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SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
November 27, 2019
Sullivan’s Salvos 12/3/19
In this edition:
*Passing a Plan through Congress
*Farm Stats
*Still Wanting His Own Facts!
*Grow Johnson County
*Pandering on Taxes
*Did You Know?
*Passing a Plan through Congress
A lot of the moderates in the Democratic Presidential race claim that Medicare For All is unrealistic and cannot pass. They argue that their more moderate plans will collect Republican votes in the Senate.
Sorry, but this is a bunch of Bull. This idea that, “I can get my plan passed, while she cannot,”? Bull. Any improvements Democrats can make to health care will be made with only Democratic votes.
Remember Obama? He got exactly ZERO Republican votes for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). And a Democratic President in 2021 – regardless of who she is – should count on ZERO Republican votes for any health care reforms.
And it is not just health care. Republicans are not going to vote for ANYTHING a Democratic President proposes. Nothing. Being more middle of the road will not help.
Obama’s biggest problem was the DEMOCRATS who refused to support all or part of the ACA. It didn’t help any of the “moderate” Democrats to fight Obama on this; Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, Blanche Lincoln, Bill Nelson, and Ben Nelson are all gone. Might as well do the right thing and pass healthcare on the way out the door!
Seriously, many Democratic voters are at the end of the rope. If the Democratic Party underplays their health care hand, look for millions more Americans heading to third parties. 2020 is the last best chance for this party to stand for something! And Medicaid for All is the type of bold plan Americans want!
When we talk about “electability”, we tend to focus solely on the attitudes of people with good insurance who are nervous. We need to focus more on the millions of Dems who really need big, structural change! The need something for which to vote!
*Farm Stats
I recently came across some interesting statistics regarding agriculture in Iowa. The info comes from the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers. The Coalition is a joint partnership involving the Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Poultry Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Turkey Federation and Midwest Dairy Association.
Some stats:
The average farm size is 355 acres. (I would love to see the median farm size rather than the average. I think there are a lot of 5-acre farms coupled with a lot of 705 acre farms. That averages 355.)
Iowa farmers produce 2.6 trillion bushels of corn, almost 57 million laying hens, and almost 23 million hogs.
Iowa leads the nation in producing hogs, corn, eggs, and layers. Iowa is in the top ten for soybeans, cattle, and turkeys.
*Still Wanting His Own Facts!
I mentioned last week that a Solon-area farmer has been hitting me with a bunch of discredited right-wing talking points. Well, he won’t quit that easily.
His argument is once again that taxes in Johnson County are the highest in Iowa. No. Not even close. The Johnson County Rural levy ranks 47 out of Iowa’s 99 counties.
He points out that Johnson County property owners on average pay the highest dollar amount in taxes. That is easy to explain. Their property is worth more.
One needs to look at tax rates. He pays more in taxes than I do. Does that mean taxes in rural Solon are higher than they are in Iowa City? No. It means he owns more property. Higher property values = higher taxes. That is just common sense. The one thing we can control is the RATE. And our rate is nowhere near the highest.
It is such a load of BS that people are out there regularly spreading this type of misinformation.
*Grow Johnson County
Please check out the following great news from Grow Johnson County:
20,133.5 pounds. 10 tons. 1,438 stone. However you want to say it, we had a prosperous year in the fields at the Grow farm.
We grew over 30 varieties of vegetables on our five acres of land. Every field on those five acres was cover cropped at some point during the year (with 7 different species!). We installed 1,300 feet of habitat to support our favorite on-farm neighbors, the predaceous ground beetles. We trained two all-star Grow Apprentices, three future leaders through the YES! program, and hosted over 250 volunteers and visitors. Last, but far from least, we will soon be installing our new 96-foot-long greenhouse.
Many hands made this work possible: volunteers, apprentices, Grow staff, and you, our generous donors, outspoken champions, and friends. We need you all in our corner for this work to continue.
We have a few exciting ways to contribute to Grow during this season of giving:
- Ever wish you could donate a few dollars every month? Good news! Join the ranks of "Grow Shareholder" by visiting our donation page--now equipped with recurring monthly donation option.
- Ever wish your business could make a larger contribution? You're in luck! We just rolled out our 2020 Sponsorship Program. Check out our Sponsor Announcement to learn more about the four levels and the benefits to being sponsors.
