Bleeding Heartland - Dick Dearden

Last-minute Iowa legislative scramble is nothing to brag about

desmoinesdem — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

The Iowa Senate wrapped up its work for the year shortly after midnight on May 23, and Iowa House members adjourned about 11 hours later. Lawmakers in both parties have been congratulating themselves for compromising on some big issues that ended in stalemate the previous two years. Rod Boshart compiled an excellent list of what the legislature did and didn't approve during 2013.

We all can appreciate the desire to finish a big project before a holiday weekend, and since legislators stopped receiving per diem payments weeks ago, they understandably wanted to get out of town as quickly as possible. However, I found it disturbing that votes were held before most lawmakers, let alone members of the public, had time to digest final conference committee deals on education reform, an alternative to Medicaid expansion, property taxes, and the health and human services budget. Transparency isn't just a buzzword. Had journalists and advocacy groups been able to look over the last-minute compromises, people might have discovered problematic language or even simple drafting errors, which could produce unintended consequences after Governor Terry Branstad signs these bills into law.

I have a lot of questions about the final education reform bill and the plan to provide health insurance to low-income Iowans, particularly those earning between 101 percent and 138 percent of the poverty level. I also need more time to sort through the budget numbers and final changes to the standings bill. After the holiday weekend Bleeding Heartland will examine the important results of the legislative session in more detail. For now, I've posted after the jump details on who voted for and against the major bills approved this week.

UPDATE: In the May 24 edition of the On Iowa Politics podcast, statehouse reporters Mike Wiser and James Lynch discussed how the big issues came together "behind closed doors," with no public scrutiny or oversight. Lynch commented that to his knowledge, the conference committee named to resolve the impasse over Medicaid expansion never formally met, except perhaps for one organizational meeting. Lynch recounted one occasion when Iowa House Republican Dave Heaton was briefing journalists about the health care talks, and the journalists asked when that happened, since there hadn't been any public notices of conference committee meetings. According to Lynch, Heaton replied, "We're not having meetings, but we're meeting." Senate President Pam Jochum said that negotiations between Democratic State Senator Amanda Ragan and House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer produced the "key to Iowa's health care compromise." Notably, Upmeyer didn't have a prominent role in passing the House health insurance plan, nor was she named to the conference committee assigned to merge the House and Senate proposals.

Speaking to journalists on May 22, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and Jochum weren't able to answer a specific question about compromise wording reached regarding Medicaid coverage of abortions. That was no minor issue--it was the last sticking point holding up approval of the health and human services budget. In effect, Gronstal told journalists, you can see the wording after the final bill is published.
Senate File 295, the bill including property tax cuts and an increase in the earned income tax credit, passed the Iowa Senate by 44 votes to 6 and the Iowa House by 84 votes to 13.

In the Senate, these six Democrats voted no: Joe Bolkcom, Bob Dvorsky, Rob Hogg, Janet Petersen, Dick Dearden, Herman Quirmbach

In the House, these 13 Democrats voted no: Marti Anderson, Bruce Hunter, Chuck Isenhart, Dave Jacoby, Jerry Kearns, Vicki Lensing, Mary Mascher, Pat Murphy, Jo Oldson, Sharon Steckman, Todd Taylor, Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, Cindy Winckler

House File 215, the education reform bill, passed the Iowa House by 95 votes to 0 and the Iowa Senate by 40 votes to 10. Dick Dearden was the only Senate Democrat to vote against the bill, joined by Republicans Brad Zaun, Dennis Guth, Ken Rozenboom, Jack Whitver, Randy Feenstra, Bill Dix, Jerry Behn, Mark Chelgren, Jake Chapman.

Senate File 446 contained the health and human services budget and the alternative to Medicaid expansion, which will use federal funds to cover Iowans earning up to 138 percent of the poverty level (provided the federal government grants Iowa a waiver). All 26 Senate Democrats voted for this bill, and all 24 Senate Republicans voted against it--probably more because of a dispute over Medicaid abortion funding than over the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan.

The Iowa House approved Senate File 446 by 80 votes to 17. The 17 state representatives to vote against the bill were Democrats Dan Muhlbauer, Marti Anderson, Cindy Winckler, Bruce Hunter, Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, and Phyllis Thede, and Republicans Dwayne Alons, Julian Garrett, Mark Brandenburg, Tedd Gassman, Dean Fisher, Sandy Salmon, Jason Schultz, Larry Sheets, Ralph Watts, Tom Shaw, and Greg Heartsill.

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.

Special investigator will examine ethics complaint against Kent Sorenson

desmoinesdem — Wed, 01 May 2013 20:45:00 GMT

Today the Iowa Senate Ethics Committee voted voted to appoint a special investigator to look into allegations that Republican State Senator Kent Sorenson broke Senate rules against being paid for political campaign work. It was the least they could do, in light of testimony submitted recently by U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann's former chief of staff. Even so, two Republicans on the Committee voted against launching an investigation. Jack Whitver claimed the action would encourage "frivolous" ethics charges to be investigated regardless of supporting evidence. Jerry Behn said the complaint was based on "hearsay," even though e-mail correspondence and an affidavit attested to Sorenson receiving indirect payments.

Republican Senator Sandy Greiner voted with the three Democrats on the Ethics Committee (Wally Horn, Joe Seng, and Dick Dearden) to launch an investigation. O.Kay Henderson posted audio from the committee meeting at Radio Iowa. Horn emphasized the need to protect Iowa's first in the nation status for the presidential race. Greiner said she hoped the investigator would find Sorenson to be "as pure as the driven snow" but noted, "there's going to be a cloud over this entire chamber if we don't attempt to get to the bottom of this."

Sorenson claims he is an innocent victim of a "witch hunt" and submitted documents in his defense to the Ethics Committee. Iowa Senate Secretary Mike Marshall told journalists that the complaint "still could ultimately be dismissed after the investigation."

LATE UPDATE: On May 10, Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady signed an order naming Des Moines attorney Mark Weinhardt "special counsel" to investigate these allegations. Background on Weinhardt is after the jump.
From a blog post by Des Moines Register reporter William Petroski:

Cady signed an order on Friday appointing Weinhardt as special counsel to determine whether probable cause exists to believe that a violation of the state ethics law has occurred, and if an evidentiary hearing on the complaint should be held.
Weinhardt issued a statement saying he intends to conduct a "full and fair investigation into the allegations in the complaint filed with the Senate Ethics Committee. I will report my findings to the committee as the statute directs. Beyond that, I do not think it is appropriate for me to comment about this case until my work is done."
Weinhardt, 52, is a University of Michigan Law School graduate who has practiced law in Des Moines since 1991, specializing in complex business litigation and white collar criminal cases. From 1988 through 1991, he was a criminal prosecutor in the Winnebago County State's Attorney's Office in Rockford, Ill. He successfully represented Postville packing plant executive Sholom Rubashkin against 83 counts of violating Iowa's labor laws, and successfully defended the Iowa Department of Human Services in a $43 million lawsuit brought by a health maintenance organization.

Affidavit details indirect salary payments for Kent Sorenson

desmoinesdem — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:05:00 GMT

Following up on last Friday's post, Michele Bachmann's former chief of staff Andy Parrish signed an affidavit yesterday containing details on State Senator Kent Sorenson's compensation for work on the Bachmann presidential campaign.
You can read Parrish's affidavit here. The first three pages describe the salient facts surrounding Sorenson's payments for Bachmann campaign work during 2011. The next four pages contain copies of e-mail correspondence showing that Sorenson was receiving payments from Guy Short's firm C&M Strategies. Peter Waldron had described that indirect payment scheme in separate complaints to the Federal Election Commission and to the Iowa Senate Ethics Committee.

Sorenson is sticking to his story, the Des Moines Register's William Petroski reported yesterday:

Sorenson has long contended he wasn't paid, but has also said receiving payments from a fundraising firm would not violate Senate Rules. On Monday, he said he stood by previous statements in which he strongly denied any wrongdoing.

Parrish writes in his affidavit,

2. I personally recruited Kent Sorenson to support Michele Bachmann for president and to work on her campaign. [...]
3. Sorenson indicated to me that he would like to be paid for his efforts supporting the Congresswoman. We both knew that Iowa Senate ethics prevented any presidential campaign from paying a senator for his or her efforts on a candidate's behalf. [...]
5. Guy Short eventually worked out an arrangement where Senator Sorenson was paid $7,500 per month with no cell phone payment. This is the arrangement that was in place until his defection a short time before the Iowa caucuses to the Ron Paul presidential campaign. [...]
6. Congresswoman Bachmann knew of and approved this arrangement. She, like the rest of us, understood from Senator Sorenson that it did not run afoul of any Iowa Senate ethics rules. [...]
8. I have no knowledge or opinion if, in fact, those payments violate rule six. I do know for a fact that the Senator was paid and representations to the contrary are simply not true.

Here's the full text of rule six in the Senate Code of Ethics.

6. EMPLOYMENT. A senator shall not accept employment, either directly or indirectly, from a political action committee or from an organization exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(4), 501(c)(6), or 527 of the Internal Revenue Code that engages in activities related to the nomination, election, or defeat of a candidate for public office. A senator may accept employment from a political party, but shall disclose the employment relationship in writing to the secretary of the senate within ten days after the beginning of each legislative session. If a senator accepts employment from a political party during a legislative session, the senator shall disclose the employment relationship within ten days after acceptance of the employment.
For the purpose of this rule, a political action committee means a committee, but not a candidate's committee, which accepts contributions, makes expenditures, or incurs indebtedness in the aggregate of more than seven hundred fifty dollars in any one calendar year to expressly advocate the nomination, election, or defeat of a candidate for public office or to expressly advocate the passage or defeat of a ballot issue or influencing legislative action, or an association, lodge, society, cooperative, union, fraternity, sorority, educational institution, civic organization, labor organization, religious organization, or professional organization which makes contributions in the aggregate of more than seven hundred fifty dollars in any one calendar year to expressly advocate the nomination, election, or defeat of a candidate for public office or ballot issue or influencing legislative action.

