Sunday, January 11, 2009

2009 Legislative Session


Monday morning at 10a.m...it begins. It seems like everyone has different opinions on just how much Iowa lawmakers will have to cut on next year's budget. But the upper end looks like about $800 million. That's about 250 bucks for every Iowan, if my math is correct (it usually isn't).

Expand the smoking ban, broaden the bottle bill, raise the pay for state union workers, increase the gas tax, cut income taxes...what should lawmakers do, besides the budget? Tell us. Tell THEM.

I was leaving the gym on my way to work today. A woman pulls up next to me (I must say this again...I was leaving the GYM). And I see her scarfing down the rest of this...


Yes, a large McDonald's fries. Good luck on the treadmill, lady!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fix the smoking ban. The law right now is a joke. Casinos WILL survive if smokers have step outside. Illinois banned smoking in casinos and it's not like they all closed their doors.

Anonymous said...

How about just start cutting the budget? Come on. If Culver and his buddies would have spent a lot less of our money last year, they wouldn't be so screwed this year!

Anonymous said...

Cut spending, and then do no harm.

I know! How about working on some bipartisan legislation for a change instead of ramrodding liberal pet projects down are throats like they did the previous two years.

Anonymous said...

you were saying that we are going to be sorry we have the demacrats in office. But the way I see it the republicans got the country into the mess were in now so any change hopefully has to be for the better. If they would trim some of the fat off the government such as all the perks they get from our tax dollars that would be a start to put some money in the buget.

Anonymous said...

Cut the welfare budget. Have the dads support their children-This would cut some of the ADC.
Why are local council members in Carroll asking for a 3&5% raise when hospitals are asking health professionals and teachers to freeze or retire,and more are being laid off every day? Hope they get their head on straight b/4. its too late. Bernie B

sweetangel1967 said...

I think that they should lookat the npo child left behind act. Cause it just gives teachers and children a reason not to learn. And looking into tougher laws for child support as far as collections and interstate cases. And reviewing if the Iowa chils support angency is really doing their job.

Anonymous said...

Get the millions of dollars Romonia Cuttingham and her cronies stoled from the state back. Prision is too good for them, they should be working to pay it back; like being out on the highway changing the stop and slow sign with a tee shirt that states "I am Romona Cuttingham."

JH

Anonymous said...

have those convicted in c-tex trail and those that will be, start paying back the money they owe, sell their house, cars, ect. collect the money put it back in the budget. let them start fresh and suffer like alot of other people are doing. Shut down the manson and move to smaller easy to take care of home, saves on heating bills, and let culvers wife clean the place she the one having the tea partys and has time to drive around in state cars smoking, when theres a law. cut pattys hours to part time or least 3 day work week don't ever hear her doing anything anyway. altoona grouch

Anonymous said...

right now they need to retract all legislation passed last year and start anew,

Anonymous said...

The cost of Gasoline was the main reason why this country is in a mess. Everyone blames the housing market. The problem is the homeowners had to choose putting fuel in their vehicle to go to a low paying job and paying a high price mortgage because the banks were raping them with interest payments. Now we want to add additional tax to already unstable market in gasoline. I know the extra money will be used in road repair. Well I am sorry but it seems the roads that are repaired are in the Des Moines Metro area. I live in rural Iowa and the roads around here are terrible. You have to watch were you drive on major roads because many have huge holes. Travel Hiway 71 north and south and you will know what I mean. The individuals that live in rual Iowa are the ones who have to travel further and will be using more of the fuel and making the governement extra money, but they do not see any of the reward. Please cut other fat at the capital, maybe politicians shoud work a month without pay I am sure that would save the state some money and not cut further into the individuals income.

Anonymous said...

Preschool…Deserving??
Why, why, why? When are we going to drop this culture of people telling us that all and everyone DESERVE everything just because they live in the USA? Tonight I heard on the 6 o’clock news a state politician say that every 4 year old deserves good preschool education… what have these 4 year old done to deserve ANY preschool education? Because they are born here are we now going to say they deserve a free college education too, and then they deserve a job paying at least $100,000 per year thereafter?
Please report the news not try and make news. Common sense and the bank balance show us we cannot afford to pay for preschool education or babysitting for preschool aged children any more. If we balance our own check books and see we have to cut back or risk losing everything why is it so difficult and reported by you with the tone of depriving 4 year old of some life sustaining resource.
Let’s all grow up beyond the mentality of 4year olds and live within our means and accept more personal responsibility.

Unknown said...

Why ask if the state should pay to help smokers stop smoking. What happened to the millions given by the tobacco industry? I thought that was to go for smoking problems, and the high tax on cigarettes where does it go. I think we owe it to allocate the funds the smokers deserve.