Iowa legislators meet funnel deadline
6:10 PM
By Todd Dorman Journal Des Moines Bureau | Posted: Thursday, March 08, 2007
DES MOINES -- Iowa lawmakers finished most of their work ahead of a legislative deadline Thursday as majority Democrats counted accomplishments and Republicans tallied legislative casualties.
Legislators huddled in committees much of the day hoping to beat the so-called funnel deadline. Most bills that haven’t cleared either a House or Senate committee by week’s end are considered dead.
All but one or two committees finished their work Thursday and most lawmakers headed home for the weekend.
Massive budget and tax bills aren’t subject to the deadline. And multiple procedural maneuvers are still available to keep just about any idea alive.
But the deadline at the session’s midpoint is a chance to take stock and prepare for the long march toward adjournment.
Democrats are in control of the House and Senate for the first time in 15 years.
"We’re pretty excited," said Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs. "I'd say we’re at least a B+, probably an A-, in terms of getting our priority issues accomplished."
Republican leaders saw the funnel deadline through a different lens.
"I’d give them an A for the fact that they’ve been committed to their issues," said Senate Minority Leader Mary Lundby, R-Marion, of the new majority.
"I’d give them an F for caring about Iowans and what most Iowans need and want. They have left behind so many Iowans with this agenda," Lundby said.
Top Democratic priorities such as raising Iowa's minimum wage, lowering legal barriers to stem cell research and protecting students from bullying already have been signed into law by Gov. Chet Culver.
Bills that would raise teacher pay, increase the cigarette tax, expand access to health care, beef up preschool offerings and create an Iowa Power Fund for renewable energy research are still alive and likely to pass.
Facing a more uncertain future are bills that would extend state civil rights protections to gays and lesbians and that would force non-union public employees to pay a fee for services provided through collective bargaining.
Democrats also must craft a more than $5.7 billion state budget plan.
"We talked about at the beginning of the year that we would try to focus on bread-and-butter issues that the average Iowan cares about," said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines. "We think that’s what we’ve done."
Republicans charged that Democrats have failed to address rising health care costs for small businesses, property tax reform and a long list of other issues. Traditional Republican issues such as reinstating the death penalty, putting tax increases to a vote of the people and limiting abortion received no hearing.
They assailed the union fees bill, or fair share, as economically misguided. Republicans vowed to fight the bill "tooth and nail."
"Democrats are determined to get every anti-business piece of legislation shoved out of committee," said House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City.
The funnel marked the end of the line for several bills.
Lawmakers have decided not to attempt a major overhaul this year of the state’s open meetings and open records laws. A bill banning public smoking statewide is dead but a measure allowing tough local smoking restrictions remains alive.
It’s unlikely there will be an effort to repeal Iowa’s law making English the official language. Controversial TouchPlay video lottery games unplugged last year will remain dark. And mourning doves will remain safe from hunting.
Todd Dorman can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or at {M3todd.dorman@lee.
Legislators huddled in committees much of the day hoping to beat the so-called funnel deadline. Most bills that haven’t cleared either a House or Senate committee by week’s end are considered dead.
All but one or two committees finished their work Thursday and most lawmakers headed home for the weekend.
Massive budget and tax bills aren’t subject to the deadline. And multiple procedural maneuvers are still available to keep just about any idea alive.
But the deadline at the session’s midpoint is a chance to take stock and prepare for the long march toward adjournment.
Democrats are in control of the House and Senate for the first time in 15 years.
"We’re pretty excited," said Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs. "I'd say we’re at least a B+, probably an A-, in terms of getting our priority issues accomplished."
Republican leaders saw the funnel deadline through a different lens.
"I’d give them an A for the fact that they’ve been committed to their issues," said Senate Minority Leader Mary Lundby, R-Marion, of the new majority.
"I’d give them an F for caring about Iowans and what most Iowans need and want. They have left behind so many Iowans with this agenda," Lundby said.
Top Democratic priorities such as raising Iowa's minimum wage, lowering legal barriers to stem cell research and protecting students from bullying already have been signed into law by Gov. Chet Culver.
Bills that would raise teacher pay, increase the cigarette tax, expand access to health care, beef up preschool offerings and create an Iowa Power Fund for renewable energy research are still alive and likely to pass.
Facing a more uncertain future are bills that would extend state civil rights protections to gays and lesbians and that would force non-union public employees to pay a fee for services provided through collective bargaining.
Democrats also must craft a more than $5.7 billion state budget plan.
"We talked about at the beginning of the year that we would try to focus on bread-and-butter issues that the average Iowan cares about," said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines. "We think that’s what we’ve done."
Republicans charged that Democrats have failed to address rising health care costs for small businesses, property tax reform and a long list of other issues. Traditional Republican issues such as reinstating the death penalty, putting tax increases to a vote of the people and limiting abortion received no hearing.
They assailed the union fees bill, or fair share, as economically misguided. Republicans vowed to fight the bill "tooth and nail."
"Democrats are determined to get every anti-business piece of legislation shoved out of committee," said House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City.
The funnel marked the end of the line for several bills.
Lawmakers have decided not to attempt a major overhaul this year of the state’s open meetings and open records laws. A bill banning public smoking statewide is dead but a measure allowing tough local smoking restrictions remains alive.
It’s unlikely there will be an effort to repeal Iowa’s law making English the official language. Controversial TouchPlay video lottery games unplugged last year will remain dark. And mourning doves will remain safe from hunting.
Todd Dorman can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or at {M3todd.dorman@lee.
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