Bleeding Heartland - Dan Kelley

Another Iowa legislative victory for Big Ag

desmoinesdem — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:49:00 GMT

Factory farm advocates failed in 2009 to circumvent the Iowa DNR's rulemaking on applying manure over frozen and snow-covered ground. Then they failed in 2010 to win passage of a bill designed to weaken Iowa's newly-adopted regulations on manure storage and application.

But this year, the Iowa Pork Producers Association succeeded in convincing state lawmakers to relax requirements for CAFO operators to be able to store their own manure properly. All they had to do was dress up their effort as an attempt to help families with aspiring young farmers.
Last month Bleeding Heartland covered House File 512, the so-called "mothball" bill for farm structures. Proponents say it would help farm families who need to downsize temporarily, until a child has grown up, finished college, and decided to come home to farm.

The big "tell" during the House debate was that proponents rejected State Representative Chuck Isenhart's amendment, which stated:

During the period of election [to be a small animal feeding operation], a manure storage structure that is part of the confinement feeding operation is not used to store manure originating from a location outside the confinement feeding operation.

If the intent of the bill were to keep vacant buildings available for family use someday, the Iowa House should have approved that amendment. But they rejected it, because CAFO operators want to have the option to dump excess manure in the vacant buildings of neighbors. Transporting and offloading manure to another farm increases the risks of spills and water pollution.

Several environmental organizations and the Iowa Farmers Union had lobbyists registered against House File 512. Only the Iowa Pork Producers Association had lobbyists registered in favor.

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action was mobilizing opposition to this bill. In early April, that group claimed victory when the legislation was placed on the Iowa Senate's "unfinished business" calendar.

But unfinished business doesn't always stay unfinished at the statehouse. Last week, Senate leaders revived their version of the same bill, called Senate File 418. As described in the Senate Journal for May 1 (pdf), Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Joe Seng received unanimous consent to replace Senate File 418 with House File 512. The Senate then approved by voice vote Seng's amendment to the legislation, and passed the bill by 43 votes to 6 (Jack Hatch was absent). The six no votes came from the following Democrats:

Joe Bolkcom
Dick Dearden
Pam Jochum
Matt McCoy
Janet Petersen
Herman Quirmbach

I am surprised Rob Hogg was a yes here.

Excerpt from a May 1 press release by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action:

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement member Lori Nelson of Bayard, Iowa released the following statement Wednesday morning before the Iowa Senate debates an environmentally hazardous bill that would de-regulate basic and common-sense manure management regulations:
"Senate File 418 - the so-called "mothball" bill - is a shameful attempt by one of Iowa's largest corporate ag lobby groups and Democrats like Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and Ag Chair Joe Seng to de-regulate basic environmental protections that were designed to keep factory farm manure out of our water."
"Today we will hear false statements on the Senate floor, by Democrats and Republicans alike, that this bill is somehow meant to protect the environment because dumping overflowing toxic manure into an abandoned factory farm during bad weather is safer than spreading it on frozen or snow-covered ground. But this is a false comparison and is simply not true. There is a third option that was contemplated by legislators and regulators over five years ago that put the responsibility on the industry to solve this problem, and that is the correct approach we must continue to demand now."
"After the 2009 law banning liquid manure application on frozen and snow-covered ground, the Environmental Protection Commission and the Administrative Rules and Review Committee carved out a five year window for the factory farm industry to come into compliance with the new law, either by building extra storage capacity, reducing their herd sizes, or taking other steps to properly manage their manure over the winter months."
"The industry has had five years to fulfill their obligations, but they have refused, because they don't want to spend the money to do what's right. Now the Iowa Senate, under the leadership of Democrat Mike Gronstal, is set to give one of Iowa's most polluting industries a free pass for bad management rather than stand up for everyday people and the environment."
"We have 628 polluted waterways in this state. The amendment that will be proposed on the floor of the Senate today by Senator Seng is lipstick on a factory farm pig. There is no such thing as an emergency that would require dumping overflowing manure into an abandoned factory farm. That's not an emergency, that's bad management. Winter comes every year, and extreme weather is the new normal. The industry has had years to figure this out."
"Senators of both parties who claim that this measure is the lesser of two evils compared to spreading manure on snow are giving the factory farm industry a free pass for bad management. This is a horrible bill, it's bad policy, and legislative support for it demonstrates to every Iowan all that is wrong with state politics."

Yesterday the Iowa House took up the amended House File 512. According to the House Journal (pdf), floor manager Lee Hein moved that the representatives concur in the Senate amendment. Immediately afterwards, the House approved the bill by 85 votes to 14. Only these Democrats voted no:

Ako Abdul-Samad
Bruce Hunter
Marti Anderson
John Forbes
Lisa Heddens
Chuck Isenhart
Anesa Kajtazovic
Vicki Lensing
Mary Mascher
Kevin McCarthy
Jo Oldson
Cindy Winckler
Beth Wessel-Kroeschell
Art Staed

All House Republicans voted yes, joined by all of the other Democrats present. Dan Muhlbauer was absent but would surely have been a supporter; he supported House File 512 last month.

UPDATE: Cody McKinley, a lobbyist for the Iowa Pork Producers, told the Des Moines Register that

an amendment added to the bill by the Senate addresses CCI's concerns by allowing animal or manure storage in a mothballed facility only "on an emergency basis" and requiring farmers to inform the Department of Natural Resources of such circumstances.
"At any time, the DNR still has jurisdiction over that facility to go in and inspect and make sure they're fulfilling the full extent of the law," McKinley said.

That's not nearly as useful as Isenhart's amendment, which would have barred the use of mothballed facilities to store manure from other farms. So what if a CAFO informs the DNR that they are transporting manure to a vacant building? The DNR doesn't have enough CAFO inspectors even now, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency thoroughly documented. DNR staff won't closely scrutinize these "emergency" storage situations and won't be able to prevent spills during transport and offloading.

IA-Sen: Most Democratic state legislators endorse Braley

desmoinesdem — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:10:00 GMT

Representative Bruce Braley's campaign for U.S. Senate rolled out its largest batch of endorsements today: 71 state legislators. All 26 Iowa Senate Democrats plus 45 of the 47 Iowa House Democrats are named in the press release I've posted after the jump. For some reason, Iowa House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and former Iowa House Speaker Pat Murphy are not in this group. Murphy is running for the first Congressional district seat Braley is vacating.

Earlier this week, Braley's campaign announced that it raised more than $1 million during the first quarter. That is a solid number, and I'll be interested to see how the numbers break own (contributions from individuals vs PACs, for instance). Bleeding Heartland will publish a detailed roundup of Iowa Congressional fundraising after all the candidates have filed their reports with the Federal Election Commission. Those reports are due April 15.
April 3 press release from Braley for Iowa (emphasis in original):

71 Iowa Legislators Endorse Braley for Senate
DES MOINES, IA - 71 Democratic members of the Iowa legislature have announced their formal endorsement of Bruce Braley for Senate. 45 Iowa House Democrats are endorsing Braley today, as are all 26 Iowa Senate Democrats, including Iowa Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal and President Pam Jochum.
Braley announced in February that he had formed a committee to run for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tom Harkin.
Sen. Michael Gronstal (D-Pottawattamie) said, "I'm proud to endorse Bruce Braley today. Iowans are fortunate to have Bruce in their corner fighting for them in Congress, and he'll do even more in the Senate. From passing polices that strengthen the middle class to helping small businesses, Bruce works so hard to get things done for Iowa because he's never forgotten where he's come from."
Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D-Linn) said, "Today is a great day for Iowa. I proudly stand with many of my colleagues and endorse Bruce Braley. Bruce has a proven track record of fighting for the middle class, standing up for veterans and working to make college affordable. He is one of us and Iowa needs him in the US Senate."
Braley said, "I'm honored by this outpouring of support. I've launched this campaign because Iowans deserve a Senator who will work hard every day to rebuild the middle class, create economic opportunity, and use taxpayer money more wisely. The endorsements of 71 Iowa legislators today is a big boost to our campaign and I'll rely on all of them to help build our growing grassroots organization in the months ahead."
In recent weeks, momentum has continued to build behind Braley's Senate campaign. On Monday, Braley announced that he has raised $1 million for his Senate campaign since Harkin announced his retirement. In February, Rep. Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and former Rep. Leonard Boswell endorsed Braley for Senate. Last week, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald announced their endorsement. And eight labor organizations have endorsed Braley: State Association of Letter Carriers, the Iowa Postal Workers Union, the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 3 Iowa Union, UAW Region 4, SEIU Iowa - Local 199, AFSCME Iowa Council 61, the Iowa State Council of Machinists, and the Great Plains Laborers' District Council.
A full list of the legislators announcing their endorsement today can be found below:
HOUSE
Name County
Deb Berry Black Hawk
Anesa Kajtazovic Black Hawk
Bob Kressig Black Hawk
Sharon Steckman Cerro Gordo
Patti Ruff Clayton
Roger Thomas Clayton
Mary Wolfe Clinton
Daniel Muhlbauer Crawford
Dennis Cohoon Des Moines
Nancy Dunkel Dubuque
Charles Isenhart Dubuque
Bruce Bearinger Fayette
Todd Prichard Floyd
Daniel Kelley Jasper
Curtis Hanson Jefferson
Dave Jacoby Johnson
Vicki Lensing Johnson
Mary Mascher Johnson
Sally Stutsman Johnson
Jerry Kearns Lee
Art Stead Linn
Daniel Lundby Linn
Tyler Olson Linn
Kirsten Running-Marquardt Linn
Todd Taylor Linn
Mark Smith Marshall
Ako Abdul-Samad Polk
Marti Anderson Polk
Bruce Hunter Polk
John Forbes Polk
Ruth Ann Gaines Polk
Jo Oldson Polk
Rick Olson Polk
Joe Riding Polk
Jim Lykam Scott
Phyllis Thede Scott
Cindy Winckler Scott
Frank Wood Scott
Lisa Heddens Story
Beth Wessel-Kroeschell Story
Mary Gaskill Wapello
Scott Ourth Warren
Helen Miller Webster
Dave Dawson Woodbury
Chris Hall Woodbury
SENATE
Name County
Jeff Danielson Black Hawk
Bill Dotzler Black Hawk
Amanda Ragan Cerro Gordo
Rita Hart Clinton
Tom Courtney Des Moines
Pam Jochum Dubuque
Brian Schoenjahn Fayette
Rich Taylor Henry
Mary Jo Wilhelm Howard
Tod Bowman Jackson
Dennis Black Jasper
Joe Bolkcom Johnson
Bob Dvorsky Johnson
Robert Hogg Linn
Wally Horn Linn
Liz Mathis Linn
Steve Sodders Marshall
Chris Brase Muscatine
Dick Dearden Polk
Jack Hatch Polk
Matt McCoy Polk
Janet Petersen Polk
Michael Gronstal Pottawattamie
Joe Seng Scott
Herman Quirmbach Story
Daryl Beall Webster

Iowa House votes to relax manure storage rules for CAFOs (updated)

desmoinesdem — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:15:00 GMT

In an ideal world, evidence that more than half of Midwest rivers and streams can't support aquatic life would inspire policy-makers to clean up our waterways. Rivers that are suitable for swimming, fishing, and other recreation can be a huge economic engine for Iowa communities.

We live in Iowa, where most of our lawmakers take the Patty Judge view: "Iowa is an agricultural state and anyone who doesn't like it can leave in any of four directions."

Yesterday the Iowa House approved a bill to relax manure storage regulations for large confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). All of the House Republicans and two-thirds of the Democrats supported this bad legislation. Details on the bill and the House vote are below.
Proponents of House File 512 claim it would make life easier for farmers who want to "downsize" their operations temporarily.

"This bill allows you to notify the DNR [Department of Natural Resources] that you will no longer have animals above the 500 animal unit that requires the manure management plan," [Republican State Representative Lee] Hein said, "simplifies it and allows those buildings to remain intact in case, say, for instance the next generation comes along in a few years and wants to enter back into the hog operation."

If that were the intended goal of this bill, Iowa lawmakers should have had no problem with an amendment proposed by State Representative Chuck Isenhart, the ranking Democrat on the Iowa House Environmental Protection Committee. His amendment was short and simple:

During the period of election [to be a small animal feeding operation], a manure storage structure that is part of the confinement feeding operation is not used to store manure originating from a location outside the confinement feeding operation.

In other words, go ahead and mothball your barn in case your child wants to come back to the farm someday. But in the meantime, don't use your barn to store manure overflowing from someone else's CAFO. During yesterday's floor debate (audio available at Radio Iowa), Isenhart warned that House Fill 512 would become a "fall-back" option for CAFO operators who don't want to invest in adequate manure storage facilities. He noted that the original bill does not recognize potential hazards from manure spills during transportation to a neighboring farm and offloading.

House members rejected Isenhart's amendment by voice vote shortly before the vote on final passage for House File 512. Incidentally, Hein (the floor manager of this bill) chairs the House Environmental Protection Committee. We can see how committed he is to that mission.

But I don't mean to pin all the blame for this bad bill on House Republicans. Most of the Democratic caucus helped to pass it by 83 votes to 16. The roll call (pdf) shows that all 52 Republicans present voted yes, joined by the following 31 House Democrats: Bruce Bearinger, Deborah Berry, Dennis Cohoon, David Dawson, Nancy Dunkel, Ruth Ann Gaines, Mary Gaskill, Chris Hall, Curt Hanson, Dave Jacoby, Jerry Kearns, Dan Kelley, Bob Kressig, Daniel Lundby, Jim Lykam, Helen Miller, Dan Muhlbauer, Pat Murphy, Tyler Olson, Scott Ourth, Todd Prichard, Joe Riding, Patti Ruff, Kirsten Running-Marquardt, Art Staed, Sharon Steckman, Sally Stutsman, Phyllis Thede, Roger Thomas, Mary Wolfe, and Frank Wood.

I understand the political realities. Many of these Democrats represent rural areas; others represent urban districts where the livestock industry is important to the local economy. The bill's going to pass anyway, so why stick your neck out? The sad fact is, agribusiness interest groups will endorse challengers to most of these Democrats in the next election, ignoring the friendly votes cast to appease Big Ag.

Next time I receive a fundraising call from the Iowa Democratic Party or the House Truman Fund, I will let them know that this bill is one reason I'm keeping my checkbook closed. At least a dozen of the Democrats who voted for House File 512 represent rock-solid safe districts. That includes you, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Tyler Olson.

Credit goes to the House Democrats who had the guts to vote against House File 512 yesterday: Ako Abdul-Samad, Marti Anderson, John Forbes, Lisa Heddens, Bruce Hunter, Chuck Isenhart, Anesa Kajtazovic, Vicki Lensing, Mary Mascher, Kevin McCarthy, Jo Oldson, Rick Olson, Mark Smith, Todd Taylor, Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, and Cindy Winckler.

The lobbyist declarations on House File 512 show that the Iowa Pork Producers Association is the only group registered supporting the bill. These organizations have lobbyists registered against the bill:

Iowa Environmental Council
Food & Water Watch
Des Moines Water Works
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund
Iowa Farmers Union
Sierra Club Iowa Chapter

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement's Action Fund is calling on Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal to block the Senate version of House File 512. That bill, known as Senate File 418, has already passed the Senate Agriculture Committee and is eligible for floor debate. Gronstal has the final call on what comes up for a vote. In the past, he has supported some bad legislation designed to support factory farms. But in those days, Senate President Jack Kibbie always had Big Ag's back. Now the Senate President is Pam Jochum, who has a strong environmental voting record. Maybe she can prevail on Gronstal.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Chuck Gipp does not agree with Iowa CCI's interpretation of this bill's potential impact on water quality. No big surprise there. The Iowa DNR's lobbyist is registered "undecided" on House File 512.

Any relevant comments are welcome in this thread.

P.S.- House File 512 originated in the House Agriculture Committee, currently chaired by Pat Grassley. He is considered a leading contender for Iowa secretary of agriculture in 2014 if current Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey runs for U.S. Senate.

P.P.S- Environmentalists living in the first Congressional district should ask Pat Murphy to explain this vote when he asks for their support in the IA-01 Democratic primary. In fairness to Murphy, he has voted against some other bad legislation favored by Big Ag in recent years.

UPDATE: Representative Isenhart responded to my request for comment on the passage of this bill.

Rep. Hein, the bill's floor manager and a hog producer, admitted in his remarks what environmental groups feared the bill will make possible: that so-called "mothballed" confinement facilities can still be used to house sick animals and the manure pits to store excess waste from other facilities, all without updated manure management and other plans to mimimize risks to the environment and animal safety.

APRIL 5 UPDATE: The Iowa Senate will not take up this bill during the 2013 legislative session, according to this Iowa CCI Action alert. In an article on legislation that will not clear the second "funnel" deadline today, William Petroski and Jason Noble mentioned that Senate Democrats are rejecting "a proposal to revise rules on hog feeding operations."

Who's who in the Iowa House for 2013

desmoinesdem — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:15:00 GMT

The Iowa House will begin its 2013 session next Monday with 53 Republicans, 46 Democrats and one seat to be filled in a special election on January 22.

After the jump I've posted details on the Iowa House majority and minority leadership teams, along with all chairs, vice chairs, and members of standing House committees. Where relevant, I've noted changes since last year's legislative session.

Some non-political Iowa House trivia: three state representatives have the surname Olson (not counting Democrat Jo Oldson). There are two Millers, two Taylors, and two Smiths, one from each party in every case. David is most common first name: the new cohort contains three Daves and two Davids. Four state representatives have the first name Mark, four are called Daniel (three go by Dan) and four were given the name Robert (two Robs, one Bob, and a Bobby). Four women are named Mary (one goes by Mary Ann), and two are named Linda. There are two men each named Greg, Chuck, John, Kevin, Pat, Bruce, Tom, and Chris, and there would have been two Brians if Brian Quirk had not resigned shortly after winning re-election. Oddly, no current Iowa House member is named Mike or Michael.

JANUARY 28 UPDATE: Democrat Todd Prichard won the special election in House district 52, bringing the number of Todds in the Iowa House to two. I've added his committee assignments below. Republicans maintain a 53-47 majority.
Iowa House Republican leadership team

Speaker Kraig Paulsen was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected from House district 67, covering suburban and rural areas in Linn County.

Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 54, covering all of Franklin County and parts of Cerro Gordo and Butler counties.

Speaker Pro Tem Steve Olson was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 97, including parts of Scott and Clinton counties. Last year's Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Kaufmann retired.

Majority Whip Chris Hagenow was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in House district 43, covering some western suburbs of Des Moines. Last year's Majority Whip Erik Helland lost the 2012 Republican primary in Iowa House district 39.

Assistant majority leaders: Matt Windschitl was first elected in 2006 from district 56 and just re-elected in district 17, covering all of Ida and Monona Counties and parts of Harrison and Woodbury Counties. Windschitl was also an assistant majority leader in 2012.

Walt Rogers was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 60, covering parts of Waterloo and Black Hawk County.

