The Bottom Line

by District 28 State Senator Mike Breitbach

In the Senate this week we took up the education funding bill. The Senate bill set Supplemental State Aid at 4 percent for the next budget year, and 4 percent for the following year. The Legislative Services Agency indicates this will overspend our budget by $75 million for next year and $516 million for the following year. Since state law does not allow us to overspend our budget, something will have to give.
I expect this bill will go to the House and they will “insist” on their number. This bill will end up in conference committee, and hopefully we will get some solid numbers for our schools soon.
A subcommittee meeting was held Wednesday afternoon on an infrastructure bill.  This bill would increase fees on oversized loads, restrict counties from bonding and increase the current fuel tax by 10 cents per gallon. This would provide about $215 million in revenues to fix our roads and bridges. Thirty-four percent of the increase in revenues would go to our counties. This bill will now go to the full committee next week for a vote.
I did receive my first bill to chair in a subcommittee.  This is very rare assignment for a Senator in the minority. Having a background in transportation and keeping a good working relationship with the “D” Chairman of the committee has helped. I’m hoping this is a sign we may be moving to a better functioning legislature. I want to give a big thank you to Senator Bowman.
My Senate email is michael.breitbach@legis.iowa.gov or you can call me at 563-920-7399.
If you would like to schedule a time for me to meet with your local group please feel free to contact me to see if we can find a time that would work out.  
Please listen to my interviews with Darin Svenson on KDEC radio (Decorah) at 7 a.m. every Thursday morning, or listen online at soundcloud.com/kdecnews.
Please join me at upcoming forums:
February 21 - 9 a.m. - Oelwein Farm Bureau - Oelwein Luigi’s; 11:15 a.m. - Decorah City Hall
February 28 - 10 a.m. – McGregor Public Library
March 7 - 10 a.m. – Freedom Bank in Postville (parking available at the grocery store across the street)
March 21 - 9 a.m. Oelwein Farm Bureau - Oelwein Luigi’s; 11:15 a.m. Allamakee Farm Bureau
March 28 - 10 a.m. - Garnavillo Public Library.