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Your Capitol Voice: Hush-money practices must end
by Bobby Kaufmann, State Representative · Op-Ed · April 10, 2014
Session is officially in the stages of closing down. I think my prediction of a pre-Easter adjournment is still possible.
This week should be one of the three busiest weeks of the session. Decisions, debates, and votes are likely to come on some very important topics.
There should be a debate in the House on Tax Increment Financing reform this week. I have spoken frequently in the past of a need for TIF reform for situations where it is being abused from the perspective of the taxpayers and school funding. The proposed legislation would not affect the communities in my District but would address situations like those in Coralville.
I also expect final decisions regarding the expansion of the new apprenticeship program proposal and ensuring the protection of local control and our community colleges in the workforce development process.
Curbing eminent domain abuses is also likely to get its hearing this week, too. Finally I look for the final version of Iowa’s first elder abuse law to emerge this week or next.
Last week I was very pleased to see the Economic Development budget pass the House 97-2. I am the vice-chair of this budget and I worked hard to make sure everyone’s voice was heard in the budget process. Split government and bipartisanship does work and my budget committee is proof of that. In Iowa, we pass responsible budgets. We are not Washington, D.C.
A few highlights from that budget:
The budget that was approved was a $42.6 million investment to promote economic growth in Iowa. Funding will flow to the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the Department of Cultural Affair, Iowa Workforce Development, and other state agencies. The bill will decrease the number of state employees by 16 positions through attrition and efficiencies. Most of the budget’s new money is devoted to initiatives to increase job growth and income throughout Iowa. It fosters student internships in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields by providing matching funds to employers who hire STEM interns. It also increases funding for apprenticeships and job training programs that are designed to increase workers’ skills.
This week was also an important step forward for my EMS volunteers and firefighters initiative. On Tuesday, the House passed HF-2459, which doubles the tax credit for volunteer firefighter and volunteer emergency medical services personnel to $100. It also offers the tax credit to reserve peace officers who provide volunteer services. Let me be clear … this is not yet enough and I will be back every year I am in the House to get to the $500 level I initially proposed. Getting there will be in increments and this session, through a lot of hard work from advocates, we are moving in the right direction. I want to recognize our friends and neighbors who volunteer their time for these services. Their tireless efforts are the lifeblood of rural Iowa. We have much work left to do and I am committed to leading the charge. The legislation was sent to the Senate for their consideration.
Finally, I wanted to address the settlement issues you have all been reading about:
On Wednesday, the House Government Oversight Committee passed House Study Bill 684. The bill will ban the use of confidentiality clauses in personnel settlement agreements for public workers. In addition, the bill makes public the reason and rationale for an employee dismissal, demotion, or resignation in lieu of a termination. Under current law, only certain personal information (such as name, dates the individual was employed, the fact that the employee was discharged, etc.) is allowed to be public information.
The bill seeks to remedy a practice in state government that has been used during, at the least, the last two Governor’s administrations. Last week, Governor Branstad issued an executive order banning the confidentiality clauses for future agreements and also made public all settlement agreements signed during his administration.
House Study Bill 684 codifies Governor Branstad’s executive order, ensuring that the practice of writing nondisclosure clauses into settlement agreements will not be practiced in future administrations. In addition, it will allow the state to disclose why certain disciplinary actions were taken against a state employee, potentially helping another employer from making a bad hire.
The bill will advance to the House floor for full consideration. I support these reforms and the end of all such practices in any administration. Period.
Thank you all for the hundreds of e-mails I received on the topic of legalization of fireworks in the state. I am carefully counting and analyzing your responses. There have been strong opinions on both sides. I will write about your responses in my next column. It now looks like a vote will not happen this year, but it is still a live issue and eventually I will be casting a vote on it. I want to reflect your wishes.
You may contact Rep. Kaufmann at Bobby.Kaufmann@legis.iowa.gov, 563-260-3355 or 1527 330th St. Wilton, IA, 52778
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