Statehouse News 2-9-06
9/19/2007
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Health Insurance!! How can I help the uninsured? How can I help small businesses who offer health insurance? How can I help small businesses who cannot afford to offer health insurance?
Those are the questions on my mind while I am listening to lobbyists for doctors, pharmacists, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, hospitals, health insurance cooperatives, and MEWAs.
The goal of the small business health insurance sub committee is to provide Iowa businesses, of all size, reasonably priced health insurance alternatives to offer to their employees. The committee is made up of nine members. We split up the different facets of health insurance among all of us and are doing an extensive review of all areas that affect the price of health insurance, including state mandates that drive up cost.
I'm very hopeful that our committee will end up with a bill that is meaningful to both the employers and employees. My fear is that we won't do enough, but in the end, a ball rolling is going to gain speed. If nothing else, we're starting the ball rolling.
Question of the Week: Do you think there should be state educational standards that are passed on to our school districts OR are you for local control? We will have a public hearing on this in a few weeks and I would appreciate your opinion.
Reminder: The weekend's legislative coffees are in Van Horne and Marengo on Saturday. Van Horne will be at 10:00 in the Community Room. Marengo's will be at the Marengo Hospital at 2:00. I hope to see you there. We have a great time.
It was great to see some people from home. The visitors this week were Wendy Lensing of Vinton - Iowa Firefighters Association, Dave Duffy of Marengo - ABATE, and Steve Meyer of Garrison - Region VI Homeland Security.
If you ever have concerns or questions, please feel free to contact me at 515-281-7622 or you can email me at dawn.pettengill@legis.state.ia.us. Your opinion is important to me.
Most sincerely,
Dawn
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Iowa House of Representatives
State Representative Dawn Pettengill
STATEHOUSE NEWS -- February 9, 2006
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Iowa Scholarship Program
Nursing Home Residents Get Bigger Allowance
Change in Pickup Truck Fee Passed by Committee
Vet's Lifetime Hunting and/or Fishing Licenses
2% Sales Tax Revenue for Hunting, Parks, and Trails
House Republican Budget Targets
TouchPlay Subcommittee Begins Work
Executive Order Enhancing Litter Prevention Efforts
Cigarette Tax Rates
No Social Security Numbers on Driver's Licenses
Pollution Prevention Intern Program
State Government Tax Burden Drops
Two More Venture Capital Firms Announced for Iowa
Change in Form of City Government
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