As the time nears for the final fall of the gavel at the state Capitol Friday, Iowa’s leaders are scrambling to get the final bills considered during the 2003 legislative session finalized and passed.

Rep. Jane Greimann, D-Ames, said the Iowa Values Fund will be a key in legislation this week. The fund, if passed, has the potential to generate money for research at the university level.

“Most people would like to try to pass an Iowa Values Fund,” she said. “Everything we do [this week] kind of revolves around that.”

One of the goals of the fund, which will help with new business start-up, improve Iowa’s existing businesses, increase culture and recreation in the state and fund research at the Regents’ level, is to make Iowa more marketable, which will keep younger people in the state, she said.

“I think that there is a sense that we need to continue moving forward so all [three issues] can be addressed,” said Rep. Jim Kurtenbach, R-Nevada. “The Values Fund and the income tax have to be addressed.”

Greimann said another bill up for discussion this week will be the HAVA Bill, which gives $35 million to the state to update voting practices. Greimann said the voting practices are from 1970 and the update is much needed.

“We really need the money, yet this bill has become political and I’m hoping we don’t lose the money,” she said.

Greimann said she expects the Legislature will address a lawsuit brought against the state concerning gambling taxes issue.

“There is a lawsuit against the state and we are trying to resolve it so we can collect taxes that have been held back from the state,” she said. “We have been charging higher taxes to the racetracks with 36 percent than we do to the riverboats with only 20 percent.”

Greimann said a hearing will be held Monday to discuss an old environmental issue dealing with air quality and hog lot pollution.

“There were rules written and put into effect a week ago that carried out the plans of our hog lot bill we passed last year,” she said. “They want us to nullify the rules that were set because they think they’re too strict.”

Greimann said there will be some budget issues to resolve, but she does not predict higher education will get more funding.

“Last week we passed this reinvention bill that took $17 [million] to $18 million out of the Regents universities,” she said. “I think a lot of [the budget debates] just hinges on whether we can agree on the Iowa Values Fund.”

Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, said while there are budget appropriations to discuss, she also doesn’t believe any more money will go into higher education.

“Considering how the first education budget didn’t give a lot to the universities, I would be very surprised to see additional dollars,” she said.

Kurtenbach said higher education will get more money if the Iowa Values Fund is put in place.

“Higher education research institutions and community colleges have components in the Values Fund,” he said.

Heddens said while some bills are scheduled to be debated already, more can be added as the week goes on.

“Some things come up very quickly,” she said. “Really, I don’t know ahead of time, I just know day to day.”