Jane Jech's Blog

2010-04-29T18:43:00.000-07:00

As I finish my door knocking for the night I keep thinking about all of the people I have met that are frustrated, angry, and just plain scared of what our government has become. A few have given up and prefer not to even think about where we are at as a country and state. But Iowans are resilient and I find most are determined to do what they can (some for the first time ever) to hold on to our liberties and values. They are an encouragement!
I am determined to be the kind of candidate (for now) and State Representative (January 2011) that will be the same person in office as I am when I talk with them at their door. I intend to earn their vote with straight talk and high expectations so I can serve them in the Iowa State House.

Labor Laws Have Many Adverse Effects

2010-02-17T08:38:00.000-08:00

A public hearing with the Iowa Legislature will be held today (Feb. 17th) in regards to the topic of the labor laws they are currently considering. I will register to speak as a candidate for state representative and will also submit the following:
Today you will hear statistics presented that make it very clear - if you pass the law you are currently considering (Fair Share renamed Reasonable Reimbursement) it will have an adverse, long-term effect on Iowa's economy and job market. That alone is reason enough not to pass it.
Iowans are already trying to cope with significant increases in taxes and fees in the last couple of years and are very skeptical, to say the least, of growing government that is exerting more and more control over their lives. Even if you pass this law, which does both of the above, to benefit unions - they will hold YOU accountable for the increased intrusion in their lives and cuts to their family finances, and rightly so.
In addition to costing our state jobs, you will also be responsible for stirring up strong animosity and stress between union and non-union workers. Don't make the mistake of saying these laws are just about forcing "free riders" to pay for services they receive. If they were, the law should be about releasing unions from that responsibility. The majority of workers who choose not to belong to a union do so because they do not agree with many of the positions the unions and their leaders stand for, including some of the demands they make in negotiations. I have a good friend who has received state honors for her work as an RN at the Iowa Veteran's Home. She once told me that she would quit before she would pay money to a union.
These labor laws are more about creating revenue for unions with declining membership so they can continue to promote their agendas than they are about getting benefits for the rank and file - and we all know it. When union leaders continue to make demands that cost jobs - leaders don't lose their jobs - the rank and file do.
I urge you not to pass these laws but rather to work on encouraging businesses to create private sector, sustainable jobs for our community. That's what we really need! Thank you for the opportunity to have my voice heard.

2010-02-13T12:03:00.000-08:00

While attending an Iowa Valley Leadership Class on Thursday I participated in an ice breaker game. I think it was intended to get us thinking about how government decisions create winners and losers. We played the game in groups of four. I don't think I ever quite understood how the game was played but I do know that in the course of it (which moved really fast) - I did a dumb thing. I told the other three people in my group that I would play a certain way that would benefit all of us but at the last second I threw a card down that would benefit only me.
I know it was just a game, but - honesty and integrity are principles that have to apply to every part of your life - no matter what. When I went home that night it was still on my mind, and my conscience. It gave me a valuable reminder - there is NO situation in which it is OK to say one thing and act another way.
I just read an article about an Iowa Senator who pledged to vote for the Iowa Marriage Amendment if the opportunity came. Well it did come this week, and the Senator broke his word. Even if he hadn't taken a pledge, saying you believe something but voting to the contrary will only gain you a loss of respect. It is only a true principle or belief when you carry it through in your actions.
We all mess up at times, myself included, but failing to learn from it is even worse. Being true to my word and my principles is one my highest goals in life. I've learned from my mistake on Thursday, even if it was "just a game."

Without a Job - is Iowa a Good Place to Live?

2010-02-09T07:18:00.000-08:00

Where has our common sense gone? I just read about another bill being presented in the Iowa Legislature. Democratic Senator Tom Courtney thinks it's time to create a law to force business owners to give part-time employees (20 hours or more) paid sick leave. Where does it end? There seems to be an insatiable appetite on the part of many in government (and those who hold their purse strings) for more and more control over our lives and businesses, regardless of the consequences.
So what are some possible consequences of this bill? 1) Employers give paid sick leave to part-time employees and take the additional expense out of their profits, regardless of their margins. 2) Employers limit part-time hours to 19. 3) Employers pass the additional cost on to consumers, raising inflation. 4) Employers stop hiring.
Hmmmm - I think I would bet on the last three options.
Democratic Senator Jack Hatch said, "To have a requirement for businesses in this state to have an employee benefit package is good public policy," he said, "and it sends a message to families and employees that this is a better place to live."
Really? How good can it be if you don't have a job? Really? What would be the motivation to start or maintain a business if you can't make a decent profit? Really....