Jeff Smith was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 1, covering all of Lyon and Osceola Counties and part of Dickinson County.

Joel Fry was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 27, covering Clarke, Decatur, and Wayne Counties, and part of Lucas County.

Iowa House Democratic leadership team

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 33, covering parts of the southeast side of Des Moines. He served as House majority leader during the 2007 through 2010 legislative sessions.

Assistant minority leaders: Ako Abdul-Samad was first elected in 2006 and just re-elected in House district 35, covering central and north-side neighborhoods in Des Moines.

Mary Mascher was first elected in 1994 and just re-elected in House district 86, covering parts of Iowa City.

Mark Smith was first elected in 2000 and just re-elected in House district 71, covering northeastern Marshall County, including Marshalltown.

Mary Gaskill is the newest member of the House Democratic leadership team. She replaces Kirsten Running-Marquardt, who was an assistant minority leader last year. Gaskill was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 81, covering Ottumwa and some surrounding areas in Wapello County.

FEBRUARY 5 UPDATE: Iowa House Democrats chose Dan Muhlbauer to lead their Rural Caucus. Muhlbauer raises cattle, hogs, corn and soybeans on a Crawford County farm. He was was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 12, covering Carroll and Audubon Counties and part of Crawford County. Last year Andrew Wenthe held this position, with Muhlbauer as Rural Caucus vice chair, but Wenthe retired.

Iowa House Standing Committees

Administration and Rules

Chair: Matt Windschitl (see above). Last year Renee Schulte chaired this committee, but she lost her re-election bid in House district 66.

Vice Chair: Walt Rogers (see above)

Ranking member: Dan Muhlbauer (see above). Last year Andrew Wenthe was ranking member on this committee, but he retired.

Other members: Joel Fry (R), Chris Hagenow (R), Steve Olson (R), Kraig Paulsen (R), Jeff Smith (R), Linda Upmeyer (R), Ako Abdul-Samad (D), Deborah Berry (D), Mary Mascher (D), Kevin McCarthy (D), Mark Smith (D)

Agriculture

Chair: Pat Grassley was first elected in 2006 and just re-elected in House district 50, covering Grundy County and parts of Hardin and Butler. Last year Annette Sweeney chaired this committee, but Grassley defeated her in the GOP primary to represent House district 50.

Vice Chair: Jarad Klein was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 78, covering Keokuk County and most of Washington County.

Ranking member: Helen Miller was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 9, covering part of Webster County, including Fort Dodge.

Other members: Dwayne Alons (R), Clel Baudler (R), Peter Cownie (R), Dave Deyoe (R), Jack Drake (R), Lee Hein (R), Bobby Kaufmann (R), David Maxwell (R), Brian Moore (R), Steve Olson (R), Tom Shaw (R), Bruce Bearinger (D), Nancy Dunkel (D), Curt Hanson (D), Jerry Kearns (D), Dan Kelley (D), Dan Muhlbauer (D), Scott Ourth (D), Patti Ruff (D), Todd Prichard (D)

Appropriations

Chair: Chuck Soderberg was first elected in 2004 and just re-elected in House district 5, covering most of Plymouth and part of Woodbury Counties. Last year Scott Raecker chaired the Appropriations Committee, but he did not seek re-election. Last year's vice chair, Nick Wagner, was expected to take over this committee, but he lost his re-election bid in House district 68.

Vice Chair: Mark Lofgren was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 91, covering the city of Muscatine and surrounding areas in Muscatine County.

Ranking member: Tyler Olson was first elected in 2006 and just re-elected in House district 65, covering part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County.

Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee Chair: Ralph Watts was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 19, covering part of Dallas County and a small area in northern Polk County.

Administration & Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member: Dan Kelley was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 29, covering most of Jasper County, including Newton.

Other Administration & Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee members: Tedd Gassman (R), Jason Schultz (R), Quentin Stanerson (R), Guy Vander Linden (R), Bruce Hunter (D), Joe Riding (D), Art Staed (D)

Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee Chair: Jack Drake was first elected in 1992 and just re-elected in House district 21, covering all of Union and Adams Counties and parts of Cass and Pottawattamie Counties.

Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member: Frank Wood was just elected to the Iowa House for the first time in House district 92, covering parts of Scott County. He served one term in the Iowa Senate from 2005 through 2008. Last year Dan Muhlbauer was the ranking member on this subcommittee.

Other Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee members: Pat Grassley (R), Lee Hein (R), Sandy Salmon (R), Bruce Bearinger (D), Scott Ourth (D), Patti Ruff (D)

Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee Chair: Dave Deyoe was first elected in 2006 and just re-elected in House district 49, covering parts of Story and Hardin Counties. Last year Jason Schultz chaired this appropriations subcommittee.

Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member: Kirsten Running-Marquardt won a 2009 special election and was just re-elected in House district 69, covering part of Cedar Rapids as well as parts of southwestern Linn County. Last year Chris Hall was the ranking member on this subcommittee.

Other Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee members: Greg Forristall (R), Mary Ann Hanusa (R), Larry Sheets (R), Chuck Isenhart (D), Anesa Kajtazovic (D), Bob Kressig (D)

Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chair: Cecil Dolecheck was first elected in 1996 and just re-elected in House district 24, covering Ringgold, Taylor and Page Counties and part of Montgomery County.

Education Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member: Cindy Winckler was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 90, covering part of Davenport in Scott County.

Other Education Appropriations Subcommittee members: Josh Byrnes (R), Jake Highfill (R), Ron Jorgensen (R), Curt Hanson (D), Daniel Lundby (D), Sharon Steckman (D)

Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee Chair: Dave Heaton was first elected in 1994 and just re-elected in House district 84, covering Henry County and parts of Lee, Washington and Jefferson Counties.

Health & Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member: Lisa Heddens was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 46, covering part of Ames and Story County.

Other Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee members: Rob Bacon (R), Dean Fisher (R), Linda Miller (R), John Forbes (D), Sally Stutsman (D), Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D)

Justice Systems Appropriations Subcommittee Chair: Gary Worthan was first elected in 2006 and just re-elected in House district 11, covering all of Buena Vista and Sac Counties.

Justice Systems Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member: Todd Taylor was first elected in a 1995 and just re-elected in House district 70, covering part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County.

Other Justice Systems Appropriations Subcommittee members: Julian Garrett (R), Chip Baltimore (R), Mark Brandenburg (R), Megan Hess (R), Marti Anderson (D), David Dawson (D), Todd Prichard (D)

Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals Appropriations Subcommittee Chair: Dan Huseman was first elected in 1994 and just re-elected in House district 3, covering O'Brien and Cherokee Counties and parts of Sioux and Plymouth.

Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member: Dennis Cohoon was first elected to the Iowa House in 1986 and just re-elected in House district 87, covering Burlington and part of eastern Des Moines County.

Other Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals Appropriations Subcommittee members: Dwayne Alons (R), John Landon (R), Brian Moore (R), Nancy Dunkel (D), Dave Jacoby (D), Jim Lykam (D)

Other Appropriations Committee members: Dean Fisher (R), Julian Garrett (R), Jake Highfill (R), Walt Rogers (R), Bruce Bearinger (D), Nancy Dunkel (D), Chris Hall (D), Anesa Kajtazovic (D), Pat Murphy (D), Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D), Todd Taylor (D)

Commerce

Chair: Peter Cownie was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in House district 42, covering parts of Des Moines and West Des Moines. Last year Chuck Soderberg chaired this committee.

Vice Chair: Mark Brandenburg was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 15, covering Carter Lake and part of Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County. Last year Chip Baltimore was the vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Chris Hall was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 13, covering part of Sioux City and eastern Woodbury County. Last year Brian Quirk was ranking member of this committee, but he just resigned his House seat after winning re-election in House district 52.

Other members: Chip Baltimore (R), Dean Fisher (R), Pat Grassley (R), John Landon (R), Dawn Pettengill (R), Tom Sands (R), Jeff Smith (R), Chuck Soderberg (R), Rob Taylor (R), Ralph Watts (R), Guy Vander Linden (R), David Dawson (D), John Forbes (D), Dave Jacoby (D), Anesa Kajtazovic (D), Bob Kressig (D), Jim Lykam (D), Jo Oldson (D), Tyler Olson (D)

Economic Growth

Chair: Mary Ann Hanusa was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 16, covering part of Council Bluffs. Last year Pat Grassley chaired this committee, and Hanusa served as vice chair.

Vice Chair: Bobby Kaufmann was elected for the first time in 2012 from district 73, covering Cedar County, part of Johnson County, and one town in Muscatine County. He is the son of longtime State Representative Jeff Kaufmann, who retired last year after serving as House speaker pro tem

Ranking member: Roger Thomas was first elected to the Iowa House in 1996 and just re-elected in House district 55, covering parts of Winneshiek, Fayette and Clayton Counties.

Other members: Dwayne Alons (R), Chip Baltimore (R), Dave Deyoe (R), Ron Jorgensen (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Brian Moore (R), Walt Rogers (R), Jason Schultz (R), Larry Sheets (R), Rob Taylor (R), Bruce Bearinger (D), Nancy Dunkel (D), Mary Gaskill (D), Lisa Heddens (D), Dave Jacoby (D), Helen Miller (D), Scott Ourth (D), Frank Wood (D)

Education

Chair: Ron Jorgensen was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 6, covering parts of Sioux City and Woodbury County. Last year Greg Forristall chaired this committee. He publicly criticized a bill that would have restricted early school opening dates, which House Speaker Paulsen supported.

Vice Chair: Quentin Stanerson was just elected for the first time in 2012 from House district 95, covering parts of Linn and Buchanan counties.

Ranking member: Sharon Steckman was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in House district 53, covering part of Cerro Gordo County, including Mason City.

Other members: Josh Byrnes (R), Cecil Dolecheck (R), Joel Fry (R), Julian Garrett (R), Tedd Gassman (R), Mary Ann Hanusa (R), Megan Hess (R), Kevin Koester (R), Linda Miller (R), Walt Rogers (R), Sandy Salmon (R), Ako Abdul-Samad (D), Dennis Cohoon (D), Ruth Ann Gaines (D), Curt Hanson (D), Mary Mascher (D), Patti Ruff (D), Art Staed (D), Cindy Winckler (D), Frank Wood (D)

Environmental Protection

Chair: Lee Hein was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 96, covering all of Delaware County and part of Jones County. Last year Steve Olson (just named House speaker pro tem) chaired this committee.

Vice Chair: Rob Taylor was just elected for the first time in 2012 in House district 44, covering parts of the Des Moines suburbs in Dallas County. Last year Bob Hager was vice chair of this committee, but he lost his re-election bid in House district 56.

Ranking member: Chuck Isenhart was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in House district 100, covering part of Dubuque.

Other members: Clel Baudler (R), Dave Deyoe (R), Tedd Gassman (R), Megan Hess (R), Jarad Klein (R), David Maxwell (R), Jason Schultz (R), Larry Sheets (R), Jeff Smith (R), Chuck Soderberg (R), Marti Anderson (D), Deborah Berry (D), Dan Kelley (D), Vicki Lensing (D), Daniel Lundby (D), Mark Smith (D), Sharon Steckman (D), Phyllis Thede (D), Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D)

Ethics

Chair: Jeff Smith (see above) is the new chair of this committee, as well as an assistant majority leader. Last year Kevin Koester chaired this committee.

Vice Chair: Tom Shaw was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected from House district 10, covering Pocahontas, Humboldt, and Calhoun Counties as well as part of Webster County. Last year Scott Raecker was vice chair of this committee, but he retired.

Ranking member: Phyllis Thede was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in House district 93, covering parts of Davenport and Bettendorf in Scott County.

Other members: Dave Heaton (R), Tyler Olson (D), Mark Smith (D)

Government Oversight

Chair: Kevin Koester was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in House district 38, covering a large part of northeast Polk County. Last year Chris Hagenow, now majority whip, chaired this committee.

Vice Chair: Greg Heartsill was just elected for the first time in 2012 in House district 28, covering parts of Marion, Jasper, and Lucas Counties. Last year Chip Baltimore was the vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Ruth Ann Gaines was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 32, covering part of Des Moines. Last year Janet Petersen was ranking member of this committee, but she left the Iowa House to run for the Iowa Senate.

Other members: Clel Baudler (R), Peter Cownie (R), Dawn Pettengill (R), Vicki Lensing (D), Pat Murphy (D), Phyllis Thede (D)

Human Resources

Chair: Linda Miller was first elected in 2006 and just re-elected in House district 94, covering part of Bettendorf in Scott County.

Vice Chair: Rob Bacon was just elected to the Iowa House for the first time from House district 48, covering Hamilton County and parts of Webster, Boone, and Story Counties. He previously served two years in the Iowa Senate. Last year Joel Fry was the vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Beth Wessel-Kroeschell was first elected in 2004 and just re-elected in House district 45, covering part of Ames in Story County.

Other members: Mark Costello (R), Greg Forristall (R), Joel Fry (R), Julian Garrett (R), Dave Heaton (R), Megan Hess (R), Kevin Koester (R), John Landon (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Rob Taylor (R), Ako Abdul-Samad (D), Marti Anderson (D), David Dawson (D), Lisa Heddens (D), Bruce Hunter (D), Pat Murphy (D), Mark Smith (D), Sally Stutsman (D)

International Relations

Chair: Mark Lofgren (see above)

Ranking member: Deborah Berry was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 62, covering part of Waterloo in Black Hawk County.

Other members: Jack Drake (R), John Landon (R), Walt Rogers (R), Dan Kelley (D), Mary Mascher (D)

Judiciary

Chair: Chip Baltimore was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 47, covering most of Boone County and all of Greene County. Last year Rich Anderson chaired this committee, but he retired.

Vice Chair: Megan Hess was just elected for the first time in 2012 in House district 2, covering Palo Alto and Clay Counties and part of Dickinson County. Last year Chip Baltimore was vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Mary Wolfe was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 98, covering part of Clinton County, including the city of Clinton.

Other members: Dwayne Alons (R), Mark Brandenburg (R), Julian Garrett (R), Tedd Gassman (R), Chris Hagenow (R), Greg Heartsill (R), Dave Heaton (R), Bobby Kaufmann (R), Matt Windschitl (R), Gary Worthan (R), Marti Anderson (D), David Dawson (D), Vicki Lensing (D), Jo Oldson (D), Rick Olson (D), Tyler Olson (D), Mark Smith (D), Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D)

Labor

Chair: Greg Forristall was first elected in 2006 and just re-elected in House district 22, covering most of Pottawattamie County outside Council Bluffs. Last year Lance Horbach chaired this committee, but he retired.

Vice Chair: Larry Sheets was just elected for the first time in House district 80, covering Monroe and Appanoose Counties and parts of Mahaska and Wapello Counties. Last year Jarad Klein was the vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Bruce Hunter was first elected in a 2003 special election and just re-elected in House district 34, covering downtown Des Moines and part of the south side.

Other members: Mark Costello (R), Joel Fry (R), Mary Ann Hanusa (R), Ron Jorgensen (R), Jarad Klein (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Jason Schultz (R), Ralph Watts (R), Deborah Berry (D), Jerry Kearns (D), Mary Mascher (D), Pat Murphy (D), Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D), Todd Taylor (D)

Local Government

Chair: Jason Schultz was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in House district 18, covering all of Shelby County and parts of Crawford and Harrison Counties. Last year Nick Wagner chaired this committee, but he lost his re-election bid in House district 68.

Vice Chair: Greg Heartsill (see above). Last year Jeff Smith was vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Art Staed was just elected to House district 66 in Cedar Rapids, defeating Republican incumbent Renee Schulte. He previously served one term in the House (2007-2008). Last year John Wittneben was ranking member of this committee, but he lost his re-election bid in House district 7.

Other members: Cecil Dolecheck (R), Dean Fisher (R), Tedd Gassman (R), Mary Ann Hanusa (R), Jake Highfill (R), Henry Rayhons (R), Larry Sheets (R), Quentin Stanerson (R), Matt Windschitl (R), John Forbes (D), Mary Gaskill (D), Bob Kressig (D), Daniel Lundby (D), Joe Riding (D), Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D), Phyllis Thede (D), Frank Wood (D)

Natural Resources

Chair: Henry Rayhons was first elected to the Iowa House in 1996 and just re-elected in House district 8, covering Wright and Hancock Counties and part of Kossuth County.

Vice Chair: Dean Fisher was just elected for the first time in 2012 in House district 72, covering Tama County and parts of Marshall and Black Hawk Counties. Last year Jeff Smith was the vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Curt Hanson was first elected in a 2009 special election and just re-elected in House district 82, covering Davis and Van Buren Counties and most of Jefferson County.

Other members: Rob Bacon (R), Clel Baudler (R), Josh Byrnes (R), Cecil Dolecheck (R), Jake Highfill (R), Dan Huseman (R), David Maxwell (R), Sandy Salmon (R), Tom Shaw (R), Jeff Smith (R), Chris Hall (D), Daniel Lundby (D), Jim Lykam (D), Helen Miller (D), Scott Ourth (D), Patti Ruff (D), Phyllis Thede (D), Roger Thomas (D)

Public Safety

Chair: Clel Baudler was first elected in 1998 and just re-elected in House district 20, covering all of Guthrie and Adair Counties and parts of Cass and Dallas Counties.

Vice Chair: Tom Shaw (see above)

Ranking member: Bob Kressig was first elected in 2004 and just re-elected in House district 59, covering most of Cedar Falls and some rural areas in Black Hawk County.

Other members: Mark Brandenburg (R), Joel Fry (R), Greg Heartsill (R), Dan Huseman (R), Jarad Klein (R), Steve Olson (R), Henry Rayhons (R), Sandy Salmon (R), Tom Sands (R), Gary Worthan (R), Ako Abdul-Samad (D), Deborah Berry (D), David Dawson (D), Ruth Ann Gaines (D), Dan Muhlbauer (D), Rick Olson (D), Mary Wolfe (D)

State Government

Chair: Guy Vander Linden was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 79, covering most of Mahaska County and the Pella area of Marion County. Last year Peter Cownie chaired this committee.

Vice Chair: Jake Highfill was just elected for the first time in 2012 in House district 39, covering suburban and rural areas in Polk County. He defeated House Majority Whip Erik Helland in the Republican primary. Last year Guy Vander Linden was vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Vicki Lensing was first elected in 2000 and just re-elected in House district 85, covering part of Iowa City in Johnson County.

Other members: Rob Bacon (R), Mark Costello (R), Jack Drake (R), Pat Grassley (R), Chris Hagenow (R), Lee Hein (R), Kevin Koester (R), Linda Miller (R), Dawn Pettengill (R), Quentin Stanerson (R), Ralph Watts (R), Dennis Cohoon (D), Bruce Hunter (D), Chuck Isenhart (D), Anesa Kajtazovic (D), Mary Mascher (D), Sharon Steckman (D), Todd Taylor (D), Todd Prichard (D), Cindy Winckler (D)

Transportation

Chair: Josh Byrnes was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 51, covering Worth, Mitchell, and Howard Counties, and part of Winneshiek. Last year Dave Tjepkes chaired this committee, but he retired.

