STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 2009

Prevent Future Flooding by Better Land Management

Promote and enforce conservation policies that control erosion, improve water quality and  help prevent flooding.

Protection from Predatory Lending and Consumer Fraud

LWVIA encourages the Iowa Legislature to pass legislation to reduce payday loan fees and to allow Iowa consumers to sue when they think they have been defrauded.  Iowa is the only state in the country where an individual cannot sue under the state’s Consumer Fraud Act. 

Immigration 

LWVIA  urges the Iowa Legislature to support legislation that  provides:

· penalties for employers who hire unauthorized workers

· due process for all persons including the right to a fair hearing,  right to counsel, right of appeal, and right to humane treatment

· increased funding for English language classes

Sentencing and Corrections 

LWVIA urges the Iowa Legislative to:

· consider recommendations from the Criminal Code Reorganization Committee report

· fund more community based correction programs and programs that facilitate prisoner reentry into the community,

· increase funding for programs that treat the special needs offender.

Other Areas of Interest:

--Returnable Beverage Container Legislation (Bottle Bill)

--Campaign Finance Reform

--Strengthen Iowa’s Open Meetings law

New: Moratorium on New Coal-Fired Electric Power Plants

Support for a ten-year moratorium on new construction of coal-fired electric power plants. This action is based on LWVUS environmental and energy positions and will reinforce the work the League is doing around the country to combat global climate change.