2009-10-18T19:28:00.001-07:00

Good catch Mallory! I really appreciate someone who pays attention to details - they are important! Always using a spell checker is good advice.
I will continue to challenge policies that I believe are bad for our state. Using money that was set aside for a specific purpose to cover up excessive spending from the State's General Fund is very bad policy, no matter which party is the culprit.
It's past time for the Iowa Legislature to do the hard work of prioritizing our state needs. The Governor's 10% across the board cut will probably result in essential state services being significantly reduced, putting our state at risk in more ways than one.

The Truth over Politics

2009-10-12T16:10:00.000-07:00

Last week I attended a Forum put on by Hawkeye Valley Agency on Aging. They talked a lot about the Senior Living Trust Fund. In my remarks I encouraged them to encourage the current legislature not to take any more funds from the already depleted Senior Living Trust Fund to cove expenses that should be covered by the General Fund. Mark Smith (current Representative) challenged my remarks. I did not back down. I said that I needed to be able to document my comments (which I have done - see below) and he should do the same. See the email I sent to him yesterday in an attempt to make sure I have all of the necessary information. I'll let you know if I receive a response.
Since that time, Senator Steve Sodders, who was not present at the forum, is once again trying to pass around lies on Twitter - very unbecoming of a Senator. Here's his recent Tweet statement:
"Misinformation given about the Senior Living Trust Fund by Jech. When pressed she had no answers. We see how she intends to run."
Apparently Senator Sodders is more concerned with politics than he is the truth. What a shame! He's using the same deceitful tactics he used last year and he's not even on the ballot next year. Guess he just can't help himself.
Here is the text of the email I sent to Representative Mark Smith yesterday.
"Mark - I want to follow up on the conversation from the forum last week. I've been studying both the House bill and the Senate File that created the Senior Living Trust Fund. It seems very clear to me that the SLT was created to help bring about a balance between funding for institutional care for seniors and funding to help delay seniors having to enter institutional care. The trust itself was to be totally dedicated to non-institutional care to help provide that balance.
I've had Republicans tell me that the intent was to build up the fund so the interest it would draw would provide the needed funding. Even though I believe that may have been the intent of some - I do not find that verbage in the law.
You said that the intention for the fund was always to be a "flow through account." While some may have intended for it to be so - I do not find that verbage anywhere either.
Is there somewhere else that I should be looking for that information?
My understanding - While the General Fund should pay for Medicaid - it has repeatedly been depleted by other spending and thus has been unable to do so. Consequently, funds have repeatedly been taken from the SLT to pay Medicaid reimbusements that should have come from the General Fund. And - Medicaid covers much more than non-instituitional care. Is that correct?
I want to get it right. Thanks for your help in advance. Jane"

I value the truth the over politics. We sorely need to restore it to our government! If I find more information in the law that refutes my statement - I will promptly report it. Integrity is everything!

2009-10-04T17:53:00.001-07:00

In a day when far too many people try to maintain two sets of values, one for their private life and one for their public life, it was encouraging to see a great turnout for the annual Life Chain today.
Holding my sign, "Abortion Hurts Women," I was reminded that the Life Chain is about much more than working and praying for the end of abortion. It is about praying for the healing of women and men who have been scarred by abortion. It is about protecting the weak and handicapped in our society. It is about valuing and respecting our seniors. It is about acknowledging that there is a purpose for all life and God is the only one who has the right to determine when that life will end.
Recently I received an email with horrendous pictures of children who have been physically abused. I was sickened by the pictures. A good friend reminded me that any abuse of children is dispicable, including the abuse that isn't apparent to the eye. As we work and pray for the end of the killing of babies in the womb, we must be just as fervent in our work and prayers to end the abuse and killing of children outside of the womb.
I also heard a wonderful story of adoption this weekend. A young woman had found herself in a difficult situation due to poor choices she had previously made. Instead of ending her baby's life, she chose to nuture it and allow a loving couple to adopt her baby. Their dream of having a family is coming true and the birth mother will always know she made a loving choice. Romans 8:28 says "We know that God causes everything to work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them."

