Republicans plan parade of budget bills this week

DES MOINES - Majority Republicans plan to march a parade of budget bills through the House this week, but Senate Democrats are planning a detour before the two-year spending plans hit the governor's desk.

The House approved a transportation budget last week and House Appropriations Chairman Scott Raecker predicts more of the same this week. His goal is to send all of the budget bills to the Senate by April 11, leaving plenty of time for the chambers to hammer out differences and adjourn on schedule April 29.

“I'm an optimist,” the Urbandale Republican conceded.

It will take more than optimism to bridge the budget gap between the GOP-controlled House and the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Bob Dvorsky, D-Coralville, plans to test the philosophical budget gap this week. He expects the Senate to take up the two-year transportation budget the House approved, amend it to a one-year budget and send it to the governor.

Gov. Terry Branstad, a fifth-term Republican, has insisted the Legislature send him a two-year budget to help keep spending in line with projected revenue collections and bring more stability and predictability state government.

“It's an exercise we need to go through,” Dvorsky said of his plan to test the governor's two-year budget mettle.

Raecker believes he knows the governor's answer.

“He's said last week he will veto any budget that is not a 2-year budget,” Raecker said. “What the governor has said is that we will be here until we pass a two-year budget.

“I take the governor at his word,” he said, adding House Republicans are committed to meeting the governor's his expectations.”

House Republicans are working off a 2012 budget plan that would spend $347 million less than the current year budget for state programs and target $383 million in relief to taxpayers.

The nearly $6 billion spending plan for the fiscal year beginning next July 1 would reduce general fund expenditures by 5.5 percent compared to the current state budget and would be $162 million below the fiscal 2012 proposal submitted by Branstad.

Dvorsky projected the gap between majority Senate Democrats and Branstad at about $300 million.

He and Raecker believe the differences can be bridged. However, Raecker insists Republicans will stick to their campaign pledges to reduce state spending and give Iowans tax relief.

The House budget schedule is to do Administration and Regulation and the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund budget Monday after gaveling in at 3:30 to accommodate members who want to attend the funeral of former Rep. Roger Wendt, D-Sioux City.

Tuesday, the courts and education budgets are on tap. Wednesday likely will be budget-free while the Pioneer Lawmakers are in session. Thursday, the House will do health and human services, and ag and natural resources budgets.

Given the differences between the parties' spending plans, Dvorsky believes Branstad needs to take an active role in bridging the differences. He recalled that in the 2005-06 session when the Senate was tied 25-25 and Republicans controlled the House, then-Gov. Tom Vilsack actively participated in budget negotiations.

“I would look forward to gubernatorial leadership,” Dvorsky said.

Branstad is actively engaged, Raecker said, adding that he meets frequently with David Roederer, Branstad's director of the Department of Management.

“He has a clear direction of what he would like to see accomplished.” Raecker said. “It doesn't differ from what Branstad and House Republicans ran on - a fiscally responsible budget, not spending more than we took in, meeting the priority needs of Iowans and producing tax relief.”

“Repeating campaign promises is not leadership,” Dvorsky said.

“That's not just campaign rhetoric. That's our intention,” Raecker said.

Raecker, the optimist, said there is plenty of time to find agreement.

“We've got a lot of work to do between now and (April 29), but there is no reason to say it would have to be longer than that as long as we continue to communicate,” he said. “Between April 11 and April 29 there are a lot of days for us to sit down and talk about differences and resolve them.”