Iowa
State Capitol News – Weekend Recap
IowaState Capitol News – Weekend Recap
by Paul Deaton
[Editors'Note:
Following is a weekly recap of stories from Des Moines that
came through the Weekend Editor's in-box. Three weeks to go in the
legislative session before per diem ends on April 29. Check out the
House Democrats page for a
different take on the week here.
Senate Democrats are here.
Watch for this feature every Saturday while the legislature is in
session.]
Art Neu Did Not Get the Word
When the Pioneer Lawmakers presented their program to a joint session of the Iowa Legislature on Wednesday, it appeared that moderate Republican Art Neu, former Lieutenant Governor of Iowa, did did not get the word that in the 84th General Assembly the operating principal is that conservatives should not even sit at the table with the opposition. In his speech, Neu said,
If we don't expect bipartisan luncheons to break out at the capitol, advocates of second amendment rights took note of Neu's statement that in 1992, Iowa repealed Section 5 of the bill of rights which barred people who had participated in a duel from holding elected office. It appeared that many freshmen legislators were not aware that Iowa is open for dueling among legislative colleagues.
Click here to read Art Neu's remarks on incivility.
They did it Mom, they did it
In a stunning move, legislators in the House and Senate began each blaming the other body for failure to get substantial work done in the 2011 Session. Said one Republican, “Senate Democrats continue to use needed policy changes as bargaining chips in negotiations to try and force House Republicans to agree to spend more money on government programs and pork projects.” A Democrat retorts, “While the… Iowa Senate can stop legislation that would hurt middle-class Iowans, the Republican majority in the Iowa House is blocking our efforts to help Iowa’s working families…”
About the only place both sides agree is on paying attorneys who provide indigent defense, both bodies having passed legislation more than once to pay legitimate bills incurred by the state. Only trouble here is that the Governor does not agree with the legislature's methods. This issue won't be resolved until the waning days of the legislature when either a budget gets passed or, God forbid, legislators will have to go without per diem. It is all a day in the life of divided government.
A State Redistricted
Despite minor debates about the four Congressional districts, whether Linn and Johnson Counties would be split again, or whether Sioux City and Council Bluffs should be in different districts, the first redistricting map appears to have few opponents. This suggests that once the formal protocols are followed it will pass the legislature.
The only real question is whether former first lady of Iowa Christie Vilsack will use redistricting as an opportunity to throw one of her hats into the ring and run for Congress. Maybe she could help the Democratic party by running against the nominee in the new 4th district. If she was serious about running for public office, where was she when Chuck Grassley needed a big money, well connected opponent in 2010? Thanks to Roxanne Conlin, we had a credible opponent while Vilsack, C. sat on the sidelines.
~Paul
Deaton is a native Iowan living in rural Johnson County and weekend
editor of Blog for Iowa. E-mail
Paul Deaton
Blog For Iowa 