“Legislative laders want focus on jobs, but social issues likely to pop up”

Legislative laders want focus on jobs, but social issues likely to pop up

Posted: 09 Jan 2011 02:16 AM PST

By JENNIFER JACOBS and JASON CLAYWORTH • jejacobs@dmreg.com • January 9, 2011

Lively battles over free preschool, same-sex marriage, abortion and money for smoking cessation programs are expected during the new session of the Iowa Legislature, which rolls into motion Monday.

It's hard even for legislative leaders to tell which ideas might catch fire because there's a new dynamic this year: Power in the Iowa House has shifted from Democrats to Republicans, and nearly a third of the 100 members will be freshmen.

Democrats still have power in the Iowa Senate, although just barely, with a 26-23 split. (A vacant seat in a district that leans Republican is expected to leave a 26-24 margin once it's filled.)

Unlikely to see passage this year are any efforts to raise the gas tax to pay for public road repairs, to crack down on illegal immigrants, or to repeal the workplace smoking ban, based on interviews with more than 30 key lawmakers and lobbyists. Nor is it likely that commercial property owners will see a cut in their taxes, although lawmakers will make a stab at that.

Leaders of both parties will struggle to keep lawmakers' attention on helping unemployed Iowans.

"We told the people of Iowa that we were going to focus on jobs and the economy. We're going to do that," said House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, R-Garner.

But some of the 29 new House Republican lawmakers will insist on pushing a social agenda that includes proposed bans or restrictions on same-sex marriage, abortions and stem cell research - measures that would be emotional and controversial.

With a 60-40 seat advantage in the House, Republicans set the agenda.

House Republicans will jump-start the session by trying to cut $73 million in spending from this year's budget and set aside $300 million for future tax cuts.

With a slim edge in the Iowa Senate, Democrats intend to keep up the "we're focused on jobs" mantra to avoid the social issues if they can. But certain bills could be used as bargaining chips to preserve Democrat-treasured programs such as state-funded preschool and health care for children.

Leaders have set a goal of wrapping up the session in 90 to 100 days, but "redistricting and the two-year budget throws a wrench in that," said House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha.

That's a reference to Gov.-elect Terry Branstad's desire to lock in spending for two years rather than one, which both Republican and Democratic lawmakers are hesitant to do. And lawmakers need to vote this year on congressional and state legislative districts redrawn to match population changes.

Expect more ideas from Republican lawmakers to pop up later, said Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, R-Chariton. "They will come up with some things that may sound off the wall," he said, "but I think it's coming from back home."

Gauging the issues

How proposals are categorized:

HOT: Good chance of passage this session.

WARM: One chamber likely to approve it, but not enough enthusiasm yet in both chambers to make passage likely.

COLD: Not likely to become law this session.

HOT

JOB CREATION: Expect economic growth packages from both Democrats and Republicans. Efforts to help small business, both cash incentives and tax credits, are likely to pass. Some legislators want to give more money to community colleges to get skilled workers into the work force quickly.

RED TAPE: Are there any regulations that hamper business growth? Both parties want to know. Senate Democrats want a "red tape commission" of experts and lawmakers to dig for some, but aren't willing to risk public health and welfare. One source of aggravation is the state licensure laws that help labor unions. For example, farmers want to do electrical work themselves without hiring a licensed electrician. This bill is likely to quickly pass the House.

MENTAL HEALTH CARE: There's a proposal for the state to take over most of the responsibility for paying for mental health services for uninsured people by July 2012. Much of the cost now falls to counties. Republicans are serious about tackling this. "That's one of the big things out there," House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said last week. House Republicans want to immediately pump an extra $25 million in state money into helping counties with mental health services. But taking that action could reduce the pressure to overhaul the funding system this year.

REDISTRICTING: Law requires this, based on new census counts. Nonpartisan state officials will redraw congressional and legislative boundaries. Either chamber of the Iowa Legislature or Gov. Terry Branstad can reject the plan twice, but if they don't like the third, the Iowa Supreme Court decides the boundaries. Lines will be drawn along rivers, railroads, county lines and other landmarks, and likely won't benefit either party.

MONEY FOR K-12 SCHOOLS: It's likely that lawmakers will kick in the $156 million they shorted school districts in aid money for this year. The hot question is whether they'll increase school aid for next year. Even with no increase, school aid will cost the state $2.68 billion next year. Aid is tied to the number of pupils, so rural school districts that are losing enrollment need an annual increase to make ends meet. Rural school districts predominantly are represented by Republicans, but if Republican lawmakers pump in more money, the budget grows - in contradiction to their campaign promises to cut spending. Another wrinkle: After this year, a special program to prop up districts with low enrollment will be phased out.

SCHOOL REFORM PLANS: Branstad has made it a priority to repeal the state law passed last year that requires school boards to negotiate school reform plans with union members. A bill is likely to pass the House; the odds are even that it will pass the Senate.

UNSAFE MOBILE HOMES: New protections for those who buy homes, giving them more time to relocate their mobile homes after an eviction notice, are likely to pass. Still being discussed are ways to address statewide title problems with old mobile homes, allegations that park owners are committing consumer fraud, and widespread safety hazards in decades-old homes that predated federal manufacturing standards.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured site: So, Why is Wikileaks a Good Thing Again?.

Hot Job

Sunday, January 9, 2011