2009-09-30T20:12:00.000-07:00

I met with a small business owner today. In the course of our discussion he told me that he was paying more than $8,000 a year for 1 acre of land that his buildings (primarily equipment storage) were on. Add in his costs for employees, utilities, maintenance, etc. and you begin to realize how much he would have to make before any profit was gained. It reminded me of comments I put in a letter to the editor a couple of months ago. Here's most of it....
"Many people risk everything they have to start a business and have no assurance their business will be successful. They do all fo the manual labor, bookwork, marketing and paperwork for bank loans. They get very little sleep and often miss their children's activities to keep the business going. For most, it takes years before they can see "the light at the end of the tunnel" and begin to make a profit. Their families sacrifice right along with them. In time, if that business becomes successful they create jobs for other people. They hire employees that work very hard and sometimes others that hardly work at all. If they are a good employer they also grow to care for their employees and their families. Business owners acquire an enormous responsibility and carry the constant risk of losing everything for both their own family and the families of thier employees. Many are on call 24/7 in case of an emergency that needs their attention to keep things running smoothly and seldom have a true vacation or weekend off.
Their families see their stress as they head back to the office to handle yet another issue or to the bank to ask for another loan so they can continue provide for them. Their employees depend on them for a salary to feed their own families. The community comes to them for donations every time a special need arises."
When our government decides to punish successful business owners by taxing them to the breaking point - WE ALL LOSE!

2009-09-04T08:17:00.000-07:00

On Sept. 1st the Marshalltown Times Republican ran an article about the city receiving $600,000 from the state for additional renovations to the old library. Rep. Mark Smith was quoted as saying "the city's project was exactly the kind of project the I-JOBS program was designed to help." He also said, "If not for the state funding, ...the burden would have eventually fallen to local taxpayers to come up with the money."
You can debate how many jobs the funding will create and how long they will last, but what you can't debate is who will be paying for them. To say the I-JOBS program saved local taxpayers from having to foot the bill is both deceptive and condescending. Does he really think that if he uses the words "state funding" readers won't realize that eventually the money will still come from them?
Governor Culver's highest priority in the last legislative session was to get approval to borrow nearly $800 million dollars for numerous uses. You can say that taxpayers across the state are helping to pay for our City Hall relocation but it's just as true to say that local taxpayers are paying for projects, they may or may not approve of, all across the state because the Legislature gave in to the Governor's demands.
The Des Moines Register published a poll in April that said that 71% of Iowans were opposed to the state bonding. With interest added in it is estimated that the amount we will have to pay back is over $1.7 billion. Local tax payers, you may or may not agree with the extra work being done on the old library but one thing is for certain - you will be footing the bill for the $600,000 and a whole lot more for the next twenty years.

Comments on Obamacare

2009-08-20T12:41:00.001-07:00

I attended the healthcare event at the Capitol this morning - more good info
Here's 3 of the points I came away with:
1) Iowan's are extremely important in the debate because we are the only ones (besides Obama) that can truly influence Chuck Grassley
2) If Obamacare is passed - the new bureaucracy created will be massive
3) The Senate has already unanimously passed a resolutions (from Sen. Jim DeMint) saying they would only pass the bill if it had 60 votes (I think that's the accurate number). But now that they see the majority of Americans are opposed to their plan - they intend to use a strategy called "reconciliation" to pass the bill with only 51 votes. Imagine - over hauling more than a 6th of our economy with a simple majority!

My opinion -
1) Americans need to 1st take responsibility for their own health instead of looking first to doctors and prescriptions to do it all for them.
2) Government take over with radical changes are monopolizing the discussion of healthcare in DC and blocking out the discussion of the many great, innovative, common sense, responsible ideas coming from the private sector. Our government needs to listen to them!

Let's fix what's wrong with the current system (envy of the world) and leave the rest alone!

