Earlier this year, the Governor proposed the closing two of Iowa’s four Mental Health Institutes (MHI) without legislative input or approval.  Already, some employees have received termination notices and patients are no longer being accepted at the MHI’s.

The Clarinda MHI provides a full range of diagnostic and treatment services through its Acute Psychiatric Program.  The institute’s gero-psychiatric program provides nursing home beds for persons with mental illnesses.  In addition, the Mt. Pleasant MHI provides active inpatient treatment to adults through the following programs:

•    Center for Psychiatric Care (Adult Psychiatric).
•    Iowa Residential Treatment Center (Substance Abuse)
•    Dual Diagnosis Program (Psychiatric & Substance Abuse)

As part of the Health and Human Services budget bill, the House Majority party proposed a plan to delay the closure of the two institutes by six months.  The plan does not provide enough funding to keep the institutes open and provide the needed services to Iowans.

Many lawmakers support a plan passed by the Iowa Senate that would fully fund the institutes and keep them open.  This plan supports the highly-trained employees and the high-quality services that are provided to these Iowans.

On the final vote, the House Republican Majority passed the plan to close the institutes in mid-December of 2015.  The bill, including this proposal, now goes back to the Senate for consideration.

First Time Homebuyers Savings Accounts Passes House

The House voted to create the “Iowa First-Time Homebuyers Savings Account Act” this week.  The bill would encourage first time homebuyers to establish accounts to help save for the purchase of a house.

The program allows a first time homebuyer to subtract up to $3,000 for a single filer or $6,000 for a couple from individual income taxes for contributions to the account.  In addition, an account holder may also subtract the interest and earnings from the account holder’s first-time homebuyers account.

The account holder can use any money in the account for costs related to purchasing a principal residence.  Eligible costs include the down payment and closing costs on a principal residence in Iowa.  The account holder has ten years after the year the account is first established to use the funds in the account.

The accounts can be established at any state or federally chartered bank, savings and loan, credit union, or trust company.  The account must be an interest bearing savings account.

The bill is estimated to save taxpayers approximately $4.3 million annually once fully implemented.  The bill would not allow accounts to be set up until January 1, 2016. The bill moves to the Senate for consideration.

Republican Gridlock Continues

We wrapped up another week of overtime work in the Legislature but House Republicans are still refusing to negotiate on budget targets and education funding to help facilitate acceptance of the state budget and the closing of the 2015 session.  It’s an extremely frustrating situation when one party refuses to compromise with anyone, including their own Republican Governor.

On Wednesday, the House debated the Health and Human Services (HHS) budget. House Republicans were at odds with Democrats and even their own Governor, approving along party-lines, an HHS budget that cuts $85 million more from critical services for the most vulnerable Iowans – cuts that the Governor had not recommended in his own budget proposal. I am deeply troubled by the impact that their plan would have on the most vulnerable Iowans.  I am shocked at the audacity to propose and unilaterally pass such a disturbing HHS budget in Iowa. You can view and listen to my remarks on the budget, including the cuts eliminating funding for Prevent Blindness Iowa here: https://youtu.be/BCK4Gj9vV98.

Their plan means that Iowa children with disabilities or brain injuries will have to wait up to two years (or longer) for services.  Their plan means that there will be less support for abused children as they attempt to rebuild their lives.  Their plan will reduce access to health care for thousands of Iowans in rural areas and limit family planning and health care options for women.

The Republican plan is also bad news for Iowa seniors who want quality-of-life.  It makes it more difficult to recruit and train direct care workers at Iowa facilities and for home and community-based services.   It weakens the protection for seniors from abuse at assisted living centers and nursing homes.

The good news is that House Republicans won’t get to enact their plan without meeting at the negotiating table with the Governor and the Iowa Senate.  There’s a good chance that many of the bad ideas, offered by Republicans this week, will get “tossed” before Iowans feel the impact.

Other News This Week

•    After the Governor declared a state of emergency last week on avian flu, more cases have been found and the infection has now reached more than 25 million chickens and 750,000 turkeys in Iowa.  Legislative assistance is being considered.

•    As high school graduations continue across the state, House Republicans steadfastly refuse to offer or accept a compromise and end the K-12 school funding crisis in Iowa.

•    Iowa’s largest insurer, Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield, said it will not enter Iowa’s health insurance exchange next year.

•    A bill that may change Iowa’s texting while driving law was sent to a bi-partisan conference committee this week for lawmakers to work out their differences.

•    The Iowa House Republican leadership continues its refusal to bring the School Bullying bill, requested by the Governor and passed in the Senate (43 to 7), to the floor of the House for debate and a vote.

Lace Up For Learning

This 5k, 10k and mile run event is an annual fundraiser for our schools and students. Monies raised go directly to student supplies and activities.

Gretchen Lawyer, looking pretty in PINK, running with her colleagues and students from Garfield Elementary. Congratulations to Garfield on their 100th year anniversary!

About 500 showed up on the gorgeous Iowa spring day last Saturday. It’s about exercise, and it’s about education!

Before the race began, I had a moment to talk with Dale Todd about community involvement, and the good things happening around Cedar Rapids.

We couldn’t stay for the entire race this year, but we could make a contribution to this worthy cause. If you would like to help out, or get involved with the CR Community Schools Foundation: http://www.crcsf.com(pictured: Susan Staed)

Corridor Autism Resource Expo

I’ve been a legislator for 5 years now, but I was still surprised at the wealth of resources available for families of children with diagnosis on the autism spectrum. Almost 50 vendors were on hand at this well-attended event, and it was great to see familiar faces and meet some new people passionate about their work helping others.
You can find a complete list of the vendors on their Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/corridorautismresourceexpo

The Homestead’s Clinic Director, Brad Bezilla, spoke with me about the innovative services they offer. Their programs work not only to help people with autism adapt to mainstream society, but also to help mainstream society better adapt to people with autism. Currently, The Homestead has 25 kids enrolled, with 10 -15 more on a waiting list. The difficulty they are facing is staff shortages. If you are an ABA Therapist looking for work, contact Brad! Another issue we discussed was the tremendous need for teleheath services in rural Iowa.
More info about the services Brad provides here: http://www.thehomestead.org/

Scoutmaster Scott Thompson’s Troop 2 is for high-functioning youth with special needs. They meet at Christ Episcopal Church here in town, and have a lot of fun camping, hiking, bike riding, swimming, learning about nature…and the list goes on and on. For more info, email Scott at scoutmaster@T2BSA.org

Kimmie Andresen-Reed is the LGBT Outreach Sexual Assault Advocate at the Riverview Center. They have free services including a 24-hour crisis hotline, legal and medical advocacy, long and short-term counseling, transition assistance for domestic and sexual violence survivors, and violence prevention education programs. More info here: http://www.riverviewcenter.org/#!home/mainPage The crisis phone line is: 1-888-557-0310

Music therapists Rachel Abbe and Rosemary Riesberg spoke with me about the incredible work they do for children with autism. Music therapy is an established health profession incorporating music to promote communication, cognitive, motor, and social skills, as well as emotional and spiritual well-being. Learn more about what West music offers here: musictherapy.westmusic.com

Behavior Analyst, Kathy Petefish and Care Coordinator, Meridith Myers, work at Tanager Place. Since its founding in 1879 as Iowa’s first children’s human services agency, Tanager Place has offered caring, innovative solutions to the complex issues of comprehensive mental and behavioral health treatment for children and families. http://www.tanagerplace.org/

These police officers are smiling because they’re excited about a fantastic new program offered by the CR Police Department. Last weekend, they announced the roll-out of a voluntary registration program for persons with autism and developmental disabilities. It’s intended for individuals who may be unable to respond appropriately or identify themselves to law enforcement; children who wander or elope as a symptom of autism or other developmental disabilities; and individuals who are non-verbal or unable to communicate effectively. Parents/guardians can find the 2-page form here: http://www.cedar-rapids.org/government/departments/police/pages/missionstatement.aspx
or at the police station.

This program will assist police officers in helping citizens with special needs, keeping them safe and getting them proper assistance as needed. Thank-you, Sgt. Cristy Hamblin, and Police Volunteer Corps officers Terry Bilsland and Tony Bever for your dedication to helping our community!

I LOVE Theatre Cedar Rapids, and after learning about a fantastic program they offer children with autism, I love them even more! Peggy Somerville, James Trainor and Zach Parker explained that the theatre class “Just Right For Me” is for students on the autism spectrum. The activities they provide help develop social skills and the executive function of the brain while learning to interpret and express emotions in a safe environment. There is a fee of $160, and scholarships are available. Learn more here:http://www.theatrecr.org/just-right-for-me/

Grant Wood AEA, Early Intervention Specialist, De Wagner, spoke with me about the work she’s doing, evaluating children’s: speech, vision, hearing, behavior, emotional development and preschool readiness. Your child may be automatically eligible for services from birth to 3 yrs of age, if he/she has a known condition, is in foster care, was exposed to lead or drugs, or was born premature. Contact info here:http://www.aea10.k12.ia.us/divlearn/earlyaccess.html

Constituent Andrea Rogers is the Executive Administrative Assistant at HACAP’s Food Reservoir. She did an incredible job helping to organize last Saturday’s food drive event.

Much thanks to the National Association of Letter Carriers, AFL-CIO and HACAP for their work during the Annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. 1 in 8 Iowans struggle with hunger. This event helps create awareness and feed the hungry.

I am still hopeful my Food Bank bill, which provides 1 million dollars match to area food banks, will be included in the budget this session.

On a conference call with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to discuss the Grow America Act, and the President’s proposal for investing in our nation’s transportation infrastructure. Also on the conference call wass Julie Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Julie discussed the White House Task Force on New Americans, and the recently released recommendations that focus on developing a coordinated federal strategy to better integrate immigrants into American communities. Briefly discussed was the tuition-free community colleges.

These conference calls are offered to provide state legislators with information on federal initiatives that could impact individual states. These conversations also assist the president’s administration with particularizing problems and forming solutions in our individual states.

More information on the topics we discussed here:
http://www.dot.gov/grow-america/state-by-state/Iowa
https://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/immigration/new-americans
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/01/09/fact-sheet-white-house-unveils-america-s-college-promise-proposal-tuition

Continue Reading the Statehouse News

To read the rest of my Statehouse News go to:http://iowahouse.org/StatehouseNews/5-15-15