Iowa's New Democratic State Senators

CAPTION (Des Moines) The new leadership of the Iowa Senate and the winning candidates who gave Democrats control of the Senate spoke Sunday with reporters at the Statehouse.

Senate Democrats had gathered to elect their leaders and to discuss plans to bring Iowa positive change on education, the economy and health care. On Election Day, Iowa voters decisively broke the 25-25 tie in the Senate by electing five new Democratic Senators, giving Democrats a 30-20 majority and the Senate leadership for the first time since 1996. From left to right, Senator-elect Becky Schmitz of Fairfield, Senator-elect Bill Heckroth of Waverly, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs, Senator-elect Staci Appel of Ackworth, Senator-elect Rich Olive of Story City, Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg, and Senator-elect Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids.

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NYT: Seductively Easy, Payday Loans Often Snowball

"While such lending is effectively banned in 11 states, including New York, through usury or other laws, it is flourishing in 39 others. The practice is unusually rampant and unregulated in New Mexico, where it has become a contentious political issue. The Center for Responsible Lending, a private consumer group, calculates that nationally payday loans totaled at least $28 billion in 2005, doubling in five years."

Read the complete article at:

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60A14F93A550C708EDDAB0994DE404482

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First step consumer protection against predatory lending

Leaders from the Iowa Senate and House joined Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller today in calling for fundamental reform of the car title loan industry to protect Iowa consumers.

“Last year, the reason we failed to clean up the car title industry was the Republican House leadership refused to let the bill come to the floor,” Kevin McCarthy, House Majority Leader said. “This year, we will vote on car title reforms and I expect it to pass the House with the same large bipartisan majority that approved it in the Senate. This is a first step for a new Iowa Legislature that takes consumer protection seriously.”

“The key test of any car title legislation is the interest rate. The Iowa Senate has repeatedly, with overwhelming bipartisan support, approved legislation which would cap t the interest rate at no higher than 21 percent,” said Senator Roger Stewart of Preston, who sponsored the bill last year in the Iowa Senate. “This rate is still high for a loan that is secured by your car but it is far better than the predatory, outrageous rates of 264 percent or more. Any legislation that claims to reform this industry must address the interest rate problem.”

“The one indicator of predatory lending that everybody agrees on is making a loan without regard to ability to pay,” Attorney General Miller said. “The result is that most consumers are on the ‘down’ escalator as soon as they sign car-title loan papers. It’s very risky to consumers, but the car-title loan company – with the vehicle as collateral – is risking little or nothing.”

“Elections have consequences and I’m hoping that one consequence of November’s election is that Iowans will be less likely to be victimized by outrageous interest rates and fees,” Senate Assistant Majority Leader Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City said. “Reforming car title loans should be the first step to helping consumers have confidence that financial transactions in Iowa are based on reasonable fees and interest rates.”

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Fiscally responsible Legislature will keep its commitments

Statement by Senate Leader Mike Gronstal on Revenue Estimating

“Today’s revised estimate of state revenue for the next fiscal year will help guide our efforts to develop a balanced budget that meets Iowa’s priorities.

“The new state revenue has been created by continued growth in the Iowa economy, something that the Democratic majority in the Senate will work to continue.

“It will be important to keep the bipartisan commitments that the Legislature has made in recent years to Iowa’s students, families and communities. Built-in and anticipated increases mean that balancing next year’s budget will be a real challenge.

“We are committed to working in a bipartisan manner to keep our commitments in such key areas as health care, education, job-creation and tax relief.

“The best way to be in the position to keep those promises is to adopt a fiscally responsible approach, avoid financial shell games, and comply with the state’s balanced budget law.”

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Senate committee chairs and members announced

Des Moines) The names of the men and women who will chair the committees of the next session of the Iowa Senate were released today.

The 30 members of the new Democratic majority of Senate were assigned by Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (Council Bluffs), who made his decisions in consultation with Senate President Jack Kibbie and the other members of the Senate majority. “We have an exceptionally talented and diverse group of Senators, which made it possible for me to assign a strong chair for each committee,” Gronstal said. “It is now their job as committee chairs to work with their colleagues, regardless of party, to find common-ground solutions to help Iowans and their families.” Under the Senate’s rules, committee chairs organize the work of their committees. All bills passed by the Senate must first pass through the committee process. “In recent years, the Legislature has relied too much on closed-door decisions made by a handful of senators,” President Kibbie said. “Committees are again going to be an important part of the Senate process. I expect some vigorous debate in committee and I expect the result will be good ideas that move Iowa forward by improving education, developing the bio-economy, creating new jobs, and expanding access to affordable health care.”(Below is a list of committee and their chairs and vice-chairs. A complete list of committee assignments can be found at www.iowasenatedemocrats.org.