- Stop in to the Not Your Mother's Craft Fair on December 7th and buy a beverage (or two!). Grow will be receiving 100% of the drink proceeds from this event.
*Pandering on Taxes
I get really upset when politicians design tax policies with an eye toward pandering as opposed to an eye toward fairness. A really egregious example is on display right now in the Des Moines Mayoral race, where candidate Jack Hatch is proposing a property tax cut for people over age 65. This may be good politics, but it is HORRIBLE tax policy!
This is wrong on so many levels. First, they have already moved much of the tax revenue from property taxes to sales taxes. This is a direct tax shift from richer people to poorer people. If you are going to cut a tax, cut sales tax.
Secondly, people over age 65 are often the wealthiest in the community! Why cut their taxes simply because they are 65? This is a tax cut for the people who need it the least!
Thirdly, even people over 65 who are struggling to afford their taxes have an option… they can sell the house! They have equity! Most people are NOT homeowners, and have no such option. So again, why target financial assistance to people with a valuable asset?
This is an attempt to grab votes disguised as tax policy. And it is shameful! Tax policy needs to be progressive, fair, and neutral.
*DID YOU KNOW? Grow Johnson County operates at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm, just west of Highway 218 on Melrose Avenue.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.
If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
November 21, 2019
Sullivan’s Salvos 11/26/19
In this edition:
*Happy Thanksgiving!
*Care for Yourself!
*Elected Official Attendance
*Facts Are a Stubborn Thing
*County Budget
*Did You Know?
*Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to Salvos readers! In many ways, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. (Imagine that coming from a fat guy, huh?)
Actually, I love the idea of giving thanks. It is a simple act that does not happen enough.
While I am at it – thanks to all of you who read Salvos each week. And a special thanks to those of you who follow up by sharing your thoughts. I appreciate it! Happy Thanksgiving!
*Care for Yourself!
While I love Thanksgiving, I know it can be difficult for many. Please do not let the season get the best of you! There are many resources available locally for people who may be experiencing some signs of depression.
CommUnity (formerly the Crisis Center) offers several options. There is a 24-hour Crisis Phone/Text line at 1-855-325-4296. There is also a local Crisis Line at 319-351-0140.
Other options also exist – please seek them out if you or your loved ones need them. Meanwhile, take good care!
*Elected Official Attendance
I wrote last week about the attendance of Elected Officials. The most common response I got? By far it was – “I wish the State would allow local governments to decide these things for themselves.” Amen, readers! Amen!
*Facts Are a Stubborn Thing
The Board got an email from a Solon area farmer this week, and he stated a couple things as fact that are simply untrue. I want to correct the record here and now.
First, he said, and I am paraphrasing: ”We have the worst roads and bridges. You need to double or triple the budget to catch up.”
Here are the facts: We CAN”T double or triple our budget, because Johnson County taxes the absolute maximum allowed by law for Secondary Roads. The Rural Basic transfer to roads is as high as it can possibly be. The General Basic transfer to roads is as high as it can possibly be. We couldn’t spend more if we wanted to!
What’s more, bridge conditions can be quantified. The Iowa DOT lists the condition of every bridge in every county. Guess what? Johnson County is light years ahead of our neighboring counties. While I admit we still have several bridges in need of repair, our bridges are as good as any in the state.
Finally, every county around us – Cedar, Louisa, Muscatine, Washington, Iowa – all have closed bridges in the past 15 years. Some have closed several bridges. Johnson County has not closed any. Zero.
For his second point, also wrong, he stated, “Highest taxes in Iowa.” This is not even close to being true.
The levy rate? That has gone down 3 of the last 4 years and 9 of the last 11! The Rural levy ranks 47 out of Iowa’s 99 counties. Debt? It is less than $10 million, and will go down for the 8th consecutive year!
Look, I get it. There are a lot of people in the farm community who want to attack this Board of Supervisors. It doesn’t matter what the facts are. And I am happy to have a good debate. But as the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said, “You are entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts.”
If you want more information on roads, taxes, or both, please feel free to send me an email.
*County Budget
Johnson County is beginning the budgeting process for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21), which will begin July 1st of 2020. Here are some ongoing budget issues, and my take on them:
General Fund versus Rural Fund: If you pay property taxes in Johnson County, you pay into the General Fund. All taxpayers do. If you live in the unincorporated area of the county, you also pay into the Rural Fund. The Rural Fund covers expenses specific to rural residents – mostly roads, but also libraries, landfill, and a couple smaller expenses. There are wide variations between counties as to what should be supported by the rural fund. Johnson County pays for virtually everything from the General Fund. (The Rural Fund is only about $6 million of the over $100 million dollar budget.) Other counties do things differently.
