House Issues – 2006
1 SOCIAL SECURITY/PENSION TAX CUT (HF 2045)

Eliminates state tax on social security and pension income and exempts incomes under $48,000 per year for persons over age 65 from income tax.

  • IFL position was “NO.”

  • House Vote: Passed 81 yes – 18 no

  • Died in Senate Committee

2 SENIOR TAX CUT  (SF 2408)

Phases out state tax on social security over eight years and eliminates income tax for seniors over age 65 who make less than $24,000 (singles) or $32,000 (other), cutting state revenues by $120 million when fully implemented.

  • IFL position was “NO.”

  • House Vote: Passed 89 yes – 6 no

3 TAX CREDIT FOR TUITION DONATIONS  (SF 2409)

Allows a tax credit for donations to mostly private school tuition organizations to fund scholarships or vouchers.

  • IFL position was “NO.”

  • House Vote: Passed 75 yes – 19 no

4 MINIMUM WAGE (Amendment H-8128 to HF 2459)

Increases Iowa ’s minimum wage by $1.00 per hour to $6.15.

  • IFL position was “YES.”

  • House Vote: Passed 55 yes – 43 no

  • Died in House due to procedural ruling
5 WAGE THRESHOLDS  (HF 2770) 

Lowers Values Fund wage thresholds in rural counties by allowing new hire wages to be the determining factor in calculating wage requirements.

  • IFL position was “NO.”

  • House Vote: Passed 54 yes – 43 no

  • Died in Senate Committee
6 FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE CENTERS  (Amendment H-8649 to HF 2459) 

Provided $4 million in additional funding to keep rural workforce centers open.

  • IFL position was “YES.”

  • House Vote: Passed 48 yes – 46 no
7 VOTER ID  (HF 2597)

Requires all voters to show a photo ID before casting a ballot, and requires a photocopy of ID when casting an absentee ballot.

  • IFL position was “NO.”

  • House Vote: Passed 51 yes – 48 no 

  • Died in Senate
8 ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES  (Amendment H-8347A to HF 2597)

Requires that electronic voting machines produce paper records that can be verified by voters.

  • IFL position was “YES.”

  • House Vote: Failed 48 yes – 51 no
9 DRUG TESTING (HF 2648 )

Allows employers to treat an inconclusive test as though it were a positive test.

  • IFL position was “NO.”

  • House Vote: Passed 58 yes – 41 no

  • Died in Senate Committee

10 HEALTH INSURANCE POOLING  (Amendment H-8535 to HF 2790)

Allowed certain business associations to cherry-pick those with lower risk, disrupting the small group insurance market and making health insurance even more costly for small businesses that are not members.

  • IFL position was “NO.”

  • House Vote: Failed 44 yes – 55 no
11 WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION  (Amendment H-8655 to SF 2410)

Prohibits retaliation against state workers for disclosing information regarding violation of professional standards or unsafe practices.

  • IFL position was “YES.”

  • House Vote: Failed 42 yes – 49 no

12 IPERS  (HF 729)

Increases the IPERS contribution rates for  both employers and employees at the same 60/40 ratio as previously.

  • IFL position was “YES.”

  • House Vote: Passed 97 yes – 0 no