Legislators say governor?s plan designed to create jobs

Area representatives, Rep. John Whitaker, Sen. Becky Schmitz and Rep. Larry Marek, spoke during the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast Saturday morning at Best Western Fairfield Inn.

Fairfield Hy-Vee Food Store director Randy Menke questioned Gov. Chet Culver?s $750 million stimulus plan.

?The governor has a lot of things in there Iowa needs,? commented Whitaker, listing the Rathbun water supply updating, sewer projects, roads and bridges repairs. ?There are some attractive things in the package, and some not so attractive things in the package.?

?It seems pretty aggressive,? Marek said. He is hoping as many roads as possible can be addressed.

Schmitz said the governor?s plan includes $4.1 million for a community correction facility in Ottumwa.

?The more you get people treatment, the more success you have getting them back into the community,? she said.

Schmitz also pointed out, with unemployment increasing, the package is designed to create jobs.

?Construction jobs have been hit the most,? she said, explaining if construction jobs increase, ?they you have a ripple effect.?

Culver?s stimulus plans spends about one-third of the $750 million on transportation projects with smaller amounts spent on flood relief, water quality improvements and other efforts.

Culver would pay for his plan by issuing $750 million in bonds to be repaid over 20 years with $56 million annually from gambling profits.

Spending proposals include:

? $250 million for transportation projects, including $200 million to repair roads and bridges, including those damaged in last summer?s flooding.

? $175 million to pay for projects already planned, such as renovating the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown and proceeding with work at the state?s community colleges.

? $150 million for repairing flood-damaged public buildings and other facilities.

? $100 million for water quality and wastewater treatment programs.

? $75 million for local infrastructure projects, such as bringing broadband technology to rural communities.

John Morrissey of Morrissey Law Offices questioned if Iowa?s judiciary system would become one of the state?s ?sacred cows? and not have to deal with budget cuts. He explained having courts closed for furlough days and clerks? offices closing early because of cut funding make it difficult for work to be done.

Schmitz pointed out that 90 percent of the judiciary budget is used for personnel, and if the budget is cut, personnel is cut.

Whitaker added the idea behind the stimulus money is to prevent layoffs, ?so we might have some money to put there.?

But Schmitz, Whitaker and Marek all said they are not on the judicial committee and suggested Morrissey contact someone on that committee.

The legislators also responded to a question about long-term health care.

Schmitz said lawmakers have been lobbied by AARP to put more money in at-home care than long-term care. She pointed out it saves money if services can be provided at home and a move to a long-term care facility delayed.

?More people are having to go to public assistance than before,? she said.

?If you can keep a person at home, you get $4 to $5 return for every dollar invested,? said Marek. ?It?s cheaper to do in home, with a homecare worker, than in long-term. You need to be cost effective.?

Whitaker pointed out people who buy long-term care insurance should be aware of exactly what the policy covers; some do not include in-home care.

?We?re trying to work within the health care system,? he said. ?I don?t know how we get in front of that.?

For the complete article, see the Monday, March 16, 2009, Fairfield Ledger.