Any single individual can easily create a budget: It isn’t that hard to support the programs and services you like, then cut the ones you don’t. It is much more difficult to do this for 160,000 people. Similarly, it isn’t that hard to decide how much you think you ought to pay in taxes, then apply that County wide. It is more difficult when you then recognize how many valuable services would need to be cut. Creating a budget that works for 160,000 people is challenging.
It is easy to oppose a budget. It is hard to agree on one: It isn’t that hard to criticize the decisions that get made and vote against the budget. Doing so is lazy. Acting proud of it is grandstanding. The public needs someone to step up and do the required work. Find common ground. Voting “no” without doing the work to find compromise positions is an abdication of duty.
Taxes versus services: I had a man complain to me about his taxes. The next day, his wife complained about the condition of their road. They simply can’t have it both ways! Yes, this is an anecdote, but it sums up the fundamental budgetary difficulty- people want to pay less in taxes, but get more services. It cannot be done.
Mandated versus optional services: Some services are required by law. For example, Johnson County is obligated to hold elections. Other services are optional. On the other hand, Johnson County has no legal obligation to fund DVIP. I take issue with things being portrayed this simply. Let’s go back to elections. While elections are mandated, there is no mandate as to the amount of elections staff, computer equipment, or other expenses. The law says we must do it, but it does not specify the amount we must spend. Funding DVIP (while not required) may, in fact, be a very productive way to work toward Johnson County’s mission.
Conservative budgeting versus low taxes: It is important for folks to recognize that the lowest possible tax rate does not equate to the most conservative budgeting. For example – the most conservative budgeting includes money for maintenance. You need to spend money on upkeep, whether roads, buildings, or vehicles – or you’ll spend more in the long run. And I REFUSE to buy into the idea that taxes are inherently bad! Taxes are the price of supporting a civilized society.
Want to know a government’s priorities? Look at the budget. With that said, I encourage citizens to join us at our budget meetings. (The calendar is on the website.) Meanwhile, what are your priorities? Now is the time to let us know!
*DID YOU KNOW? The annual tradition (which I detest) of a “Presidential Pardon" for a turkey began under President Reagan.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.
If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
November 14, 2019
Sullivan’s Salvos 11/19/19
In this edition:
*United Way and Iowa Shares
*Elected Officials and Attendance
*Did You Know?
*United Way and Iowa Shares
The calendar has turned to November, when many of us begin to think about charitable giving. Personally, I hope you will consider gifts to the United Way and Iowa Shares.
The United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties is in its’ 100th year. It consists of 32 partner organizations that serves thousands of local residents. Last year, local volunteers contributed 86,500 volunteer hours to those organizations. To top it off, 4164 unique donors contributed $2,141,000.
Meanwhile, Iowa Shares is 25 years old, and consists of 21 social justice organizations. Last year donors gave almost $100,000 to these important causes.
Four of the five County Supervisors will be Chairing our workplace campaign. We hope to increase charitable giving among county employees. It is easy to give you time and money. Please consider making a contribution today!
*Elected Officials and Attendance
I remember walking into the Johnson County Courthouse that day. I had done so many times before, but this time felt different. It was late June, and I had recently been one of three candidates for Supervisor (out of seven) to make it through the Democratic Party Primary Election. Given the edge that Democrats typically enjoy in General Elections, it looked pretty certain that I would be elected to the Board.
Remember the classic scene at the end of the 1972 movie “The Candidate”? Robert Redford wins the election, turns to his campaign manager, and says, “What do we do now?” I think every elected official goes through a moment like that upon first being elected.
I had my moments of doubt as well, but I also had a plan: I would seek some advice from Johnson County Attorney J. Patrick White. That is why I found myself heading into the Courthouse on that June day.
If you do not know who Pat White is, you should. Pat grew up in Iowa City, while his father served as County Attorney. Pat went on to work in the County Attorney’s Office himself, serving about 40 years, including 24 years elected as County Attorney. Pat also served on the Iowa City Council in the 70s. There are all sorts of State laws that have Pat’s fingerprints all over them. He is one of the most respected County Attorneys in Iowa’s history.
