There was a lot of activity on one bill this past week (Mar 17, 2008). While smoking control has been a dominant issue these past weeks, a bill that would expand the scope of public sector unions has surpassed the focus on smoking control.

Collective Bargaining
HF2645 was passed out of committee as a language clean-up bill.  Late Tuesday, Representative Rick Olson filed an amendment to the bill (scheduled for debate early Wednesday morning) opening the scope of public sector union bargaining. This bill, while controversial in and of itself, has also been criticized for the process used to bring it forward. The Republicans in the House caucused most of Wednesday hoping for the public to become educated on this bill. The debate went well into Thursday morning and continued into Thursday afternoon before passing on a party line vote 52-47.

The bill strikes current code which limits negotiations to "matters mutually agreed upon."  It also gives government unions the power to negotiate determination of the health insurance carrier, class size, discipline and discharge, grounds for discharge and imposition of other discipline, levels and types of disciplinary measures, and procedures for resolving disputes; work uniforms and equipment, including allowances for uniforms and equipment; staffing levels and retirement systems and "other terms and conditions of employment."  School boards, cities, counties, public hospitals, state schools and universities will lose great authority in the bargaining process. Unfortunately, those entities must use the taxpayers' money in the bargaining process and will lose the ability to take issues off the table under the HF 2645. The result is likely an even greater burden on property taxes. The city of Des Moines estimates at least a 7% increase in property taxes.

Additionally, local school boards will lose ability to evaluate, discipline and terminate teachers. Under HF 2645 the teachers' union may bargain for evaluation procedures, including the frequency of evaluations, the method of evaluation, evaluation forms and other evaluation instruments, evaluation criteria, the purposes for and use of evaluations, and remedial and employee performance improvement plans, evaluation criteria, the purposes for and use of evaluations, and remedial and employee performance improvement plans.

Senate Democrats remain set on fast-tracking HF 2645 through committee onto the floor for debate today (3/21/08) before adjourning for Easter weekend. To allow the public more time to weigh in against the bad policies, politics and procedures behind this bill, Republican Senators spent the night in caucus. (Senate rules allow either side to meet in caucus without any official action taking place on the floor without them.)  Senate Republicans have vowed to stay through Easter week-end if needed.

SILO
In other action this week (Mar 17, 2008), a bill that would expand the SILO tax (location option tax for schools) to be statewide was passed out of committee. The committee did strike the use tax on vehicles and offered protection for the funds to stay with infrastructure and property tax needs.

Tobacco Control
With the House and Senate not reaching an agreement on the tobacco control issue, the bill now goes to conference committee.  If, and I stress if, a compromise is reached in conference, the bill would be sent to the House and Senate who either vote it up or down.  They cannot amend it.

Property Tax Relief
Most people have given up on major property tax reform for this year. The Property Tax Study group is to report back in January 2009. Most legislators have deferred on this, waiting for a recommendation from the study group.

Business groups continue to ask for health care reform, funding for brownfield clean up, K-12 education standards and no changes to Iowa's Right to Work status, prevailing wage, choice of doctor or TIF.

These are just a few of the many bills in front of the Legislature.  To track legislation or listen to the debate in the House or Senate, log on to www.legis.state.ia.us. 

If you have any questions or would like more details please contact me at smentzer@cedarrapids.org or 319-730-1404.  - Sara Mentzer