The three Democrats on the Iowa Senate Ethics Committee are Wally Horn, Joe Seng, and Dick Dearden. The three Republicans are Jerry Behn, Jack Whitver, and Sandy Greiner. In light of the evidence, I can't see how Sorenson's actions could be construed as consistent with rule six. If the Ethics Committee members engage in some kind of pretzel logic to excuse his behavior, they might as well disband. In February, Greiner explained the committee's inaction by saying, "What we had in the packet was a bunch of fuzzy stuff and very few facts." No one can make that claim with a straight face now.

Incidentally, Whitver endorsed Bachmann for president during the summer of 2011. I do not recall Greiner or Behn (at that time Iowa Senate minority leader) endorsing a presidential candidate before the 2012 Iowa caucuses.

Sorenson is up for re-election in 2014 in Iowa Senate district 13, covering Madison County and almost all of Warren County. If I were a Republican in that district, I'd be looking for a new candidate. No Democrat has formally announced in this district, but former State Representative Mark Davitt is rumored to be considering it. Sorenson defeated Davitt in an Iowa House race that was one of the surprise election results of 2008.

Any relevant thoughts are welcome in this thread.

Real trouble brewing for Iowa State Senator Kent Sorenson?

desmoinesdem — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:20:00 GMT

Two months ago, the Iowa Senate Ethics Committee voted to table allegations that Republican State Senator Kent Sorenson received improper payments as Iowa chair of Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign. This week a former Bachmann campaign staffer confirmed that he will soon submit testimony to the committee about the arrangement.
Andy Parrish is a former chief of staff to Representative Bachmann and well-known Republican operative in Minnesota. His attorney, John Gilmore, confirmed on April 17 that Parrish is "Witness A" in an ethics complaint Peter Waldron filed against Sorenson in February. You can read the full text of Waldron's ethics complaint with the Iowa Senate here. In January, Waldron filed a similar complaint with the Federal Elections Commission, which you can read at the end of this post.

Kevin Diaz reported for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on April 18,

Waldron, a Florida pastor, claims that the campaign hid payments to Iowa Sen. Kent Sorenson, in violation of Iowa Senate ethics rules that bar members from receiving pay from presidential campaigns.
Until now, Parrish has been identified by the committee only as "Witness A," Gilmore said.
"The time has come to confirm that 'Witness A' is Andy Parrish, and he'll be providing an affidavit with supporting material that completely supports the representations previously made by Peter Waldron," Gilmore said. [...]
Gilmore said Parrish can provide the ethics panel documentary evidence that Sorenson was paid $7,500 a month to work on Bachmann's campaign, money that was funneled to him indirectly through C&M Strategies, a Colorado-based company controlled by Bachmann fundraiser Guy Short.
Among the sources of the funding, Waldron contends, was Bachmann's independent political organization, MichelePAC, also headed by Short. Attorneys for Short have denied the allegations, which also are part of the FEC inquiry.

Sorenson has said he "vehemently" denies the "false" and "absurd" allegations. However, Waldron's complaints include circumstantial evidence pointing to payments Sorenson received indirectly for campaign work. Parrish's attorney Gilmore spoke to the Des Moines Register yesterday.

Parrish has emails that spell out an arrangement for Sorenson to get $7,500 a month via C&M Strategies, a fundraising consulting firm with ties to Bachmann, said Parrish's lawyer, John H. Gilmore of St. Paul, Minn. Sorenson was the chairman of Bachmann's Iowa campaign.
"Andy is prepared to say that Michele Bachmann understood that Sorenson was being paid, the nature of the payment and the source of those funds," the lawyer told The Des Moines Register today.
Parrish doesn't have any evidence that Bachmann knew at the time that the payments could run afoul of Iowa Senate ethics rules, his lawyer said. [...]
On Wednesday, the Iowa Senate Ethics Committee requested that Witness A submit any evidence within 10 days, or by Saturday, April 27. Gilmore said today that Parrish will provide an affidavit that includes the handful of emails, likely early next week.
The ethics committee will then schedule the meeting.
Gilmore said committee members, after reading the handful of emails Parrish submits with his affidavit, "may conclude this was a subterfuge designed to circumvent (the rule)."

I wouldn't expect Bachmann to know that the Iowa Senate prohibits payments to senators from a presidential campaign, but Sorenson surely understood that rule.

The Iowa Senate Ethics Committee includes three senators from each party. Perhaps one of the committee Democrats (Wally Horn, Joe Seng, or Dick Dearden) will join Republicans in letting Sorenson off the hook. But if they are not inclined to do so, Parrish's testimony could create a dilemma for committee Republicans Sandy Greiner, Jack Whitver, and Jerry Behn. I'd advise the GOP to dump Sorenson before the 2014 elections, but Sorenson is popular among social conservatives and tea party Republicans, who are very active in Warren County. He's been sticking his neck out for that part of the base this session. Greiner and Whitver are up for re-election in 2014 and could face a primary challenge from the right if either is perceived to betray Sorenson. Behn was just re-elected in 2012, so he doesn't face the voters again until 2016.

Share any relevant thoughts in this thread. I haven't heard anything lately about Barb Heki's civil lawsuit against Sorenson and other Bachmann campaign staffers, or about the Urbandale Police Department's criminal investigation into Sorenson's alleged theft of material from Heki's computer.

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 Senate approves Medicaid expansion along party lines

desmoinesdem — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:55:00 GMT

Last night the Iowa Senate approved Senate File 296, a bill to expand Medicaid, on a strictly party-line vote of 26 to 23. You can listen to the entire Senate debate (approximately 90 minutes) at Radio Iowa. I've posted highlights from the debate after the jump, along with the full list of 52 organizations that have registered their support for Senate File 296. Some corporations and organizations have have registered their lobbyists as undecided on Senate File 296, but at this writing, not a single organization is registered against the Medicaid expansion.
Senate President Pam Jochum's opening remarks are on YouTube. She emphasized that Democrats have addressed some of Governor Terry Branstad's concerns by adding more accountability to the Medicaid program and by giving Iowa a chance to opt out of the expansion in the future if the federal government does not meet its funding commitments.

Here's my partial transcript of Jochum's opening remarks:

Senate File 296 has many provisions that the governor's office and the Senate agree on. For example, we agree to focus on wellness and prevention. We agree to move away from fee for service. We agree to pay health providers to keep people healthy and change our health care system to a system of wellness rather than a system of sickness. We agree. We agree.
Senate File 296 includes the governor's innovation grant language. We, like the governor, believe in an integrated system, and we agree that moving to outcome-based Medicaid is the way to go. [...]
So here's a brief summary of the bill before us. It allows working Iowans between the ages of 19 and 64 to enroll in the Medicaid program if their incomes are below 138 percent of the federal poverty level. [...] This is what it means. These are Iowans who, if they are single, are earning 15,800 dollars [annually]. Or if you are a family of four, you are living on 32,400 dollars a year or less. That's who we're talking about. They aren't people who are trying to game the system. They are our neighbors and friends, and they have a face.

Democratic Senator Chris Brase spoke from his experience working as a paramedic with people who resist going to the hospital. You can view Brase's floor remarks on YouTube. Here's my partial transcript, beginning around the 0:50 mark:

As most of you are aware, my full-time job is I'm a firefighter/paramedic for the city of Muscatine. We talk about the working poor, we talk about the uninsured.
From my vision, these are my patients. Patients that I get called into their homes because their medical condition got to the point that it's a crisis, and the only option that they have is the emergency room.
And I hear time and time again, people telling me they don't want to go to the emergency room. They can't afford it. "I don't have insurance."
And I have to look at them and respect that they do have that concern [...] But I also know through my diagnostics that we do, the treatments that we do, these people need to go [to the hospital]. They need to go be seen because of worse conditions.
Hopefully we can get them to an ER, they can get treated where there's not a long-term disability, or a long-term cost to them.
This is not the way to treat our citizens of Iowa. We have an opportunity to help all these people get basic health insurance, to get ongoing care, to be able to see a physician on a regular basis without traveling 50 or 60 miles or waiting eight to ten weeks for an appointment.

As I mentioned above, all 23 Republicans who were present last night voted against expanding Medicaid. O.Kay Henderson posted highlights from their remarks at Radio Iowa.

Senator Jack Whitver, a Republican from Ankeny, said he shares the governor's fear that the federal government will fail to fulfill its promise to pay the bills.
"We need a solution that is best for Iowa and the care of our citizens," Whitver said, "not a one-size-fits-all federal entitlement program that is unsustainable and is bankrupting both the federal government and many states."

Whitver ignores the fact that Branstad's Healthy Iowa Plan would involve substantial federal funding too. And I wish some Republican would explain why they're not concerned about the more than $6 billion Iowa already receives from the federal government every year for various programs.

Several Republicans, including Mark Segebart and David Johnson, urged senators not to vote to expand Medicaid until more details are available about Branstad's plan. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal's response was excellent.

Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs said legislators have been waiting nine months for Branstad to produce details.
"The governor will leave out 65,000 Iowans - we do have one detail," Gronstal said. "I'm pretty sure if that's where we end up, that will not be our finest hour."

Another detail we already know should be a deal-breaker too: unlike Medicaid, Branstad's Healthy Iowa Plan will not cover mental health care.

Any relevant comments are welcome in this thread. Here's the latest list of 52 organizations registered in support of Senate File 296.