I had the pleasure of serving with Pat for two years before he retired, and I learned a great deal. He was (and is) a brilliant guy. I now consider him a friend. I cannot say I always agreed with him. But I also knew which one of our arguments would win in court – and that was his!
So I went into my meeting with Pat that day asking for him to impart some wisdom. I also had a few questions. One thing I had never considered: what were the benefits of the job? I had 3 young children at home, and I had never bothered to look into it. Pat reassured me that County insurance was quite good.
Then I asked about vacation and sick leave. “You don’t have it,” he replied. “What do you mean?” I asked. “You do not have sick leave or vacation. Elected officials do not punch a clock. You work as much or as little as you see fit.”
“Well, how would I know if I took too much vacation or sick time?” I asked. Pat smiled and said, “The voters will let you know.”
As it turned out, this may have been one of the rare occasions where Pat was wrong! As a matter of fact, voters seem to pay ZERO attention to the attendance of elected officials. Granted, many county employees are aware. I can guarantee you they pay attention! But those 100-200 county employees who might be aware have never made attendance an election issue.
About the same time I squeezed through the primary here, a Scott County Supervisor named Otto Ewoldt suffered a stroke. He went into a nursing home, and never returned to work.
Supervisor Ewoldt also never resigned. So he remained an elected Supervisor, getting paid and receiving benefits, never attending a single county function, for over a year. Finally, some Scott County residents began to complain. Obviously, it was not Mr. Ewoldt’s fault that he could not do the job. But the fact remained – the people of Scott County deserved their full complement of Supervisors. Finally, he resigned, a full two years after his stroke.
In the meantime, the Iowa Legislature took a look at the laws governing elected officials. In response to the Scott County situation, they came up with the following fix: “An elected official may also be removed from office by the district court for several specific, statutorily defined reasons. These are: willful or habitual neglect or refusal to perform the duties of office; willful misconduct or maladministration in office; intoxication, or being convicted of intoxication; corruption; extortion; conviction of a felony; or conviction of violation of the provisions of Iowa Code chapter 56 (Campaign Finance Disclosure Law).”
Since this version of the law has been in place, Iowa has had a few instances of elected officials being removed from office, but not many. Sometimes the elected officials perpetrated criminal acts. But often the stories are just tragic. Like everyone else, sometimes elected officials get ill.
We have not had anyone removed from office here in Johnson County. However, former Supervisor Larry Meyers died of cancer while in office. Larry was unbelievably committed to the job, and came to work on days that truly amazed me. Still, at the very end, Larry probably went a month or more without attending any meetings or other county functions. I was with him the night he died, and he apologized for not having read the packet for the next day’s work session. “It’s OK, Larry,” I said. “I know you’ll get to it.” He died a few hours later.
Larry’s situation was not difficult to understand, nor difficult to accept. What is much tougher to address is an elected official who simply does not do much work.
I almost always work a little over 40 hours per week. Much of that is in the office; some is out of the office. Some is after hours. But all in all, you get a little over 40 hours from me every week. Johnson County Treasurer Tom Kriz is a darn hard worker; he puts in 55 hours every week without fail! But most people do not know that. I think there is just an assumption that elected officials work 40 hours and take maybe two weeks of vacation. But it is wrong to assume.
I can assure you – even on a 5-person Board, it matters when a single Supervisor cannot or will not attend to the job. It means more calls and emails for the others. It means the others deal with more questions from Department Heads. It means the others have more meetings. It really does add up.
Elected officials are pretty well compensated. It seems to me that a pretty minimal expectation is that they come to work. If an elected official cannot or will not, she/he owes it to the people to resign.
How about you? What do you think is the appropriate amount for an elected official to work? Should there be electoral consequences for missing 10% of the meetings? 20%? 50%? Is 20 days of vacation too much? 30? 60? How many sick days can an elected official take and still do the job? 20? 40? 80?
I know I am blessed with good enough health to do the job. I am fortunate. If my health was too bad to do the job, I would resign. In my opinion, the job is bigger than any one person. If you cannot or will not do the job, you need to step down and let someone else do it. The public deserves full representation.
I do not have answers to all the questions I posed. But I do think it is worthwhile for the public to think about what is acceptable.
*DID YOU KNOW? The state law laying out the duties of elected officials is Chapter 331 of the Iowa Code.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise mentioned.
If you do NOT want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
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