Health care, road funding bills beat deadline
By Charlotte Eby and Whitney Woodward Journal Des Moines Bureau | Posted: Friday, March 07, 2008
Iowa lawmakers worked at a frantic pace Thursday to push through their election-year agenda for the session before a crucial "funnel week" deadline.
Democrats, who control both chambers, closed out the week by advancing plans to expand access to health care and a hike in vehicle registration fees to raise money for road projects.
"We did have a very successful week," House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said on Thursday. "All of our major priorities have passed out of committee and made funnel now."
Thursday marked the deadline when most policy bills must gain committee approval or die for the legislative session.
A pair of the session's most talked-about issues, a statewide smoking ban and a statewide sales tax for schools, already had beaten the deadline.
On Thursday committees in both the House and the Senate advanced proposals to increase road and bridge funding through an assortment of road-related and vehicle registration fee increases.
The dueling proposals, which differ slightly on specifics, would generate between $120 million and $130 million annually for road construction and maintenance by the year 2012. Under both bills, most Iowans wouldn't see a fee hike until they buy a different vehicle.
"We tried to grandfather almost everything in so that there isn't a direct hit to people's pocketbooks," said Rep. Geri Huser, D-Altoona, the House Transportation Committee chairwoman.
Democrats and Republicans alike groused that the bill falls far short of the $200 million requested by the Iowa Department of Transportation.
The Senate's plan would eliminate a longstanding rate break for pickup truck owners who use their vehicle for agriculture or business -- a provision Sen. John Putney, R-Gladbrook, has sought for years.
The Senate plan also would institute a $3 annual increase for Iowa driver's licenses -- to $7 from $4.
House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, said he was pleased both parties worked together to help a package of health care proposals clear the funnel deadline.
The full House could debate the legislation as early as next week, and Democratic leaders said they expect it will pass with overwhelming support.
The wide-ranging bills are a mix of recommendations from a bi-partisan commission and Gov. Chet Culver that encourage expanding insurance coverage and efficiency measures such as electronic recordkeeping.
The House bill sets a goal of having all Iowans covered by health insurance starting with children, who should be covered by 2010.
The Senate version goes even further, mandating that parents insure their children through private or government-run insurance programs by 2011.
On education issues, Democrats pointed to a bill that would require school attendance until a child turns 18, a proposal that cleared a committee to stay alive.
Democrats, who hold majorities in both chambers and thus can set the legislative agenda, quashed some GOP proposals by failing to call the bills for a vote.
"It's a mixed bag," said House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, of the deadline. "Some of our priorities are dying."
Among the Republican-sponsored casualties were a handful of bills aimed at stopping illegal immigration. Rants pointed to a plan which would have fined CEOs if they knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
"Our immigration proposals, which were really good, strong pieces of legislation, all are dying in the funnel," Rants said.
Instead, Democrats moved forward on a bill that would require employers to verify, under penalty of perjury, they checked an employee's state-issued photo ID at the time of employment.
Property tax relief -- which Rants has beat the drum for all session -- is funnel-proof, so lawmakers could consider those plans later this year.
Charlotte Eby can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com. {M7
Thursday marked the end of funnel week in the Iowa Legislature, when policy bills must gain committee approval or die for the session.
Still alive
-- Statewide smoking ban,
-- Raising vehicle registration fees to pay for road construction projects,
-- Expansion of access to health insurance for children,
-- Expansion of the state's can and bottle deposit law to recycle more types of containers,
-- Statewide sales tax for schools,
-- Lottery ticket sales to fund veterans' needs,
-- Study of livestock odor,
-- Statewide curriculum mandate for K-12 schools,
-- Compulsory school attendance until age 18,
-- Rewrite of open records and meetings laws,
-- Employees' choice of doctor for workers' compensation claims,
-- Making it a felony to attend an illegal dog or animal fight,
-- 60-day notice required before layoffs at small manufacturers
-- Ban on expiration dates for gift cards.
Dead
-- Eminent domain reforms,
-- Adding veterans to Iowa's civil rights code,
-- Campaign contribution limits,
-- Ban on cell phone texting while driving.