AARP Iowa
AFSCME IA Council 61
Alliance for Residential Treatment Services
Alzheimers Association Greater Iowa Chapter
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa
CHAIN
Child and Family Policy Center
Community Health Charities of Iowa
Des Moines University
Epilepsy Foundation
Eyerly Ball CMH Services
Family Planning Council of Iowa
Genesis Health System
HCI Care Services
Hospice and Palliative Care Association
Iowa Alliance in Home Care
Iowa Alliance of Community Mental Health Centers
Iowa Annual Conference of United Methodist Church
Iowa Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging
Iowa Association of Community Providers
Iowa Behavioral Health Association (IBHA)
Iowa CareGivers Association
Iowa Catholic Conference
Iowa Chronic Care Consortium
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action Fund
Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Iowa Hospital Association
Iowa Medical Group Management Association
Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association
Iowa Nurses Association
Iowa Primary Care Association
Iowa Psychiatric Society
Iowa Psychological Association
Iowa State Association of Counties
Iowa State Association of County Supervisors
League of United Latin American Citizens LULAC
League of Women Voters of Iowa
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Linn County Board of Supervisors
March of Dimes Iowa Chapter
Mercy Health Network
National Association of Social Workers, Iowa Chapter
National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Upper Midwest Chapter
Orchard Place
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland
Polk County - Board of Supervisors
Polk County Medical Society
South Central Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO
Urban County Coalition
Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa

Iowa Senate Ethics Committee punts on Sorenson allegation

desmoinesdem — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:00:07 GMT

The Iowa Senate Ethics committee (unofficial slogan: "See no evil, hear no evil") met yesterday to consider an ethics complaint filed against Republican Senator Kent Sorenson. Five of the six committee members voted to table two serious allegations raised by Peter Waldron, who was a consultant for Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign while Sorenson was the campaign's Iowa chair in 2011.
Bleeding Heartland discussed the background to Waldron's claims against Sorenson here. O.Kay Henderson covered yesterday's Senate Ethics Committee hearing for Radio Iowa, including partial audio from the proceedings. Both Mike Wiser and William Petroski also reported on the meeting. From Petroski's piece:

- Voted 4-2 to dismiss an allegation that Sorenson didn't file a disclosure statement regarding the nature of the business in which he was engaged. Greiner said Sorenson adequately provided information regarding his work as a consultant and there was no reason to proceed on the complaint. Seng voted no along with Sen. Dick Dearden, R-Des Moines. Those voting to dismiss included Greiner, Ethics Committee Chairman Wally Horn, D-Cedar Rapids, and Republican Sens. Jerry Behn of Boone and Jack Whitver of Ankeny
- Voted 5-1 to request further information on a complaint that Sorenson allegedly broke the law by taking a private home school list from former Iowa campaign staffer Barbara Heki's private computer in her office. A civil lawsuit is currently pending regarding the matter, and Greiner said it would be improper for legislators to insert themselves into legal proceedings.
- Voted 5-1 to request more information regarding an allegation that Sorenson allegedly concealed $7,500 a month in personal compensation to serve as Bachmann's Iowa campaign chairman.

All of the Ethics Committee members except for Democrat Joe Seng are willing to dismiss those other two charges unless Waldron comes up with more proof.

The other part of the complaint - also tabled today - alleges Sorenson was paid $7500 a month with money that originated in the Bachmann campaign fund, but was funnelled to a consulting firm that paid Sorenson to get around state senate rules which prohibit senators from getting paid to work on campaigns. Greiner and a majority of the committee said "unless and until" the Florida pastor supplies more information, the complaint ultimately will be dismissed.
"What we had in that packet was a bunch of fuzzy stuff and very few facts," Greiner said. "...He cites anonymous sources that are willing to go under oath. It's kind of difficult to put people under oath if they're anonymous. We need to know who these people are and we need facts before we can do anything."

Seng isn't my favorite Iowa Senate Democrat, but he was the only one on that committee making sense yesterday:

He said he favored having Iowa Supreme Court Justice Mark Cady appoint investigators to look into the complaints to determine if there was probable cause.
"This is a very serious allegation," Seng said. "I hate to make a decision as a legislator not having all the information....I think that this would be the best avenue to go."

Predictably, Sorenson declared victory, saying "I think it shows, and the committee agrees, that the allegations were baseless." Not at all:

"It wasn't a presumption of innocence or guilt," Seng said. "The (investigation) seemed a more, better alternative where a Supreme Court justice could give us a reason to see if there was a probable cause for this to go forward."

Waldron spoke to Radio Iowa's Henderson after the meeting.

As for providing the committee with more information about the allegation that Senator Sorenson was paid with money that came from the campaign, Waldron said Bachmann got other campaign employees to sign agreements the prevent them from revealing what they know.
"I did not sign the non-disclosure agreement," Waldron said. "My faith does not allow me to remain mute as a witness to a crime."
Waldron said he read Scripture and prayed this afternoon as the Ethics Committee met, and he's hoping other Bachmann campaign employees come forward to provide senators with the information the committee has decided it needs to proceed with an investigation of Sorenson.
"I'll leave it to God and their own conscience to take the risk," Waldron said. "I can't push them into a risk."

Sounds like Sorenson is going to skate this time. If I were a Republican, though, I'd be looking for a better candidate in Madison or Warren County to run for the Senate next year.

Who's who in the Iowa Senate for 2013

desmoinesdem — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:18:54 GMT

The Iowa legislature's 2013 session opened today. After the jump I've posted details on the Iowa Senate majority and minority leadership teams, along with all chairs, vice chairs, and members of standing Senate committees. Where relevant, I've noted changes since last year. Click here for a similar post on the new Iowa House.

Democrats hold a 26 to 24 majority in the upper chamber. The huge experience gap between the Iowa Senate caucuses is striking. Only seven of the 24 Republicans have served as lawmakers in either the House or Senate for more than four years, whereas 19 of the 26 Democrats have more than four years of legislative service. Click here for details on the tenure of all 50 Iowa senators.
Iowa Senate Democratic leadership team

Majority Leader Mike Gronstal was first elected to the Iowa House in 1982 and won his first Senate election in 1984. He was just re-elected in Senate district 8, covering most of Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County.

Senate President Pam Jochum is the first Democratic woman to hold this position. She was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2008, after serving for 16 years in the Iowa House. She was just re-elected in Senate district 50, covering Dubuque. Bleeding Heartland posted more background on Jochum here; Radio Iowa published a nice profile and interview here. Some things about Iowa politics may be depressing, but Pam Jochum as Senate president ain't one of them.

President Pro Tempore Steve Sodders was first elected to the legislature in 2008 and was just re-elected in Senate district 36, covering Marshall and Tama counties and part of Black Hawk County. During the last legislative session, Jeff Danielson was Senate president pro-tem, and Sodders was one of the assistant majority leaders.

Majority Whip Joe Bolkcom was first elected in 1998 from a district covering most of Iowa City in Johnson County. He holds over until 2014 in the new Senate district 43.

Assistant majority leaders:

Bill Dotzler was first elected in 2002 from a district covering a large area in Waterloo in Black Hawk County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 31, covering a similar area.

Wally Horn was first elected in 1982 from Cedar Rapids in Linn County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 35, covering a large area of Cedar Rapids.

Amanda Ragan was first elected in 2002 from a Senate district covering Floyd and Mitchell counties and part of Cerro Gordo, including Mason City. She is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 27, which still includes Mason City and most of Cerro Gordo but now covers Franklin County and most of Butler County.

Matt McCoy has represented parts of Des Moines in the Iowa Senate since 1997. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 21, covering much of the south side of Des Moines and part of West Des Moines in Polk County.

Iowa Senate Republican leadership team

Bill Dix was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2010. He had previously served in the Iowa House for 10 years, then run unsuccessfully for Congress. Dix tried but failed to become minority leader in the fall of 2011. Last year Jerry Behn was minority leader, but he agreed to step aside after Republicans failed to win the Senate majority in the 2012 elections. Dix has longstanding ties to the advocacy group Iowans for Tax Relief. Last month, he hired that group's former leader, Ed Failor Jr., to the Senate Republican staff. Dix is up for re-election in 2014 in Iowa Senate district 25.

Minority Whip Rick Bertrand was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2010. To my knowledge, he is the only Iowa legislator ever to file a defamation lawsuit over a campaign commercial. Bertrand is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 7, covering most of Sioux City. Last year Brad Zaun was minority whip, but he agreed to step aside after the November elections.

Assistant minority leaders:

Joni Ernst was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2010, having previously served as Montgomery County auditor. She was just re-elected in 2012 in Senate district 12, covering Montgomery, Mills, Fremont, Page, Taylor, and Ringgold counties. She is one of the two new assistant minority leaders, replacing Merlin Bartz, who lost his re-election bid, and Pat Ward, who died in October 2012.

Randy Feenstra is the other new assistant minority leader. He was first elected in 2008 and just re-elected in Senate district 2, covering Sioux, O'Brien, and Cherokee counties.

David Johnson was first elected in 2002 from a district covering Osceola, Dickinson, Clay and O'Brien Counties, plus part of Sioux. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 1, covering Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Clay and Palo Alto counties.

Tim Kapucian was first elected in 2008 from a district covering Benton and Grundy counties, most of Tama and part of Iowa County. He was just re-elected in Senate district 38, covering all of Benton, Iowa and Poweshiek counties.

Roby Smith was first elected in 2010 from a district centered in Bettendorf and Davenport in Scott County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 47, covering a similar area.

Iowa Senate Standing Commitees

Agriculture

Chair: Joe Seng was first elected in 2002 from a district covering much of Davenport in Scott County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 45, covering a similar area. Many Democrats will be hoping for a credible primary challenger, given Seng's support for bad legislation like the "ag gag" bill, his previous efforts to undermine water quality protections, and his challenge against incumbent Representative Dave Loebsack last year in Iowa's second Congressional district.

Vice Chair: Rich Taylor was just elected to the Senate for the first time in 2012 from Senate district 42, covering Lee and Henry Counties and parts of Jefferson and Washington. Last year Gene Fraise was the vice chair of this committee, but he retired.

Ranking member: Dan Zumbach was just elected for the first time in 2012 from Senate district 48, covering Delaware County and parts of Buchanan, Jones and Linn Counties. He is a farmer with strong support from the Iowa Farm Bureau. Last year David Johnson (see above) was the ranking member of this committee.

