney Janet Lyness gets applause at self introduction. Says new Johnson County Human Rights ordinance should expand to state. Asks legislators to review the 2000 foot law - ineffective and counterproductive. Has seen jurors acquit despite evidence because of the law! Also seeing people less willing to plea because of it. Also wants to see a drug court at 6th judicial district; we're the only one without one.
It's damn nice to see her here and engaging the legislators; never saw Pat White at one of these. Public statements matter.
Lensing and Foege discuss supportively. Bolkcom says county attorneys have been helpful and educational on 2000' law, but public still supports it. Dvorsky says intent is to be tough on sex offenders and make policies that work; hearings start Monday. Hoping for human rights ordinances in other communities.
Auditor Tom Slockett offers support to cleean elections, paper trail and election day voter registration. Also plugs the February 13 election, says turnout is low thus far. Asks for legislative changes to ease early voting process. Jacoby asks about workability of same day registration.
Nearly quitting time and here come the students! Always the best questions. The kids are older this year as the teacher who does this has moved to the new North Central Junior High.
Long applause for the kids. Out of time, Beaumont signs off the air. But the legislators will go ahead and answer the kids.
Mascher reiterates the tobacco tax and discusses affordability of higher education and full regents institution funding.
Jacoby discusses efficiency of ethanol production. Says it reduces foreign oil dependence, but we weren't prepared for increased corn production. Need to look at switchgrass and other methods. Says "right on" to the regents question.
Schmitz says re: mandatory sentencing we need to look at treatment as well as punishment, and praises the troop kid support question. Foege says he'll ask veterans' commission about the issue.
Lensing says we need to increase bottle redemption rate before expanding bottle bill. Bolkcom says there's a bill for hybrid tax breaks. Dvorsky discusses upcoming appointment of four new regents.
And that's the ball game!
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