Democrats, who control both chambers, closed out the week by advancing plans to expand access to health care and a hike in vehicle registration fees to raise money for road projects.
"We did have a very successful week," House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said on Thursday. "All of our major priorities have passed out of committee and made funnel now."
Thursday marked the deadline when most policy bills must gain committee approval or die for the legislative session.
A pair of the session's most talked-about issues, a statewide smoking ban and a statewide sales tax for schools, already had beaten the deadline.
On Thursday committees in both the House and the Senate advanced proposals to increase road and bridge funding through an assortment of road-related and vehicle registration fee increases.
The dueling proposals, which differ slightly on specifics, would generate between $120 million and $130 million annually for road construction and maintenance by the year 2012. Under both bills, most Iowans wouldn't see a fee hike until they buy a different vehicle.
"We tried to grandfather almost everything in so that there isn't a direct hit to people's pocketbooks," said Rep. Geri Huser, D-Altoona, the House Transportation Committee chairwoman.
Democrats and Republicans alike groused that the bill falls far short of the $200 million requested by the Iowa Department of Transportation.
The Senate's plan would eliminate a longstanding rate break for pickup truck owners who use their vehicle for agriculture or business -- a provision Sen. John Putney, R-Gladbrook, has sought for years.
The Senate plan also would institute a $3 annual increase for Iowa driver's licenses -- to $7 from $4.
House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, said he was pleased both parties worked together to help a package of health care proposals clear the funnel deadline.
The full House could debate the legislation as early as next week, and Democratic leaders said they expect it will pass with overwhelming support.
The wide-ranging bills are a mix of recommendations from a bi-partisan commission and Gov. Chet Culver that encourage expanding insurance coverage and efficiency measures such as electronic recordkeeping.
The House bill sets a goal of having all Iowans covered by health insurance starting with children, who should be covered by 2010.
The Senate version goes even further, mandating that parents insure their children through private or government-run insurance programs by 2011.
On education issues, Democrats pointed to a bill that would require school attendance until a child turns 18, a proposal that cleared a committee to stay alive.
Democrats, who hold majorities in both chambers and thus can set the legislative agenda, quashed some GOP proposals by failing to call the bills for a vote.
"It's a mixed bag," said House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, of the deadline. "Some of our priorities are dying."
Among the Republican-sponsored casualties were a handful of bills aimed at stopping illegal immigration. Rants pointed to a plan which would have fined CEOs if they knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
"Our immigration proposals, which were really good, strong pieces of legislation, all are dying in the funnel," Rants said.
Instead, Democrats moved forward on a bill that would require employers to verify, under penalty of perjury, they checked an employee's state-issued photo ID at the time of employment.
Property tax relief -- which Rants has beat the drum for all session -- is funnel-proof, so lawmakers could consider those plans later this year.
Charlotte Eby can be reached at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com. {M7
Thursday marked the end of funnel week in the Iowa Legislature, when policy bills must gain committee approval or die for the session.
Still alive
-- Statewide smoking ban,
-- Raising vehicle registration fees to pay for road construction projects,
-- Expansion of access to health insurance for children,
-- Expansion of the state's can and bottle deposit law to recycle more types of containers,
-- Statewide sales tax for schools,
-- Lottery ticket sales to fund veterans' needs,
-- Study of livestock odor,
-- Statewide curriculum mandate for K-12 schools,
-- Compulsory school attendance until age 18,
-- Rewrite of open records and meetings laws,
-- Employees' choice of doctor for workers' compensation claims,
-- Making it a felony to attend an illegal dog or animal fight,
-- 60-day notice required before layoffs at small manufacturers
-- Ban on expiration dates for gift cards.
Dead
-- Eminent domain reforms,
-- Adding veterans to Iowa's civil rights code,
-- Campaign contribution limits,
-- Ban on cell phone texting while driving.
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ER wrote on Mar 7, 2008 10:19 PM:
Dick wrote on Mar 7, 2008 7:39 AM: