Sweeney looks forward to new legislative session
By KEN BLACK, TIMES-REPUBLICANSECOND IN A SERIES
Rep. Annette Sweeney, R-Alden, is ready to get started in her new role as a state representative, though she knows there will be challenging times ahead.
"I'm looking forward to learning the process in depth and then educating myself in order to make a difference," she said.
But no single issue will be as big as the budget this year. The economy has hit Iowa hard, as it has in many other states, and legislatures across the nation will be looking at ways to cut expenses, increase revenue, or a combination of both.
"The Republican party was expressing these issues way back last March and April and everybody ignored them," Sweeney said. "These issues were ignored during campaign season and now they are finally coming to light and people believe us and are seeing there is a problem."
The Republican Caucus is already looking at options for helping the state, which Sweeney said most focus on economic development. As private enterprise begins to invest in Iowa again, more tax revenue will naturally flow into the state.
However, she notes that Iowa faces somewhat of an uphill battle, as companies are weary about Iowa's possibility of changing its right-to-work status.
"I strongly think if we would repeal our right to work law, it would cripple our state," she said.
In the end, she said there will also be some cuts to some state programs, though that has not been determined yet.
"We have not identified that as a party," Sweeney said. "We are going to look at each entity by themselves to see what can be cut or reduced."
One idea that should be taken off the table, Sweeney charged, is raising taxes or giving options to any level of government to impose new taxes.
"We don't want to raise taxes and we need to look at everything before we raise taxes," she said. "In this economic climate, people are struggling and if you tell them you are going to raise taxes their hearts ache and their budgets ache even more."
Regarding schools, Sweeney said they need all the support they can get. From Iowa's K-12 schools to the community colleges and regents' universities, there are issues that need to be addressed.
Sweeney said the first thing that should be done is to follow the moniker, "First, do no harm."
"They are very concerned about the way the bill is written for collective bargaining," she said. "We cannot expand collective bargaining. That would be detrimental to our schools."
Also, she hopes that even with the budgetary concerns, the Legislature will find a way to help schools' budgets at all levels.
Despite those issues, Sweeney said, "I'm not afraid of this session. I'm looking forward to it."
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Contact Ken Black at 641-753-6611 or kblack@timesrepublican.com
