The World According to Joe

Iowa State Senator Joe Bolkcom sent this "short list" out in his weekly Networker

The Short List of 2007 Accomplishments

The Legislature’s final budget was balanced in compliance with Iowa’s 99 percent expenditure-limitation law, and the state’s Cash Reserve Fund was fully funded. Iowa’s rainy day funds will grow to $578 million, the largest amount ever in the state savings account.

We are putting the state’s financial house back in order, and we are repaying funds borrowed in previous years. For example, past legislatures had borrowed all but $17 million of the $300 million in the Senior Living Trust. Our budget repays half of that amount this year, and I will work to repay the rest in the coming year.

Increasing teacher pay to 25th in the nation. This amounts to an average increase of $5,000 per teacher over the next three years.

Boosting basic school funding, expanding the early childhood efforts, and making higher education more affordable.

Most significant new investment in higher education in a decade.

Began a four year plan that will expand voluntary access to high quality preschool to all Iowa families.

Passing a Senate resolution opposing the escalation of the Iraq war.

Passing the Safe Schools initiative.

Raising the state’s minimum wage.

Lifting restrictions on stem-cell research.

Increasing voter turnout by allowing voters to register at the polls on Election Day.

Requiring a voter verified paper trail for elections.

Cracking down on predatory car title lenders.

Discouraging smoking, especially by young Iowans, by raising the tobacco tax.

Expanding access to affordable health care for all Iowans.

Making Iowa a more attractive place for everyone by including sexual orientation in the state’s Civil Rights Code.

Creating the Iowa Power Fund to make Iowa less dependent on foreign oil, create good-paying jobs, and continue Iowa’s leadership in the renewable fuels.

Confronting global climate change with the establishment of a Climate Change Advisory Council that will help develop a state energy plan.

Expanding benefits and services to veterans and servicemembers.

Reforming tax policies to help working families by increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit.