Contact Governor Reynolds to veto these eight bills and sections of bills
<<email from Senator Robb Hogg>>
Contact Governor Reynolds to Veto
Or Item Veto These Eight Bills
Dear Friends:
Below is an email I sent to my official legislative email list, but I also wanted to make sure you had it, too. Keep speaking up to ask Governor Reynolds to veto or item veto legislation with which you disagree.
Rob
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The 2019 legislative session ended Saturday, but your work is not done. There is still a chance that Governor Reynolds will veto or item veto some of the legislation that was passed.
You can contact Governor Reynolds by calling her office weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 515-281-5211.
You can also write her at "Governor Kim Reynolds, 1007 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319."
You can also send her a message at her official web site: https://governor.iowa.gov/constituent-services/register-an-opinion
Below are eight bills or sections of bills that Governor Reynolds could veto:
1. Protect the independence of Iowa's separately elected attorney general. The Legislature added a provision to a budget bill that would require the attorney general to get the governor's permission to sue in federal court or out of state. But the attorney general is separately elected to exercise independent judgment to protect and defend Iowans. This provision is contained in Section 24 of Senate File 615 that Governor Reynolds could line item veto.
2. Protect our fair, merit-based judicial nominating process. The Legislature added a provision to the standing appropriations bill that would allow the Governor to appoint an additional member to the judicial nominating commission, effectively giving political appointees a majority of the commission. This provision is contained in Division XIII of Senate File 638 that Governor Reynolds could line item veto.
3. Support local city and county control over their own budgets. The Legislature passed new procedures for and restrictions on city and county budgeting that the Legislature itself does not follow. These procedures could be used to reduce essential public services, like police, fire, hazard mitigation, streets, and disaster recovery, and harm public workers including their retirement and other benefits. This bill is Senate File 634 that Governor Reynolds could veto.
4. Stop discrimination against transgender Iowans. The Legislature added a provision that restricts payments for medical services for transgender Iowans. This provision is contained in Division XX of House File 766 that Governor Reynolds could line item veto.
5. Allow Planned Parenthood and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to do family planning and sex education. The Legislature added provisions that ban organizations that perform abortions from eligibility for federal funds for family planning and sex education programs. These provisions are contained in Division XXIII of House File 766 that Governor Reynolds could line item veto.
6. Stop the registration tax increase for electric and plug-in vehicles. The Legislature passed a bill to impose an additional surcharge on electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, even those these vehicles already pay higher registration fees than comparable gas-powered cars. This will hurt Iowans who want to buy gas-saving technology and will hurt jobs in the clean car industry that is already under attack from the Trump Administration. This bill is House File 767 that Governor Reynolds can veto.
7. Support voluntary utility energy efficiency. The Legislature added a provision to the standing appropriations bill that prevents utilities from voluntarily spending more than two percent of all revenues on energy efficiency. This contradicts the state's energy plan written by Governor Reynolds to encourage more energy efficiency and will result in more energy costs for Iowa consumers. This provision is contained in Division IX of Senate File 638 that Governor Reynolds can line item veto.
8. Support private land conservation, clean water, and flood mitigation. The Legislature passed a bill that prohibits private entities from using the State Revolving Fund for lower interest rates to buy land from willing sellers to transfer to county conservation boards and other public entities for clean water and flood mitigation purposes. This bill is Senate File 548 that Governor Reynolds can veto.
You can review these and other bills at the legislative website, www.legis.iowa.gov.
I know there are other pending bills, but these are eight bills or sections of bills that Governor Reynolds could veto. She needs to hear from Iowans as she considers whether to sign them. Please speak up as soon as possible.
In the coming weeks, I hope to provide a longer summary of the 2019 legislative session.
As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to email me at rob.hogg@legis.iowa.gov or write me at P.O. Box 1361, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406.
Rob
Senator Rob Hogg
Cedar Rapids
www.robhogg.org