Report by Deb Carter: Andy Bock, Jean McMaken and Deb Carter went to lobby day in Des Moines on March 3, 2010. The day started at the Embassy Suites with refreshments and remarks by President Danny Homan, Deputy Political Director Mitchell Stille, and Legislative Director Marcia Nichols, who discussed, among other things, the status of the Fair Share legislation. We were asked to encourage our legislators to support Fair Share and Governor Culver’s Education budget and thank them for doing so. AFSCME membership is up to 14,268
statewide
- that number will decrease with employees that take early retirement. Vic Elias of the Iowa Children and
Family Policy Center talked about the revenue problem in Iowa.
He maintained that the revenue decline shouldn’t be fixed only through
spending less and cutting services that Iowans depend on.
He advocated closing tax loopholes and getting rid of wasteful tax
credits. Our breakout group was with other
Regents
employees and Regent lobbyist Keith Saunders. Individuals spoke
to Keith about inefficiencies and policies at their institutions and
Keith explained how the funding in the legislature might happen with
a lower beginning allotment and a later reversion as happened this year. Awards were presented to Friends of
AFSCME and AFSCME Road Crew and maintenance members for their service.
After a nice lunch, we left for the Capitol where we had photo-ops with
our representatives. Andy, with other AFSCME members, lobbied for Reasonable Reimbursement with Representative Lisa Heddens. (Please write to Representative
Heddens with your reasons supporting reasonable reimbursement. She needs to
hear from us!) Debbie thanked State Senator Herman Quirmbach for
his support of reasonable reimbursement legislation and they talked briefly about
his meeting with the Chamber in Ames and his clarifying comments
regarding reasonable reimbursement on an Ames radio program. AFSCME was personally welcomed
by the Governor who provided refreshments in his office. |
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