Service Mmbr Support Resolution Iowa Senate
Democratic Research Staff
STATE CAPITOL
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Jeanne Schneider
CityClerk
50W 13th Street Dubuque lA
March 25, 2003
Dear Jeanne Schneider,
I'm writing to ask for your help in supporting the Iowans called to duty during the war on
terrorism and the war in Iraq.
My name is Steve Warnstadt and I'm a State Senator from Sioux City. My senate district has the
second largest concentration of Guard and Reserve members in the state. I am also a Gulf War veteran.
I'm sure you are aware of some of the stresses Iowa families experiepce when a loved one is
called to serve. After ail, they are your constituents and often your employees.
Working with other legislators in Iowa and elsewhere, I have developed a ten- point "Service
Member Support Agenda." These commonsense measures include delayed filing of taxes, helping
Iowans called to service deal with leases, tuition rebates for students forced tb leave classes for the
military, allowing s, ervice members to deduct military expenses, and the elimination of state taxes on
death benefits.
Please consider passing a resolution supporting this agenda at your nbxt city council or Board of
Supervisors meeting. These low- cost and no- cost measures would make a real difference for Iowa
families in difficult times. You can find the details at www.iowasenatedemocrats.org. If we can get a
vote on these measures, I am confident that they will pass.
Time is running out because the legislative session is scheduled to end in a month. If you decide
to pass a resolution, please send me a copy. I will use your support to convifice the Legislature's
leadership to bring these bills to the floor.
Sincerely,
Senator Steve Warnstadt
steve.warnstadt@legis.state.ia.us
Senate: (515) 281-3371
Home: (712) 258-3705
Enclosed: SamPle Resolution
Sample resolution to support Iowans called to duty by
passing the Service Member Support Agenda
Whereas: More than 2,000 Iowans in the Iowa National Guard, the Reserve and on active duty
have been called to duty in Iraq and for Homeland Security;
Whereas: These Iowans are disrupting their lives and families to serve their country;
Whereas: The "Service Members Support Agenda" is a collection of common sense
suggestions developed in consultation with Iowa service members that the state of Iowa can do
to help ease the stresses they and their families face. These are no-cost and low-cost steps that
include delayed filing of taxes, tuition rebates for students forced to have classes for the
military, allowing service members to deduct military expenses, and the elimination of state
taxes on death benefits;
Whereas: In a month the Iowa Legislature is scheduled to finish its sssion and none of these
messages have passed the Legislature;
Be it therefore enacted: That the _________________(Local
government) urge the Iowa Legislature make supporting Iowans called to duty a top priority and
consider these measures on the floor of the Iowa House and Senate as soon as possible and take
action before the end of the session.
Please send word of your action to: Senator Steve Warnstadt, 515-281-3371,
steve.wamstadt(&,legis.state.ia, us
Preparer: Jeanne Schneider, City Clerk Address: 50 W. 13th Street Telephone: 563 589 4t20
RESOLUTION NO. 117-03
RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT IOWANS CALLED TO DUTY BY PASSING THE
SERVICE MEMBER SUPPORT AGENDA
Whereas, more than 2,000 Iowans in the National Guard, the Reserve and
on active duty have been called to duty in Iraq and for Homeland Security; and
Whereas, these Iowans are disrupting their lives and families to serve their
country; and
Whereas, the "Service Members Support Agenda" is a collection of
common sense suggestions developed in consultation with Iowa service
members that the state of Iowa can do to help ease the stresses they and their
families face. These are no-cost and Iow-cost steps that include delayed filing of
taxes, tuition rebates for students forced to leave classes for the military,
allowing service members to deduct military expenses, and the elimination of
state taxes on death benefits; and
Whereas, in a month the Iowa Legislature is scheduled to finish its session
and none of these messages have passed the Legislature.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. That the Dubuque City Council urge the Iowa Legislature make
supporting Iowans called to duty a top priority and consider these measures on
the floor of the Iowa House and Senate as soon as possible and take action
before the end of the session.
Passed, approved and adopted this 7th day of April, 2003.
Terrance M. Duggan, Mayor
Attest:
Jeanne F. Schneider, City Clerk
Page 1 of 4
Jeanne Schneider
From:"Tharp, Lynzey" <lynzey~fl~arp~legis.state.ia.us>
To:<JSchneid@cityofdubuque.org>
Sent:Wednesday, Mamh 26, 2003 3:00 PM
Attach:letter to local governments, doc; service member support agenda.dOc; sample resolution.doc
Subject:FW: Request for local govt. support of Iowa troops
Iowa Senate Democratic Research Staff
Emily Wlfitehead, intern 515-28t-6965 emily.whitehead~legis, state.iaius
<mailto:emily.whitehead@legis.state.ia. us>
(Please forward this time-sensitive request
to the appropriate person. Thank you.)
