The View from Here

Budget
This week included an historic event for me. The Administration & Regulation Committee approved a budget that reduced what taxpayers spend on 13 different state agencies. The reduction was only half a percent across the board, but I don’t recall any other actual decrease in funding of a government agency during my term. The reason for the decrease in funding to these agencies is the spending increases to education and Medicaid and the slow growth in Iowa’s revenues. There are needs that are being put on hold because Republicans and Democrats have different priorities and making targeted cuts is very contentious.
Renewable fuels tax-credit
On Wednesday, we passed a bill extending the tax credit on renewable fuels. The tax credit on E-15, E-85 and diesel with over five percent biodiesel was extended from December 31, 2017 to January 1, 2025. The purpose of the bill is to encourage fuel retailers to continue to offer ethanol products and biodiesel in Iowa.
Reading proficiency
We also debated a bill regarding the reading proficiency of students in the third grade. This bill reinforced that intensive reading instruction should begin early if a student’s assessment shows they are “persistently at risk.” We had good discussion on the Senate floor about the harm done by holding a child back a grade in order to help them catch up in their reading skills. This was a bill that had some good points (early detection and help) and some points I didn’t like (retaining a student at a grade level for more than a year). It is my hope the good points will be maximized and the bad points minimized. Senator Chelgren made some great remarks about the problems schools have meeting the needs of students at various levels in one classroom. We must strive to keep the needs of the student our objective.
Climate change
It has come to my attention that Iowa’s Attorney General has joined a coalition of mostly East Coast Attorneys General.  This group has stated they “will use all the tools at our disposal to fight for climate progress.” It would appear their intent is to intimidate and silence businesses and organizations that do not subscribe to the government’s conclusions that man and fossil fuels are driving climate change.
The Attorney General of North Dakota has stated this will “muzzle public discussion and intimidate those with a differing opinion on the issue of climate change” and “is a blatant misuse of the power of their offices.”
The actions of this coalition could provide a real chilling effect on the discussion of climate change and vigorous debate should be encouraged.     
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
I am hoping to see this year’s session end by April 20.  It is an honor to represent the people of Senate District 4. You may contact me at dennis.guth@legis.iowa.gov or (641) 430-0424.