Sometime, when you get a chance, read Article 7 of the Iowa Constitution. Focus on Section 5. It provides a very clear criteria that must be adhered to in order for the State of Iowa to incur debt.
With that in mind, just what is debt? You and I would probably agree that if you give me a certain amount of money, and I agree to pay you that money back over a specified time, with a specified payment, then I am in debt to you. If the state of Iowa gets a specified amount of money that must be paid back over a specified amount of time, then you and I would probably agree that the state of Iowa is in debt too.
Webster's 3rd New International Dictionary defines debt as the "common law action for the recovery of a certain specified sum of money held to be due or of a sum that can be simply and certainly ascertained."
Where am I going with all of this? Yesterday, I offered an amendment on the Administration and Regulation budget that would have prohibited the sale and lease-back of state property. In my February 4th article, I expressed my concern with the sale and lease-back of state property and that literally, the Capitol or the new Supreme Court building could be sold and then leased back in order to generate one time cash. It is a way to go into debt without calling it debt. It is a terrible budget technique and is actually an act of budgetary desperation. Amazingly, the proponents of the sale & lease-back option did not dispute my assertions, but only stated that this was simply another tool for the Department of Administrative Services to help government be more efficient!
The Constitution's prohibition on debt, without a vote of the people, was deliberately meant to protect the people from having their own government, bind them and future generations, from owing money without their consent.
When politicians do not uphold the Constitution, that they swear to uphold, you have the power to fix it. It is up to you.
As always, I want to hear from you. My Senate number is (515) 281-3371 and my home number is (515) 432-7327 or write me at: State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319 or at my home address: 1313 Quill Avenue, Boone, IA 50036 or email me at jerry.behn@legis.state.ia.us.
With that in mind, just what is debt? You and I would probably agree that if you give me a certain amount of money, and I agree to pay you that money back over a specified time, with a specified payment, then I am in debt to you. If the state of Iowa gets a specified amount of money that must be paid back over a specified amount of time, then you and I would probably agree that the state of Iowa is in debt too.
Webster's 3rd New International Dictionary defines debt as the "common law action for the recovery of a certain specified sum of money held to be due or of a sum that can be simply and certainly ascertained."
Where am I going with all of this? Yesterday, I offered an amendment on the Administration and Regulation budget that would have prohibited the sale and lease-back of state property. In my February 4th article, I expressed my concern with the sale and lease-back of state property and that literally, the Capitol or the new Supreme Court building could be sold and then leased back in order to generate one time cash. It is a way to go into debt without calling it debt. It is a terrible budget technique and is actually an act of budgetary desperation. Amazingly, the proponents of the sale & lease-back option did not dispute my assertions, but only stated that this was simply another tool for the Department of Administrative Services to help government be more efficient!
The Constitution's prohibition on debt, without a vote of the people, was deliberately meant to protect the people from having their own government, bind them and future generations, from owing money without their consent.
When politicians do not uphold the Constitution, that they swear to uphold, you have the power to fix it. It is up to you.
As always, I want to hear from you. My Senate number is (515) 281-3371 and my home number is (515) 432-7327 or write me at: State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319 or at my home address: 1313 Quill Avenue, Boone, IA 50036 or email me at jerry.behn@legis.state.ia.us.