Vice Chair: Brian Moore was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 58, covering Jackson County and parts of Jones and Dubuque Counties. Last year Glen Massie was vice chair of this committee, but he retired.

Ranking member: Jim Lykam was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 89, covering part of Davenport in Scott County.

Other members: Greg Forristall (R), Greg Heartsill (R), Dan Huseman (R), Ron Jorgensen (R), Bobby Kaufmann (R), John Landon (R), Steve Olson (R), Dawn Pettengill (R), Henry Rayhons (R), Walt Rogers (R), Dennis Cohoon (D), John Forbes (D), Helen Miller (D), Pat Murphy (D), Rick Olson (D), Joe Riding (D), Sally Stutsman (D), Mary Wolfe (D)

Veterans Affairs

Chair: Dwayne Alons was first elected in 1998 and just re-elected in House district 4, covering most of Sioux County. Although he is one of the longest-serving Iowa House Republicans, Alons was shut out of the committee chairmanships in 2011 and 2012. Paulsen didn't even make him a vice chair of any committee before now. Last year Royd Chambers chaired the Veterans Affairs Committee, but he retired.

Vice Chair: Sandy Salmon was just elected for the first time in 2012 in House district 63, covering Bremer County and parts of Black Hawk County. Last year Guy Vander Linden was the vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Jerry Kearns was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in House district 83, covering part of Lee County including Keokuk and Fort Madison.

Other members: Rob Bacon (R), Mark Brandenburg (R), Mark Costello (R), Linda Miller (R), Tom Shaw (R), Quentin Stanerson (R), Matt Windschitl (R), Gary Worthan (R), Ruth Ann Gaines (D), Dave Jacoby (D), Dan Muhlbauer (D), Art Staed (D), Roger Thomas (D)

Ways and Means

Chair: Tom Sands was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 88, covering all of Louisa County and large parts of Des Moines and Muscatine Counties.

Vice Chair: John Landon was just elected for the first time in 2012 in House district 37, covering Ankeny and other parts of northern Polk County. Last year Josh Byrnes was the vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Jo Oldson was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 41, covering part of Des Moines. Last year Dave Jacoby was ranking member on this committee.

Other members: Chip Baltimore (R), Josh Byrnes (R), Peter Cownie (R), Greg Forristall (R), Pat Grassley (R), Chris Hagenow (R), Lee Hein (R), David Maxwell (R), Brian Moore (R), Quentin Stanerson (R), Guy Vander Linden (R), Matt Windschitl (R), John Forbes (D), Mary Gaskill (D), Chuck Isenhart (D), Jerry Kearns (D), Dan Kelley, Dan Muhlbauer (D), Joe Riding (D), Sally Stutsman (D), Roger Thomas (D), Todd Prichard (D)

Administrative Rules Review

Five Iowa House and five Iowa Senate members serve on this committee.

Chair: Dawn Pettengill was first elected in 2004 (as a Democrat) and switched to the Republican caucus in 2007. She was just re-elected in House district 75, covering Benton County and part of Iowa County.

Other Iowa House members: State Representative Jeff Smith (R), State Representative Dave Jacoby (D), State Representative Rick Olson (D), State Representative Guy Vander Linden (R)

Full list of Iowa House Democratic leaders, ranking members

desmoinesdem — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:57:29 GMT

Yesterday the Iowa House Democrats announced ranking members for all the standing and appropriations committees for the 2013 legislative session. Below I've posted the full list of House minority leaders and ranking members. Where relevant, I've noted changes since last year. House Democrats will start the session with 46 caucus members, because State Representative Brian Quirk just resigned his seat.

House Republicans named all the committee chairs earlier this week.
Iowa House Democratic leadership team

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 33, covering parts of the southeast side of Des Moines. He served as majority leader during the 2007 through 2010 legislative sessions.

Assistant minority leaders: Ako Abdul-Samad was first elected in 2006 and just re-elected in House district 35, covering central and north-side neighborhoods in Des Moines.

Mary Mascher was first elected in 1994 and just re-elected in House district 86, covering parts of Iowa City.

Mark Smith was first elected in 2000 and just re-elected in House district 71, covering northeastern Marshall County, including Marshalltown.

Standing committees

Administrative Rules Review

Dave Jacoby and Rick Olson will serve on this committee, which includes five Iowa House members and five Iowa Senate members. Jacoby was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 74, covering Coralville and North Liberty in Johnson County. Olson was first elected in 2004 and just re-elected in House district 31, covering parts of the east side of Des Moines.

Administration and Rules

Dan Muhlbauer was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 12, covering Carroll and Audubon Counties and part of Crawford County. Last year Andrew Wenthe was ranking member on this committee, but he retired.

Agriculture

Helen Miller was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 9, covering part of Webster County, including Fort Dodge.

Appropriations

Tyler Olson was first elected in 2006 and just re-elected in House district 65, covering part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County.

Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee: Dan Kelley was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 29, covering most of Jasper County, including Newton.

Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee: Frank Wood was just elected to the Iowa House for the first time in House district 92, covering parts of Scott County. He served one term in the Iowa Senate from 2005 through 2008. Last year Dan Muhlbauer was the ranking member on this subcommittee.

Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee: Kirsten Running-Marquardt won a 2009 special election and was just re-elected in House district 69, covering part of Cedar Rapids as well as parts of southwestern Linn County. Last year Chris Hall was the ranking member on this subcommittee.

Education Appropriations Subcommittee: Cindy Winckler was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 90, covering part of Davenport in Scott County.

Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee: Lisa Heddens was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 46, covering part of Ames and Story County.

Justice System Appropriations Subcommittee: Todd Taylor was first elected in a 1995 and just re-elected in House district 70, covering part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County.

Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals Appropriations: Dennis Cohoon was first elected to the Iowa House in 1986 and just re-elected in House district 87, covering Burlington and part of eastern Des Moines County.

Commerce

Chris Hall was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 13, covering part of Sioux City and eastern Woodbury County. Last year Brian Quirk was ranking member of this committee, but he just resigned his House seat this week.

Economic Growth

Roger Thomas was first elected to the Iowa House in 1996 and just re-elected in House district 55, covering parts of Winneshiek, Fayette and Clayton Counties.

Education

Sharon Steckman was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in House district 53, covering part of Cerro Gordo County, including Mason City.

Environmental Protection

Chuck Isenhart was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in House district 100, covering part of Dubuque.

Ethics

Phyllis Thede was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in House district 93, covering parts of Davenport and Bettendorf in Scott County.

Government Oversight

Ruth Ann Gaines was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 32, covering part of Des Moines. Last year Janet Petersen was ranking member of this committee, but she left the Iowa House to run for the Iowa Senate.

Human Resources

Beth Wessel-Kroeschell was first elected in 2004 and just re-elected in House district 45, covering part of Ames in Story County.

Judiciary

Mary Wolfe was first elected in 2010 and just re-elected in House district 98, covering part of Clinton County, including the city of Clinton.

Labor

Bruce Hunter was first elected in a 2003 special election and just re-elected in House district 34, covering downtown Des Moines and part of the south side.

Local Government

Art Staed was just elected to House district 66 in Cedar Rapids, defeating Republican incumbent Renee Schulte. He previously served one term in the House (2007-2008). Last year John Wittneben was ranking member of this committee, but he lost his re-election bid in House district 7.

Natural Resources

Curt Hanson was first elected in a 2009 special election and just re-elected in House district 82, covering Davis and Van Buren Counties and most of Jefferson County.

Public Safety

Bob Kressig was first elected in 2004 and just re-elected in House district 59, covering most of Cedar Falls and some rural areas in Black Hawk County.

State Government

Vicki Lensing was first elected in 2000 and just re-elected in House district 85, covering part of Iowa City in Johnson County.

Transportation

Jim Lykam was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 89, covering part of Davenport in Scott County.

Veterans Affairs

Jerry Kearns was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in House district 83, covering part of Lee County including Keokuk and Fort Madison.

Ways and Means

Jo Oldson was first elected in 2002 and just re-elected in House district 41, covering part of Des Moines. Last year Dave Jacoby was ranking member on this committee.

First look at the Obama and Romney ground games in Iowa

desmoinesdem — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 11:45:00 GMT

At this time four years ago, Barack Obama's campaign had about 30 field offices up and running in Iowa, compared to six offices for Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

Obama's campaign has had eight Iowa field offices open this summer and is rolling out another 26 offices around Iowa this weekend. So far, Mitt Romney's campaign has ten Iowa field offices, in addition to the unified Republican headquarters in Urbandale.

After the jump, I compare the field office locations for each presidential campaign, grouped by Iowa Congressional district. Where relevant, I've also noted competitive Iowa House and Senate districts near the Obama and Romney field offices, although I doubt either presidential campaign will do much for down-ticket Democratic or Republican candidates.
IA-01

The first Congressional district race is a rematch between Democratic incumbent Bruce Braley and Republican challenger Ben Lange, who lost narrowly in 2010. Braley has lived in Waterloo (Black Hawk County) for most of his adult life, while Lange is based in Independence (Buchanan County).

Both the Obama and Romney campaigns have field offices in Dubuque (Dubuque County) and Cedar Rapids (Linn County). Democratic incumbents are unlikely to have trouble in the Dubuque-area Iowa House and Senate races. In Linn County, Senate district 34 should be an easy hold for Democrat Liz Mathis, and there are several potentially competitive Iowa House races, including House district 66 and House district 68. The district 66 race is a rematch between Republican Renee Schulte and the Democrat she defeated in 2008, Art Staed. In district 68 Republican Nick Wagner faces Daniel Lundby. Two of the new Obama field offices are in the Cedar Rapids area: one on the west side of Cedar Rapids (near House district 66), and one in the suburb of Marion (which is part of House district 68).

For some time, the Obama campaign has had a field office in Waterloo. Several competitive statehouse races are in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls metro area: Senate district 30, where Democratic incumbent Jeff Danielson faces Matt Reisetter, a close ally of Bob Vander Plaats; House district 59, where Democrat Bob Kressig faces James Kenyon; and House district 60, where Republican Walt Rogers faces Bob Greenwood.

A new Obama field office is opening in Grinnell (Poweshiek County). During the last decade, this relatively liberal college town helped elect former Democratic State Representative Eric Palmer and retiring Democratic State Senator Tom Rielly. Now Poweshiek County is part of Iowa Senate district 38, where Republican incumbent Tim Kapucian faces Shelley Parbs, and the open House district 76, where Democrat Rachel Bly faces Republican David Maxwell. Representative Braley grew up in the small town of Brooklyn and may have a strong GOTV push for his Congressional campaign in this county.

A new Obama field office is opening in Independence (Buchanan County), where Republican Congressional challenger Lange lives and practices law. Lange's campaign is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, however.

A new Obama field office is opening in Cresco (Howard County), in the northeast part of the state. This county is part of Iowa Senate district 26, expected to be one of the marquee statehouse races. The clash of two incumbents features Democrat Mary Jo Wilhelm and Republican Merlin "Build My Fence" Bartz.

A new Obama field office is opening in Maquoketa (Jackson County). Former Democratic State Representative Tom Schueller is favored to win his Iowa House seat back from GOP incumbent Brian Moore in House district 58, which includes all of Jackson County.

UPDATE: There is also a Marshall County Democratic Party office in Marshalltown, which is handling GOTV for candidates up and down the ticket. Marshall County is part of Iowa Senate district 36, where Democratic incumbent Steve Sodders faces Jane Jech.

IA-02

The second Congressional district race pits Democratic incumbent Dave Loebsack against Republican John Archer. Loebsack relocated to Iowa City (Johnson County) last year after redistricting put his Linn County home in IA-01. Archer lives in the Quad Cities area (Scott County). Loebsack has not represented that county before.

Both the Obama and Romney campaigns have field offices in Iowa City, Davenport (Scott County), and Burlington (Des Moines County). The state House and Senate seats in the Burlington and Iowa City areas should be safe for Democrats, but part of Johnson County is in the open House district 73, where there is no clear favorite between Republican Bobby Kaufmann (son of retiring GOP House Speaker Pro-Tem Jeff Kaufmann) and Democrat Dick Schwab.

Several competitive statehouse races are the Quad Cities area, including Senate district 46, where Republican incumbent Shawn Hamerlinck faces Chris Brase, House district 93, where Democratic incumbent Phyllis Thede faces Mark Nelson, and House district 92, where Republican incumbent Ross Paustian faces former State Senator Frank Wood.

Six of the new Obama field offices opening this weekend are in IA-02, including one in Coralville, a rapidly-growing suburb of Iowa City (Johnson County). Democratic Iowa House incumbent Dave Jacoby is unopposed here.

An Obama field office is opening in Washington (Washington County). There aren't competitive statehouse races here. Republican Sandy Greiner represents this area in the Iowa Senate but is not up for re-election this year. Republican House incumbent Jarad Klein is unopposed in the new district 78.

An Obama field office is opening in Newton (Jasper County). For the last decade, this county was part of IA-03. The Iowa Senate seat that includes most of Jasper County is not on the ballot in 2012. The Newton area is part of House district 15, where Democratic incumbent Dan Kelley has a rematch against his 2010 opponent Gabe Swersie.

An Obama field office is opening in Fort Madison (Lee County). Senate district 42 is open but should be a Democratic hold for Rich Taylor; this part of the state has a Democratic voter registration advantage and a strong organized labor presence.

An Obama field office is opening in Fairfield (Jefferson County). The Iowa Senate seat that covers this area is not on the ballot in 2012. Fairfield is part of House district 82, where Democratic incumbent Curt Hanson faces James Johnson, who nearly defeated a different Democratic State Representative in 2010.

An Obama field office is opening in Oskaloosa (Mahaska County). Republicans are favored to win the local House and Senate races.

It's worth nothing that the Obama campaign does not have an office in Ottumwa (Wapello County). For decades, unionized workers and their relatives produced a lot of votes for Iowa Democrats in the Ottumwa area. Democratic turnout was poor here in 2010, which partly explains why State Senator Keith Kreiman lost by a dozen votes in what had been considered a safe seat. Both Fairfield and Oskaloosa are about a 30-minute drive from Ottumwa. UPDATE: The Iowa Democratic Party's website lists a coordinated GOTV headquarters in Ottumwa.

There is also a Clinton County Democratic Party office in Clinton, which is running GOTV for candidates up and down the ticket. Clinton county is part of the open Senate district 49, where Republican Andrew Naeve faces Democrat Rita Hart.

The Muscatine County Democratic Party has a similar campaign headquarters open in Muscatine. Part of that county is in Senate district 46 and House district 91, where Republican incumbent Mark Lofgren faces John Dabeet. The rest of the county is in House district 88, where Republican Ways and Means Committee Chair Tom Sands faces Sara Sedlacek.

IA-03

In the third Congressional district, Representative Leonard Boswell needs strong Democratic turnout, especially in Polk County, to have a chance against Republican incumbent Tom Latham. Boswell moved his official residence to Des Moines a decade ago because of redistricting. Latham moved from Ames in IA-04 to the Polk County suburbs last year because of redistricting.

Obama's statewide headquarters are on the east side of Des Moines, and four of the 26 new offices opening this weekend are in the Des Moines metro area: in the capital city on Merle Hay Road, in the northern suburb of Ankeny, in the eastern suburb of Altoona, and in the western suburb of Waukee.

The unified Republican victory office is in Urbandale, a suburb of on the west side of Des Moines, and Romney has another office in Waukee.

Polk County doesn't typically have a lot of competitive statehouse races, but redistricting has created more than usual this year. Altoona is part of the open House district 30, where Democrat Joe Riding faces Republican Jim Carley. Waukee is part of Iowa Senate district 22, where incumbent Republican Pat Ward faces Desmund Adams. The eastern half of Senate district 22 is House district 43, where Republican incumbent Chris Hagenow faces Susan Judkins Josten. Urbandale is part of House district 40, an open-seat race pitting Democrat John Forbes against Republican Mike Brown. Part of Ankeny is in House district 38, where incumbent Republican Kevin Koester faces John Phoenix. Johnston and Grimes are in the open House district 39, featuring two 20-something candidates: Democrat Kelsey Clark and Republican Jake Highfill.

Both Romney and Obama have field offices in Council Bluffs (Pottawattamie County). Although Republicans failed to field a strong challenger against Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, a lot of outside money will flow into Senate district 8 because Gronstal has done so much to block the GOP policy agenda. Democrats are looking for a potential pickup in House district 15, where Republican incumbent Mark Brandenburg faces George Yaple. Both the Latham and Boswell campaigns are likely to have a strong GOTV push in Council Bluffs, the largest city in IA-03 outside Polk County.

Four more new Obama field offices are in this Congressional district: Creston (Union County), Perry (Dallas County), Winterset (Madison County), and Indianola (Warren County). Republican statehouse incumbents are favored in most of those areas. There will be a competitive race in the open House district 26 between Democrat Scott Ourth and Republican Steve McCoy. The district covers Indianola and most of Warren County. John Deeth notes that Ourth had a 100 to 1 cash-on-hand advantage according to the latest campaign finance reports. But social conservative activists in Warren County turned out a heck of a lot of votes for Bob Vander Plaats in the 2010 GOP gubernatorial primary and delivered victory in the local Iowa House and Senate districts the same year.

IA-04

The fourth Congressional district spans 39 counties, many of which are new to Republican incumbent Steve King of Kiron (Sac County). Democratic challenger Christie Vilsack grew up in southeast Iowa and lived in the Des Moines area for more than a decade but relocated to Ames (Story County) because of this campaign.

Both the Obama and Romney campaigns have field offices in Sioux City (Woodbury County). Two competitive Iowa House races are in this county. House district 13 is a battle of two first-term House incumbents: Democrat Chris Hall and Republican Jeremy Taylor. In the open House district 14, 2010 Democratic candidate David Dawson faces Republican Greg Grupp.

Romney has a field office in Mason City (Cerro Gordo County). I am surprised that the Obama campaign doesn't have a presence here, but Mason City is not on the list of office openings this weekend. UPDATE: Vilsack's campaign has staff in Mason City, and the Cerro Gordo Democrats have a coordinated campaign office there.

Romney has a field office in Ames. I don't know why the site of Iowa State University isn't on the Obama campaign's list, because college towns were strong vote-producing areas for the president in 2008. UPDATE: Vilsack's campaign is headquartered in Ames, and the Story County Democrats office there is running GOTV for all candidates.

Five of the new Obama field offices are in IA-04: Algona (Kossuth County), Spencer (Clay County), Denison (Crawford County), Iowa Falls (Hardin County), and Boone (Boone County). Competitive statehouse races are thin on the ground in IA-04, but House district 47, containing most of Boone County, will be a hard-fought rematch between Republican State Representative Chip Baltimore and the Democrat he beat by a couple dozen votes in 2010, Donovan Olson.

UPDATE: The Webster County Democrats have a field office in Fort Dodge that is running GOTV in the area.

