Legislative digest
By Lee Des Moines Bureau staff | Posted: Wednesday, April 04, 2007
SAME-DAY VOTING n Gov. Chet Culver signed a bill Tuesday that allows voters to register on Election Day, ending the 10-day cutoff for registration.
"Here in Iowa, we want to make it as easy as possible for Iowans to be involved in the democratic process. This bill achieves this goal," Culver said in a statement.
The bill requires voters to present photo identification if they register on Election Day. This is not required for registration at other times.
The Legislature passed the measure despite the concerns of Republicans who warned of an increase in voter fraud.
"Thanks to the hard work of everyone on this legislation, we are standing up for the right to vote for all Iowans and expanding political participation across the state," Culver said.
A BILL DEFERRED n Senate Democrats are accusing Republicans of using stall tactics to prevent bills from coming to a vote.
The tension boiled over late Tuesday afternoon when Sen. David Hartsuch, R-Bettendorf, asked to postpone debate on a bill setting up a commission to study how to provide affordable health care.
Senate tradition allows any member to "defer" on a bill, which means to postpone debate, usually to allow time to write an amendment. This is at least the third time Hartsuch asked to defer on the bill, each time because he said he was working on an amendment.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, and Hartsuch had a heated exchange in the well of the Senate chamber over whether this amendment actually existed. The two senators and others retreated into a back room to hash out their differences.
Afterwards, Gronstal said it was just a miscommunication. Hartsuch apologized for the misunderstanding and said his amendment does exist and would be passed out shortly.
DEATH OF A BILL -- The Senate Transportation Committee killed a bill Tuesday that would have led to one-year suspensions of commercial driver's licenses for people who drive drunk in their noncommercial vehicles.
Sen. Larry Noble, R-Ankeny, a retired state trooper, said he thinks the penalty is too high considering the offense takes place in the offender's private time.
"This takes away his livelihood," he said.
The bill previously passed the House with no votes against it. Sen. John Putney, R-Gladbrook, said House members must not have taken a close look at the bill.
"I know a lot of guys over there aren't reading the bills they're passing," he said.
"Here in Iowa, we want to make it as easy as possible for Iowans to be involved in the democratic process. This bill achieves this goal," Culver said in a statement.
The bill requires voters to present photo identification if they register on Election Day. This is not required for registration at other times.
The Legislature passed the measure despite the concerns of Republicans who warned of an increase in voter fraud.
"Thanks to the hard work of everyone on this legislation, we are standing up for the right to vote for all Iowans and expanding political participation across the state," Culver said.
A BILL DEFERRED n Senate Democrats are accusing Republicans of using stall tactics to prevent bills from coming to a vote.
The tension boiled over late Tuesday afternoon when Sen. David Hartsuch, R-Bettendorf, asked to postpone debate on a bill setting up a commission to study how to provide affordable health care.
Senate tradition allows any member to "defer" on a bill, which means to postpone debate, usually to allow time to write an amendment. This is at least the third time Hartsuch asked to defer on the bill, each time because he said he was working on an amendment.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, and Hartsuch had a heated exchange in the well of the Senate chamber over whether this amendment actually existed. The two senators and others retreated into a back room to hash out their differences.
Afterwards, Gronstal said it was just a miscommunication. Hartsuch apologized for the misunderstanding and said his amendment does exist and would be passed out shortly.
DEATH OF A BILL -- The Senate Transportation Committee killed a bill Tuesday that would have led to one-year suspensions of commercial driver's licenses for people who drive drunk in their noncommercial vehicles.
Sen. Larry Noble, R-Ankeny, a retired state trooper, said he thinks the penalty is too high considering the offense takes place in the offender's private time.
"This takes away his livelihood," he said.
The bill previously passed the House with no votes against it. Sen. John Putney, R-Gladbrook, said House members must not have taken a close look at the bill.
"I know a lot of guys over there aren't reading the bills they're passing," he said.
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