March 25, 2003
Dear Iowa City Councils and Boards of Supervisors
I'm writing to ask for your help in supporting the
Iowans called to duty during the war on terrorism and
the war in Iraq.,
My name is Steve Wamstadt and I'm a State Senator from
Sioux City. My senate district has the second largest concentration of Guard and Reserve members in
the state. I am also a Gulf War veteran.
I'm sure you are aware of some of the stresses Iowa
families experience when a loved one is called to
serve. After all, they are your constituents and often
your employees.
Working with other legislators in Iowa and elsewhere, I
have developed a ten- point "Service Member Support
Agenda." These commonsellSe measures include delayed
filing of taxes, helping Iowans called to service deal
with leases, tuition rebates for students forced to
leave classes for the military, allowing service
members to deduct militaty expenses, and the
elimination of state taxes on death benefits.
Please consider passing a resolution supporting this
agenda at your next city council or Board of
Supervisors meeting. These low- cost and no- cost
measures would make a real difference for Iowa families
in difficult times. You can find the details at www.iowasenatedemocmts.org. If we can get a vote on
these measures, I am confident that they will pass.
3/27/2003
Page 2 of 4
Time is running out because the legislative session is scheduled to end in a month. If you decide to pass
a resolution, please send me a copy. I will use your support to convince the Legislature's leadership to
bring these bills to the floor.
Sincerely,
Senator Steve Wamstadt
steve.wamstadt@legis.state.imus
Senate: (515) 281-3371
Home: (712) 258-3705
SAMPLE RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT IOWANS CALLED TO DUTY
PASSING TIlE SERVICE MEMBER SUPPORT AGENDA
Whereas: More than 2,000 Iowans in the Iowa National
Guard, the Reserve and on active duty have been called
to duty in Iraq and for Homeland Security;
Whereas: These Iowans are disrupting their lives and
families to serve their country;
BY
Whereas: The "Service Members Support Agenda" is a
collection of common sense suggestions developed in consultation with Ic
state of Iowa can do to help ease the stresses they and their families face.
cost steps that include delayed filing of taxes, tuition rebates for students
military, allowing service members to deduct military expenses, and the e!imination
death benefits;
wa service members that the
these are no-cost and low-
arced to leave classes for the
of state taxes on
Whereas: In a month the Iowa Legislature is scheduled
to finish its session and none of these messages have
passed the Legislature;
Be it therefore enacted: That the ____________________________________(Local government) urge
the Iowa Legislature make supporting Iowans called to duty a top priority and consider these measures
on the floor of the Iowa House and Senate as soon as possible and take action before the end of the
session.
Please send word of your action to: Senator Steve
Wamstadt, 515-281-3371,
steve.wamstadt@legis.state.ia, us
3/27/2003
Page 3 of 4
SERVICE MEMBER SUPPORT AGENDA
Senator Steve Wamstadt, 515-281-3371
steve.wamstadt@legis.state.ia.us (Updated:
March 25, 2003)
90 day lease termination if activated
A service member who signs a lease and then receives reassignaaent or deployment orders for a duty of
90 days or more can terminate the lease by written notice. (Senate File 323, amended to Senate File 359)
Death gratuity exemption
Beneficiaries of a service member killed in action
receive a $6,000 death gratuity, the first $3,000 tax
free. This would exempt total amount fi:om state taxes.
This was agreed to at federal level last year but not implemented. (Senate file 246) (Ways and Means)
Delayed filing of taxes
Present law allows those deployed to combat zone
an 180-day extension on filing their state taxes. This
will would extend that delay to those activated for
homeland security who may be deployed to non-combat
zone. (Senate File 264) (Ways and Means)
Deduction of all military expenses
Service members are currently eligible to take military expenses as deduction if the total is over 2% of
their gross income. This bill would allow service members to deduct all of their military expenses.
(Senate File
284) (Ways and Means)
Iowa Military Relief Fund
This state tax check off would fund emergency financial
grants to the families of Iowa reservists and members
of the Guard. (To be filed)
Counseling
The state would provide three counseling sessions or a
$150 voucher for the families of service members who are activate. (Senate File 294) (Stopped in
Human Resources Committee by legislative funnel, may be added as amendment.)
Exempt military student loan repayment from taxes
The military services sometimes send a service member to college and/or provide student loan
repayment. This idea would exempt the loan repayment from state taxes. (Senate File 264)
3/27/2003
Page 4 0f 4
Fully fund National Guard Education Assistance Program
A projected shortfall may mean hundreds of Iowa
National Guard members may not receive promised
educational benefits. (To be offered as amendment to
education budget.)
No waiting period to regain insurance coverage
College students on family health insurance plans who
are activated are usually dropped from their family's
insurance coverage, as they are under military plan.
When they come off active duty, their military
insurance ends and they are sometimes ineligible or
have delays in getting back on the fomily plan. (Senate
File 320) (Stopped in Commerce Committee by legislative
funnel, may be added as amendment.)
Total reimbursement of college tuition if activated
Would allow for 100% milion reimbursement of college
tuition for classes interrupted when a student is
activated. (To be offered as amendment to education
budget.)
end
3/27/2003