Other members: Dennis Black (D), Tod Bowman (D), Daryl Beall (D), Chris Brase (D), Rita Hart (D), Steve Sodders (D), Sandy Greiner (R), Dennis Guth (R), Hubert Houser (R), Tim Kapucian (R)

Appropriations

Chair: Bob Dvorsky was first elected in 1994 and currently represents parts of Johnson and Linn Counties, including Coralville. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 37, covering Coralville and a large area in Johnson County as well as Cedar County. He is married to outgoing Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sue Dvorsky.

Vice Chair: Jeff Danielson was first elected in 2004 and was just re-elected in 2012 in Senate district 30, covering Cedar Falls, part of Waterloo and some rural areas in Black Hawk County. Last year Matt McCoy (see above) was vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Jack Whitver was first elected in a 2011 special election. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 19, covering Ankeny and other parts of northern Polk County. Last year Bill Dix, now Senate minority leader, was the ranking member on this committee.

Other members: Dennis Black (D), Joe Bolkcom (D), Tom Courtney (D), Bill Dotzler (D), Jack Hatch (D), Rob Hogg (D), Liz Mathis (D), Matt McCoy (D), Janet Petersen (D), Amanda Ragan (D), Brian Schoenjahn (D), Nancy Boettger (R), Joni Ernst (R), Dennis Guth (R), Tim Kapucian (R), Ken Rozenboom (R), Mark Segebart (R), Roby Smith (R)

Commerce

Chair: Matt McCoy (see above).

Vice Chair: Janet Petersen was just elected to the Iowa Senate for the first time in 2012, after serving for 12 years in the Iowa House. She represents Senate district 18, covering parts of northern and eastern Des Moines in Polk County. Last year Tom Rielly was the vice chair of this committee, but he retired.

Ranking member: Bill Anderson was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2010. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 3, covering much of Woodbury County (including southern neighborhoods in Sioux City) and most of Plymouth County.

Other members: Daryl Beall (D), Joe Bolkcom (D), Jack Hatch (D), Liz Mathis (D), Brian Schoenjahn (D), Joe Seng (D), Mary Jo Wilhelm (D), Rick Bertrand (R), Mike Breitbach (R), Jake Chapman (R), Charles Schneider (R), Amy Sinclair (R)

Economic Growth

Chair: Steve Sodders (see above)

Vice Chair: Tod Bowman was first elected to the Senate in 2010 and is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 29, covering Jackson County, part of Jones County, and most of Dubuque County outside the city of Dubuque. Last year Bill Dotzler (see above) was the vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Jake Chapman was just elected for the first time in 2012 in Senate district 10, covering most of Dallas County, a little bit of Polk and Cass counties, and all of Adair and Guthrie Counties. Last year Sandy Greiner was the ranking member on this committee.

Other members: Jeff Danielson (D), Bill Dotzler (D), Rita Hart (D), Jack Hatch (D), Liz Mathis (D), Rich Taylor (D), Mary Jo Wilhelm (D), Jerry Behn (R), Mark Chelgren (R), Hubert Houser (R), Charles Schneider (R), Jack Whitver (R)

Education

Chair: Herman Quirmbach was first elected in 2002 and is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 23, covering Ames and some rural areas in Story County.

Vice Chair: Brian Schoenjahn was first elected in 2004 and just re-elected in 2012 in Senate district 32, covering Bremer County and parts of Fayette, Buchanan and Black Hawk.

Ranking member: Joni Ernst (see above) Last year Shawn Hamerlinck was the ranking member on this committee, but he lost his re-election bid in Senate district 46 to Chris Brase.

Other members: Tod Bowman (D), Daryl Beall (D), Bob Dvorsky (D), Rob Hogg (D), Rita Hart (D), Liz Mathis (D), Mary Jo Wilhelm (D), Jerry Behn (R), Nancy Boettger (R), David Johnson (R), Amy Sinclair (R), Brad Zaun (R)

Ethics

This committee has three members from each party in accordance with Iowa law.

Chair: Wally Horn (see above) Last year then Senate President Jack Kibbie co-chaired this committee, but he retired.

Vice Chair: Dick Dearden was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 1992 and was just re-elected in Senate district 16, covering much of the east side of Des Moines and Pleasant Hill in Polk County.

Ranking member: Sandy Greiner served in the Iowa House from 1993-2000 and from 2003-2008, and spent two years in the Iowa Senate in 2001 and 2002. She came out of political retirement to defeat Democratic State Senator Becky Schmitz in 2010 from the old district 45. She is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 39, covering part of Johnson County, most of Washington County and all of Keokuk County. Greiner is also board president of the American Future Fund, a 501(c)4 organization that has spent heavily in elections in Iowa and around the country. Last year Paul McKinley was the top Republican on this committee, but he retired.

Other members: Joe Seng (D), Jerry Behn (R), Jack Whitver (R)

Government Oversight

Chair: Janet Petersen (see above) Last year Tom Courtney chaired this committee.

Vice Chair: Brian Schoenjahn (see above) Last year Steve Sodders was vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Kent Sorenson (see above)

Other members: Matt McCoy (D), Sandy Greiner (R)

Human Resources

Chair: Amanda Ragan (see above)

Vice Chair: Mary Jo Wilhelm was first elected in 2008 and was just re-elected in Senate district 26, covering Worth, Floyd, Chickasaw, Mitchell, and Howard Counties, and parts of Cerro Gordo and Winneshiek.

Ranking member: David Johnson (see above) Last year Jim Seymour was vice chair of this committee, but he retired.

Other members: Joe Bolkcom (D), Bill Dotzler (D), Jack Hatch (D), Pam Jochum (D), Liz Mathis (D), Herman Quirmbach (D), Joni Ernst (R), Nancy Boettger (R), Mark Segebart (R), Jack Whitver (R)

Judiciary

Chair: Rob Hogg was first elected in 2006 and is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 33, covering part of Cedar Rapids in Linn County. Last year Gene Fraise chaired this committee, but he retired.

Vice Chair: Tom Courtney was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2000 and was just re-elected in Senate district 44, covering Des Moines and Louisa Counties, plus a large area in Muscatine County. Last year Rob Hogg was vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Charles Schneider was just elected to the Iowa Senate for the first in the December 2012 special election to represent district 22, covering several suburbs in Polk and Dallas Counties. Last year Nancy Boettger was ranking member on this committee.

Other members: Bob Dvorsky (D), Wally Horn (D), Janet Petersen (D), Herman Quirmbach (D), Steve Sodders (D), Rich Taylor (D), Nancy Boettger (R), Kent Sorenson (R), Jack Whitver (R), Brad Zaun (R)

Labor and Business Relations

Chair: Wally Horn (see above)

Vice Chair: Dick Dearden (see above) Last year Pam Jochum, now Senate president, was vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Hubert Houser was first elected in a 2001 special election. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 11, covering most of Pottawattamie County outside Council Bluffs, most of Cass County, and all of Union and Adams counties. Last year Pat Ward was the ranking member on this committee, but she passed away in October 2012.

Other members: Chris Brase (D), Joe Seng (D), Bill Dotzler (D), Steve Sodders (D), Jack Hatch (D), Bill Anderson (R), Jake Chapman (R), Bill Dix (R)

Local Government

Chair: Mary Jo Wilhelm (see above)

Vice Chair: Chris Brase was just elected for the first time in 2012 in Senate district 46, covering parts of Muscatine and Scott Counties. Last year Daryl Beall was vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Amy Sinclair was just elected for the first time in 2012 in Senate district 14, covering all of Wayne, Lucas, Clarke, and Decatur Counties, most of Marion County, and a small area in Jasper County. Last year Merlin Bartz was the ranking member on this committee, but Wilhelm defeated him in Senate district 26.

Other members: Bob Dvorsky (D), Rita Hart (D), Herman Quirmbach (D), Brian Schoenjahn (D), Rich Taylor (D), Mark Chelgren (R), Dennis Guth (R), Brad Zaun (R)

Natural Resources and Environment

Chair: Dick Dearden was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 1992 and was just re-elected in Senate district 16, covering much of the east side of Des Moines and Pleasant Hill in Polk County.

Vice Chair: Dennis Black has served in the Senate since 1995 and now represents most of Jasper County and part of southeast Polk County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 15, also covering most of Jasper and a large area in eastern Polk County.

Ranking member: Sandy Greiner (see above) Last year Jim Hahn was the ranking member on this committee, but he lost the GOP primary to Shawn Hamerlinck in Senate district 46.

Other members: Joe Bolkcom (D), Chris Brase (D), Rob Hogg (D), Amanda Ragan (D), Brian Schoenjahn (D), Joe Seng (D), Mike Breitbach (R), David Johnson (R), Ken Rozenboom (R), Dan Zumbach (R)

Rules and Administration

Chair: Mike Gronstal (see above)

Vice Chair: Pam Jochum (see above) Last year then Senate President Jack Kibbie was vice chair of this committee, but he retired.

Ranking member: Bill Dix (see above) Last year then Senate Minority Leader Jerry Behn was ranking member on this committee.

Other members: Tom Courtney (D), Dick Dearden (D), Bob Dvorsky (D), Amanda Ragan (D), Steve Sodders (D), Rick Bertrand (R), Joni Ernst (R), Ken Rozenboom (R)

State Government

Chair: Jeff Danielson (see above)

Vice Chair: Pam Jochum (see above)

Ranking member: Kent Sorenson was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2010. He is up for re-election 2014 in Senate district 13, covering most of Warren and Madison counties.

Other members: Dick Dearden (D), Tod Bowman (D), Tom Courtney (D), Janet Petersen (D), Wally Horn (D), Matt McCoy (D), Steve Sodders (D), Bill Anderson (R), Jake Chapman (R), Randy Feenstra (R), Roby Smith (R), Jack Whitver (R)

Transportation

Chair: Tod Bowman was first elected to the Senate in 2010 and is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 29, covering Jackson, most of Dubuque County (but not the city of Dubuque) and a large area in Jones County. Last year Tom Rielly chaired this committee, but he retired.

Vice Chair: Daryl Beall was first elected in 2002 from the old district 25, covering most of Webster County, including Fort Dodge, Greene and Calhoun Counties. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 5, covering Humboldt, Pocahontas and Calhoun counties and most of Webster County, including Fort Dodge. Last year Bowman was vice chair of this committee.

Ranking member: Tim Kapucian (see above)

Other members: Chris Brase (D), Jeff Danielson (D), Dick Dearden (D), Bob Dvorsky (D), Tom Hancock (D), Matt McCoy (D), Rich Taylor (D), Jerry Behn (R), Mike Breitbach (R), Randy Feenstra (R), Dan Zumbach (R)

Ways & Means

Chair: Joe Bolkcom (see above)

Vice Chair: Joe Seng (see above)

Ranking member: Randy Feenstra (see above)

Other members: Dennis Black (D), Bill Dotzler (D), Rob Hogg (D), Pam Jochum (D), Janet Petersen (D), Matt McCoy (D), Herman Quirmbach (D), Jerry Behn (R), Rick Bertrand (R), Jake Chapman (R), Charles Schneider (R), Roby Smith (R)

Veterans Affairs

Chair: Daryl Beall (see above)

Vice Chair: Jeff Danielson (see above)

Ranking member: Ken Rozenboom was just elected for the first time in 2012 in Senate district 40, covering Mahaska, Monroe, and Appanoose Counties, and parts of Marion and Wapello Counties. Last year James Seymour was the ranking member on this committee, but he retired.

Other members: Dennis Black (D), Wally Horn (D), Rita Hart (D), Amanda Ragan (D), Steve Sodders (D), Mark Chelgren (R), Joni Ernst (R), Charles Schneider (R)

Budget Subcommittees

Administration and Regulation

Chair: Liz Mathis was first elected in a 2011 special election and was just re-elected in Senate district 34, covering surburban areas in Linn County. Last year Pam Jochum chaired this subcommittee.

Vice Chair: Jeff Danielson (see above)

Ranking member: Dennis Guth was just elected for the first time in 2012 in Senate district 4, covering Emmet, Kossuth, Winnebago, Hancock, and Wright Counties. Last year Merlin Bartz was ranking member on this subcommittee, but he lost his re-election bid.

Other members: Chris Brase (D), Joni Ernst (R)

Agriculture/Natural Resources

Chair: Dennis Black (see above)

Vice Chair: Dick Dearden (see above)

Ranking member: Ken Rozenboom (see above) Last year Hubert Houser was the ranking member on this subcommittee.

Other members: Mary Jo Wilhelm (D), Sandy Greiner (R)

Economic Development

Chair: Bill Dotzler (see above)

Vice Chair: Rita Hart was just elected for the first time in 2012 in Senate district 49, covering all of Clinton County and part of Scott County. Last year Joe Seng was the vice chair on this subcommittee.

Ranking member: Nancy Boettger was first elected to the Senate in 1994 and is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 9, covering all of Shelby, Harrison, Monona, and Ida Counties, and part of Crawford and Woodbury Counties.

Other members: Joe Seng (D), Charles Schneider (R)

Education

Chair: Brian Schoenjahn (see above)

Vice Chair: Wally Horn (see above) Last year Herman Quirmbach was vice chair of this subcommittee.

Ranking member: Roby Smith (see above) Last year Bill Dix was the ranking member on this subcommittee.

Other members: Herman Quirmbach (D), Amy Sinclair (R)

Health and Human Services

Chair: Jack Hatch was first elected in 2002 from district 33, covering much of central Des Moines in Polk County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 17, covering a similar area.

Vice Chair: Amanda Ragan (see above)

Ranking member: Mark Segebart was first elected in 2012 in Senate district 6, covering Buena Vista, Sac, Carroll, and Audubon Counties, and part of Crawford County. Last year David Johnson was the ranking member on this subcommittee.

Other members: Joe Bolkcom (D), David Johnson (R)

Justice Systems

Chair: Tom Courtney was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2000. He was just re-elected in Senate district 44, covering Des Moines and Louisa Counties, plus a large area in Muscatine County. Last year Tom Hancock chaired this subcommittee, but he retired.

Vice Chair: Rob Hogg (see above)

Ranking member: Jake Chapman (see above) Last year James Seymour was ranking member on this subcommittee, but he retired.

Other members: Rich Taylor (D), Brad Zaun (R)

Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals

Chair: Matt McCoy (see above)

Vice Chair: Daryl Beall (see above)

Ranking member: Tim Kapucian (see above)

Other members: Tod Bowman (D), Rick Bertrand (R)

Administrative Rules Review Committee

Five Iowa House and five Iowa Senate members serve on this committee. The Senate's five representatives on this committee are Tom Courtney (D), Pam Jochum (D), Wally Horn (D), Roby Smith (R), and Mark Chelgren (R). This year's House members are listed at the end of this post.

More proof smoking bans save lives

desmoinesdem — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 23:09:58 GMT

How about a little good news on a lousy day? A new study confirms previous research, which showed public smoking bans reduce hospitalizations for heart attacks and other life-threatening problems. The Iowa Smokefree Air Act, which went into effect in July 2008, has likely prevented many premature deaths.

UPDATE: The smoking ban was controversial while it was debated in 2008. Below I've listed all of the state legislators who had the courage to send that bill to Governor Chet Culver's desk.
The new study appears in the latest issue of Health Affairs, a peer-reviewed journal. Here's the abstract of "Smoking Bans Linked To Lower Hospitalizations For Heart Attacks And Lung Disease Among Medicare Beneficiaries," by Mark W. Vander Weg, Gary E. Rosenthal, and Mary Vaughan Sarrazin.

Policies limiting exposure to cigarette smoke have been associated with reduced hospitalizations for heart attacks, but little is known about the impact of smoking bans on other health conditions and whether findings from individual communities generalize to other areas. We investigated the association between smoking bans targeting workplaces, restaurants, and bars passed throughout the United States during 1991-2008 and hospital admissions for smoking-related illnesses-acute myocardial infarction and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-among Medicare beneficiaries age sixty-five or older. Risk-adjusted hospital admission rates for acute myocardial infarction fell 20-21 percent thirty-six months following implementation of new restaurant, bar, and workplace smoking bans. Admission rates for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease fell 11 percent where workplace smoking bans were in place and 15 percent where bar smoking bans were present. By contrast, very little effect was found for hospitalization for gastrointestinal hemorrhage and hip fracture-two conditions largely unrelated to smoking and examined as points of comparison. These findings provide further support for the public health benefits of laws that limit exposure to tobacco smoke.

That's a big drop in hospitalizations for heart attacks and serious lung ailments in communities with public smoking bans. In Iowa, the smoking rate dropped noticeably even in the first year after the Smokefree Air Act passed, and has continued to decline since. That trend benefits both people who quit smoking and those who no longer are exposed to their loved ones' or co-workers' secondhand smoke.

Lead author Mark Vander Weg is an associate professor in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. He spoke to the Iowa City Press-Citizen:

Hospitalization for heart attack rates is on the decline in general, Vander Weg said, which could be a result of advancing medical care resulting in better identification and treatment of coronary artery disease. It also could be because fewer people are smoking, he said. COPD, on the other hand, has been increasing across the country, Vander Weg said.
Within the first three months of smoking bans being enacted, the increase in COPD admission rates was 5 percent lower in communities with bans than those without. After three years, that difference had grown to 17 percent.
Communities that had smoking bans in all three possible locations - bars, restaurants and offices - saw greater relative reductions than counties that banned smoking only in a single setting, the study found.
Areas with bans in two or three settings saw decreases in heart attack admissions of between 14 percent and 16 percent, while those with a single ban did not see as significant of decreases, Vander Weg said.
"The bottom line for that is that the more bans that there were, the greater reduction that we saw, at least in heart attacks," he said.
The admissions were only for patients age 65 and older because the study relied on Medicare data. Although research has shown that smoking is declining nationwide, it's declining at a lower rate among people age 65 and older.

The Iowa Department of Public Health has posted rules and frequently asked questions related to the Smokefree Air Act.

Because of the many health risks associated with secondhand smoke, Bleeding Heartland strongly supported the Iowa Smokefree Air Act and the Iowa Department of Public Health's decision to enforce that ban in all restaurants. I had no sympathy for smokers who whined about "Big Brother Democrats and Turncoat Republicans" and called the public smoking ban "Soviet" or "fascist."

Former Governor Chet Culver deserves credit for supporting this bill through the legislative process and signing it into law. The lawmakers who had the guts to vote for this controversial bill should feel proud too.

Here is the full list of 54 House members who voted yes on the final version of House File 2212 in 2008. I've put an asterisk next to those who still serve in the Iowa legislature. Note that while Democrats provided most of the yes votes, the bill would not have passed without some support from House Republicans.

Democrats:
Ako Abdul-Samad*
Paul Bell
Deborah Berry*
Polly Bukta
Dennis Cohoon*
Swati Dandekar
Mark Davitt
Ro Foege
Wayne Ford
Marcella Frevert
Mary Gaskill*
Elesha Gayman
Lisa Heddens*
Bruce Hunter*
Dave Jacoby*
Pam Jochum* (now in Iowa Senate)
Doris Kelley
Bob Kressig*
Mark Kuhn
Vicki Lensing*
Mary Mascher*
Kevin McCarthy*
Helen Miller*
Jo Oldson*
Donovan Olson
Rick Olson*
Tyler Olson*
Eric Palmer
Janet Petersen* (now in Iowa Senate)
Mike Reasoner
Nathan Reichert
Paul Shomshor
Mark Smith*
Art Staed (defeated in 2008 but just re-elected)
Kurt Swaim
Dick Taylor
Todd Taylor*
Roger Wendt
Beth Wessel-Kroeschell*
Mark Whitaker
Wes Whitead
Cindy Winckler*
Phil Wise
Ray Zirkelbach
Pat Murphy*

Republicans:
Rich Anderson
Clel Baudler*
Dan Clute
Libby Jacobs
Michael May
Henry Rayhons*
Bill Schickel
Walt Tomenga
Tami Wiencek

Special credit goes to Iowa senators who resisted House Democrats' attempt to weaken the bill and got a fairly strong smoking ban through the conference committee. Here's the full list of the 28 state senators who voted for the final version of the Iowa Smokefree Air Act. Again, most of the yes votes came from Democrats, but at least one Republican vote was needed for final passage. I put asterisks next to the names of those who still serve.