Local 4th of July TEA Party

2009-06-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

I've had lots of people inquiring about a local TEA Party for Marshalltown on July 4th so it may be time to get something organized. The event would be a platform to express our disatisfaction with those who want to rob us of our liberties and raise taxes to grow inefficient government bigger and bigger. It's also a time to voice visionary ideas of what our state and nation could be if we returned to a foundation of individual freedom, responsibility, and morality.
I'm thinking of a public gathering (courthouse if possible) that would last an hour or longer. We would include local people speaking to the issues, inspiring patriotic music and more. The course of our state and nation is changing drastically. It's time to take action in many ways. A TEA Party is a very public way to make our voices heard.
Please let me know of any other events you know of on July 4th to avoid conflicts as much as possible. I'll be checking with the city to see about getting a permit. AND - Let me know if you are interested in this type of event, if you would attend it and if you would help with it. Pass this on to any of your contacts that might be interested. Time is short.

Thanks for your feedback! Email me at janejech4u@yahoo.com

2009-05-20T19:07:00.000-07:00

What do we value?
We demand investigations into the torturing of terrorists while we let our government fund the torture and murder of thousands of babies every day. We give millions of dollars to education but suck the brains of fully formed babies out during the birthing process to kill them. Animal protection laws are added regularly while our President is anxious to do away with ALL laws protecting unborn human babies (even full term babies). We say animals should be treated “humanely” but allow tiny babies to be chemically burned to death. The abortion industry gets richer by the billions while millions of future tax paying citizens are aborted.
God says “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Acknowledgement of the facts surrounding abortion is critical to undoing the devastation that began with a movement based on lies. Here’s some quotes from Bernard Nathansan, a co-founder of the pro-abortion group known as NARAL, who now works to help stop what he once helped put into motion:
“We aroused enough sympathy to sell our program of permissive abortion by fabricating the number of illegal abortions done annually in the U.S.” . . . "Repeating the big lie often enough convinces the public.” “ The number of women dying from illegal abortions was around 200-250 annually. The figure we constantly fed to the media was 10,000. These false figures took root in the consciousness of Americans . . . "Another myth we fed to the public through the media was that legalizing abortion would only mean that the abortions taking place illegally would then be done legally. In fact, of course, abortion is now being used as a primary method of birth control in the U.S. and the annual number of abortions has increased by 1,500 percent since legalization."
Right now there is much discussion in our country about outlawing what some describe as the torture of terrorists because it doesn’t reflect our values. But what do laws that protect and promote abortion teach about our values? Some would say it shows we value the right to choose. I believe the right to choose should be exercised BEFORE a baby is conceived! After that, it’s time to demonstrate that we value life, responsibility, and compassion.

Truth revealed again

2009-04-30T17:42:00.000-07:00

I just returned from the Drake Public Forum on Gay Marriage. It reminded me again of several truths about our culture. 1) How well the Bible describes people today - "each man does what is right in his own eyes" and how volatile our culture is when there is no standard of right and wrong. 2) How many "adults" today have never grown up from High School when peer pressure could make them say or do anything if they thought it made them more popular. 3) How strategic and savvy (but wrong) the National Homosexual movement and ONE IOWA group is. Their new strategy is backing away from being militant and trying to paint a picture of just being "loving and wanting to all get along." They are choosing new spokesmen who really fit that picture. 4) How thankful I am that I know the God who created us and what He's revealed to us in His Word. I don't have to wonder what is right and what is wrong - and neither do I have to wonder where I'm spending eternity. 5) God will hold us accountable for what we do with what we know.
If you want to watch the forum I think it will be on Mediacom Channel 22 - May 4th at 2:00 pm / May 7th at 10:30 pm / May 10th at 11:00 am / May 11th at 2;00 pm / May 13th at 3:00 pm

2009-04-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

The TEA party on Wednesday (April 15th) is about increasingly higher taxes on both the State and Federal levels and elected officials who are less and less responsive to the knowledge, opinions and concerns of citizens like you and I. It's about protesting a political mindset that is arrogant, greedy, rude, strategically deceptive, and often godless.

2009-04-08T09:32:00.000-07:00

James, the brother of Jesus, said, “What’s the use of faith if you don’t prove it by your actions?”
I believe he would also say, “What good is a stated belief if you don’t prove it by your actions? If your belief doesn’t have an influence on your actions – do you truly believe it? Where did this crazy concept of separating my belief from my actions come from? I believe it’s one of those “politically correct” skills that have become highly developed in our country to allow someone to be on both sides of a fence at the same time.

