DES MOINES – Gov. Terry E. Branstad on Jan. 10 delivered the 2017 Condition of the State address, entitled “Smaller and Smarter Government,” to the Iowa General Assembly and the people of Iowa.
In his address, Gov. Branstad struck an enthusiastic tone that this new General Assembly brings new dynamics, new expectations and new opportunities to deliver positive results for Iowans. The governor spoke about the need for a responsible budget including submitting adjustments to the current fiscal year and the need for a biennial budget for fiscal year 2018 and 2019 that sets supplemental state aid for K-12 education in the first 30 days of the legislative session.
Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds’ program initiatives for this upcoming session include a commitment to a smaller and smarter government, a focus on the jobs of today and tomorrow, obtaining a 21st century education for all students and making our Iowa roads safer.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS:
- Adjustments are required by law.
- Does not include across-the-board cuts.
- Does not reduce funding for supplemental state aid for K through 12 education.
- Does not reduce property tax credits.
- Modernized Medicaid resulting in over $110 million in savings for Iowa taxpayers.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- The governor and lt. governor’s 2-year budget is again balanced and stable.
- The budget fits within five-year budget projections.
- Based on the principles laid out by the Iowa Taxpayers Association.
- Prioritizes education, health care, economic development and public safety.
- Gives schools the predictability and stability they need with an increase of over $78.8 million in supplemental state aid in fiscal year 2018 and includes an additional $63.5 million for fiscal year 2019.
- Modernized Medicaid resulting in $232 million in savings for Iowa taxpayers.
- Redirects family planning money to organizations that focus on providing health care for women and eliminates taxpayer funding for organizations that perform abortions.
SMALLER AND SMARTER GOVERNMENT:
HIGHLIGHTS: Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds are calling for replacing the current antiquated collective bargaining system for public employees.
- Move to one comprehensive statewide health care contract for public employees.
- This will provide quality health care to public employees at a significantly lower cost and give local governments more flexibility to provide better wages and meet other needs.
- Rewards public employees for taking ownership of their own health by conducting health risk assessments and taking other actions that improve their own health.
- Work with the General Assembly to address unnecessary barriers that prevent competition and raise costs through a series of regulatory and licensing reforms.
FOCUSING ON THE JOBS OR TODAY AND TOMORROW:
HIGHLIGHTS: Modernizing water quality infrastructure that will create jobs in rural Iowa and promote cleaner water.
- Calling on discussions to begin with the House-passed water quality bill from last session which provided for a long-term, dedicated source of revenue for implementation of projects outlined in the Nutrient Reduction Strategy.
- Prioritizes initiatives that will grow the state’s talent pipeline including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Future Ready Iowa, registered apprenticeships and work-based learning for Iowa students.
21st CENTURY EDUCATION:
HIGHLIGHTS: Legislation encouraging all elementary, middle and high school students to have access to high-quality computer science programs by 2019. We want them to:
- Offer at least one high-quality computer science course in every high school;
- Provide exploratory computer science curriculum in every middle school and;
- Include an introduction to computer science basics in every elementary school.
- Establish high-quality computer science standards.
- Create a computer science professional development incentive fund to train teachers.
- Convene an advisory group to recommend how to count computer science as a math credit toward high school graduation.
SAFER IOWA ROADS:
HIGHLIGHTS: Traffic fatalities spiked from 315 in 2015, to 402 in 2016. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds believe this is unacceptable.
- They are calling for legislation that drastically reduces the amount of distracted and impaired drivers on Iowa roads.
- Restrict the use of mobile devices while driving.
- Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds are also calling on the legislature to examine and implement strategies from the Department of Public Safety’s task force that will make Iowa’s roads safer.
Click here to read the entire address as it was prepared for delivery.