Notes from the Trayvon Martin rally at the Iowa Capitol

desmoinesdem — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:54:45 GMT

At least 200 people gathered on the west steps of the Iowa State Capitol Monday evening for a rally and vigil marking one month since Trayvon Martin's killing in Floriday. After the jump I've posted a few notes from the event, along with links about the impact of Martin's death on the debate over proposed "stand your ground" legislation in Iowa.
Drake Law School students organized the event to call attention to Iowa House File 2215, the so-called "stand your ground" bill. A similar statute in Florida is the main reason law enforcement did not arrest or charge George Zimmerman after he shot and killed the unarmed Martin. The Iowa House passed the bill along party lines on February 29. It is dead in the Iowa Senate for this session, despite efforts by the National Rifle Association to pressure Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Gene Fraise.

The crowd was larger than I expected, given that the organizers announced the time and place of the rally only a day in advance. Most of the attendees posed for a group photo after the speeches. State Representative Ako Abdul-Samad posted the photo on Facebook, which should give you an idea of the size. The organizers said they planned to send copies of the photo to all 150 Iowa legislators and to Trayvon Martin's family.

Lots of Democratic state legislators attended the rally, many wearing hoodies. Unfortunately, they were not introduced individually, and they weren't all standing together so I didn't get a complete count. Besides Abdul-Samad, I saw State Representatives Deborah Berry, Curt Hanson, Bruce Hunter, Chuck Isenhart, Dan Kelley, Helen Miller, Mark Smith, Sharon Steckman, Phyllis Thede, Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, and John Wittneben. Fraise was there, along with State Senators Bob Dvorsky, Jack Hatch, Pam Jochum. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sue Dvorsky was in the crowd too, as was Senate district 22 Democratic candidate Desmund Adams. I'll update this post with more names if other Bleeding Heartland readers can add to my list.

Third-year law student Kevin Patrick introduced the speakers and in his own remarks urged the audience not to get bogged down in anger and assigning blame, but to be informed and go beyond the superficial in how we relate to each other. He talked about the hoodie as a metaphor for superficialities that obscure who we really are as people.

Abdul-Samad gave a powerful speech and got a laugh from the crowd by demonstratively putting away the talking points he got from Democratic staff ahead of time. He mentioned his son, who was shot to death in 1996, and other black men who have been killed more recently in central Iowa. He lamented the lack of "real conversations" that might prevent violence in our society. He asked members of the audience to hold onto someone else's hand, preferably a stranger's hand, and look into that person's eyes while repeating his words, such as, "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired!" and "No justice, no peace! Know justice, know peace!" Several times Abdul-Samad stopped to tell people, "Don't look at me," look at your neighbor.

Wessel-Kroeschell was up next, joking, "I have a new rule: never speak after Ako." Although she has a different style due to her "quiet, Lutheran background," she spoke passionately about the dangers of House File 2215, and how we don't want a law in Iowa that would justify actions like killing Trayvon Martin. According to Wessel-Kroeschell, Florida's law has been invoked 93 times in cases involving 65 deaths. (She repeatedly referred to the law as "shoot first" rather than "stand your ground.") She vowed to keep fighting the bill.

Polk County prosecutor Jeff Noble was the next speaker. He emphasized the Polk County Attorney John Sarcone wanted to address the rally himself but had a prior commitment. Noble explained why his office and the county attorneys' association lobbied strongly against House File 2215, which he called the "license to kill bill." He said the legislation protects those who seek to do violence as opposed to those who seek to avoid violence. Current Iowa law already protects our right to defend ourselves. Noble added that sometimes legislators who pass a law don't know how it might work in the real world, but the Trayvon Martin tragedy gives Iowa lawmakers the benefit of seeing the implications of the bill. He also warned against judging Florida police too harshly for not arresting and charging Zimmerman, because if you give law enforcement "defective tools" (laws on the books), you will get "defective justice just like they're seeing in Florida today."

Speaking to me by telephone today, Noble said he has learned in 22 years of work as a Polk County prosecutor that nine times out of ten, both people involved in a violent altercation feel justified in their actions. He is very worried that the "stand your ground" legislation would tie the hands of police and prosecutors when faced with any number of confrontations that become deadly through "incremental escalation." (For instance, a fender bender leads to angry words or profanity, which leads to a clenched fist, which leads to someone pulling out a gun, which makes the other person feel compelled to grab a tire iron. Suddenly both people have "reasonable" grounds to feel so threatened that they must act with deadly force to protect themselves.)

As I mentioned above, House File 2215 is dead for this year. Its lead sponsor, Republican State Representative Matt Windschitl, has pledged to introduce it again next year.

"I understand it's a tragic case that happened in Florida. I wasn't there. The only two people who were there were the victim and the man who defended himself," Windschitl said. "Nobody can tell you what happened besides those people. I think Iowans have a right to defend themselves where they have a right to be present. To require an Iowan to retreat when they feel threatened, I think, that's an asinine proposal."

Windschitl also defended his bill in comments to the Des Moines Register a few days ago.

"I believe the language we have incorporated into the bill passed over to the Senate has protections already embedded into it that would protect law-abiding Iowans who choose to defend themselves but also protect Iowans at large," Windschitl said. [...]
But for opponents of the measure, the Florida case provides a clear example of the dangers inherent in a law loosening restrictions on the use of deadly force.
"What happened in Florida is exactly the type of tragedy that all these law enforcement leaders told us we would see here," said Rep. Mary Wolfe, D-Clinton, and a vocal opponent of the bill. "And it's exactly the scenario that the people supporting the 'stand your ground' bill told us ... was never going to happen." [...]
Another strong critic of "stand your ground" laws, Polk County Attorney John Sarcone, said Thursday that he believes such laws restrict law enforcement's ability to make arrests and initiate the legal process that decides whether the use of force was justified.
That is evident, he said, in the Martin case, where the local police said in a statement they were "prohibited from making an arrest based on the facts and circumstances they had at the time."
"I think it shows what the clear danger of that law is and what it allows to happen," Sarcone said of the Florida case.

All 24 Iowa Senate Republicans have signed a discharge petition seeking to bring the bill directly to the Senate floor. (The tactic wouldn't work, even if they convinced a few Democrats to join them.) Democratic State Senator Jack Hatch brought up the petition in a speech to his colleagues yesterday afternoon:

"I want you to think real hard if you've signed it, why you signed it, and if you haven't signed it, keep your signature off that petition," Hatch told his colleagues. [...]
"The rally today is not only to celebrate and look at the life of Trayvon Martin, but to have us think real clearly whether or not that legislation not only should go forward, let's hope that the state of Florida and other states that have passed that legislation at least consider revising it or even repealing it. This is not a time for us to incite fear among our citizens. This is a time for us to consider providing leadership."
Hatch's remarks drew a sharp rebuke from Sen. Mark Chelgren, R-Ottumwa, who also spoke briefly about the Florida incident on the Senate floor.
"A tragedy happened, a young man is dead and another family is broken," Chelgren said. "This happened in Florida, and it's unfortunate. We have a judicial system that is going to go through this process. And so while we grieve with the families for this tragedy, it is unconscionable to turn this into a political theater here in the state of Iowa.
"The death of a young man should not be used as an excuse to attack the very liberties that we have in this country, and personally I am offended and ashamed of what Sen. Hatch said today because he should not be treating the families who are grieving at this time in such a manner."

Meanwhile, Vanessa Miller reported for the Cedar Rapids Gazette on opposition to the bill from law enforcement officials in eastern Iowa.

"A person already has the right to defend themselves or others, if needed," said Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden. "The 'stand your ground' legislation goes far past that. I refer to it as the 'license to kill' statute, because that's exactly what it does." [...]
"I think this incident in Florida is going to be, our hope is, an eye-opening true life experience for legislators about what can happen with this type of legislation on the books," Vander Sanden said. [...]
"If you give law enforcement powers to citizens who have no law enforcement training, tragedy will result," Vander Sanden said.
The proposed legislation that passed through the Iowa House this legislative session would allow a person to use force - even deadly force - against someone who they reasonably believe is committing a violent felony or is a threat to kill or cause serious injury.
The proposal says a person has "no duty to retreat from any place where the person is lawfully," and it states that a person "may be wrong in the estimation of the danger or the force necessary to repel the danger as long as there is a reasonable basis for the belief." [...]
Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness said she's concerned about the proposed bill because it would implement a "shoot first ask questions later" policy that could be problematic in a college community like Iowa City where students have been known to drink and occasionally end up in the wrong house.
"We could have a situation where we would have a drunk student go into the wrong place, and any neighbor could shoot and kill them, and that would be acceptable," Lyness said. "It's a dangerous approach to take."

Countless commentaries on the Florida tragedy have been posted in the last ten days. Michelle Goldberg's post about conservatives smearing Martin's reputation is depressing but worth reading.

Speaking of off-base conservative takes on this tragedy, this exchange on Rush Limbaugh's show yesterday was mind-boggling:

CALLER: [...] Now, [Florida Democratic Party state chair] Rod Smith -- correctly, I think -- is in defense of the law, but also agrees that an arrest should have been made in the case. Now here's my personal observation as a police officer, former police officer. Mr. Zimmerman, I think, fits the profile of somebody that we might refer to as suffering from the John Wayne syndrome. He was a person equipped with a weapon and charged with certain responsibilities as a Neighborhood Watch person that overstepped his bounds. I don't think, um, he was necessarily a racist, but he made poor decisions based on poor judgment.
RUSH: Jerry, what I've read is that Mr. Zimmerman -- who, again, the New York Times refers to as a "white Hispanic" and the rest of the media has now picked that up, 'cause that fits the template. You need white-on-black here to gin this up. I understand. He wants to be a cop. He just loves law enforcement, and he's a self-appointed Neighborhood Watch commander, and he wanted to protect his neighborhood, and he just got a little overzealous and so forth. But we still don't know what the real facts of this are, I don't think.

We don't know all the facts, but somehow I think Rush would consider it more than "a little overzealous" if a black man pursued a confrontation with an unarmed white teenager before shooting him to death.

I don't want to end this post with Limbaugh's ravings. Here's a brief clip from last night's Rally for Justice for Trayvon Martin in Iowa City.

First look at Democratic prospects for Iowa House gains

desmoinesdem — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:15:00 GMT

The redistricting process and several Republican retirements have created many pickup opportunities for Iowa House Democrats. The devastating 2010 election left them nowhere to go but up in the lower chamber, where Republicans currently enjoy a 60 to 40 majority. Relatively few sitting House Democrats represent vulnerable districts.

Speaking to activists at the Polk County Democratic convention on March 10, I heard lots of optimism about the House races. After the jump I've posted some early thoughts on the seats up for grabs.
Of the 40 current Iowa House Democrats, two opted to retire from the legislature. Kurt Swaim and Andrew Wenthe were paired with fellow Democratic incumbents Curt Hanson and Roger Thomas, respectively. Two other Democratic representatives, Janet Petersen and Nate Willems, decided to run for the Iowa Senate rather than seek re-election to the House.

That leaves 36 Iowa House Democrats seeking re-election. Of those, 15 do not have a Republican opponent and are therefore virtually assured of winning another term: Rick Olson, Kevin McCarthy, Brian Quirk, Sharon Steckman, Deborah Berry, Tyler Olson, Kirsten Running-Marquardt, Todd Taylor, Dave Jacoby, Jerry Kearns, Vicki Lensing, Mary Mascher, Cindy Winckler, Mary Wolfe, and Chuck Isenhart.

I must point out that at this stage in 2010, State Representatives John Beard and Tom Schueller didn't have Republican opponents either, yet both ended up losing in November. I don't expect any of the currently unchallenged House Democrats to meet the same fate.

Another 14 Democratic incumbents have Republican competition but shouldn't have any trouble winning re-election in their strongly Democratic districts: Helen Miller, Pat Murphy, Jim Lykam, Dennis Cohoon, Mary Gaskill, Mark Smith, Anesa Kajtazovic, Lisa Heddens, Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, Jo Oldson, Ako Abdul-Samad, Bruce Hunter, Ruth Ann Gaines, and Dan Kelley. Disclaimer: several Democrats thought to be "safe" lost in 2010, and more could fall if 2012 turns out to be another horrible year for Democrats generally.

The last seven Democratic House incumbents face potentially difficult re-election battles, either because of the partisan lean of their district, because they are relatively new to politics, or because they have drawn a particularly strong opponent.

John Wittneben in the new district 7. He won an open seat by a few dozen votes in 2010, and his new district no longer has a strong Democratic voter registration advantage. Two Republicans filed to challenge him: Mark Frakes and Tedd Gassman.

Dan Muhlbauer is another first-term Democrat, having won an open-seat race against an unbelievably weak Republican candidate. Muhlbauer's new district is a tiny bit more Democratic, but if Republican candidate Barney Bornhoft has the faintest clue, he should be a stronger opponent than the man Muhlbauer beat in 2010.

Chris Hall also won an open seat in 2010. He is the only House Democrat who will face a sitting House Republican in the general election. First-term GOP State Representative Jeremy Taylor decided to run here after the new map placed his house outside of his current district. He proved himself to be a strong campaigner by almost beating a Democratic incumbent in 2008 and winning an open seat in 2010.

Roger Thomas has more experience in the House, but the new district 55 has a GOP voter registration advantage, unlike the seat where Thomas was previously elected. Three Republicans filed to challenge him: Michael Klimesh, Marshall Nessa, and Dustin Noble.

Bob Kressig has won re-election by narrow margins several times. The winner of the GOP primary between James Kenyon and Howard Lyon will face Kressig in the new district 59.

Curt Hanson won a 2009 special election and his 2010 re-election in a Republican-leaning district, so he stands a decent chance of overcoming the voter registration disadvantage in the new district 82. Two Republicans have filed for this seat: James Johnson and Jeff Shipley.

Phyllis Thede knocked off a GOP incumbent in 2008 and survived the 2010 wave in a Democratic-leaning seat. Her new district 93 is more evenly divided in terms of voter registration. The good news is that she doesn't appear to have drawn a particularly strong candidate in Mark Nelson.

Depending on how many of those seven incumbents hang on, Democrats will have between 29 and 36 current House members returning in 2013.

One Democratic pick-up is a lock: Republicans aren't fielding a candidate in the new House district 57, where Steve Lukan is retiring. Nancy Dunkel is the only Democrat on the ballot.

The new House district 36 should be an easy hold for the winner of the Democratic primary between Marti Anderson, Cara Kennedy-Ode, and William Rock. Janet Petersen left this district open when she decided to run for Senate district 19.

That leaves House Democrats with 31 to 38 seats--a long way from the 51 they need to win back the majority.

The optimism I heard at the convention stems from the many strong candidates Democrats are fielding in Republican-held districts.

In general, it's easier for a political party to pick up an open seat than to defeat an incumbent from the other side. The following 13 districts with no incumbent seem potentially winnable for Democrats:

* district 14, left empty under the redistricting plan. Democrats have a voter registration advantage here; their unsuccessful 2010 candidate David Dawson will face Republican Greg Grupp.

* district 26, where Republican Glen Massie opted not to seek re-election. Massie's 2010 Democratic opponent, Scott Ourth, faces the winner of the GOP primary between Ruth Randleman and Steve McCoy.

* district 28, where Republican Rich Arnold is retiring. Democrat Megan Day Suhr will face the winner of the GOP primary between Len Gosselink and Greg Heartsill (my money's on Heartsill to be the general election candidate).

* district 30, where Republican Kim Pearson opted not to seek re-election. Altoona City Council member Joe Riding is the Democratic candidate; Republicans have a primary between Jim Carley and Carol Miller.

* district 40, where Republican House Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Raecker opted not to seek re-election. Urbandale City Council member John Forbes is the Democratic candidate; he'll face business owner and veteran Mike Brown.

* district 63, left empty under the redistricting plan. Former Democratic State Senator Bill Heckroth faces Sandy Salmon here.

* district 64, where Republican Dan Rasmussen retired. Two candidates from Oelwein are on the ballot: Democratic City Council member Bruce Bearinger and Republican business owner Jim Givant. The party registration numbers lean Democratic.

* district 72, where Republican Lance Horbach retired. The voter registration numbers lean to the GOP. Dean Fisher is the only Republican on the ballot here; a Democratic primary looms between Christina Blackcloud-Garcia and Nathan Wrage.

* district 73, where House Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Kaufmann is retiring. His son, Bobby Kaufmann, is the only Republican on the ballot. He'll have name recognition going for him, but clearly he won't be nearly as tough an opponent as his father would be. Democrats have a primary here between David Johnson and Dick Schwab.

* district 76, left empty after redistricting. Grinnell City Council member Rachel Bly will face the winner of a Republican primary between David Maxwell and Larry Wilson (my money's on Wilson, a Poweshiek County supervisor).

* district 77, left empty after redistricting. The voter registration numbers give the advantage to Democrat Sally Stutsman over Republican Steve Sherman.

* district 80, left empty after redistricting. Joe Judge, the son of former Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge, is the Democratic candidate here. His GOP opponent will be Larry Sheets.

* district 95, where Democrat Nate Willems is running for the Senate instead of for a third term in the House. Two teachers will face off here: Republican Quentin Stanerson and Democrat Kristin Keast.

Obviously, Democrats aren't going to sweep all of those House races, but even winning half of them would represent a major step forward.

There are at least 12 districts Democrats can credibly play for despite the fact that Republican incumbents are seeking re-election. (I'm not saying lightning couldn't strike in some other Republican-held district, but the other Democratic challengers will face long odds given the partisan lean.)

* district 15, covering Carter Lake and the western part of Council Bluffs; first-term GOP Representative Mark Brandenburg moved into this district. The Democratic candidate is George Yaple.

* district 38, where Ankeny Republican Kevin Koester, who was elected from a solidly Republican district, has to seek re-election in an evenly divided seat. John Phoenix is the Democratic candidate here (Koester also has a primary challenger).

* district 43, where Republican Chris Hagenow will be favored but Democrat Susan Judkins has a strong resume.

* district 47, where Democrat Donovan Olson is seeking a rematch with Chip Baltimore, who defeated him by a narrow margin in 2010.

* district 56, where Patti Ruff is running against first-term Republican Bob Hager.

* district 58, where former State Representative Tom Schueller is seeking a rematch with surprise 2010 winner Brian Moore.

* district 60, now represented by first-term Republican Walt Rogers. Bob Greenwood is the Democratic challenger in this Waterloo/Cedar Falls district.

* district 66, where Democrat Art Staed is challenging the Republican who beat him in 2008, Renee Schulte. The voter registration numbers lean Democratic, but Schulte has proved herself to be a strong campaigner.

* district 68, where Daniel Lundby, the son of the late Republican State Senator Mary Lundby, will be a big underdog against two-term Republican Nick Wagner.

* district 88, where House Ways and Means Committee Chair Tom Sands will be heavily favored against Democrat Sara Sedlacek.

* district 91, where 2010 winner Mark Lofgren is up against Democrat John Dabeet.