The foundation of families in our state and our country (since Iowa doesn’t have a residency requirement for marriage) has been drastically altered by a handful of judges and by those with the power to counteract them who are standing by and watching.

Those who believe this opinion based legislation coming from our judges is simply about allowing some legal rights to homosexual couples – are wrong! Thousands of heterosexual couples deal with the same issues using laws that are already on the books. When homosexual marriage is legitimized by law it opens the door for demanding that homosexuality be taught in our schools – without parental notification. It opens the door to prosecuting individuals who teach or preach that God’s Word says homosexuality (and any other sex outside of marriage) is sin – calling it a “hate crime.” The list goes on. If you believe this is an exaggeration – you are wrong! This legislation is a result of a strategy and millions of dollars that have been in play for many years.

In defense of our elected state officials – their behavior is only tolerated by many because it reflects their own behavior. “We the people” need to stop giving in to peer pressure and stand by the godly principles our country was founded on. Do the right thing!

2009-04-08T07:52:00.000-07:00

I'll never understand the political strategy to win favor, or even everyday strategy of everyday people to win favor, who say they believe one thing but aren't willing to stand behind their words with their actions.
James, the brother of Jesus, asks the question: "What's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions?" I think he would also ask - "What's the use of saying you believe that marriage is meant for one man and one woman if you aren't willing to stand behind those words?"
We have a disease in this country called "political correctness" that allows people to be of one character in certain circumstances and of another character in different circumstances. I ask - what kind of character is that?

2009-04-02T19:14:00.001-07:00

Left home at 5:30 this morning to join Chamber members going to the State Capitol to meet with legislators. I always enjoy going there to hear an exchange of facts, figures, ideas, opinions, and questions. Some times it's hard to sort out the difference in that place! Labor and tax issues were the topic of conversation today. Here's 2 facts: There are two sectors that create jobs - private and government. Only one creates revenue - the private sector. Here's an opinion: People in this country have demonized anyone who is successful in creating a profitable company (large or small). They give them the nasty label of "rich." Here's a question: If we are constantly taxing and creating new regulations on those individuals and those companies to the point they want to leave - who's going to create our revenue producing jobs? If those individuals and companies can't make a profit and want to leave - who's going to pay for those non-revenue producing government jobs?

2009-03-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

The train that's taking away our freedoms and personal wealth is looking for more fuel. Iowa has one of the highest tax rates in the country. The only thing that has kept it even remotely close to other states is the fact that we can deduct our Federal taxes on our Iowa Taxes. But now - "The House speaker said Tuesday he supports ending the ability of Iowans to deduct federal tax payments ..." That talk is growing and gaining momentum. He says they will probably be discussing it in the next few weeks. To be accurate - the House speaker also says they will use it to cut taxes on the middle class. I'd be interested in knowing how many of you believe that! I'm afraid their track record would indicate otherwise.
You should also be watching for a strategy to be put into place where they actually end the session on time but then call a special session later. What that does is allow them to ignore the rule that says they can only spend 99% of the state budget.

2009-03-24T08:02:00.001-07:00

Easter is coming - what an awesome time! It's an in your face reminder that all of the confusion, pain, suffering, and evil that surrounds us has an end. Christ overcame it all - battles are still going on but the war is already won. Glad I'm on the winning side!

He's legislation crazy!

2009-03-19T07:08:00.000-07:00

Watch out! Representative Mark Smith is on the move again!
Last week he was a part of presenting bills that would require major restructuring and the creation of a whole new layer of bureaucracy in the governing of the Veteran's Home (without the approval of Veterans!) - in typical Democrat style - on the last day of funnel week! Fortunately they received a loud enough outcry from veterans opposed to the bill that it sunk before it could go very far. When asked how long he had been working on the bill he told someone several months. The very next day - when it became obvious that it was very unpopular with veterans - he tried to disassociate himself with it and said he didn't know anything about it. Hmmm
Today he was part of a bill that would strike another blow against businesses! He wants to require businesses to cover a greatly expanded range of mental illnesses AND now businesses that employ as few as TWO people would now be required to include it in their healthcare coverage. Like the Collective Bargaining Bill from last year (watch for it to show up again) - this is a very extreme bill that opens the door wide for anything and everything (i.e. sibling rivalry, mood disorders, gender identity and the list goes on and on). Only Vermont and Maryland have gone that far. When it went into affect in Maryland premiums rose 4.9 percent for group plans and 5.9 percent for individual plans. My greatest respect goes to those small business people who endure the constant hurdles that are set before them. Hang in there - the tide will turn!
Mark Smith seems to be on a campaign to "craft" and introduce as much regulatory, cost increasing and taxing legislation as possible this session. I wish he and his party would start dealing with balancing the budget and creating (instead of discouraging) new jobs!!

