Iowa's new Democratic Legislature worked with Governor Culver to fill Iowa's state savings accounts to their highest level ever: $592 million. That's a growth of more than $400 million in the last four years. In related news, since 2004 the Legislature has repaid $163 million of the $300 million owed to the Senior Living Trust Fund.
Various versions of the Rainy Day Funds chart.
First-term State Senator Rob Hogg sent his constituents the following list of 70 accomplishments from the 2007 legislative session.
Seventy Accomplishments for 2007 (you can review all bills in the "bill book" at the legislative web site, www.legis.state.ia.us)
EDUCATION
Preschool ($15 million per year) (HF877)
4% allowable growth for schools ($108 million) (SF109)
Teacher pay (approximately $4,000 per teacher) (SF277)
Grants for "supplemental strategies" to reach grade level ($2.5 million) (SF588)
More aid for private school students and school tuition organizations (SF588/SF601)
Math and science initiative ($200,000 grant) (HF829)
Before and after school programs ($1 million) (HF907/SF588/SF601)
Record level of support for community colleges
$12.4 million general aid increase (SF588)
$2 million dedicated for community college faculty salaries (SF601)
$4.5 million dedicated for renewable energy workforce (HF927/HF911)
New biorenewable research facility at Iowa State (HF911)
New institute for biomedical discovery at University of Iowa (HF911)
Bonding for new chemistry building at Iowa State (HF920)
Bonding for new college of public health building at Iowa (HF920)
Additional $25 million for university operations and tuition control (SF588)
Increase in Iowa Tuition Grant Program ($1.8 million increase) (SF588)
Create All-Iowa Opportunity Grants for college aid (SF588/SF601)
HEALTH CARE
Raise tobacco tax (SF128)
Funding and outreach to add 10,750 children for health coverage (HF909)
Funding to add nearly 6,000 low-income parents under Medicaid (HF909)
More funding for tobacco prevention & cessation (~$12 million) (HF907/HF909)
Allow additional stem cell research (SF162)
Authorize small business health insurance pooling (HF790)
Require insurers to accept uniform health insurance applications (SF346)
$17 million in new funding for county mental health/disability programs (HF909)
3% provider increase for all child welfare providers ($3.2 million) (HF909)
Lead testing for students by age 6 (HF158/HF909)
ENERGY AND ECONOMY
Create Iowa Power Fund ($25 million for four years) (HF927/HF918)
State energy plan including policy recommendations (HF918)
Climate change advisory council (SF485)
Renewable energy workforce programs ($2.5 million) (HF927)
New transportation funding formula (HF932)
Expand historic preservation tax credits from $6.4 million to $20 million (SF566)
Create Iowa film industry incentives (HF892)
Targeted industries expansion, including workforce, lean manufacturing (HF829)
Fund state and local housing trust funds ($2.5 million) (HF911)
Extend the community attraction and tourism program to 2013 (SF601)
Additional funding for tourism ($250,000) and Main Street ($400,000) (SF562)
Additional funding for small business development centers ($250,000) (SF562)
Recreational Trails - $2 million (HF911)
REAP funding - $4 million increase (SF551)
Expand civil rights protections (SF427)
"Generation Iowa" Commission (HF617)
PUBLIC SAFETY
Keg registration (HF650)
Expand child abuse prevention programming ($200,000) (HF909)
Trooper overtime pay (SF601)
Opened new Oakdale prison facility and added 37 correctional officers (SF575)
Create drug court in Linn and Johnson Counties (SF575)
Community corrections mental health facility in Cedar Rapids (HF911)
Hire additional OSHA inspectors to comply with federal guidelines (SF562)
"ZERO POVERTY" INITIATIVES
Raise the minimum wage (HF1)
Cap interest rates for car title loans (HF5)
Authorized new short-term, small-dollar loans by credit unions (SF347)
Fully funded legal aid ($2 million) (SF575/SF601)
Expanded the earned income tax credit ($10 million) (SF590)
Assessment and resolution program for energy assistance ($400,000) (HF909)
Fully fund child care assistance to avoid waiting list ($16.4 million increase) (HF909)
FAMILY AND SENIOR ISSUES
Fund office of substitute decision-maker (HF909)
Alzheimer's training and task force and dementia care training (SF489/HF909)
Continue funding for case management for the frail elderly (HF909)
Continue phase out tax on social security and increase in filing threshold
Grandparent and great-grandparent visitation (HF909)
Foster care sibling visitation (SF480)
Funding for the Chief Justice's Children's Justice Initiative (SF563/SF575)
VETERAN ISSUES
Veterans homeowner assistance program (SF95/SF601)
Injured veterans grant program (SF95)
Vietnam Veterans Bonus (June 30, 1973 to May 7, 1975) (SF578)
Expand charitable bingo and raffles (SF414)
ELECTION ISSUES
Same day election voter registration (HF653)
Voter verified paper trails (SF369/HF911)
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Fill the cash reserve fund ($444 million projected)
Restore the economic emergency fund ($138 million projected)
Repay the senior living trust fund ($144 million projected)
Fully funded the state Medicaid program (HF909)
School sharing and reorganization incentives (SF447)