* district 92, where 2010 GOP winner Ross Paustian (an unsuccessful House candidate in 2008) is up against former State Senator Frank Wood.

Again, Democrats are not going to sweep these races, but having so many GOP-held seats in play will be helpful. Every dollar House Republican leaders spend defending their own incumbents is a dollar they can't spend targeting the vulnerable House Democrats.

It's also worth noting that eleven sitting House Republicans face primary challengers. As a result, many Republicans in safe seats will have to spend money on their own re-election campaigns, rather than in districts Democrats are targeting.

I don't see the House changing hands in 2013, but with good campaigning and GOTV, Democrats should be able to climb most of the way out of their 60-40 hole.

Any comments about the Iowa House races are welcome in this thread.

Iowa Senate passes two bills favored by Big Ag (updated)

desmoinesdem — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:03:49 GMT

The Democratic-controlled Iowa Senate passed two bills today favored by corporate agricultural interest groups. House File 589, the notorious "ag gag" bill, seeks to prevent whistleblowers from reporting alleged abuse at agricultural facilities. Senate File 2172 would reduce the number of sows that confined-animal feeding operations need to report for manure management purposes. Details on the bills and how senators voted are after the jump.

UPDATE: Bypassing normal legislative procedures, the Republican-controlled Iowa House also passed the "ag gag" bill on February 28. Scroll down for details on how the state representatives voted.
The livestock industry has pushed for "ag gag" bills in several states. In March 2011, most Iowa House Republicans and some Democrats voted for House File 589, which would have criminalized the possession and distribution of unauthorized recordings at an agricultural facility. The Iowa Attorney General's Office warned the Iowa Senate that the bill could be challenged on First Amendment grounds.

In response, Sen. Joe Seng, D-Davenport and Sen. Tim Kapucian, R-Keystone, worked on a provision that scrapped the House version in substitute for a provision that did not deal with recordings.
The Senate version doesn't address audio or video recordings issues. Instead, it would create a new crime: Agricultural production facility fraud.
A person who obtained access to a facility by false pretenses or lies in their job application with the intent to commit an act not authorized by the owner could be found guilty and face serious or aggravated misdemeanor charges.

Click here for the full text of House File 589. The lobbyist declarations show that just about every farm industry group supports the bill. A range of animal-welfare, environmental, progressive and civil rights groups registered against the bill.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette editorial board commented recently,

The Senate measure would have a sharp, chilling affect on activists, journalists and even facility employees who took a farm job under no false pretense whatsoever. Even the chance of being charged with a crime would likely be enough to keep many of them silent. [...]
Basically, we believe throwing a criminal net this broad and potentially damaging to head off a public relations problem is the wrong use of legislative authority. Food safety and animal treatment laws are meant to benefit the health and welfare of all Iowans, and should be fully and rigorously enforced. Lawmakers should not seek to create bubbles of special protection for certain industries, no matter how important or influential.

All 24 Iowa Senate Republicans voted for House File 589 today. Next time GOP lawmakers claim to be against government "picking winners and losers," they should be asked to explain their vote for this bill.

The following 16 Senate Democrats also voted for House File 589: Daryl Beall, Dennis Black, Tom Courtney, Dick Dearden, Gene Fraise, Mike Gronstal, Tom Hancock, Wally Horn, Jack Kibbie, Amanda Ragan, Tom Rielly, Brian Schoenjahn, Joe Seng, Steve Sodders, and Mary Jo Wilhelm.

These ten Senate Democrats voted against House File 589: Joe Bolkcom, Jeff Danielson, Bill Dotzler, Bob Dvorsky, Jack Hatch, Rob Hogg, Pam Jochum, Liz Mathis, Matt McCoy, and Herman Quirmbach.

The other bill backed by agribusiness that passed today was Senate file 2172 (full text here). This legislation is a successor to Senate File 2022, which Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action described in a February 10 press release:

SF 2022 would allow factory farm operators to exempt replacement sows bred onsite for farrowing operations in their total head count at a factory farm site. Factory farm producers would not have to report these animals, or their manure to the DNR, on permitting documents, or in manure management plans.
Senate President Jack Kibbie introduced the bill at the request of lobbyists for the Iowa Pork Producers, under the guise of biosecurity issues.
"Sen. Kibbie is selling us out. Instead of working on bills that will benefit everyday Iowans and stop factory farms from polluting our air and water, our elected officials in the Senate are just opening the door for the factory farm industry to keep expanding," said Jim Yungclas, a CCI Action member and retired county agricultural extension director, "This bill could potentially open the door for all kinds of loopholes from the corporate livestock industry like allowing extra cattle on feedlots, extra layer hens in chicken factory farms. Where would they draw the line?"

A farrowing sow produces manure, just like other hogs. The whole point of a manure management plan is to deal with all the manure produced in a CAFO. I can't see any justification for this bill, other than letting CAFO operators get away with not cleaning up their mess.

Apparently, 49 senators did find some logic behind this legislation, because Senate File passed by 49 votes to 1 today. Joe Bolkcom was the only no vote.

Share any relevant thoughts in this thread.

UPDATE: Radio Iowa posted the audio of the 52-minute Iowa Senate debate of House File 589. Excerpts:

"People are trying to get into these places, saying they're a plumber or they're this or that, they're going to take care of your livestock with no intention of that whatsoever. They're trying to bring down this business," [Senator Joe] Seng said. "That is false pretenses. It's a claim that they're going to do one thing, but they're not going to do it. They're going to do something else." [...]
"This is the way to chill the whistleblowers and to bring the cover of darkness over this and to give immunity to big agriculture so they can do whatever they please, however they please and do it with immunity," [Senator Matt] McCoy said.

The Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund released this statement on February 28:

Senate Democrats sell out to factory farm lobby
Two bad factory farm de-regulation bills pass the Iowa Senate today
Des Moines, IA - A bipartisan sell out to the corporate factory farm lobby was on full display in the Iowa Senate today as a majority of Senate Democrats joined their GOP counterparts to pass two bad factory farm bills that give away special treatment to big-moneyed corporate ag interest groups like the Iowa Pork Producers and the Iowa Farm Bureau at the expense of everyday people and the environment.
Senator Joe Seng managed HF589 on the Senate floor, the so-called "Ag Gag" bill, which criminalizes factory farm watchdogs and whistleblowers by increasing legal penalties for everyday people who hold factory farms accountable for exposing animal abuse. The Senate passed this bill 40-10.
Senator Jack Kibbie managed SF2172 on the Senate floor, a bill that carves out a giant loophole in Iowa's public oversight laws by allowing factory farm breeders to raise gilts on-site without counting them towards the total number of hogs in confinement that could trigger construction permits and other requirements. The Senate passed this bill 49-1.
"Seng, Kibbie, and the rest of the Iowa Senators who voted for this bill sold out their constituents to the corporate factory farm industry today," said Barb Kalbach, a fourth generation family farmer and the CCI Action Fund Board President from Dexter, Iowa. "And Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal deserves a fair amount of blame for allowing these bills to be brought to the floor for a vote in the first place."
"Iowa CCI Action Fund members are particularly disgusted with Jack Kibbie, who spent most of his career standing up for family farmers and is now throwing his legacy away in the name of corporate profits. He will now go down in Iowa history books as a man who gave away his principles to the corporate factory farm lobby."

SECOND UPDATE: Iowa House Agriculture Committee Chair Annette Sweeney called House File 589 up just hours after the bill cleared the Senate. She moved that the House concur in the Senate amendment, and the motion carried. After that, state representatives voted 69 to 28 to approve the bill. The House Journal for February 28 (pdf) has the roll call. All 57 House Republicans present for the vote supported the bill. (Rich Arnold, Steve Lukan, and Dan Rasmussen were absent.)

These 12 House Democrats joined Republicans in backing House File 589: Deborah Berry, Mary Gaskill, Curt Hanson, Dan Kelley, Kevin McCarthy (the House minority leader), Helen Miller, Dan Muhlbauer, Brian Quirk, Roger Thomas, Andrew Wenthe, Nate Willems, and John Wittneben.

Note: Eight of those 12 Democrats also voted for last year's version of the "ag gag" bill. Gaskill, Hanson, McCarthy, and Willems voted against the original version last March but for the Senate-amended version today.

Prediction: The Farm Bureau and other corporate groups will endorse every Republican challenger running against those Democrats. In other words, this bad policy probably isn't even good politics.

The following 28 House Democrats voted no on the ag gag bill: Ako Abdul-Samad, Dennis Cohoon, Ruth Ann Gaines, Chris Hall, Lisa Heddens, Bruce Hunter, Chuck Isenhart, Dave Jacoby, Anesa Kajtazovic, Jerry Kearns, Bob Kressig, Vicki Lensing, Jim Lykam, Mary Mascher, Pat Murphy, Jo Oldson, Rick Olson, Tyler Olson, Janet Petersen, Kirsten Running-Marquardt, Mark Smith, Sharon Steckman, Kurt Swaim, Todd Taylor, Phyllis Thede, Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, Cindy Winckler, and Mary Wolfe.

Note: Swaim is the only Iowa House Democrat who voted for the original version of the bill last year but against today's revision. He is not seeking re-election this November.

Today's votes are exhibit A for why I stopped giving to the Senate Democratic Majority Fund and the House Truman Fund.

MARCH UPDATE: Governor Terry Branstad signed House File 589 on March 2. He defended the bill in his March 5 press conference:

Iowa's governor suggested so-called "whistleblowers" won't be prosecuted.
"If somebody comes on somebody else's property through fraud or deception or lying, that is a serious violation of people's rights and people should be held accountable for that," Branstad said. "That's very different from a whistleblower that sees something that's wrong, that's there in an appropriate and legal manner."
Other critics, like the Animal Legal Defense Fund, are lobbying officials in other states and cities around the country to ban the purchase of Iowa-raised food as a response to the state's new law. And fast-food giant McDonald's recently announced it would not buy pork from operations where sows are confined to stalls or crates. Governor Branstad signed the bill into law late Friday, and he told reporters this morning that he's not concerned about a back-lash to Iowa-grown and raised products.
"Agriculture is an important part of our economy and farmers should not be subjected to people doing illegal, inappropriate things and being involved in fraud and deception in order to try to disrupt agricultural operations," Branstad said, "so I think if people look at this objectively, this is a reasonable public policy for the State of Iowa and I think a number of other states will probably follow."

Who's who in the Iowa House for 2012

desmoinesdem — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:46:35 GMT

Although the 60 Republicans and 40 Democrats in the Iowa House haven't changed since last year, I thought it was worth updating this post, because some committee assignments have changed, and House Democrats reshuffled their ranking members somewhat.

Majority and minority leadership teams are after the jump, along with all members of standing House committees. All 100 House districts are on the ballot every two years, so I've noted the new district numbers for state representatives seeking re-election in 2012, as well as which House members have said they will retire after this year's legislative session.
Iowa House Republican leadership team

Speaker Kraig Paulsen (bio) was first elected in 2002 from district 35, covering suburban and rural areas in Linn County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 67.

Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer (bio) was first elected in 2002 from district 12, covering Franklin County and part of Cerro Gordo and Hancock. Redistricting put her in the new House district 8, but she is moving to the Clear Lake area to seek re-election in the new House district 54 instead. District 54 covers all of Franklin County and parts of Cerro Gordo and Butler Counties.

Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Kaufmann (bio) was first elected in 2004 from district 79, covering Cedar County and parts of Johnson and Muscatine. He is up for re-election in the new House district 73, covering all of Cedar County, a larger area in Johnson County and a tiny portion of Muscatine County.

Majority Whip Erik Helland (bio) was first elected in 2008 in House district 69, covering suburban and rural areas in Polk County. He is up for re-election in the new district 39, covering a smaller area in the northwest Polk County suburbs.

Assistant majority leaders: Matt Windschitl (bio was first elected in 2006 from district 56, covering Harrison County, most of Monona and part of Pottawattamie. He is up for re-election in the new district 17, covering all of Ida and Monona Counties and parts of Harrison and Woodbury Counties.

Renee Schulte (bio) was first elected in 2008 from district 37, covering part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County. She is up for re-election in the new House district 66, covering a similar area. Her likely opponent is Art Staed, the Democratic incumbent Schulte defeated in 2008.

Dave Deyoe (bio) was first elected in 2006 from district 10, covering most of Story County outside Ames and part of Hamilton County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 49, covering parts of Story and Hardin Counties.

Steve Lukan (bio) was first elected in 2002 from district 32, covering parts of Dubuque and Delaware counties. He decided not to seek re-election after the redistricting plan put him in Democratic-leaning House district 57.

Iowa House Democratic leadership team

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (bio) was first elected in 2002 from district 67, covering the southeast side of Des Moines. He served as House majority leader from 2007 through 2010 alongside House Speaker Pat Murphy. He is up for re-election in the new House district 33, also centered on the southeast side of Des Moines.

Assistant Minority Leaders: Ako Abdul-Samad (bio) was first elected in 2006 from district 66, covering much of central Des Moines in Polk County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 35, covering central and north-side neighborhoods in Des Moines.

Mary Mascher (bio) was first elected in 1994 from district 77, covering part of Iowa City in Johnson County. She is up for re-election in the new House district 86, covering a similar area.

Kirsten Running-Marquardt is the newest member of the House Democratic leadership team, replacing Sharon Steckman as assistant leader in November 2011. Running-Marquardt won a 2009 special election in district 33, covering part of Cedar Rapids. She is up for re-election in the new House district 69, covering part of Cedar Rapids as well as small towns and rural areas in southwestern Linn County.

Mark Smith (bio) was first elected in 2000 from district 43, covering northeastern Marshall County, including Marshalltown. He is up for re-election in the new House district 71, covering a similar area.

Rural Caucus Chair: Andrew Wenthe (bio) was first elected in 2006 from district 18, covering parts of Fayette, Bremer and Black Hawk Counties. He decided not to run for re-election in 2012 after the new map put him with fellow Democrat Roger Thomas in the new House district 55.

Rural Caucus Vice-Chair: Dan Muhlbauer (bio) was first elected in 2010 from district 51, covering Carroll County and parts of Sac and Crawford Counties. He is up for re-election in the new House district 12, covering all of Carroll and Audubon Counties and parts of Crawford.

Iowa House Standing Committees

Administration and Rules

Chair: Renee Schulte (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Dave Deyoe (see bio above)

Ranking member: Andrew Wenthe (see bio above)

Other members: Erik Helland (R), Jeff Kaufmann (R), Steve Lukan (R), Kraig Paulsen (R), Matt Windschitl (R), Linda Upmeyer (R), Andrew Abdul-Samad (D), Dennis Cohoon (D), Mary Mascher (D), Kevin McCarthy (D), Mark Smith (D)

Agriculture

Chair: Annette Sweeney (bio) was first elected in 2008 from district 44, covering Hardin County and most of Marshall outside Marshalltown. She is running for re-election in the new House district 50 and will face fellow incumbent Pat Grassley in the GOP primary.

Vice Chair: Lee Hein (bio) was first elected in 2010 from district 31, covering Jones County and parts of Dubuque County. He decided to move so that he could run for re-election in the new House district 96, covering all of Delaware County and part of Jones. (The redistricting plan paired Hein with another Republican incumbent in the new district 58.)

Ranking member: Helen Miller (bio) was first elected in 2002 from district 49, covering part of Webster County, including Fort Dodge. She is up for re-election in the new House district 9, covering a similar area.

Other members: Dwayne Alons (R), Clel Baudler (R), Betty DeBoef (R), Dave Deyoe (R), Cecil Dolecheck (R), Jack Drake (R), Dan Huseman (R), Brian Moore (R), Steve Olson (R), Ross Paustian (R), Dan Rasmussen (R), Tom Shaw (R), Curt Hanson (D), Chuck Isenhart (D), Dan Kelley (D), Dan Muhlbauer (D), Brian Quirk (D), Kurt Swaim (D), Roger Thomas (D), Andrew Wenthe (D)

Appropriations

Chair: Scott Raecker (bio) was first elected in 1998. During the last decade he represented district 63, covering most of Urbandale in Polk County. He is up for re-election in the new district 40, covering a similar area.

Vice Chair: Nick Wagner (bio) was first elected in 2008 from district 36, covering Marion and some rural areas of Linn County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 68, covering a similar area.

Ranking member: Tyler Olson (bio) was first elected in 2006 from district 38, covering part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 65, covering a similar area.

Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee Chair: Ralph Watts (bio) was first elected in 2002 from district 47, covering most of Dallas County and a small part of Boone County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 19, covering part of Dallas County and a small area in northern Polk County.

Administration & Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member: Dan Kelley (bio) was first elected in 2010 from district 41, covering most of Jasper County, including Newton. He is up for re-election in the new House district 29, covering a similar area.

Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee Chair: Jack Drake (bio) was first elected in 1992 from district 57, covering Shelby County and parts of Cass and Pottawattamie Counties. He is up for re-election in the new House district 21, covering all of Union and Adams Counties and parts of Cass and Pottawattamie Counties.

Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member: Dan Muhlbauer (see bio above)

Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee Chair: Jason Schultz (bio) was first elected in 2008 from district 55, covering Ida County and parts of Woodbury, Crawford and Monona. He is up for re-election in the new House district 18, covering all of Shelby County and parts of Crawford and Harrison Counties.

Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member: Chris Hall (bio) was first elected in 2010 from district 2, covering the northeast part of Sioux City in Woodbury County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 13, covering a similar area in Sioux City and part of rural Woodbury County.

Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chair: Cecil Dolecheck (bio) was first elected in 1996 from district 96, covering Montgomery, Adams, Taylor and Ringgold Counties and part of Union County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 24, covering Ringgold, Taylor and Page Counties and part of Montgomery County.

Education Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member: Cindy Winckler (bio) was first elected in 2002 from district 86, covering part of Davenport in Scott County. She is up for re-election in the new House district 90, covering a similar area.

Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee Chair: Dave Heaton (bio) was first elected in 1994 from district 91, covering Henry County and part of Lee County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 84, covering Henry County and parts of Lee, Washington and Jefferson Counties.

Health & Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member: Lisa Heddens (bio) was first elected in 2002 from district 46, covering part of Story County, including the north side of Ames, and a small area in Boone County. The redistricting plan put her into the new House district 48, but Heddens decided to move into the new House district 46, covering part of Ames and Story County.

Justice Systems Appropriations Subcommittee Chair: Gary Worthan (bio) was first elected in 2006 in district 52, covering Buena Vista County and part of Sac County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 11, covering all of Buena Vista and Sac Counties.

Justice Systems Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member: Todd Taylor (bio) was first elected in a 1995 special election from House district 34, covering part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 70, covering a similar area.

Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals Appropriations Subcommittee Chair: Dan Huseman (bio) was first elected in 1994 in House district 53, covering Cherokee county and parts of Plymouth and Woodbury Counties. He is up for re-election in the new House district 3, covering O'Brien and Cherokee Counties and parts of Sioux and Plymouth.

Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member: Dennis Cohoon (bio) was first elected to the Iowa House in 1986. For the last decade he has represented district 88, covering Burlington and part of eastern Des Moines County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 87, covering a similar area.