Iowa Utility Board

2009-03-18T07:16:00.000-07:00

Tuesday morning (3-16) I had the opportunity to listen to two of the members of the Iowa Utility Board justify their decision on the rate setting for the new Power Plant. I learned more about the process and I believe they used standard practice at least in this segment of the process. I got the impression that at least one of the members was truly surprised that Alliant decided to discontinue pursuing the plant as a result of their decision. At the end of the meeting I was able to have a conversation with the IUB member who voted against the project in the beginning. Here's the basics of what I tried to convey to him . . .

First - they have destated our community. I told him I believe their number one responsibility is to protect consumers that would be affected by their decisions. (He agreed.) I think somewhere in this 1 1/2 to 2 year process they lost sight of that objective. By his own admission (Darrel Hanson) the difference between the rate that Alliant came down to and the rate they wanted was relatively small. I asked him if he thought it would make a big enough difference in personal and corporate rates to override the benefit of what the new plant would have brought to our community and state. I pointed out that Governor Culver is asking for $700,000 of our tax payer money to create "shovel ready jobs" and that this plant would have contributed 1.9 billion to our community and state and jobs that have been "shovel ready" for almost two years, not to mention the chain effect of additional business and job creations it had the potential to create.

The lady on the board said they would need a "really good reason" to change their standard way of doing things. I told him our economic picture IS a really good reason to have changed their standard way of doing things. I reiterated - I believe they lost sight of their most important objective, that of protecting the consumer. They agreed that our rates are going up no matter what their decision was. It might be a struggle for someone to pay a higher rate - but it's impossible if they don't have a job!

There was more to the conversation but I ended it by thanking the two of them for taking the time to come and discuss the issue.

By the way - Lance Horbach did a great job of questioning them and stating honestly the perceptions many in our community have of the way they handled the process.

Personally, I think Alliant may have been coming to the conclusion to back out before the board's final decision was announced, due to the hassles businesses incur in our state and the pledge of President Obama to "tax them into bankruptcy." The rate decision was just the final straw.

I hope our Democratic Governor and Legislature take note of the "bigger picture" with Alliant which includes their attitude and actions against businesses in this state!

In the end - my comments probably didn't change anything - but I felt a little bit better!

Let’s look at the WHOLE process!

2009-03-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

Alliant has decided not to build the new power plant that would have brought many jobs, increased revenue, encouraged new businesses to locate here, and helped to keep utilities costs down. Representative Smith and Senator Sodders are now recommending a study be done to “delve into what went wrong” in the process. Sounds like a good idea. Here are some questions I hope the study answers.

A full page ad was recently ran in a local paper reporting some very frightening statistics about all of the lives that are lost, work days missed, hospitalizations and more in Iowa supposedly due specifically to existing coal plants. We heard these kind of statistics over and over in the past year. WHERE DO THESE FIGURES COME FROM? Is there any documentation to support them or are they automatically true just because someone says them often enough? I’ve lived in Marshalltown for over thirty years and have yet to read a story about any of these health situations occurring in Marshalltown.

What will happen with the older “dirty” coal plants in Iowa that were going to be closed when the new efficient plant that met environmental standards was functioning?

Last summer Representative Smith frequently told us that he had lots of “power” to use for Marshalltown. How much of that power did he use to ensure the power plant would be approved? Just how disappointed is he that it won’t be built? How disappointed is our Governor – really?

Why wasn’t this study of the process Alliant had to go through done when it could have made a difference? It would be helpful to gain the answers to these questions and more from the study on “what went wrong.”

The policies that stopped the building of the Marshalltown power plant hurt Iowa economic competitiveness, affordable energy development, and most importantly the poor and working class families who are disproportionately impacted by escalating energy costs.