Sustainable funding SJR 1

Sustainable Funding (SJR1 & HJR1) goes before the Senate Natural Resource Committee on Tuesday. Sen. Dearden, SNRC Chair, stated this is his main priority for the session and wants to move it out of committee as soon as possible.

If your legislator is on the committee please contact them, It’s very important this comes out of committee with strong support.

If you are not sure who your legislator is, please use link below.

http://www.legis.state.ia.us/FindLeg/

Senate Natural Resources Committee

Dick L. Dearden (D, District 34), Chair

Tom Hancock (D, District 16), Vice Chair

James F. Hahn (R, District 40), Ranking Member

Merlin Bartz (R, District 6)

Dennis H. Black (D, District 21)

Joe Bolkcom (D, District 39)

Gene Fraise (D, District 46)

David Johnson (R, District 3)

Steve Kettering (R, District 26)

Larry Noble (R, District 35)

Amanda Ragan (D, District 7)

Brian Schoenjahn (D, District 12)

Dr. Joe M. Seng (D, District 43)

what is the content of this bill? I can’t seem to find it on the net

Here ya go:

Proposed Constitutional Amendment to Dedicate Funding for Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources

For many years, Iowa has failed to commit the funds necessary to truly protect and enhance Iowa’s natural resources and outdoor recreation opportunities. Serious needs must be met before Iowa will have healthy water, land and wildlife.

For two years, we’ve been involved in research and study led by bi-partisan members of the Iowa legislature along with many of the state’s leading conservation, environmental, sportsmen, and agriculture advocates. Senate Joint Resolution 2002 reflects this committee’s unanimous recommendation for providing essential, stable state funding for natural resources.

This bill begins the process to amend Iowa’s constitution to guarantee that revenue generated by the next 3/8 of one cent increase in Iowa’s sales tax must be dedicated to protect and enhance:
o Water quality,
o Natural areas including parks and trails,
o Fish and wildlife habitat, and
o Conserving agricultural soils.

This funding would be constitutionally protected in the “Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund.” The Fund must be audited annually and cannot be spent for any other purpose.

The trust fund would provide funds for the work of many state and local conservation agencies as well as non-profits.

It is important to understand what this legislation does and what it doesn’t do:
o This bill DOES start the process to ensure that IF the legislature raises the sales tax, the first 3/8 of a cent must be dedicated to enhancing our state’s natural resources

o This bill DOES NOT raise taxes, nor does it give voters the ability to raise the sales tax—only the legislature can do that. Even if this constitutional amendment is adopted, only the legislature can approve the sales tax increase that would be needed to provide funding

http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=BillInfo&Service=Billbook&ga=83&menu=text&hbill=SJR1

This is a constitutional ammendment to protect 3/8 of a cent of the next sales tax increase for natural resources and outdoor recreation. which would amount to about 150 million.

This passed last year and must pass this new legislature and then be voted on in the 2010 general election.

Minnesota just passed similar legislation this past election and Missouri has had this type of funding since the 70’s

The resolution passed the Senate committee with a unanimous vote.
The House committee assigned the bill to its subcommittee on Thursday will likely consider the bill on Tuesday (Jan 27).
House Natural Resources Committee Chair Paul Bell stated that he wanted this to be the first legislation out of the committee.

The House Natural Resources Committee members are:

Paul Bell (D, District 41), Chair
John W. Beard (D, District 16), Vice Chair
Dave Deyoe (R, District 10), Ranking Member
Richard Arnold (R, District 72)
Clel Baudler (R, District 58)
Gene Ficken (D, District 23)
Daniel Huseman (R, District 53)
Jim Lykam (D, District 85)
Larry K. Marek (D, District 89)
Mike May (R, District 6)
Dolores Mertz (D, District 8)
Eric Palmer (D, District 75)
Henry V. Rayhons (R, District 11)
Jason Schultz (R, District 55)
Sharon Steckman (D, District 13)
Annette Sweeney (R, District 44)
Phyllis Thede (D, District 81)
Linda Upmeyer (R, District 12)
John Whitaker (D, District 90)
Wesley Whitead (D, District 1)
Ray Zirkelbach (D, District 31)

HJR1 passed the House Natural Resources committee unanimously (21-0) yesterday!!!!

Thanks you to all who have helped so far!!

Mark your Calendar:

There will be a Rally at the Capital to support Sustainable Funding on Tuesday February 17th . We willl meet at the Wallace Building auditorium at 10a.m. From there we will head to the capitol and speak to legislators urging them to support the sustainable funding legislation.