IOWA INSIDER

DES MOINES – A record number of Iowans sought assistance from state human services programs last year in the midst of the current economic downturn.

More than 892,000 Iowans — roughly 31 percent of the state’s population –received assistance for health care, food, welfare, child support collections or other social programs run by the Iowa Department of Human Services. Those figures are for fiscal year 2009, which ended June 30.

DHS Director Charles Krogmeier said their caseload is expected to grow in the next 12 to 18 months before declining.

The increased caseloads come as the state is facing its own budget challenges, but Krogmeier said they are not proposing that state lawmakers change eligibility guidelines for those programs to bring caseloads down.

“We’re not recommending that the state back off of its commitment, particularly now,” Krogmeier said.

Enrollment in Medicaid, the state’s health care program for low-income and disabled Iowans, jumped nearly 8 percent in fiscal year 2009. Officials say when the economy worsens and unemployment increases, more people access Medicaid to pay for health care needs.

The number of people receiving food assistance grew at an even faster rate, rising by more than 18 percent last year.

In June, more than 303,000 people were receiving assistance, compared to roughly 257,000 a year earlier. DHS officials have taken a number of steps to improve participation in the federally funded program, previously known as food stamps.

Enrollment in the state’s Family Investment Program, which provides welfare benefits, also has begun to grow after a decade of declines. Last year, the program’s caseload averaged nearly 15,700 families, rising nearly 1,100 from July 2008 to June 2009. Families received an average monthly grant of $318.

Ann Wiebers, a DHS official, said they expect the caseload to continue to grow before stabilizing in fiscal year 2011.

DHS officials have been directed to create a “status quo” budgets without spending increases. The proposed budget they presented Tuesday would spend $1.44 billion from the state’s general fund in fiscal year 2011.

DHS officials are facing more uncertainty in the budgeting process this cycle as they wait for action by Congress.

Federal stimulus dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that helped prop up DHS programs this year might not be there next year.

Another unknown is what Congress might do in its health care reform efforts that could affect funding for state health care programs.

A pair of potential cost-saving measures was not factored into DHS’s budget proposal. DHS and a task force are studying the possibility of closing one of the state’s four mental health institutions, and recommendations for a department reorganization also are expected this fall, Krogmeier said.

A hiring freeze has kept open about 250-300 department positions to save money, according to Krogmeier.

DES MOINES — The group working to draft former GOP governor Terry Branstad into the 2010 gubernatorial race has launched a statewide radio ad.

The ad, entitled “Real Leadership,” begins today and is expected to run through the week.

It highlights Branstad’s leadership during 16 years as governor, through the farm crisis of the 1980s and the recovery from historic floods in 1993.

“As governor, Branstad cut taxes and balanced the budget – displaying fiscal discipline sorely needed in Des Moines today,” the ad says. “He worked to grow our economy and helped make Iowa education among the world’s best.”

Former state legislator Sandy Greiner of Keota formed the Draft Branstad political action committee sponsoring the ad. She said she has seen an outpouring of support from people who hope to bring Branstad back into politics.

“I’m just stunned that we’ve gotten the kind of reaction we have,” Greiner said, noting the number of people who have signed up on the PAC’s Web site and Facebook account.

Branstad currently serves as president of Des Moines University, a medical school, and has set an October deadline for deciding if he will get in the race. He served four terms as governor between January 1983 and January 1999.

Six Republicans already have announced they plan to run for governor in 2010 or are seriously considering it. Democratic Gov. Chet Culver has started forming his campaign team as he seeks re-election to his second term.

INDIANOLA –U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., and Iowa’s top elected Democrats struck an urgent tone Sunday on what they said is the need to pass health care reforms.

The issue dominated speeches at U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin’s 32nd annual steak fry fundraiser, as Democrats who control Congress attempt to pass a health care reform package this year.

Franken, who keynoted the event, provided some of the humor he was known for during his stint on “Saturday Night Live” as he talked about health care.

“Of course, one way nutritionists tell us we could prevent disease is if we ate less charcoal-grilled, marbled red meat,” Franken joked to the crowd, who had just dined on steak dinners.

But Franken, the Senate’s newest member after defeating Republican Norm Coleman, turned serious about the need for passing health care reform measures.

“We want to look back on this day from an America in which everyone has health care and say ‘it wasn’t the easiest thing, but it was the right thing, and together we got it done’,” Franken said.

Speakers at the event pushed back against criticism that opponents have dished out at town hall meetings on health care.

Harkin compared the fight for health care reform to Democrats’ historic fights for civil rights and programs like Social Security and Medicare.

“Let’s fight the lies and distortions,” Harkin told the crowd. “Let’s educate our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers. This is the year, my friends. Let’s make history by finally creating a health care system that works not just for the healthy and the wealthy, but for all Americans in our country.”

Harkin last week was named chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to replace the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Harkin pledged that any bill that passed his committee would have a strong public insurance option, drawing some of the biggest cheers of the day from the crowd.

More than 1,800 Democrats are estimated to have attended the steak fry, which has become one of the most important gatherings for Iowa party activists each year.

Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat from Waterloo, said since President Obama was elected, Democrats have put up with a campaign of lies and fear “to keep the American people from knowing the truth about the great things happening in this country.”

“Now is not the time for fear, and now is not the time for silence. We’re Democrats; we’re proud to be Democrats, and we’re not going to put up with this crap any longer,” Braley told the crowd.

A handful of protestors gathered outside the gates of the grounds where the event was held, including Jim Carley of Altoona, who held a sign saying he’s a “ticked off taxpayer.”

“I’m fed up with where this government’s going. All they know how to do is spend money – money that doesn’t solve problems,” said Carley, a retired store manager.

He listed the stimulus package and bailout known as the Troubled Assets Relief Program as examples and said the country cannot afford the health care reform legislation.