Greetings!
Once again, the Iowa legislative session is upon us! Iowa is at yet another crossroads in meeting the needs of its youngest residents. In 2010, we experienced the deepest economic recession since the Great Depression. As a result, state revenues eroded and jeopardized essential services to Iowa's children and their families. In 2011, the new Governor and the new Legislature face another tough budget year. Every Child Counts will advocate for solutions that create a sustainable state budget that meets children's needs.
In addition to the over-arching priority of a balanced and fair approach to budgeting, Every Child Counts sees strategic opportunities for lawmaker action on each of its three priority areas:
- Quality Early Care & Education
- Child Well-Being and Development
- Child & Family Economic Success
Children are Iowa's future, and their healthy development and well-being are critical to Iowa's economic vitality and quality of life. Investing in Iowa's children must be a top priority of state government - in health care, education, safety, and social development and well-being.
Click here to view or download the 2011 Legislative Priorities for Every Child Counts.
Thank you for all you do - We will need all your voices to stay strong and loud in the New Year.
Best ~
Sheila
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Legislative Committee Assignments
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The 2011-12 Legislative Committee assignments have been announced.
Click here to download the full listing.
Some highlights:
Health and Human Services Budget Subcommittee Co-Chairs
Rep. Dave Heaton (R)
Sen. Jack Hatch (D)
Education Budget Subcommittee Co Chairs
Rep. Cecil Dolecheck (R)
Sen. Brian Schoenjahn (D)
Education Committee Chairs
Sen. Herman Quirmbach (D)
Rep. Greg Forristall (R)
Human Resources Committee Chairs
Sen. Amanda Ragan (D)
Rep. Linda Miller (R)
Appropriations Committee Chairs
Sen. Robert Dvorsky (D)
Rep. Scott Raecker (R)
We look forward to working with the Chairs and Ranking members of all the committees!
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Federal Update
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Last week the Senate gave up on their attempt to pass an omnibus spending bill that included additional funding for child care and Head Start. Instead, Congress is working on a continuing resolution (CR) that keeps programs funded at current levels through March 4, 2011 and that does not include any of the child care and Head Start increases we fought for. As a result, up to 300,000 children and their families could lose access to these critical programs.
The failure to increase child care and Head Start funding will affect families and providers in all states in some way, so it's time for us to regroup and strategize about what to do next. Shortly after Congress returns in January, they will take up another bill to fund the government from March 4 through the end of the 2011 fiscal year (September 30, 2011). We plan to be ready to make a renewed push for child care and Head Start.
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Early Childhood Iowa Congress
and Day on the Hill
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February 9th & 10th
Register Now!
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Help Us Help Iowa's Kids and Their Families
|  | Click here to make a tax deductible donation to Every Child Counts.
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Guest opinion: Time for preschool report card
|  My boss, Dr. Charles Bruner, had a guest opinion in the Des Moines Register today. Check it out here.
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Health Insurance Rates Public Hearing
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 | | From Carrie Fitgerald, Sr. Health Policy Associate, Child and Family Policy Center and Every Child Counts |
Some of you may have heard about the public hearing in Des Moines on Saturday morning about Wellmark's proposed 11% rate increase for its individual policyholders. Iowa is just one of two states, that I know of, that holds public hearings when an insurer proposes a base rate increase that is above a certain amount. Though the hearing was held on a cold Saturday morning during the busy winter holiday season, Iowans
showed up and spoke compellingly about what the rate increase will mean to them and their ability to afford health care coverage. I encourage you to watch the video in the Des Moines Register piece that is linked above.
There will be another public hearing on January 6th at 9:00AM at the State Insurance Division office. If you prefer to leave a written comment for the Insurance Commissioner to review, you can do so here. |
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