Other Appropriations Committee members: Julian Garrett (R), Chris Hagenow (R), Steve Lukan (R), Walt Rogers (R), Renee Schulte (R), Mary Gaskill (D), Chris Hall (D), Pat Murphy (D), Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D), Andrew Wenthe (D)

Commerce

Chair: Chuck Soderberg (bio) was first elected in 2004 from district 3, covering parts of Plymouth and Sioux Counties. He is up for re-election in the new House district 5, covering most of Plymouth and part of Woodbury Counties.

Vice Chair: Chip Baltimore (bio) was first elected in 2010 from district 48, covering most of Boone County and part of Dallas County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 47, covering most of Boone County and all of Greene County.

Ranking member: Brian Quirk (bio) was first elected in 2000 from district 15, covering Chickasaw and Howard Counties and part of Winneshiek County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 52, covering all of Chickasaw and Floyd Counties and a small part of Cerro Gordo.

Other members: Mark Brandenburg (R), Joel Fry (R), Pat Grassley (R), Lance Horbach (R), Stew Iverson (R), Ross Paustian (R), Dawn Pettengill (R), Tom Shaw (R), Jeff Smith (R), Nick Wagner (R), Ralph Watts (R), Matt Windschitl (R), Dave Jacoby (D), Anesa Kajtazovic (D), Bob Kressig (D), Jim Lykam (D), Dan Muhlbauer (D), Jo Oldson (D), Kurt Swaim (D)

Economic Growth/Rebuild Iowa

Chair: Pat Grassley (bio) was first elected in 2006 from district 17, covering Butler County and part of Bremer. He is up for re-election in the new House district 50, where he has been paired with fellow Republican Annette Sweeney.

Vice Chair: Mary Ann Hanusa (bio) was first elected in 2010 from district 99, covering part of Council Bluffs. She is up for re-election in the new House district 16, also covering part of Council Bluffs.

Ranking member: Roger Thomas (bio) was first elected to the Iowa House in 1996. For the past decade he represented district 24, covering Clayton County and parts of Delaware and Fayette. He is up for re-election in the new House district 55, covering parts of Winneshiek, Fayette and Clayton Counties.

Other members: Rich Anderson (R), Chip Baltimore (R), Josh Byrnes (R), Betty DeBoef (R), Bob Hager (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Steve Lukan (R), Dan Rasmussen (R), Jeff Smith (R), Jason Schultz (R), Chuck Soderberg (R), Chris Hall (D), Lisa Heddens (D), Dave Jacoby (D), Helen Miller (D), Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D), Sharon Steckman (D), John Wittneben (D)

Education

Chair: Greg Forristall (bio) was first elected in 2006 from district 98, covering parts of Pottawattamie and Mills Counties. He is up for re-election in the new House district 22, covering most of Pottawattamie County outside Council Bluffs.

Vice Chair: Jeremy Taylor (bio) was first elected in 2010 from district 1, covering the western part of Sioux City in Woodbury County. He is up for re-election in the new district 13, covering the eastern part of Sioux City and some rural areas in Woodbury County.

Ranking member: Sharon Steckman (bio) was first elected in 2008 from district 13, covering part of Cerro Gordo County, including Mason City. She is up for re-election in the new House district 53, covering a similar area.

Other members: Josh Byrnes (R), Royd Chambers (R), Peter Cownie (R), Cecil Dolecheck (R), Mary Ann Hanusa (R), Ron Jorgensen (R), Kevin Koester (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Linda Miller (R), Kim Pearson (R), Renee Schulte (R), Annette Sweeney (R), Ako Abdul-Samad (D), Dennis Cohoon (D), Ruth Ann Gaines (D), Curt Hanson (D), Dan Kelley (D), Mary Mascher (D), Cindy Winckler (D)

Environmental Protection

Chair: Steve Olson (bio) was first elected in 2002 from district 83, including parts of Scott and Clinton counties. He is up for re-election in the new House district 97, covering a large area of Clinton County.

Vice Chair: Bob Hager (bio) was first elected in 2010 from district 16, covering Allamakee and part of Winneshiek County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 56, covering Allamakee and most of Clayton County.

Ranking member: Chuck Isenhart (bio) was first elected in 2008 in district 27, covering part of Dubuque. He is up for re-election in the new House district 100, covering a similar area.

Other members: Josh Byrnes (R), Betty DeBoef (R), Dave Deyoe (R), Cecil Dolecheck (R), Lee Hein (R), Jarad Klein (R), Brian Moore (R), Ross Paustian (R), Tom Sands (R), Jason Schultz (R), Chuck Soderberg (R), Dan Kelley (D), Vicki Lensing (D), Mark Smith (D), Sharon Steckman (D), Phyllis Thede (D), Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D), Cindy Winckler (D)

Ethics

Chair: Kevin Koester (bio) was first elected in 2008 from district 70, covering Ankeny in Polk County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 38, covering a large part of northeast Polk County.

Vice Chair: Scott Raecker (see bio above)

Ranking member: Phyllis Thede (bio), first elected in 2008 from district 81, covering part of Bettendorf and Davenport in Scott County. She is up for re-election in the new House district 93, covering less of Davenport and a larger area of Bettendorf.

Other members: James Van Engelenhoven (R), Dan Kelley (D), Mark Smith (D)

Government Oversight

Chair: Chris Hagenow (bio) was first elected in 2008 from district 59, covering some of the western Des Moines suburbs in Polk County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 43, covering a similar area.

Vice Chair: Chip Baltimore (see bio above)

Ranking member: Janet Petersen (bio) was first elected in 2000 from district 64, covering part of the west side of Des Moines in Polk County. She decided to run for the new Senate district 18 in 2012 instead of seeking another term in the House.

Other members: Clel Baudler (R), Kim Pearson (R), Dawn Pettengill (R), David Tjepkes (R), Ruth Ann Gaines (D), Bob Kressig (D)

Human Resources

Chair: Linda Miller (bio) was first elected in 2006 from district 82, covering part of Bettendorf in Scott County. She is up for re-election in the new House district 94, covering a similar area.

Vice Chair: Joel Fry (bio) was first elected in 2010 from district 95, covering Union, Clarke and Decatur Counties. He is up for re-election in the new House district 27, covering Clarke, Decatur, and Wayne Counties, and part of Lucas County.

Ranking member: Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (bio) was first elected in 2004 from district 45, covering most of Ames in Story County. She is up for re-election in the new House district 45, covering a similar area.

Other members: Richard Anderson (R), Mark Brandenburg (R), Julian Garrett (R), Dave Heaton (R), Stew Iverson (R), Ron Jorgensen (R), Kevin Koester (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Glen Massie (R), Renee Schulte (R), Ako Abdul-Samad (D), Lisa Heddens (D), Bruce Hunter (D), Mary Mascher (D), Janet Petersen (D), Mark Smith (D), Cindy Winckler (D), Mary Wolfe (D)

Judiciary

Chair: Rich Anderson (bio) was first elected in 2004 from district 97, covering Page and Fremont Counties and much of Mills County. He decided not to run for re-election in 2012.

Vice Chair: Chip Baltimore (see bio above)

During the 2011 legislative session, Kim Pearson was the vice chair of this committee, but she and House Republican leaders had a lot of friction. Pearson is not seeking re-election in the new House district 30 in 2012.

Ranking member: Mary Wolfe (bio) was first elected in 2010 in district 26, covering part of Clinton County, including the city of Clinton. She is up for re-election in the new House district 98, covering a similar area.

Other members: Dwayne Alons (R), Julian Garrett (R), Chris Hagenow (R), Dave Heaton (R), Jeff Kaufmann (R), Glen Massie (R), Kim Pearson (R), Walt Rogers (R), Jeremy Taylor (R), David Tjepkes (R), Ruth Ann Gaines (D), Vicki Lensing (D), Jo Oldson (D), Rick Olson (D), Tyler Olson (D), Mark Smith (D), Kurt Swaim (D), Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D)

Labor

Chair: Lance Horbach (bio) was first elected in 1998 from district 40, covering Grundy County and most of Tama. He has decided not to seek re-election in 2012, leaving the new House district 72 open.

Vice Chair: Jarad Klein (bio) was first elected in 2010 from district 89, covering Washington County and parts of Johnson and Jefferson Counties. He is up for re-election in the new House district 78, covering all of Keokuk County and most of Washington County.

Ranking member: Bruce Hunter (bio) was first elected in 2003 (special election) from district 62, covering part of the south side of Des Moines in Polk County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 34, covering downtown Des Moines and part of the south side.

Other members: Mark Brandenburg (R), Dave Deyoe (R), Greg Forristall (R), Mary Ann Hanusa (R), Ron Jorgensen (R), Linda Miller (R), Brian Moore (R), Jason Schultz (R), Ralph Watts (R), Jerry Kearns (D), Pat Murphy (D), Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D), Todd Taylor (D), Nate Willems (D)

Local Government

Chair: Nick Wagner (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Jeff Smith (bio) was first elected in 2010 to district 6, covering all of Dickinson County and part of Clay County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 1, covering all of Lyon and Osceola Counties and part of Dickinson.

Ranking member: John Wittneben (bio) was first elected in 2010 from district 7, covering Palo Alto and Emmet Counties and part of Kossuth County. He is up for re-election in the new district 7, covering all of Emmet and Winnebago Counties and part of Kossuth County.

Other members: Rich Arnold (R), Chip Baltimore (R), Bob Hager (R), Erik Helland (R), Lance Horbach (R), Jarad Klein (R), Kim Pearson (R), Henry Rayhons (R), David Tjepkes (R), James Van Engelenhoven (R), Deborah Berry (D), Ruth Ann Gaines (D), Mary Gaskill (D), Anesa Kajtazovic (D), Jerry Kearns (D), Bob Kressig (D), Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D), Phyllis Thede (D)

Natural Resources

Chair: Henry Rayhons (bio) was first elected to the Iowa House in 1996. For the past decade he represented district 11, covering Winnebago and Worth Counties and part of Hancock County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 8, covering Wright and Hancock Counties and part of Kossuth County.

Vice Chair: Jeff Smith (see bio above)

Ranking member: Curt Hanson (bio) was first elected in the 2009 special election from district 90, covering Van Buren County, most of Jefferson and part of Wapello County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 82, covering Davis and Van Buren Counties and most of Jefferson County.

Other members: Rich Arnold (R), Clel Baudler (R), Joel Fry (R), Bob Hager (R), Mark Lofgren (R), Steve Lukan (R), Dan Rasmussen (R), Annette Sweeney (R), James Van Engelenhoven (R), Guy Vander Linden (R), Mary Gaskill (D), Chris Hall (D), Dan Kelley (D), Jim Lykam (D), Helen Miller (D), Sharon Steckman (D), Phyllis Thede (D), John Wittneben (D)

Public Safety

Chair: Clel Baudler (bio) was first elected in 1998 from district 58, covering Guthrie, Audubon and Adair Counties and part of Cass County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 20, covering all of Guthrie and Adair Counties and parts of Cass and Dallas Counties.

Vice Chair: Tom Shaw (bio) was first elected in 2010 from district 8, covering Pocahontas and Humboldt Counties and part of Kossuth County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 10, covering Humboldt, Pocahontas and Calhoun Counties and part of Webster County.

Ranking member: Bob Kressig (bio) was first elected in 2004 from district 19, covering most of Cedar Falls and some rural areas in Black Hawk County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 59, covering a similar area.

Other members: Dwayne Alons (R), Mark Brandenburg (R), Joel Fry (R), Chris Hagenow (R), Jarad Klein (R), Steve Olson (R), Henry Rayhons (R), Tom Sands (R), David Tjepkes (R), Matt Windschitl (R), Gary Worthan (R), Ako Abdul-Samad (D), Deborah Berry (D), Ruth Ann Gaines (D), Dan Muhlbauer (D), Rick Olson (D), Kurt Swaim (D), Mary Wolfe (D)

State Government

Chair: Peter Cownie (bio) was first elected in 2008 from district 60, covering part of West Des Moines. He is up for re-election in the new House district 42, covering parts of Des Moines and West Des Moines.

Vice Chair: Guy Vander Linden (bio) was first elected in 2010 from district 75, covering parts of Mahaska and Poweshiek Counties. He is up for re-election in the new House district 79, covering most of Mahaska County and the Pella area of Marion County.

Ranking member: Vicki Lensing (bio) was first elected in 2000 from district 78, covering part of Iowa City in Johnson County. She is up for re-election in the new House district 85, covering a similar area.

Other members: Jack Drake (R), Lee Hein (R), Erik Helland (R), Stew Iverson (R), Ron Jorgensen (R), Jeff Kaufmann (R), Kevin Koester (R), Glen Massie (R), Dawn Pettengill (R), Scott Raecker (R), Walt Rogers (R), Renee Schulte (R), Mary Gaskill (D), Bruce Hunter (D), Chuck Isenhart (D), Anesa Kajtazovic (D), Mary Mascher (D), Brian Quirk (D), Todd Taylor (D), Andrew Wenthe (D)

Transportation

Chair: David Tjepkes (bio) was first elected in 2002 from district 50, covering Calhoun and Greene Counties and part of Webster County. He decided not to seek re-election in 2012 after the redistricting plan paired him with fellow Republican Tom Shaw in the new House district 10.

Vice Chair: Glen Massie (bio) was first elected in 2010 in district 74, covering most of Warren County. He has not confirmed whether he will seek re-election in the new House district 26, also covering most of Warren County.

Ranking member: Jim Lykam (bio) was first elected in 2002 from district 85, covering part of Davenport in Scott County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 89, covering a similar area.

Other members: Rich Arnold (R), Julian Garrett (R), Dan Huseman (R), Stew Iverson (R), Kim Pearson (R), Dan Rasmussen (R), Walt Rogers (R), James Van Engelenhoven (R), Ralph Watts (R), Matt Windschitl (R), Gary Worthan (R), Dennis Cohoon (D), Chris Hall (D), Curt Hanson (D), Pat Murphy (D), Janet Petersen (D), Andrew Wenthe (D), Mary Wolfe (D)

Veterans Affairs

Chair: Royd Chambers (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 5, covering Osceola and O'Brien Counties and parts of Clay and Sioux Counties. He has decided to retire in 2012; the redistricting plan paired him with fellow Republican Dan Huseman in the new House district 3.

Vice Chair: Guy Vander Linden (see bio above)

Ranking member: Jerry Kearns (bio) was first elected in 2008 from district 92, covering part of Lee County including Keokuk and Fort Madison. He is up for re-election in the new House district 83, covering a similar area.

Other members: Dwayne Alons (R), Mary Ann Hanusa (R), Steve Lukan (R), Henry Rayhons (R), Tom Shaw (R), Annette Sweeney (R), Jeremy Taylor (R), Deborah Berry (D), Lisa Heddens (D), Dan Muhlbauer (D), Roger Thomas (D), John Wittneben (D)

Ways and Means

Chair: Tom Sands (bio) was first elected in 2002 from district 87, covering Louisa County and part of Des Moines County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 88, covering all of Louisa County and large parts of Des Moines and Muscatine Counties.

Vice Chair: Josh Byrnes (bio) was first elected in 2010 in district 14, covering Mitchell County and parts of Floyd and Cerro Gordo. He is up for re-election in the new House district 51, covering Worth, Mitchell, and Howard Counties, and part of Winneshiek.

Ranking member: Dave Jacoby (bio) was first elected in 2002 from district 30, covering Coralville and North Liberty in Johnson County. He is up for re-election in the new House district 74, covering a similar area.

Other members: Peter Cownie (R), Betty DeBoef (R), Greg Forristall (R), Pat Grassley (R), Lee Hein (R), Erik Helland (R), Jeff Kaufmann (R), Brian Moore (R), Ross Paustian (R), Dawn Pettengill (R), Chuck Soderberg (R), Jeremy Taylor (R), Guy Vander Linden (R), Chuck Isenhart (D), Anesa Kajtazovic (D), Jerry Kearns (D), Dan Muhlbauer (D), Jo Oldson (D), Janet Petersen (D), Brian Quirk (D), Roger Thomas (D), Nate Willems (D)

Administrative Rules Review

Five Iowa House and five Iowa Senate members serve on this committee.

Chair: Democratic State Senator Wally Horn

Vice Chair: Dawn Pettengill (bio) was first elected in 2004 as a Democrat in district 39, covering Benton County and part of Iowa County. She switched to the Republican caucus in 2007. She is up for re-election in the new House district 75, covering a similar area. During the 2011 legislative session, Pettengill chaired the Administrative Rules Review Committee.

Other members: Senator Merlin Bartz (R), Senator Tom Courtney (D), Senator Jack Kibbie (D), Senator James Seymour (R), State Representative Dave Heaton (R), State Representative Jo Oldson (D), State Representative Rick Olson (D), State Representative Guy Vander Linden (R)

Iowa House passes pro-nuclear bill; Senate prospects unclear

desmoinesdem — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:27:33 GMT

After more than five hours of debate, the Iowa House on April 26 approved a bill to let MidAmerican Energy charge consumers for costs associated with a nuclear reactor it may or may not build in the coming decade. House File 561 passed 68 to 30. All Republicans present except two voted yes, joined by 12 House Democrats: Deborah Berry (district 22), Chris Hall (district 2), Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (district 67), Dan Muhlbauer (district 51), Pat Murphy (district 28), Rick Olson (district 68), Brian Quirk (district 15), Mark Smith (district 43), Phyllis Thede (district 81), Andrew Wenthe (district 18), John Wittneben (district 7) and Mary Wolfe (district 26). The remaining 29 House Democrats voted against the bill. Two Republicans voted no: Guy Vander Linden (district 75) and Kim Pearson (district 42).

Details on the House debate and efforts to amend the bill are after the jump, along with some speculation about its prospects in the Senate and thoughts about the coalitions lobbying for and against it.
An unusually large number of amendments were submitted to House File 561. Many came from Democrats seeking more protection for consumers, more obligations for MidAmerican, or further study of the risks, costs and benefits of nuclear power. Most of the Democratic amendments failed by voice vote or nearly along party lines if roll call was taken. The House Journal for April 26 lists the amendments in the order considered and includes the roll calls. Most of the Democrats who voted for final passage of House File 561 supported amendments to improve this very bad bill during the floor debate.

Notable amendments that passed Tuesday:

*language to require an applicant to build a nuclear power plant to work with relevant state agencies to develop a detailed "public emergency preparedness and response strategy in the event of an accident, natural disaster," or other event threatening public safety and welfare. Passed unanimously, submitted by Democrat Chuck Isenhart (district 27), amended by Republican Chuck Soderberg (district 3).

*language instructing the governor to appoint a task force to "evaluate the economic development opportunities created through nuclear electric power generation in this state and to develop specific plans to maximize these opportunities." Passed unanimously, jointly submitted by Soderberg and Democrat Pat Murphy.

*language allowing the Iowa Utilities Board and the state's Consumer Advocate to hire new employees to handle matters related to ratemaking principles to finance a nuclear power project. Passed unanimously, submitted by Soderberg.

