How big a difference does it make if Democrats control at least one-half of the legislature-see here

Iowa House sends heavily amended spending cut bill to governor
by: desmoinesdem
Mon Feb 21, 2011 at 16:53:10 PM CST

House File 45 heads to Governor Terry Branstad's desk today after the Iowa House approved the "deappropriations" bill by a 95 to zero vote. The bill was the top legislative priority for House Republican leaders, but the Democratic-controlled Iowa Senate eliminated many of its controversial provisions last week. The full text of House File 45 is here, and the complete bill history is here. The Senate Journal for February 17 contains roll calls for votes on House File 45 and various amendments (pdf file). The final Senate version of House File 45 passed with 48 yes votes. First-term Republican Senator Mark Chelgren voted against the bill, and Republican Senator Sandy Greiner was absent.
Thanks to the Senate amendment, state funding for preschool, family planning, passenger rail, smoking cessation programs, and the core curriculum live to fight another day in the Iowa legislature. So do the Power Fund, the Office of Energy Independence, and the Grow Iowa Values Fund, all economic development programs long targeted by statehouse Republicans.

In addition, the Senate removed language from House File 45 that would have reduced funding for state universities, area education agencies, land acquisitions by the Department of Natural Resources and the Resource Enhancement and Protection fund.

The Senate's version of House File 45 also did not include language creating a "tax relief fund" that would have collected surplus revenues after state reserve funds were filled.

After the jump I've posted an overview compiled by the Iowa House Democratic research staff on "major items eliminated" by the Senate amendment to House File 45. I've also listed some other significant points of divergence between the Senate and House versions of this bill, as well as key points on which the Senate left House File 45's language intact.

Finally, I've posted the House Democratic research staff's explanation of language that would create searchable databases on the state budget and tax rates.

desmoinesdem :: Iowa House sends heavily amended spending cut bill to governor
Iowa House Democratic Research Staff
H-1091 Senate Amendment Summary
HF 45 FY 2011 Budget Deappropriations
February 21, 2011

{List of what the Democratic-controlled Senate managed to get deleted from the final legislation}



In addition, language trying to revoke $30 million in I-JOBS funding for the Disaster Prevention Grant program didn't make it into the Senate's version of House File 45.

I was also pleased to see that the Senate's amendment to House File 45 did not include language repealing ten smart planning principles and thirteen comprehensive plan elements that were added to the Iowa code during the 2010 legislative session. Repealing the smart planning language would not have saved any state funds and would have impeded sustainable development at the city and county level.

House Republicans had sought to eliminate all sabbaticals at state universities for 18 months, even though doing so would cost more in grants awarded than it would save university budgets. The Senate version of House File 45 "limit to no more than 3% of the faculty staff members employed at each institution." In effect, that will allow all the sabbaticals already approved by the Board of Regents to go forward.

Side note on cost-saving measures going nowhere: Iowa House Appropriations Committee Chairman Scott Raecker announced on February 21 that House File 84, which would have required the sale of the University of Iowa's Jackson Pollock painting "Mural," will not move forward this year.

http://www.bleedingheartland.com/diary/4587/iowa-house-sends-heavily-amended-spending-cut-bill-to-governor