(SF 267) 

State revenues were lower than expected, so the legislature panicked and tried to slash $25 million from money already appropriated for this year. This would have resulted in unnecessary chaos and job loss. 

• IFL position was "NO." 
• Senate Vote: Passed 30 – 20 
• $17 million in cuts vetoed by Governor. 

(Amendment S-3526 to HF 718) 

FY 2002 budget cuts will eliminate two Workers Comp deputy positions and two OSHA inspector positions. This amendment would have kept staffing at current levels. 

• IFL position was "YES." 
• Senate Vote: Failed 21 – 27.

(HF 746) 

Money to pay state workers’ wages is negotiated in collective bargaining and must be appropriated by the Legislature. This appropriations bill is $11 million short of the money needed to adequately fund negotiated wages. 

• IFL position was "NO." 
• Senate Vote: Passed 26 – 19 
• Passed House and signed by Governor 

(SF 65) 

Costs for heating fuels soared this winter, causing federal money for low-income assistance to fall short of the need. Rather than provide new money, Republicans took money from other low-income programs, including weatherization and low-income housing to provide supplemental funding for the Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). 

• IFL position was "NO." 
• Senate Vote: Passed 29 – 21 
• Item vetoed by Governor. 

PROPERTY TAX LIMITATION 

(SF 514) 

This bill would have placed limitations on property tax, arbitrarily limiting the ability of local governments to respond to the needs of their citizens. 

• IFL position was "NO." 
• Senate Vote: Passed 28 – 20 
• Not considered by House. 

(HF 716) 

The state is faced with a budget shortage, so giving away much needed revenue in the form of tax cuts defies all logic. Yet the legislature allowed gasoline retail dealers that have sales of 60% or more of ethanol blend gasoline a 2-cent a gallon tax credit. 

• IFL position was "NO." 
• Senate Vote: Passed 38 – 10 
• Passed by House and signed by Governor.

(SF 516) 

Iowa has a budget shortage, but allowed shareholders of Subchapter S Corporations that allocate income to other states to deduct 100% of their federal tax liability from their Iowa income tax.

• IFL position was "NO." 
• Senate Vote: Passed 32 – 16 
• Vetoed by Governor.

(HF 714) 

Iowa has a budget shortage, but passed additional tax cuts for corporations that donate money for community projects and childcare. 

• IFL position was "NO." 
• Senate Vote: Passed 28 – 18 
• Vetoed by Governor. 

(SF 521) 

Iowa has a budget shortage, but passed tax cuts on capital gains for those who get stock options as part of their compensation. IFL position was "NO." Senate Vote: Passed 28 – 20 Vetoed by Governor. 

(HF 757) 

Iowa has a budget shortage, but exempted the 2001 federal tax rebate from state income tax. The average Iowan will save $14; the state will lose over $20 million. 

• IFL position was "NO."
• Senate Vote: Passed 48 – 2 
• Passed by House and signed by Governor.  

ELECTRIC PLANT SITING 

(HF 577as amended) 

This bill made it easier to build electric generation plants, but did not contain the power purchase contract section that allowed deregulated costs to be passed on to consumers. 

• IFL position was "YES." 
• Senate Vote: Passed 50 – 0 
• Passed House and signed by Governor.  

(HF 103) 

Right-to-work states are low-wage states. This bill would require the Department of Economic Development to have a "clear and conspicuous" reference to Iowa’s right-to-work law in all of its promotional materials, thus advertising Iowa as a low-wage state and encouraging more low-wage employers to come here. 

• IFL position was "NO." 
• Senate Vote: Passed 29 – 20 
• Vetoed by Governor. 

(SF 342) 

Voting should be easier so that more citizens will vote, yet this bill adds another barrier by requiring presentation of a photo ID to vote. 

• IFL position was "NO." 
• Senate Vote: Passed 27 – 23 
• Amended and passed by House, but not reconsidered by Senate. 

(SF 165) 

English is the common language of Iowa. This bill would only create division between those who speak English and those who are just learning and do nothing to help new immigrants learn English more quickly. 

• IFL position was "NO." 
• Senate Vote: Passed 27 – 23 
• Not considered by House

(Amendment S-3424 to SF 530) 

Inmates need to have some work, but not at the expense of free workers’ jobs. This amendment retained provisions passed last year putting restrictions on the use of inmate labor in construction. 

• IFL position was "YES." 
• Senate Vote: Passed 31 – 18) 
• Passed House and signed by Governor.