Hope all of you had a happy new year!  It is time once again to turn our focus to the legislative session.  The first session of the 84th Iowa General Assembly will convene Monday, January 10th and is scheduled to end on April 29th.

House Republicans unveiled their first bill earlier this week and they refer to it as the Taxpayers First Act.  You can view the text of the bill here and the Republican Staff analysis here. You can read the Iowa House Democrats reaction to the bill here. 

Some areas of interest from bill:

• Elimination of the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program (also calls for expansion of preschool tuition assistance program through Early Childhood Iowa - no details on amount or guidelines)
   

• Eliminates Power Fund, after current liabilities are funded

• Eliminate Office of Energy Independence, Ag & DNR budget sub decides responsibilities
• Eliminates core curriculum, Education Committee sets new standards as of July 1, 2011
• Cancels all Regents university sabbaticals for 18 months
• Eliminates Just Eliminate Lies, Quitline Iowa and other smoking cessation efforts
• Eliminates the state family planning waiver

On another note, I encourage you to find us on Facebook and "like" us (click on Facebook icon below).  I will be able to provide day to day (hour to hour) updates on what is happening in the Legislature on the Every Child Counts Facebook page.  I will provide weekly updates or more, if needed, through the ECC newsletter.

I look forward to working with all of you as we keep children a priority this legislative session!

Best ~
 

Sheila