Thursday, February 17

There wasn't a whole lot of action today.  HF 267 was unanimously passed simply with opening & closing arguments.  The Senate, however, debated amendments and amendments to amendments concerning HF 45 (the Taxpayers First Act).  I think there are nearly 30 amendments to debate.  It will be interesting to see how different the TFA will be coming out of the Senate than how it came out of the House.

There are small speakers around the capitol that can broadcast live from either chamber, and one of them is next to the switchboard, and while listening to the debate I found the respective parties arguing the same points on the same topics that the House did. For this reason, it seems to me that it would have saved time to stick both the Reps and Senators in the same room for 24 straight hours for debate, take a 20-minute break, then 24 more hours of debate.  If they are all still too stubborn to find some semblance of similar ground, then take coffee away from them until they do.

Or we could take coffee away at the beginning and have a solution in two hours.

Wednesday, February 16

Today one of the switchboard operators was sick so I sat in and answered the phone all day.  "Iowa House of Representatives, how may I direct your call?"

At 4:00, though, I moved to the speaker's well for debate.  First up was House File 194, which presented a 20% across-the-board cut on individual income tax rates.  The Democrats argued that the money "taken away" from the government could have been used to fund programs (preschool came up a lot).  The Republicans argued that it wasn't the government's money in the beginning.

There was an amendment on the bill, and then, an amendment to the amendment.  At one point, a vote to suspend the rules took place because the first amendment was not germane (relevant to the subject of the bill).  Then a vote for the amendment to the amendment.  Then a vote for the amendment.  I'll summarize: each vote was in favor of the Republicans.  After 2 1/4 hours of debate, the bill was passed 62-33.

Next came House file 260, its short title being School District Home Rule.  The best way to explain it is to copy the first paragraph:

The board of directors of a school district shall operate, control, and supervise all public schools located within its district boundaries and may exercise any broad and implied power related to the operation, control, and supervision of those public schools except as expressly prohibited or prescribed by the Constitution of the State of Iowa or by statute.

Of course, the Republicans passed it 65-30.  

Tuesday, February 15

I'd like to share a few observations which have come from attending committee meetings and the like:
1) Agriculture - This committee is a homely bunch because they are so deeply rooted in Iowa.
2) Economic Growth - These are always very stimulating meetings.
3) Environmental Protection - For some reason, topics in these meetings are always complicated.  Almost the whole time is spent clearing the air of confusion.
4) Transportation - To me, it is obvious that the Iowa DOT is in a rut.
5) Veterans' Affairs - People are always trying to sit in on these meetings.  To ensure that no unauthorized persons enter, I am always on Guard.
6) Judiciary - I have never sat in on a judiciary committee because another page has requested all of its meetings.  It's just not fair.
7) Labor - I dread attending these meetings - I always end up doing hard work.
8) Commerce - It's business as usual.
9) Ways & Means - As far as I can tell, this is the committee that finds ways of being mean by taxing Iowans.
10) Education - I haven't really learned anything from this committee.
11) Public Safety - I've only been scheduled to this committee once. Unfortunately, on my way to it, I slipped on a dangerously wet floor.

Monday, February 14

For another slow day, it is surprisingly easy to write this.

This week's Lunch 'n Learn was with Iowa's Secretary of State, Matt Schultz.  He described his campaign strategy which made him the first person to beat an incumbent in a statewide office in Iowa for something like 50 years.  He lives in Council Bluffs with his wife and two children (the third is due on Friday).  He commutes on Monday mornings, returns Tuesday night, commutes Wednesday morning, and returns Thursday night and works Friday from his (still-operating) law office.  And I think my 15-minute commute is bad.

The first highlight was that the prayer was offered by Pastor Bob Dishman of Park Church of Christ in Goldfield.  Apparently there is a special parking place for clergy.  After the pledge an announcement was interrupted by the warning system.  We all walked down the stairs in an orderly fashion - and that's when I saw it - some delivery man was sprinting up the stairs against the flow with a bouquet of flowers, probably hoping to receive a huge tip.  At least it was nice outside.

For the rest of the day, I ran a whopping 10 errands.

Thursday, February 10

Ooh la la. What a slow day again.  Five minutes of session in the morning, five in the afternoon, and the rest was committee meetings and caucuses.  There weren't even a lot of lobbyists to spice up the time.  I went to a Natural Resources committee and handed out five different things to the reps - when that is the task of the day, I know I'm in trouble. They passed a bill about hunting, but I don't recall the specifics, and it honestly didn't make a lot of sense despite my unparalleled hunting experience...

On the positive side, I finished my third book today.

Wednesday, February 9

I can tell we're getting a little more into the session.  Today we gaveled in at 8:30 and recessed until 4:00, so the entire day was a mass of committee meetings, committee meetings, and oh yeah, subcommittee meetings.  The lobbyists were busy today lobbying for the BCVJ, WEO, JYCU, and most any other acronym I can randomly type.  At one point, about 160 students toured the chamber and finally took a picture around the well.  Boy did that make it hot in the chamber.

Over lunch I was bored so I went to the legislature's web site and skimmed over a few bills.  There were several that, while still in committees, were interesting to read.  I'll even provide a direct link to the list of education committee bills that are out there: http://www.legis.iowa.gov/Legislation/Find/billByCommittee.aspx?GA=84

In the afternoon I worked at the switchboard.  It's amazing how many people will call in and not have the slightest idea whom their legislator is.  Fortunately, we have a list of most of the municipalities in Iowa with their respective reps.  One lady believed her rep was "Grassley".  To be sure, I asked if she meant Pat Grassley (a state rep) or Chuck Grassley ("oh yes, he's the one").  I offered to give her C. Grassley's number but she decided she would rather tell me everything politically with which she has ever disagreed.  I doodled a little on a sticky note.

Tuesday, February 8

I pledge allegiance... I pledge allegiance... it didn't help when the rep standing beside me in the well told me not to say oh say can you see...  fortunately it didn't mess me up.  I can now say I have addressed the Iowa House of Representatives.

A part of the job which has become more annoying is that the temperature in the chamber is about ten degrees warmer than everyplace else.  It wouldn't be so bad except after 25 minutes of nonstop, three-messages-at-a-time errand running, the blazer and slacks and everything in between get plenty... cozy.  I eventually ran ice cold water on my wrists in the restroom.  Boy did that feel good, although a couple of reps gave me a funny look (I'm used to it by now).

The rotunda was full (as in not walkable) of people wanting to see reps.  It was these reps, however, who seemed to disappear into the marble.  Busy busy busy.

In the afternoon, HF 185 was debated.  This set the "state percent for allowable growth" for education at 0%.  It's simply the raise that the state gives in funding compared to the previous year (or, in this case, it's going to be the same as before).  The Republicans said it was the best way to go because last year the Democrats made the across-the-board cuts (a.k.a. they didn't follow through on their promise of funding) and the Republicans also argued that the state needed to cut spending as much as possible.  The Democrats, who proposed an amendment (that failed) which raised funding 2% instead of 0%, argued that an increase (which accounts for inflation etc.) is necessary simply to keep schools alive.  Of course, the Republicans passed the bill.