STANDING COMMITTEES
Agriculture: Senator Gene Fraise, chair; Senator Tom Rielly, Vice-Chair

Appropriations: Senator Bob Dvorsky, Chair; Senator Matt McCoy, Vice-Chair

Labor & Business Relations: Senator Dick Dearden, Chair; Senator Tom Courtney, Vice-Chair

Commerce: Senator Steve Warnstadt, Chair; Senator Bill Heckroth, Vice-Chair

Economic Growth: Senator Roger Stewart, Chair; Senator Rich Olive, Vice-Chair

Education: Senator Brian Schoenjahn, Chair; Senator Staci Appel, Vice-Chair

Ethics: President Jack Kibbie, Co-Chair

Human Resources: Senator Amanda Ragan, Chair; Senator Becky Schmitz, Vice-Chair

Judiciary: Senator Keith Kreiman, Chair; Senator Rob Hogg, Vice-Chair

Local Government: Senator Herman Quirmbach, Chair; Senator Daryl Beall, Vice-Chair

Natural Resources & Environment: Senator Dennis Black, Chair; Senator Tom Hancock, Vice-Chair

Rules & Administration: Senate Leader Mike Gronstal, Chair; President Jack Kibbie, Vice-Chair

State Government: Senator Mike Connolly, Chair; Senator Wally Horn, Vice-Chair

Transportation: Senator Tom Rielly, Chair; Senator Jeff Danielson, Vice-Chair

Ways & Means: Senator Joe Bolkcom, Chair; Senator Matt McCoy, Vice-Chair

Veterans Affairs: Senator Daryl Beall, Chair; Senator Steve Warnstadt, Vice-Chair

APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEES

Administration & Regulation: Senator Jeff Danielson, Chair; Senator Staci Appel, Vice-Chair

Agriculture & Natural Resources: Senator Joe Seng, Chair; Senator Brian Schoenjahn, Vice-Chair

Economic Development: Senator Bill Dotzler, Chair; Senator Bill Heckroth, Vice-Chair

Education: Senator Frank Wood, Chair; Senator Wally Horn, Vice-Chair

Health & Human Services: Senator Jack Hatch, Chair; Senator Keith Kreiman, Vice-Chair

Justice Systems: Senator Tom Hancock, Chair; Senator Gene Fraise, Vice-Chair

Transportation: Senator Matt McCoy, Chair; Senator Steve Warnstadt, Vice-Chair

Government Oversight: Senator Tom Courtney, Chair; Senator Mike Connolly, Vice Chair

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New Majority Will Lead to Safe, Secure Future for All Iowa

Statement by Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal

"It appears that during the next General Assembly, Democrats will hold a 30-20 majority in the Iowa Senate. The election was a victory for our candidates, men and women who were actively involved in their communities, who listened to Iowans, and who offered a positive agenda for a safe, secure future.

As legislators, our job now is to continue listening to our constituents and to work together to find common ground. We will work with Governor Chet Culver and with all Democratic and Republican legislators seeking to develop bold, bipartisan solutions.

Top priorities include:

• Big steps to improve Iowa schools by ensuring that we have the best teachers in our classrooms and more accountability in our schools.
• Initiatives to create more good-paying jobs that will enrich the lives of workers in big cities, rural areas and small towns, including Iowa’s continued leadership in renewable energy.
• Legislation that makes health care more affordable and accessible for more Iowans.

New Democratic Senators:

• Rich Olive, Story City (Senate District 5)
• Bill Heckroth, Waverly (Senate District 9)
• Rob Hogg, Cedar Rapids (Senate District 19)
• Staci Appel, Ackworth (Senate District 37)
• Becky Schmitz, Fairfield (Senate District 45)

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Senator Black Speaks to Iowa Veterans

Senator Dennis Black addresses a crowd of veterans. Hundreds of veterans visited the capitol to advocate for legislation that benefits veterans and active duty members of the armed services. Senator Black has been an advocate of legislation that includes home buying assistance, grants to injured veterans, the veterans property tax credit, lifetime fishing and hunting licenses, and educational assistance for the children of deceased veterans.

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