Notable amendments that failed on voice votes:

*an attempt to replace the entire bill with language creating an interim study committee with five House representatives and five state senators, who would study issues relating to nuclear power generation and report back to the legislature by January 15, 2012. Submitted by Chuck Isenhart (district 27).

*language requiring a utility to project trends related to energy demand, production and transmission over a 20-year period before applying to build a nuclear generating facility. Submitted by Vicki Lensing (district 78).

*language requiring the Iowa Utilities Board to submit a report on "baseload electrical generation options and costs" by January 1, 2012. The study would explore "nuclear power and potential retrofits of existing generation plants, based on evidence regarding system benefits, rate impact, financing options, and any risks of delay, cancellation, or cost overruns." Submitted by Nate Willems (district 29).

*language requiring a utility to conform to an "energy savings performance standard of 1.5 percent annual reduction in energy use" if that utility seeks to operate a nuclear generating facility in Iowa. Submitted by Isenhart.

*language removing a section of the bill that would protect a utility from having to refund money if a court decision modified rules on what the utility could charge customers to cover anticipated costs of building a nuclear plant. Submitted by Bruce Hunter (district 62).

*language stating that a utility could recover costs from ratepayers only "over the useful life of the nuclear unit," not "during the period of construction." Submitted by Isenhart.

*an attempt to remove part of one sentence asserting that nuclear generation has a proven record of providing a "safe, reliable and secure" electricity production. Submitted by Mary Mascher (district 77).

*language requiring a utility that seeks to build a nuclear facility to "demonstrate that the need for additional baseload generating capacity justifying the application cannot be achieved in whole or in part through any combination of demand reduction strategies, or any combination of demand reduction strategies and alternative generating options." Submitted by Isenhart.

Notable amendments that failed on nearly party-line roll call votes:

*language requiring a public referendum in any county where a company seeks to build a nuclear generating facility. If a majority of county voters reject the proposal, the application to build the nuclear plant would be denied and another referendum could not be held in that county for at least eight years. All Republicans voted against this amendment (so much for "local control"!), joined by Democrat Brian Quirk; the rest of the Democratic caucus voted for it. Submitted by Dan Kelley (district 41), Phyllis Thede (district 81), Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (district 45) and Ruth Ann Gaines (district 65).

*language stating that in the event of an accident or natural disaster, the utility operating a nuclear generating facility bears "sole responsibility for the costs associated with the cleanup and disposal of any radioactive material and for resulting damages sustained by individuals and entities." The amendment also said neither ratepayers nor taxpayers would be charged for those costs. Obviously MidAmerican would never build a nuclear reactor if it had to assume those risks. All Republicans voted against this amendment, joined by Democrat Brian Quirk; the rest of the Democratic caucus voted for it. Submitted by Wessel-Kroeschell.

*an attempt to replace most of the bill text with language instructing the Iowa Utilities Board to analyze "risks associated with financing nuclear power plants and the assignment of those risks, and safety risks associated with traditional nuclear facility and small modular reactor technology construction." The board would report back to the legislature with recommendations by January 9, 2012. All Republicans voted against this amendment, joined by Democrats Brian Quirk and John Wittneben; the rest of the Democratic caucus voted for it. Submitted by Janet Petersen (district 64).

*language to cap rate increases a utility could impose to recover costs associated with building a nuclear power plant. The revenue increase would be applied equally to each customer class and capped at one percent per year. Most of the Republican caucus and Democrats Brian Quirk and John Wittneben voted against this amendment; the rest of the House Democrats voted for it, joined by Republicans Kim Pearson (district 42) and Guy Vander Linden (district 75). Submitted by Anesa Kajtazovic (district 21). Kajtazovic commented during the debate, "I know there are people back home that support nuclear energy as part of a comprehensive plan. But they don't support an open checkbook."

Prospects in the Iowa Senate

Governor Terry Branstad supports more nuclear power generation, so the only way to stop this legislation is to keep it from passing the Iowa Senate. The companion bill Senate File 390 passed the Senate Commerce Committee on a bipartisan vote in March. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal told IowaPolitics.com this week that a decision on bringing the bill up for a floor vote "hasn't been made." Last month nine Democratic senators urged their colleagues to shelve the nuclear bill. They want a legislative commission "to thoroughly investigate all of the issues including the need for a nuclear power plant, the costs and impact on utility rates, financing and liability issues, safety and waste disposal issues, and renewable energy alternatives."

The American Association for Retired Persons has spoken out repeatedly against this bill, saying it would hurt consumers on fixed incomes. After House passage on Tuesday, an AARP statement said:

"AARP is concerned about this legislation, not because of the question of nuclear power, but because we oppose raising rates for consumers already struggling to afford their utility bills for a plant yet to be built, where we don't know the actual cost to build, and may or may not even be built in Iowa,"

AARP's Iowa associate state director for advocacy, Anthony Carroll, added,

"AARP is disappointed the Iowa House of Representatives ignored the concerns of Iowa consumers and voted to advance legislation that substantially shifts the costs and risk to Iowa ratepayers for a possible new nuclear power plant in Iowa. We hope that the Senate will decide to make consumers' wishes and needs a priority."

The desire to do the right thing by consumers wouldn't normally prevail over MidAmerican's campaign contributions to Iowa legislators, but perhaps public opinion will derail this bill in the Senate. Earlier this week, Friends of the Earth announced results from a Survey USA Iowa poll showing large majorities oppose raising electricity rates to pay for building a nuclear power plant. Republican State Representative Chuck Soderberg dismissed those findings:

"I know what the survey said, I would have liked it to continue and have asked 'How many Iowans would like to spend $800 million on old, outdated (coal) plants?' " he said. "Not many, I don't think."

Soderberg also made a misleading claim in defense of the bill he floor-managed:

"This bill does not authorize anyone to build a nuclear facility in the state of Iowa," Soderberg said. "It does not authorize any utility to increase their rates. That's the responsibility of the Iowa Utilities Board."

Yes and no, Mr. Soderberg. Mark Cooper, Senior Fellow for Economic analysis at the Vermont Law School's Institute for Energy and the Environment, analyzed the proposed Iowa legislation and concluded that they "are among the most aggressive in removing consumer protection as any in the nation. " In part that's because the Iowa Utilities Board would not be allowed to apply "the used and useful standard and the least cost principle" when considering an application for a nuclear permit. Also, Cooper noted,

• It excuses the utility from showing that it "has considered other source for long-term electricity supply," of that the nuclear reactor is "reasonable when compared to other feasible alternative sources of supply," While it applies such language to all other feasible alternative sources of supply.
• Language that would have allowed alternatives other than nuclear to be selected on the basis of competitive bidding was stricken from the Senate versions.

Final note: the lobbyist declarations on House File 561 reveal some unusual coalitions. Quite a few business groups and corporations supported the bill, but several large companies registered "undecided," and I noticed WalMart's lobbyist registered against. Organized labor was split, with the Iowa Federation of Labor, Plumbers and Steam Fitters, Central Iowa Building and Construction Trades Council, and the Great Plains Laborers District Council supporting the bill. A lobbyist representing the South Central Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO registered undecided, while the United Transportation Union and the Iowa Farmers Union registered against.

A lobbyist for some unions backing the bill told IowaPolitics.com, "Our membership is out of work, and they need to find jobs. They see this as a real opportunity to create some jobs and get their people back to work and support their families." Creating well-paying jobs for union members is a worthwhile goal, but jobs building a nuclear reactor in Iowa won't materialize for many years, if ever. Nuclear projects around the country have stalled for lack of financing, and I believe there's a good chance no reactor will be built in Iowa even if House File 561 becomes law. MidAmerican could cancel its nuclear program at any time without giving back money it collected from ratepayers to cover anticipated construction costs. Ramping up energy efficiency programs and other ways to generate electricity in Iowa would create more jobs more quickly. UPDATE: It's also worth mentioning that this small modular reactor design MidAmerican is touting has not been approved by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. There is no guarantee it will ever be approved for construction.

Lobbyists registered against the bill represented the Sierra Club Iowa chapter, the Iowa Environmental Council, the Iowa Beyond Nuclear Coalition, Green State Solutions, the American Association for Retired Persons, the Iowa Council of Health Care Centers, the League of Women Voters, and the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Share any relevant thoughts in this thread.

Iowa ban on secret farm recordings could end up in court

desmoinesdem — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:04:12 GMT

The Iowa House on Thursday approved House File 589, which establishes new civil and criminal penalties for various offenses on farms, including unauthorized audio or video recordings. Nine House Democrats joined all of the Republicans present to pass the bill on a 66 to 27 vote. Click here for the full bill text (here's a pdf version). The House Journal includes the roll call on this bill. The Democrats who voted yes were Deborah Berry (district 22), Dan Kelley (district 41), Helen Miller (district 49), Dan Muhlbauer (district 51), Brian Quirk (district 15), Roger Thomas (district 24), Kurt Swaim (district 94), Andrew Wenthe (district 18), and John Wittneben (district 7). Most of them represent largely rural or small-town areas, except for Berry, whose district includes part of Waterloo.

I've posted some of the controversial language in House File 589 after the jump. The bill raises constitutional questions; last year the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law banning depictions of animal cruelty, citing First Amendment concerns. Yesterday in Des Moines,

Dan Hauff, investigations director for Chicago-based Mercy for Animals, said the law is likely unconstitutional under the First Amendment. He said it would inhibit investigative journalists from reporting on animal cruelty, environmental hazards and food safety issues on farms. He said the organization might bring litigation if the bill becomes law, but he hoped it wouldn't make it that far.

Senator Tom Harkin said yesterday he hadn't studied details on House File 589, but he argued against the idea behind the policy.

"Thankfully, because of whistleblowers and others doing undercover work, we are finding out about a lot of the abuses that are taking place in animal agriculture - and some of those abuses have just been awful," Harkin said during a conference call with reporters.

House Agriculture Committee Chair Annette Sweeney, a cattle farmer who is the lead sponsor on this bill, defended the legislation, saying, "We are completely concerned about the health and well-being of our animals on our farms, and if we have individuals coming onto our farms and filming and not telling us they're there, we are sincerely worried about the health and biosecurity." Speaking for Democrats who voted against House File 589, State Representative Pat Murphy argued that "the overwhelming majority of farmers and people who own breeding facilities in Iowa operate very reputable businesses and treat their animals well," but "you have to wonder" what the few who have problems at their facilities want to hide.

Des Moines-based advertising specialist Michael Libbie considers this bill a big public relations mistake:

[P]assing such legislation controlling and making the filming and distribution illegal makes ag look....bad. Very bad. [...]
At a time when agriculture needs more, not less, friends and at a time when so many people have horrible misconceptions about farming and nearly zero relationships with farmers and ranchers...this bill is ill advised. Bad idea for agriculture, bad idea for farmers and ranchers....this will only fuel the fires of those who already think animal agriculture is evil. And for those who don't, they just might start wondering, "So, what is going on they don't want me to know about?"

I expect the Iowa Senate to approve this bill with minimal changes, and Governor Terry Branstad to sign it. Ultimately, courts will probably decide whether House File 589 or similar legislation being considered in Florida goes too far in restricting free speech.

UPDATE: A Bleeding Heartland reader commented by e-mail that Republicans like James O'Keefe's secret sting videos (against NPR or ACORN, for example). Why should big ag receive special protection against that kind of exposure?
Excerpt from House File 589 (pdf):

Sec. 9. NEW SECTION. 717A.2A Animal facility interference.
1. A person is guilty of animal facility interference, if the person acts without the consent of the owner of an animal facility to willfully do any of the following:
a. (1) Produce a record which reproduces an image or sound occurring at the animal facility as follows:
(a) The record must be created by the person while at the animal facility.
(b) The record must be a reproduction of a visual or audio experience occurring at the animal facility, including but not limited to a photographic or audio medium.
(2) Possess or distribute a record which produces an image or sound occurring at the animal facility which was produced as provided in subparagraph (1).
(3) Subparagraphs (1) and (2) do not apply to an animal shelter, a boarding kennel, a commercial kennel, a pet shop, or a pound, all as defined in section 162.2.
b. Exercise control over the animal facility including an animal maintained at the animal facility or other property kept at the animal facility, with intent to deprive the animal facility of the animal or property.
H.F. 589
c. Enter onto the animal facility, or remain at the animal facility, if the person has notice that the facility is not open to the public. A person has notice that an animal facility is not open to the public if the person is provided notice before entering onto the facility, or the person refuses to immediately leave the facility after being informed to leave. The notice may be in the form of a written or verbal communication by the owner, a fence or other enclosure designed to exclude intruders or contain animals, or a sign posted which is reasonably likely to come to the attention of an intruder and which indicates that entry is forbidden.
2. A person who commits the offense of animal facility interference is guilty of the following:
a. For the first conviction, the person is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor.
b. For a second or subsequent conviction, the person is guilty of a class "D" felony.
3. A person convicted of animal facility interference is subject to an order of restitution as provided in chapter 910.
Sec. 10. NEW SECTION. 717A.2B Animal facility fraud.
1. A person is guilty of animal facility fraud, if the person willfully does any of the following:
a. Obtains access to an animal facility by false pretenses for the purpose of committing an act not authorized by the owner of the animal facility.
b. Makes a false statement or representation as part of an application to be employed at the animal facility, if the person knows the statement to be false, and makes the statement with an intent to commit an act not authorized by the owner of the animal facility.
2. A person who commits the offense of animal facility fraud is guilty of the following:
a. For the first conviction, the person is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor.
b. For a second or subsequent conviction, the person is
guilty of a class "D" felony. 3. A person convicted of animal facility fraud is subject to
an order of restitution as provided in chapter 910. 4. This section does not apply to an animal shelter, a
boarding kennel, a commercial kennel, a pet shop, or a pound, all as defined in section 162.2.
Sec. 11. NEW SECTION. 717A.2C Animal facilities -- civil
actions.
1. A person suffering damages resulting from the commission of animal facility tampering as provided in section 717A.2 or animal facility interference as provided in section 717A.2A may bring an action in the district court against the person causing the damages to recover all of the following:
a. An amount equaling three times all actual and consequential damages.
b. Court costs and reasonable attorney fees.
2. In addition to awarding damages as provided in subsection 1, a court may grant any equitable relief that the court determines is appropriate. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent a party from petitioning a court for equitable relief.

Who's who in the Iowa House for 2011 (revised)

desmoinesdem — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:51:10 GMT

When the 84th General Assembly convenes on January 10, the Iowa House will have 60 Republicans and 40 Democrats. House Republicans selected leaders and committee chairs last month, and Democrats finished choosing leaders and ranking committee members in the past two weeks.

All Iowa House leaders, committee chairs and ranking members can be found after the jump. I've included a link to a short biography for each state representative, as well as the year the person was first elected to the Iowa House and the district he or she represents.
Republicans (60 state representatives)

Leadership team

Speaker Kraig Paulsen (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 35, covering suburban and rural areas in Linn County

Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 12, covering Franklin County and part of Cerro Gordo and Hancock

Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Kaufmann (bio), first elected in 2004 from district 79, covering Cedar County and parts of Johnson and Muscatine

Majority Whip Erik Helland (bio), first elected in 2008 in House district 69, covering suburban and rural areas in Polk County

Assistant majority leaders: Matt Windschitl (bio), first elected in 2006 from district 56, covering Harrison County, most of Monona and part of Pottawattamie

Renee Schulte (bio), first elected in 2008 from district 37, covering part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County

Dave Deyoe (bio), first elected in 2006 from district 10, covering most of Story County outside Ames and part of Hamilton

Steve Lukan (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 32, covering parts of Dubuque and Delaware counties

House committee chairs

Appropriations Committee: Scott Raecker (bio) first elected in 1998 from district 63, covering most of Urbandale in Polk County

Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee: Ralph Watts (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 47, covering most of Dallas County and a small part of Boone

Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee: Jack Drake (bio), first elected in 1992 from district 57, covering Shelby County and parts of Cass and Pottawattamie

Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee: Jason Schultz (bio), first elected in 2008 from district 55, covering Ida County and parts of Woodbury, Crawford and Monona

Education Appropriations Subcommittee: Cecil Dolecheck (bio), first elected in 1996 from district 96, covering Montgomery, Adams, Taylor and Ringgold counties and part of Union

Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee: Dave Heaton (bio), first elected in 1994 from district 91, covering Henry County and part of Lee

Justice Systems Appropriations Subcommittee: Gary Worthan (bio), first elected in 2006 in district 52, covering Buena Vista County and part of Sac

Transportation, Infrastructure and Capitals Appropriations Subcommittee: Dan Huseman (bio), first elected in 1994 in House district 53, covering Cherokee county and parts of Plymouth and Woodbury

Agriculture Committee: Annette Sweeney (bio), first elected in 2008 from district 44, covering Hardin County and most of Marshall outside Marshalltown

Commerce Committee: Chuck Soderberg (bio), first elected in 2004 from district 3, covering parts of Plymouth and Sioux Counties

Economic Growth/Rebuild Iowa Committee: Pat Grassley (bio), first elected in 2006 from district 17, covering Butler County and part of Bremer

Labor Committee: Lance Horbach (bio), first elected in 1998 from district 40, covering Grundy County and most of Tama

State Government Committee: Peter Cownie (bio), first elected in 2008 from district 60, covering part of West Des Moines

Transportation Committee: David Tjepkes (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 50, covering Calhoun and Greene Counties and part of Webster

Ways and Means Committee: Tom Sands (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 87, covering Louisa County and part of Des Moines County

Government Oversight Committee: Chris Hagenow (bio), first elected in 2008 from district 59, covering some of the western Des Moines suburbs in Polk County

Judiciary Committee: Rich Anderson (bio), first elected in 2004 from district 97, covering Page and Fremont Counties and much of Mills

Education Committee: Greg Forristall (bio), first elected in 2006 from district 98, covering parts of Pottawattamie and Mills Counties

Administration and Rules: Renee Schulte (bio), first elected in 2008 from district 37, covering part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County

Environmental Protection: Steve Olson (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 83, including parts of Scott and Clinton counties

Ethics: Kevin Koester (bio), first elected in 2008 from district 70, covering Ankeny in Polk County

Human Resources: Linda Miller (bio), first elected in 2006 from district 82, covering part of Bettendorf in Scott County

Local Government: Nick Wagner (bio), first elected in 2008 from district 36, covering Marion and some rural areas of Linn County

Natural Resources: Henry Rayhons (bio), first elected in 1996 from district 11, covering Winnebago and Worth Counties and part of Hancock

Public Safety: Clel Baudler (bio), first elected in 1998 from district 58, covering Guthrie, Audubon and Adair Counties and part of Cass

Veterans Affairs: Royd Chambers (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 5, covering Osceola and O'Brien Counties and parts of Clay and Sioux

Administrative Rules Review: Dawn Pettengill, (bio), first elected in 2004 as a Democrat before switching parties in 2007; represents district 39, covering Benton County and part of Iowa

Note on experience: seven committee chairs were elected to the House for the first time in 2008; four were elected for the first time in 2006. Some of those legislators had plenty of relevant work experience prior to running for office, but others are only in their 20s or early 30s.

