REPUBLICANS IN THE IOWA SENATE HAVE APPROVED THE GOVERNOR’S NEARLY 16-HUNDRED PAGE BILL TO REVAMP STATE GOVERNMENT.
THE PROPOSAL SHRINKS THE NUMBER OF AGENCIES FROM 37 TO 16.
A LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY ANALYSIS INDICATES THE BILL, AS WRITTEN, WOULD SAVE ABOUT 12-POINT-FOUR MILLION DOLLARS NEXT YEAR, MOSTLY DUE TO THE ELIMINATION OF MORE THAN 200 FULL-TIME POSITIONS IN STATE GOVERNMENT THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY FILLED.
SENATOR JASON SCHULTZ OF SCHLESWIG SAYS THE BILL’S NEEDED BECAUSE IOWA CURRENTLY SPENDS MORE, PER CAPITA, ON STATE GOVERNMENT THAN FIVE OF OUR SIX NEIGHBORING STATES.
SHRINK1 OC……..GOING ON HERE. :06
DEMOCRATS, SUCH AS LIZ BENNET OF CEDAR RAPIDS, ARGUE THE BILL WILL DESTROY THE INDEPENDENCE OF OFFICIALS WHO REVIEW CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINTS, OVERSEE FIRE SAFETY COMPLAINTS, MANAGE PROGRAMS FOR BLIND IOWANS AND ADVOCATE FOR CONSUMERS WHEN UTILITIES SEEK RATE HIKES:
SHRINK2 OC…..OF EVERYDAY IOWANS.” :06
THE GOVERNOR’S PLAN NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE.
