Monday, February 28

This week's Lunch 'n Learn was with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.  The story of how he became a politician is long; he is also a lawyer, and he met us late because a court hearing was delayed.  He told us that the job of his caucus (party), as the minority, is to point out the problems associated with the Republicans' ideas.  Something he always tells his caucus is "vote your conscious; vote your district".  He realizes that members of his caucus should not always agree with each other just because they are in the same party.

For example, a decision to sell a historically significant painting owned by the state, and located near Iowa City, for millions of dollars will never gain support from a rep from that area.  On the other hand, a rep whose entire rural district is three hundred miles away may want the money to go towards farm subsidies.  Both reps have their best intentions; they're just trying to reflect the views of their district.

After a 15-minute session this morning, we gaveled out for the entire day.  Go committees, go.

Thursday, February 24

With the funnel coming up next Friday, committees are still hard at it to get their bills to the floor.  This results in almost no action on the floor; the gavel-in time in the afternoon has gone from 4:00/4:30 to 5:00; next week it will be 5:30 and 6:30.  We are even working on Friday next week!  Harold said that lobbyists also want their bills to go through committees, so they will be busier next week as well. 

For most of the day, though, I filled out scholarship applications.  I think I would have rather been in school.

Wednesday, February 23

Today was a mirror image of yesterday. For more information, please see Tuesday, February 22.  A couple things did happen, though.  I addressed the assembly once more - that's right, I started the pledge. Again. I was saying it all by myself until everyone else came in...

I had packed a light lunch bearing in mind that free food was going to be available. Was it ever! Pancheros served a free meal, resulting in a one hundred-foot long line.  I even went downstairs and got free pizza! To top it all off, after lunch a group of us went all the way up the dome, and not just to the walk-around underneath the false dome where everyone else goes.  We went so far up that we eventually came outside, on top of the dome!  I'll try and attach some pictures I took.  It's 250 feet to the top.

The space between the flag and "sky"

The false dome

It's a standard size bulb - pretty big and fancy moldings!

Helloooo down there!

Tuesday, February 22

At 8:30 we gaveled in and out again until 5:00.  The entire day was full of committee meetings, subcommittee meetings, and appropriations subcommittee meetings.  As for action on the floor, well, zip. Perhaps I've mentioned it before, but there's a funnel date coming up.  This means that most bills need to be out of committees so the committees are pumping iron right now.

A time will (hopefully) come when these bills come to the floor for debate.  It seems to me that any split-party vote in the House will be at least amended in the Senate, which then comes back to the House for approval of the amendment.  Naturally, this process takes time, and we'll soon be halfway through the session.  I know that lots of work is being done in committees, but it's just no fun for me.  Okay.  I'm done pouting now.      

Monday, February 21

This morning's Lunch 'n Learn was with Iowa Supreme Court's Chief Justice Mark Cady.  He seems like a sharp man which is no surprise.  He spent most of the time explaining the role of the judicial system.  In short, while lawyers are busy protecting the interests of their side of the case, judges must be busy protecting the interests of the Constitutions.

Later the amended version of the Taxpayers First Act from the Senate was debated.  Rep. Wagner simply read through the changes, the ranking member (lead Democrat for a committee) gave his support, and it was unanimously passed. Within half an hour, the session adjourned for the day.

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.