Of the 60 incoming House Republicans, 34 are either on Paulsen's leadership team or will chair a committee or appropriations subcommittee. Another 22 were just elected for the very first time. These four relatively experienced state representatives were left behind:

Dwayne Alons (bio), first elected in 1998 from district 4, covering Lyon County and most of Sioux. Bleeding Heartland readers may recall Alons' remarkably ill-informed views on climate change.

Rich Arnold (bio), first elected in 1994 from district 72, covering Monroe and Lucas Counties and parts of Mahaska and Marion

Betty De Boef (bio), first elected in 2000 from district 76, covering Keokuk County and parts of Iowa, Poweshiek and Tama

Jim Van Engelenhoven (bio), first elected in 1998 from district 71, covering most of Marion Couty and a little bit of Jasper

Democrats (40 state representatives)

Leadership team

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 67, covering the southeast side of Des Moines. He served as House majority leader for the last four years alongside House Speaker Pat Murphy.

Assistant Minority Leaders:

Ako Abdul-Samad (bio), first elected in 2006 from district 66, covering much of central Des Moines in Polk County

Mark Smith (bio), first elected in 2000 from district 43, covering northeastern Marshall County, including Marshalltown

Sharon Steckman (bio), first elected in 2008 from district 13, covering part of Cerro Gordo County, including Mason City

Mary Mascher (bio), first elected in 1994 from district 77, covering part of Iowa City in Johnson County

On December 19, House Democrats voted to create a Rural Caucus "that will focus on giving Iowa's rural economy a boost by focusing on rural job creation, meeting Iowa's rural infrastructure needs, and guaranteeing adequate resources for rural schools."

Rural Caucus Chair: Andrew Wenthe (bio), first elected in 2006 from district 18, covering parts of Fayette, Bremer and Black Hawk Counties

Rural Caucus Vice-Chair: Dan Muhlbauer (bio), first elected in 2010 from district 51, covering Carroll County and parts of Sac and Crawford

Ranking committee members

Appropriations: Tyler Olson (bio), first elected in 2006 from district 38, covering part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County

Administration & Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee: Mary Gaskill (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 93, covering part of Wapello County, including Ottumwa

Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee: Chris Hall (bio), first elected in 2010 from district 2, covering the northeast part of Sioux City in Woodbury County

Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee: Kirsten Running-Marquardt (bio), first elected in 2009 (special election) from district 33, covering part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County

Education Appropriations Subcommittee: Cindy Winckler (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 86, covering part of Davenport in Scott County

Health & Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee: Lisa Heddens (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 46, covering part of Story County, including the north side of Ames, and a small area in Boone County

Justice Systems Appropriations Subcommittee: Todd Taylor (bio), first elected in a 1995 special election from House district 34, covering part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County

Agriculture: Helen Miller (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 49, covering part of Webster County, including Fort Dodge

Commerce: Brian Quirk (bio), first elected in 2000 from district 15, covering Chickasaw and Howard Counties and part of Winneshiek

Economic Growth/Rebuild Iowa: Roger Thomas (bio), first elected in 1996 from district 24, covering Clayton County and parts of Delaware and Fayette

Education: Nate Willems (bio), first elected in 2008 from district 29, covering parts of Linn and Johnson Counties

Environmental Protection: Phyllis Thede (bio), first elected in 2008 from district 81, covering part of Davenport in Scott County

Ethics: Dan Kelley (bio), first elected in 2010 from district 41, covering most of Jasper County, including Newton

Government Oversight: Janet Petersen (bio), first elected in 2000 from district 64, covering part of the west side of Des Moines in Polk County

Human Resources: Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (bio), first elected in 2004 from district 45, covering most of Ames in Story County

Judiciary: Kurt Swaim (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 94, covering Appanoose, Davis and Wayne Counties

Labor: Bruce Hunter (bio), first elected in 2003 (special election) from district 62, covering part of the south side of Des Moines in Polk County

Local Government: John Wittneben (bio), first elected in 2010 from district 7, covering Palo Alto and Emmet Counties and part of Kossuth

Natural Resources: Curt Hanson (bio), first elected in 2009 (special election) from district 90, covering Van Buren County, most of Jefferson and part of Wapello

Public Safety: Bob Kressig (bio), first elected in 2004 from district 19, covering most of Cedar Falls and some rural areas in Black Hawk County

State Government: Vicki Lensing (bio), first elected in 2000 from district 78, covering part of Iowa City in Johnson County

Transportation: Jim Lykam (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 85, covering part of Davenport in Scott County

Veterans Affairs: Jerry Kearns (bio), first elected in 2008 from district 92, covering part of Lee County including Keokuk and Fort Madison

Ways & Means: Dave Jacoby (bio), first elected in 2002 from district 30, covering Coralville and North Liberty in Johnson County

Iowa House Democrats elect Kevin McCarthy minority leader

desmoinesdem — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 22:15:48 GMT

Iowa House Democrats elected Kevin McCarthy minority leader for the coming legislative session on November 15. McCarthy represents district 67 on the southeast side of Des Moines. He served as House majority leader for the last four years alongside House Speaker Pat Murphy. Murphy did not seek the minority leader position after the election shrank the House Democratic caucus from 56 members to 40. The caucus elected four assistant minority leaders today: Ako Abdul-Samad from district 66 (Des Moines), Mark Smith from district 43 (Marshalltown), Sharon Steckman from district 13 (Mason City), and Mary Mascher from district 77 (Iowa City).

The press release from the House Democratic caucus does not say whether anyone challenged McCarthy for the leadership position. Last week Dave Jacoby of Coralville and Mark Smith were rumored to be considering a run for minority leader, although Smith told the Des Moines Register he had decided against pursuing the job. LATE UPDATE: McCarthy told IowaPolitics.com that Smith did challenge him for minority leader, but declined further comment.

I've never been in the McCarthy fan club. He and Murphy sometimes pushed bad legislation, including the odor study bill that was a gift to CAFO operators. McCarthy is also a notorious opponent of real campaign finance reform. I'm not just talking about the VOICE act, which would have created a voluntary public financing system. I'm talking about reasonable contribution limits, which the Democratic House and Senate leadership never moved in the past four years. I doubt McCarthy will collect many five-figure checks for the House Truman Fund once Iowa has a Republican governor and a large GOP majority in the lower chamber.

While I would have preferred to see a new face for House Democrats who wasn't part of last session's leadership team, I wish McCarthy well. He'll have a big job holding the Democratic caucus together and laying the groundwork for future gains.

McCarthy issued this statement today: "House Democrats are committed to strengthening our economy and helping create jobs. We will work together on the main stream, bread and butter issues that effect the every day lives of Iowans. However, if Republicans steer to more extreme policies at the expense of ordinary Iowans, we will make our voices heard." The reality is that with 60 votes and almost no moderates left in the GOP caucus, House Speaker Kraig Paulsen and Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer won't need to work with Democrats on any bills they want to pass, no matter how extreme.

Even though the House Democratic caucus will be much smaller next year, it still will have some new blood. Seven Democrats won open-seat House races on November 2: Chris Hall from district 2 (elected despite unusually strong GOP performance in Sioux City), John Wittneben from district 7 (Palo Alto, Emmet and part of Kossuth counties), Anesa Kajtazovic from district 21 (Waterloo), Mary Wolfe from district 26 (Clinton), Dan Kelley from district 41 (Newton and most of Jasper County), Dan Muhlbauer from district 51 (Carroll County and parts of Crawford and Sac), and Ruth Ann Gaines from district 65 (Des Moines).

LATE UPDATE: McCarthy's comments on the election and the upcoming session are after the jump.
McCarthy spoke with IowaPolitics.com after being elected minority leader:

McCarthy indicated that House Democrats will be largely united in voting against a resolution calling for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. "There may be some individual legislators that will vote their conscience or vote their district, or may have alternative views, but I think the majority of the Democrats will be standing strong on civil rights," he said.
As for the "several hundred million dollars" of budget cuts that House Republicans expect to make in the current budget year, McCarthy said Democrats will work with them to see what their cuts are. He expects some moves, like eliminating Gov. Chet Culver's Iowa Power Fund, to be largely symbolic and predicted that Republicans will still find a way to fund renewable energy in some other way such as through the Department of Economic Development.
"If there are cuts that can make Iowa government leaner and more efficient, then we will work with them in a bipartisan way. I have yet to see actually what they're proposing in terms of specifics," McCarthy said. "But if they come in and start cutting programs -- health care, education or otherwise that deliver for corporate interests -- then we are going to let our voices be heard."
[...]
Iowa House Democrats represented just "one ship in a very large storm" that suffered serious setbacks in the Nov. 2 election, McCarthy said.
"Some serious setbacks were dealt to Democrats nationally, really pretty epic in scope in what occurred around the country," McCarthy said. "We are very united as a caucus and hopeful and optimistic about the future because when you have setbacks politically like occurred recently in the election, the opportunity for moving the ball down the field for future success is much, much greater."
McCarthy said Republicans did a very good job of nationalizing the election and making a lot of the legislative races a referendum on Washington, D.C., which isn't very popular right now. "And to be frank with you, there was not a lot we could do in this campaign environment to stop that trend," he said.

Paul Deaton's take at Blog for Iowa:

The challenge for House Democrats, as always, will be to hold the caucus together to check the Republicans as they attempt to move forward with legislation that infringes on the values of Iowans. In the past, Democrats have been undisciplined in holding the caucus together both in the minority and the majority. With McCarthy as the selected leader, it is an indication of continuing the status quo.

First take on the Iowa House and Senate results (updated)

desmoinesdem — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:16:33 GMT

Democrats suffered big losses in the Iowa House and Senate last night. Assuming no results change through recounts, the House is likely to switch from 56 Democrats and 44 Republicans to 59 Republicans and 41 Democrats. I've seen some online references to a 58-42 split, but that's not how the count looks based on unofficial results posted on the Secretary of State's website.

Democrats maintain control of the Iowa Senate, but their majority shrank from 32-18 to 27-23. Governor-elect Terry Branstad should easily be able to get his agenda through the Iowa House, and Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal may have trouble keeping his caucus united.

UPDATE: Late returns could change the outcome in two Senate seats; it's possible the chamber could have a 25-25 split, or a 26-24 Democratic majority.

SECOND UPDATE: A few more races could switch as more absentee ballots come in. As of Wednesday evening, Democrat Tom Schueller is now trailing in House district 25 by about 150 votes.

Here's my take on the seats that changed hands and the near-misses.
Iowa House

Democrats only managed to win one of the three open Republican-held seats they were targeting. Dan Muhlbauer beat the worst candidate ever, Dan Dirkx, in House district 51, previously held by Rod Roberts. Muhlbauer took more than 58 percent of the vote to just 41 percent for Dirkx.

In House district 74, which Kent Sorenson vacated to run for the Iowa Senate, Scott Ourth lost to Republican Glen Massie by a little more than a 53-47 margin.

In House district 99, left open when Doug Struyk retired, Mary Ann Hanusa defeated Kurt Hubler by 55 percent to 44.5 percent.

Republicans gained four Democratic-held open seats. They probably would have won House districts 1 and 8 anyway, because the previous Democratic incumbents (Wes Whitead and Dolores Mertz) barely were re-elected in 2008, a stronger year for Democratic turnout. Jeremy Taylor beat David Dawson in House district 1 by about 54 percent to 46 percent.

Tom Shaw beat Susan Bangert in district 8 by 67 percent to 33 percent; the Iowa Democratic Party put virtually no resources into holding that district.

Kurt Meyer lost to Republican Josh Byrnes by a wide margin in House district 14, nearly 61 percent to 39 percent. Hard to say whether Mark Kuhn could have held that seat if he'd run for re-election.

In House district 84, formerly held by Elesha Gayman, Republican Ross Paustian defeated Sheri Carnahan by 57 percent to 43 percent. That would have been a tough hold for Gayman.

Democrat Chris Hall held House district 2 (long held by Roger Wendt), beating Cate Bryan by 54 percent to 46 percent. Iowans for Tax Relief had put tens of thousands of dollars into Bryan's campaign.

Republicans barely missed on the open House district 7, previously held by Marcella Frevert. Democrat John Wittneben has a 38-vote lead over Lannie Miller in the unofficial results.

Democrat Anesa Kajtazovic became the youngest woman ever elected to the Iowa House as well as the first Bosnian immigrant elected to the Iowa legislature. She easily won House district 21, previously held by Kerry Burt, by nearly 59 percent to 41 percent over John Rooff.

Democrat Mary Wolfe won the open House district 26 by a 52 percent to 48 percent margin over David Rose. The independents must have broken heavily to the Republican in this district, because it has a strong Democratic registration advantage.

Newton has gone through very tough times these past few years, but Democrat Dan Kelley held the open House district 41 with 51 percent of the vote to nearly 49 percent for Gabriel Swersie.

Republicans defeated 12 Democratic House incumbents. Only one of the Democratic "six-pack" that defeated labor legislation will head back to the house: Brian Quirk in House district 15. Dolores Mertz retired, and the other four "six-pack" members lost last night.

Former Iowa Senate Republican leader Stew Iverson beat two-term Democratic incumbent McKinley Bailey in House district 9 by 53.4 percent to 46.6 percent.

Doris Kelley lost House district 20 by nearly a 54-46 margin to Walt Rogers, who came 22 votes short of defeating Democratic State Senator Jeff Danielson in 2008.

The big six-pack surprise loser was Geri Huser, who was endorsed by business groups and didn't seem to be a top target for Republicans. Unofficial returns have her 159 votes behind Kim Pearson in House district 42.

As expected, Larry Marek lost House district 89 with just 43 percent of the vote to nearly 54 percent for Jarad Klein, whom Marek narrowly defeated in 2008.

Mike Reasoner, another fairly conservative Democrat, lost House district 95 to Joel Fry by nearly a 57-43 margin. Reasoner had been re-elected easily in the past.

Democrats lost several districts that Republicans had targeted for the last couple of cycles. First-term incumbent John Beard lost by just 227 votes (51 percent to 49 percent) to Bob Hager in House district 16. The district was competitive in 2008, but Republicans had struggled to recruit a candidate here earlier in the year.

Republican Dan Rasmussen avenged his 2008 loss to Gene Ficken by winning House district 23 back for the GOP. Rasmussen won by 206 votes (51-49 percent) according to unofficial results.

Ray Zirkelbach lost to Lee Hein in House district 31 by nearly 54 percent to 46 percent. Zirkelbach and McKinley Bailey were both Iraq War veterans, incidentally.

Eric Palmer defeated a conservative incumbent in 2006 and survived a rematch in 2008, but he couldn't win a third term yesterday. Guy Vander Linden took House district 75 by about 53 percent to 47 percent.

Nathan Reichert had been the first Democrat in decades to represent House district 80 in the Muscatine area. The GOP failed to take him out in 2008, but Mark Lofgren won nearly 58 percent of the vote yesterday to just 42 percent for Reichert.

Donovan Olson of Boone hadn't been seriously challenged in a while, but he fell a heartbreakingly 28 votes short against Chip Baltimore in House district 48. I hope Olson will consider seeking a rematch in 2012, but that probably depends on the new district lines

The biggest surprise for me last night was seeing Paul Shomshor lose House district 100 in Council Bluffs. Shomshor had held this seat since winning a 2003 special election, but he lost to Mark Brandenburg, 53 percent to 47 percent. I wonder if home-town Secretary of State candidate Matt Schultz had some coat-tails for Republicans here, because the GOP win in House district 99 was by a larger than expected margin.

So, Democrats should end up with 41 seats in the new Iowa House, gaining Muhlbauer's district but losing 16 seats they previously held (4 open, 12 incumbents). As bad as that sounds, it could easily have been worse. The following Democratic House incumbents were re-elected by less than 1 percent of the vote:

Andrew Wenthe leads by 28 votes in House district 18.

Tom Schueller has only a 15-vote lead according to unofficial returns in House district 25. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: Schueller now trails by about 150 votes--looks like he will lose.

Roger Thomas won by just over 1 percent of the vote in House district 26.

As I mentioned above, John Wittneben won the open House district 7 by a tiny fraction of the vote too.

Democratic incumbents Phyllis Thede (district 81) and Kurt Swaim (distict 94) won by more than a 1 percent but less than a 2 percent margin.

Mark Smith won by only a little more than 2 percent in House district 43.

Outgoing House Speaker Pat Murphy didn't even get 52 percent of the vote in House district 28.

Iowa Senate

As I wrote last night, five Iowa Senate seats were considered highly competitive going into this election. I had hoped Democrats would hold one or two of those, but Republicans swept all five.

Rick Mullin lost the open Senate district 1 in Sioux City to Rick Bertrand, 51 percent to 49 percent. I have to believe Steve Warnstadt could have held this seat if he hadn't retired.

For months Democrats kept telling me Rich Olive was in great shape for re-election, but he lost Senate district 5 to Rob Bacon by 54 percent to 46 percent.

Bill Heckroth was stuck in the most Republican-leaning Democratic-held Senate district, and having two Grassleys on the ballot probably didn't help him either. He lost Senate district 9 to Bill Dix by nearly 58 percent to 42 percent. This seat had been in Republican hands for decades before Bob Brunkhorst retired in 2006.

I am disappointed in Staci Appel's campaign in Senate district 37. Perhaps she would have lost anyway in a Republican wave, but it should have been a lot closer than a 59 percent to 41 percent win for Kent Sorenson.

Becky Schmitz put up a good fight in Senate district 45, but former state legislator Sandy Greiner was practically like an incumbent in this district. Greiner took nearly 51 percent of the vote to around 44 percent for Schmitz. A conservative running as a third-party candidate took nearly 5 percent in that district.

So, Democrats hold 27 seats in the next Iowa Senate, and Republicans hold 23 if the current results stand.

It's worth noting that in the open Senate district 13, Democrat Tod Bowman leads Andrew Naeve by only 38 votes according to unofficial returns. The result could change in a recount.

The other narrow escape in the Senate Democratic caucus was Keith Kreiman, who took just under 51 percent of the vote in district 47. Republican Mark Chelgren, known to RAGBRAI riders as "Chickenman," finished a little less than 300 votes back.

UPDATE/CORRECTION: Kreiman is not out of the water--this one is probably headed for a recount. As more absentee ballots come in, Chelgren has taken a 13-vote lead. NOVEMBER 9 UPDATE: Chelgren appears to have won this seat by 12 votes.

Any comments about the statehouse races are welcome in this thread.

UPDATE: In the comments, Bleeding Heartland user Iowa_native says 300 absentee ballots haven't been returned in Boone County (HD 48). If many of those were postmarked yesterday and arrive today or tomorrow, Donovan Olson has a chance of making up the 28-vote deficit. This one is probably headed for a recount. NOVEMBER 9 UPDATE: Olson still trails by a couple dozen votes--too much ground to make up.