Democrats:
Staci Appel
Daryl Beall*
Joe Bolkcom*
Michael Connolly
Tom Courtney*
Jeff Danielson*
Dick Dearden*
Bob Dvorsky*
Gene Fraise
Mike Gronstal*
Jack Hatch*
Rob Hogg*
Wally Horn*
Jack Kibbie
Matt McCoy*
Rich Olive
Herman Quirmbach*
Amanda Ragan*
Tom Rielly
Becky Schmitz
Brian Schoenjahn*
Joe Seng*
Roger Stewart
Steve Warnstadt
Frank Wood (defeated in 2008, just elected to Iowa House)

Republicans:
Mary Lundby
Larry Noble
Pat Ward

One major loophole remains in Iowa's public smoking ban: casino floors are exempt. Democrat state senator Bill Heckroth voted for an earlier version of the smoking ban but against the final bill, I think because of the casino exemption. An Iowa Smoke-Free Gaming group is trying to rescind that loophole, but they face long odds, given the gambling industry's influence at the statehouse.

Iowa Senate Democrats announce committee chairs

desmoinesdem — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:20:00 GMT

One day after a special election confirmed there will be 26 Democrats and 24 Republicans in the Iowa Senate next year, Senate Democrats released updated committee assignments. After the jump I've posted the full list of committee chairs as well as the leadership team chosen a few weeks ago. Most committees have the same leaders as in 2012, but where relevant I've noted changes.
Iowa Senate Democratic leadership team

Senate President Pam Jochum represented part of Dubuque in the Iowa House from 1993 through 2008 before winning her first term in the Senate that year. She was just re-elected in Senate district 50.

President Pro Tempore Steve Sodders was first elected to the legislature in 2008 and was just re-elected in Senate district 36, covering Marshall and Tama counties and part of Black Hawk County.

Majority Whip Joe Bolkcom was first elected in 1998 from a district covering most of Iowa City in Johnson County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 43.

Assistant majority leaders:

Wally Horn was first elected in 1978 from Cedar Rapids in Linn County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 35.

Bill Dotzler was first elected in 2002 from a district covering a large area in Waterloo in Black Hawk County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 31.

Leaders of standing committees

Agriculture

Joe Seng was first elected in 2002 from district 43, covering Davenport in Scott County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 45.

Appropriations

Bob Dvorsky was first elected in a 1994 special election and currently represents parts of Johnson and Linn Counties, including Coralville. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 37, covering Coralville and a large area in Johnson County as well as Cedar County.

Commerce

Matt McCoy (see bio above)

Economic Growth

Steve Sodders (see bio above)

Education

Herman Quirmbach was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2002 from a district covering Ames and immediate surroundings in Story County, as well as a portion of eastern Boone County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 23, covering Ames and some rural areas in Story County.

Ethics

Co-chair: Wally Horn (see bio above) Last year Jack Kibbie co-chaired this committee, but he retired.

Human Resources

Amanda Ragan (see bio above)

Judiciary

Rob Hogg was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2006 from a district covering northeast and southeast Cedar Rapids in Linn County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 33, covering a slightly different area in Cedar Rapids. Last year Hogg was vice chair of this committee; the previous chair, Gene Fraise, retired.

Labor and Business Relations

Wally Horn (see bio above)

Local Government

Mary Jo Wilhelm was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2008 and just re-elected in Senate district 26, covering Worth, Mitchell, Howard, and Chickasaw counties, plus parts of Winneshiek and Cerro Gordo counties.

Natural Resources and Environment

Dick Dearden was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 1992 and was just re-elected in Senate district 16, covering much of the east side of Des Moines and Pleasant Hill in Polk County.

Rules and Administration

Mike Gronstal (see bio above)

State Government

Jeff Danielson was first elected in 2004 from district 10, covering Cedar Falls, part of Waterloo and some rural areas in Black Hawk County. He was just re-elected in Senate district 30, covering a similar area.

Transportation

Tod Bowman was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2010 and is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 29, covering Jackson County, most of Dubuque County (but not the city of Dubuque) and a large area in Jones County. Last year Bowman was vice chair of this committee. The previous chair, Tom Rielly, retired.

Ways & Means

Joe Bolkcom (see bio above)

Veterans Affairs

Daryl Beall was first elected in 2002 from the old district 25, covering most of Webster County, including Fort Dodge, Greene and Calhoun Counties. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 5, covering Humboldt, Pocahontas and Calhoun counties and most of Webster County, including Fort Dodge.

Leaders of budget subcommittees

Administration and Regulation

Liz Mathis was first elected in a 2011 special election in Senate district 18 and just re-elected in Senate district 34, covering suburban areas in Linn County. Last year Jochum chairs this subcommittee, but she is now Senate president.

Agriculture/Natural Resources

Dennis Black has served in the Senate since 1995 and now represents most of Jasper County and part of southeast Polk County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 15, also covering most of Jasper and a large area in eastern Polk County.

Economic Development

Bill Dotzler (see bio above)

Education

Brian Schoenjahn was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2004 and was just re-elected in Senate district 32, covering Bremer County and parts of Fayette, Buchanan and Black Hawk.

Health and Human Services

Jack Hatch was first elected in 2002 from district 33, covering much of central Des Moines in Polk County. He is up for re-election in 2014 in Senate district 17, covering a similar area.

Justice Systems

Tom Courtney was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2000. He was just re-elected in Senate district 44, covering Des Moines and Louisa Counties, plus a large area in Muscatine County. Last year Tom Hancock chaired this subcommittee, but he retired.

Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals

Matt McCoy (see bio above)

Government Oversight

Janet Petersen served in the Iowa House for 12 years and was just elected to the Iowa Senate for the first time from Senate district 18, covering parts of northern and eastern Des Moines. Last year Tom Courtney chaired this subcommittee.

Huge experience gap between Iowa Senate Democrats and Republicans

desmoinesdem — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:55:00 GMT

Democrats will hold a slim majority in the next Iowa Senate: most likely 26-24 or 27-23, depending on the outcome of one recount and one special election in December. But the experience gap between the two parties' caucuses is wider than I've ever seen, and perhaps unprecedented.

Only five Republicans who will serve in the next Iowa Senate have more than four years experience in the legislature's upper chamber. Most of the old hands aren't on the GOP leadership team. By comparison, eighteen Senate Democrats have held that office for more than four years. Thirteen of those have served in the upper chamber for at least a decade.

Many newcomers to the Iowa Senate have helped oversee public-sector budgets and programs as county supervisors, mayors, or members of city councils and school boards. Nevertheless, new legislators have a steep learning curve because state government is more complex than local government, and Iowa House and Senate members consider a wider range of issues during a typical legislative session. Whereas eleven Senate Democrats previously served in the Iowa House, only three sitting Republicans came to the Senate with that background. If the GOP had gained control of the upper chamber in this year's elections, they would have been forced to put quite a few rookies in charge of standing committees.

After the jump I've posted details on the tenure of all incoming Iowa Senate members, indicating members of each party's leadership team and past service in the Iowa House.
Senate Republicans

First elected in 1994: Nancy Boettger

First elected in 1996: Jerry Behn

First elected in a 2001 special election: Hubert Houser

First elected in 2002: Assistant Minority Leader David Johnson

First elected in 2004: Brad Zaun

First elected in 2008: Assistant Minority Leader Randy Feenstra, Assistant Minority Leader Tim Kapucian

First elected in 2010: Minority Leader Bill Dix (ten years service in Iowa House), Minority Whip Rick Bertrand, Assistant Minority Leader Roby Smith, Bill Anderson, Mark Chelgren, Kent Sorenson (two years service in Iowa House), Sandy Greiner (two years service in Iowa Senate, fourteen years in Iowa House)

First elected in a 2010 special election: Assistant Minority Leader Joni Ernst

First elected in 2011 special election: Jack Whitver

First elected in 2012: Dennis Guth, Mark Segebart, Jake Chapman, Amy Sinclair, Ken Rozenboom, Dan Zumbach, Mike Breitbach (if his small lead holds in Senate district 28)

LATE UPDATE: First elected in a 2012 special election: Charles Schneider

Senate Democrats

First elected in 1982: Wally Horn (10 years previous service in Iowa House)

First elected in 1984: Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (two years in Iowa House)

First elected in 1994 special election: Bob Dvorsky (eight years in Iowa House)

First elected in 1994: Dennis Black (twelve years in Iowa House), Dick Dearden

First elected in 1996: Assistant Majority Leader Matt McCoy (four years in Iowa House)

First elected in 1998: Majority Whip Joe Bolkcom

First elected in a 2002 special election: Assistant Majority Leader Amanda Ragan

First elected in 2002: Assistant Majority Leader Bill Dotzler (six years in Iowa House), Daryl Beall, Herman Quirmbach, Jack Hatch (ten years in Iowa House), Joe Seng (two years in Iowa House), Tom Courtney

First elected in 2004: Jeff Danielson, Brian Schoenjahn

First elected in 2006: Rob Hogg (four years in Iowa House)

First elected in 2008: Senate President Pam Jochum (sixteen years in Iowa House), Senate President Pro Tempore Steve Sodders, Mary Jo Wilhelm

First elected in 2010: Tod Bowman

First elected in a 2011 special election: Liz Mathis

First elected in 2012: Janet Petersen (twelve years in Iowa House), Chris Brase, Rita Hart, Rich Taylor

Where things stand in the Iowa Senate races

desmoinesdem — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:51:34 GMT

Democrats are assured of maintaining their majority in the Iowa Senate, with one race headed for a recount and another to be decided in a December 11 special election.
Here's how the Democrats maintained their majority. Of the 24 Senate incumbents not up for re-election this year, thirteen are Democrats:

Daryl Beall
Dennis Black
Joe Bolkcom
Tod Bowman
Bill Dotzler
Bob Dvorsky
Jack Hatch
Rob Hogg
Wally Horn
Matt McCoy
Herman Quirmbach
Amanda Ragan
Joe Seng

Nine Democratic incumbents were re-elected last night:

Tom Courtney (district 44)
Jeff Danielson (district 30)
Dick Dearden (district 16)
Mike Gronstal (district 8)
Pam Jochum (district 50)
Liz Mathis (district 34)
Brian Schoenjahn (district 32)
Steve Sodders (district 36)
Mary Jo Wilhelm (district 26)

Three Democratic candidates won open seats:

Janet Petersen (district 18)
Rich Taylor (district 42)
Rita Hart (district 49)

One Democratic candidate defeated a Republican incumbent:

Chris Brase (district 46)

Total: 26

John Beard has not conceded the open-seat race in Senate district 28. The Iowa Secretary of State's website shows Mike Breitbach ahead by 43 votes, while the Des Moines Register's site shows Breitbach ahead by 37 votes.

I don't know yet whether any provisional ballots remain to be counted. Late-arriving absentee ballots will count as long as they were postmarked by November 5. There will be a recount in Senate district 28.

Recounts did not change the outcome in the two closest Iowa Senate races in 2010.

The results in Senate district 22 do not count because of Senator Pat Ward's untimely death last month. Republicans meet on November 8 to select a nominee to face Democrat Desmund Adams in the December 11 special election. Ward's widower, John Ward, is seeking the nomination, but other candidates are expected to step forward. Republicans have a sizable voter registration advantage in Senate district 22.

Any comments about the Iowa Senate elections are welcome in this thread.

UPDATE: I should have mentioned that Merlin Bartz wasn't ready to concede Senate district 26 to Wilhelm last night. I don't see how he can make up a 120-vote margin with late-arriving absentee ballots.

SECOND UPDATE: Bartz conceded on Wednesday but tried to cast a shadow over the outcome.

"I congratulate Sen. Wilhelm on her victory," he said in a news release.
"She ran a stellar campaign and I wish her the best in her service next January."
Bartz said he and his family wanted to thank all his volunteers and supporters.
"We have analyzed the 120 vote margin in conjunction with additional provisional and absentee ballots that are being and may be received and do not believe they would change the outcome and have chosen to not seek a recount," said Bartz.
"I continue to be troubled by the ongoing criminal investigation into voter fraud in Floyd County but do not believe that prolonging the election until the prosecution is finished is in the best interest of the citizens of this district or of this state."

Lead poisoning killed more than two dozen Iowa eagles since last September

desmoinesdem — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:40:00 GMT

At least 28 eagles died from lead poisoning in Iowa between September 1, 2011 and April 15, 2012, according to data collected by the non-profit Saving Our Avian Resources. The real figure could be significantly higher, and even this statistic casts doubt on claims that hunting with lead ammunition does no harm to wildlife.
Saving Our Avian Resources is a non-profit established in 1999 to carry out "raptor rehabilitation, education, and research" in Iowa. The group reported on its website,

Iowa wildlife rehabilitators are collecting data on all admitted eagles (alive and DOA). These facilities include: Black Hawk Wildlife Rehabilitation Project, MacBride Raptor Project, SOAR, and the Wildlife Care Clinic. Between September 1, 2011 and April 15, 2012:
44 eagles admitted
34 of these were lead exposure or poisoning cases as revealed through blood, liver, or bone testing
28 of the 34 have died
So without lead in the system - we would only have admitted 10 eagles in that same time frame.
Plus one Cooper's hawk with a #7.5 piece of lead shot in her digestive tract - also died from lead poisoning in that time frame.

Those numbers reflect only eagles brought into wildlife rehabilitation centers, not birds who fell ill and died without being noticed or rescued by humans.

The desire to protect predatory birds was a key factor in the state Natural Resource Commission's July 2011 decision to prohibit lead ammunition during the newly-established mourning dove hunting season, set to begin on September 1, 2011. However, the legislature's Administrative Rules Review Committee delayed that rule from going into effect until after the 2012 legislative session. Although the Iowa House and an Iowa Senate committee approved a resolution nullifying the lead shot ban earlier this year, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal did not bring that resolution up for a vote on the Senate floor before legislators adjourned in May.

The Senate's inaction cleared the way for the Natural Resource Commission's ban on lead shot to go into effect for this year's dove hunting season, which begins on September 1. But Governor Terry Branstad quickly signed an executive order overturning the rule, saying "administrative fiat" should not force hunters to abandon "traditional ammunition." The National Rifle Association applauded Branstad's action, as did Democratic State Senator Dick Dearden, who sought for decades to legalize dove hunting in Iowa. Dearden claims there is no scientific evidence supporting efforts to ban lead ammunition. He believes advocates for non-toxic shot are pushing an anti-hunting agenda.

In reality, scientific research has proved that lead shot harms wildlife. Saving Our Avian Resources has prepared this fact sheet for hunters, making the case for non-toxic shot. It notes, "Over 130 different species of wildlife have been impacted by eating lead." Far from discouraging Iowans from hunting, this information explains why "Using copper bullets and slugs and non-toxic shot saves wildlife and helps humans. You can help the environment and make great hunting memories for you and your family."

The Lead Is Poison coalition provides more detail in this fact sheet on non-toxic shot.

* How much lead can be left on the ground? If five shots are taken for each of the estimated 300,000 doves harvested, and there is one ounce of lead per shot (16 ounces in one pound), there would be up to 9,375 pounds of lead left on the landscape.
* Doves are hunted over food plots. This concentrates lead shot in areas where doves and many other birds will be feeding, making them especially vulnerable to poisoning.
* Research shows that, when lead shot is used for dove hunting, as many doves die from ingesting lead and lead poisoning as are harvested (3% of the population). Approximately, 17 million doves are harvested in the United States each year which means another 17 million die from lead poisoning. [...]
* Thirty-one states have requirements for non-toxic shot beyond the waterfowl requirement. Of these states, 24 have some form of non-toxic shot requirement for dove hunters.
* South Dakota requires non-toxic shot on most state land (totaling over 400,000 acres) and maintains the largest pheasant population in the country. Pheasants Forever says that South Dakota is the top destination for the traveling pheasant hunter.

Branstad issues executive order in name of legislative authority (updated)

desmoinesdem — Fri, 11 May 2012 21:20:45 GMT

Governor Terry Branstad signed an executive order today to nullify an administrative rule banning the use of lead ammunition for hunting mourning doves in Iowa. He advanced two contradictory positions: that the Iowa legislature (not the state Natural Resources Commission) should decide whether dove hunters must use alternative ammunition, and that he was compelled to act because the Iowa Senate failed to assert its authority on this important issue.
The Iowa House and Senate passed a bill in 2011 to legalize the hunting of mourning doves for the first time since 1918. Last July, the Natural Resource Commission, which operates under the jurisdiction of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, approved a package of rules on dove-hunting season. Among other things, commissioners voted unanimously to ban lead shot for hunting doves. The Iowa DNR explained in a press release,

The non-toxic shot requirement follows several discussions by the commission during the past year concerning the impacts of lead shot to the environment and on wildlife. Lead - or toxic - shot used in hunting can be ingested by wildlife. There has been a national ban on the use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting since 1991 with non-toxic shot for waterfowl being in place in Iowa since 1987.

The National Rifle Association accused the commission of kowtowing to "anti-hunting extremist groups." But not to worry: the Iowa legislature's Administrative Rules Review Committee stepped in to delay implementation of the lead shot ban until after the 2012 legislative session. That gave Iowa House and Senate members time to pass a resolution overturning the rule.

Governor Branstad criticized the Natural Resource Commission last August, saying, "we need to respect the intent of the Legislature and an issue of this magnitude of public policy should be decided by the Legislature not by an unelected commission that was appointed." Branstad's legal counsel Brenna Findley confirmed that the governor believes "the decision belongs to the legislature" in this case.

Early in the 2012 legislative session, the Iowa House approved a resolution nullifying the lead shot ban by 73 votes to 27 (roll call). The companion resolution cleared the Iowa Senate Natural Resources Committee by 9 votes to 3 (scroll down this page for the roll call). However, that resolution was never debated on the Senate floor before the Iowa House and Senate adjourned for the year Wednesday.

Branstad told reporters the following day that he was planning to step in.

"We're going to look into what can be done about that," the governor said, noting that he has assigned his legal adviser, Brenna Findley, to explore what options might be available. He was hopeful there would be an avenue whereby the way could be cleared for hunters to use lead shot this fall, but he noted "they just adjourned last night and we're trying to figure out what didn't get done."
An Iowa Code section provides that the governor may rescind an adopted rule by executive order within 70 days of the rule becoming effective. The portion of the rule banning lead shot had a session delay on it and that portion did not become effective until after lawmakers adjourned without taking action.
Thursday afternoon Branstad's office said the governor "intends to take action (Friday morning) to correct a broken promise by the Senate Democratic leadership this past legislative session."

The full text of Branstad's executive order is here (pdf). He called a press conference to showcase his action.

"The determination of whether hunters should be forced to stop using traditional shot is something that should be decided by the Legislature, not by administrative fiat," Branstad said before signing an executive order rescinding the ban put in place to protect public health.

Wait a second--the governor has to step in to protect legislative prerogative against "administrative fiat"? But the legislature opted not to act on this issue. Speaking to reporters today, Branstad asserted,

"I understand that Sen. Gronstal was going" to bring the resolution up for a vote "but it just didn't get done in the rush to adjourn," Bransta[d] said. "I don't think that failing to bring an issue up of this importance should be prevented and the governor does have the authority."

If Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal had wanted to bring the resolution on the lead ammunition rule up for a vote, he could have done so almost any day during the three months since the Senate Natural Resources Committee approved that resolution. The governor wants to have it both ways: respecting legislative intent to overturn a rule but not respecting legislative intent to leave that rule alone.

Incidentally, Branstad's own opinion on banning lead shot hasn't been consistent:

Branstad said last year that he would be OK with the lead ban if that was the consensus of the commission, according to commission minutes from testimony given by Conrad Clement, a Republican from Cresco that was appointed by the governor.
Branstad acknowledged today that he originally gave the green light to the ban but insisted that he was not fully informed on the issue prior to that conversation with Clement.
"At that point I didn't know the legislative history," Branstad said, noting that there was a rejected amendment to the dove bill that would have banned lead shot. "Obviously had I known those facts, I would have told the member of the commission that called me, this is something that clearly an administrative agency should not do something that goes directly the will or the intent of the legislature."

Strange logic there from the governor. He admits that he changed his mind about the issue after learning more facts. He cites one Iowa House vote on an amendment in early 2011 as proof that the Iowa legislature did not want to ban lead shot. (NOTE: see update at the end of this post.) Yet he doesn't respect the prerogative of the Iowa Senate to decide in 2012 whether to overturn the administrative rule.

Democratic Senator Rob Hogg, a supporter of the ban on lead ammunition, spoke to Rod Boshart yesterday:

"I think he should leave that rule in place, but obviously if he wants to try to convince the Natural Resources Commission to try to change the rule, he's free to do that," Hogg said. However, he noted the governor had indicated he believed the elected Legislature, not an appointed commission, should make the decision and lawmakers exercised their authority by validating the status quo.
"The commission made the decision that it was important to protect the health and safety of people and animals and the environment, and they saw this was a moment in time where the amount of lead in our environment might increase significantly," he said. "The data shows that dove hunting involves a lot more ammunition than other forms of hunting, and so they made the determination that that was a hazard to our environment. I don't think he really wants to roll back environmental protections, especially when there's such a viable alternative which is the steel shot which is just generally available in the marketplace now."

Hunting advocates like Democratic Senator Dick Dearden don't acknowledge evidence about the hazards of lead shot and don't consider steel shot a suitable alternative.

Dearden is unwilling to say whether the senate's inaction on the issue was intentional or accidental. Dearden intends to hunt doves in Iowa this September, using lead shot.
"Absolutely," Dearden said. "You know, if you're walking across a field pheasant hunting and a dove comes over, you don't have time to change shot. The lead thing is more anti-hunting. It's a way of, 'if we make is more and more difficult to hunter, there's going to be less and less hunters.'"

Speaking of specious "anti-hunter" accusations, the National Rifle Association applauded Branstad today.

"The National Rifle Association would like to thank Governor Branstad for rescinding this ill-conceived scheme by the Iowa Natural Resources Commission," said Chris W. Cox, executive director of NRA's Institute for Legislative Action. "The NRC pandered to anti-hunting extremist groups and did their political bidding. They failed to cite a single credible scientific study to back up their baseless claims to support this ban. Today, thanks to the leadership of Governor Branstad and to the tireless efforts of Senator Dick Dearden, fairness, integrity and common-sense have been restored to this process."
Traditional ammunition bans are financed by extremist anti-hunting groups - like the Humane Society of the United States and the Sierra Club under the guise of "conservation efforts". The long-term goals of these groups are to try to eradicate hunting and firearm ownership. Their attempt to gain a foothold in Iowa has been foiled.

I know plenty of hunters who support a ban on lead ammunition, which has been shown to harm predatory birds and other wildlife. But the National Rifle Association has long opposed any restriction whatsoever on the use of guns or ammunition.

Branstad's latest executive order will presumably derail consideration of a lawsuit the Sierra Club Iowa chapter filed earlier this year. The Sierra Club was seeking to force the Iowa DNR to enforce the lead shot ban by challenging the Administrative Rules Review Committee's power to overturn an administrative rule. The lawsuit contends that Article III, Section 1 of the Iowa Constitution outlines the separation of powers, and that a "committee of the Legislative Branch usurped the function and authority of a body of the Executive Branch."

Brenna Findley filed an amicus brief on behalf of the governor supporting the Administrative Rules Review Committee. Among other things, that brief notes that Article III, section 40 of the Iowa Constitution states, "The general assembly may nullify an adopted administrative rule of a state agency by the passage of a resolution by a majority of all of the members of each house of the general assembly." Iowa Code Section 17A.8 then "sets out the powers of the Rules Review Committee and allows for the legislative review process to continue even when the legislature is not in session. One action the Rules Review Committee may take is to delay the effective date of an agency rule until the adjournment of the next regular session of the legislature [...]."

Neila Seaman, director of the Sierra Club Iowa chapter, said her group is seeking legal advice on how to proceed now that Branstad has nullified part of the administrative rule. The executive order (pdf) rescinds just one sentence from the Natural Resource Commission's language and leaves the rest of the rule on dove hunting season intact. I wonder whether that creates space for a legal challenge. I am seeking further information on whether there is precedent for an Iowa governor to rescind only part of an administrative rule.

I think Seaman hit the nail on the head in describing the governor's contradictory stand on this issue.

"You know, he said it was up to the legislature to make the decision about how to proceed with this and when he didn't like what the legislature did - which was the Senate did nothing - now he's issued an executive order that rescinds the ban on lead ammunition for hunting mourning doves," Seaman said.

Share any relevant thoughts in this thread.

UPDATE: The Lead Is Poison coalition issued this statement on May 11:

The Lead is Poison Coalition is deeply concerned with Governor Branstad's decision to issue an executive order rescinding the rule to ban lead shot in mourning dove hunting. This executive order favors one special interest group above the health of all of Iowa's citizens and wildlife, and burdens future generations with the clean up of this toxic substance. The Coalition will continue to research the issue, educate the public, and promote safe, responsible hunting using non-toxic ammunition.

Click here (pdf) for Lead Is Poison's handout on why non-toxic shot should be required for dove hunting.

SECOND UPDATE: I had to laugh watching Branstad go on television to criticize President Obama for coming out in support of same-sex marriage: "I find it tragic to see the President of the United States pandering to the Hollywood money crowd instead of focusing on the things that are important to America [...]."

Some of us find it tragic to see the governor of Iowa pandering to the NRA crowd with a special press conference and executive order.

THIRD UPDATE: Turns out the Iowa House vote against that amendment to ban lead shot wasn't as clear a statement of legislative intent as Branstad implied. A Bleeding Heartland reader alerted me to the fact that House Republican Rich Arnold, who floor-managed the dove-hunting bill in 2011, said the Natural Resource Commission could establish rules on what kind of ammunition was allowed for hunting doves. From James Q. Lynch's report for the Cedar Rapids Gazette in March 2011:

On the way to approving the bill, representatives offered amendments to prohibit using lead shot, require dove hunters to buy migratory fowl stamps and prohibit dove hunting within a mile of a residence. All were rejected. [GOP State Representative Rich] Arnold said the Natural Resources Commission could establish those rules.

FINAL UPDATE: The Des Moines Register's editorial board commented on May 14:

Apparently the governor was waiting for lawmakers to go home before he dusted off his pulpit. But then what did he stand up for? Ensuring that hunters can spray a toxic substance all over Iowa's rural countryside. That's right. Of all the issues he could have championed, he chose introducing more lead into our environment. [...]
It's ironic that this comes from the former president of a medical school. Lead is toxic and has been proven to cause brain damage and death in wildlife and humans.
That's why the federal government banned lead shot in hunting waterfowl decades ago. That's why lead is banned from paint and gasoline. That's why the Iowa Department of Public Health's website says "lead has adverse effects on nearly all organ systems in the body."
When hunters use lead shot, the tiny pellets that miss their mark mix with grit birds eat to aid their digestion. Ingesting a single pellet can be fatal to them. There is no good reason for lead to be spread all over Iowa's countryside by hunters.
The Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club is reviewing legal options to challenge the governor's executive order. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller should do the same.
Perhaps the governor can't be convinced to do what's right for Iowa. But overstepping his authority should be challenged.

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 Senate for 2012

desmoinesdem — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:41:20 GMT

The November special election in Iowa Senate district 18 confirmed that Democrats will maintain a 26 to 24 majority in the upper chamber during the legislature's 2012 session, set to begin on January 9.

Senate Democrats and Republicans recently announced updated committee assignments. Majority and minority leadership teams are after the jump, along with all members of standing committees. I've also noted which senators are up for re-election in 2012 and which are retiring next year.
Iowa Senate Democratic leadership team

Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (bio) was first elected in 1984 from a district covering most of Council Bluffs in Pottawattamie County. Gronstal is up for re-election in the new Senate district 8; his likely Republican opponent is Al Ringgenberg.

Senate President Jack Kibbie (bio) served a term in the Iowa Senate during the 1960s and was later elected six times, beginning in 1988. He represents the "old" district 4, covering Emmet, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas and Humboldt Counties, plus part of Webster County. The new map of political boundaries put Kibbie in a much more Republican area of northwest Iowa; he is retiring after the 2012 legislative session.

Assistant majority leaders:

Joe Bolkcom (bio) was first elected in 1998 from a district covering most of Iowa City in Johnson County. He holds over until 2014 in the new Senate district 43.

Bill Dotzler (bio) was first elected in 2002 from a district covering a large area in Waterloo in Black Hawk County. He holds over until 2014 in the new Senate district 31.

Wally Horn (bio) was first elected in 1978 from Cedar Rapids in Linn County. He holds over until 2014 in the new Senate district 35.

Amanda Ragan (bio) was first elected in 2002 from the "old" district 7, covering Floyd and Mitchell counties and part of Cerro Gordo, including Mason City. She holds over until 2014 in the new Senate district 27, which still includes Mason City and most of Cerro Gordo but now covers Franklin and most of Butler County instead of Floyd and Mitchell.

Steve Sodders (bio) was first elected in 2008 from the old district 22, covering Hardin and Marshall Counties. He is up for re-election in 2012 in the new district 36, covering Marshall and Tama Counties and part of Black Hawk.

Iowa Senate Republican leadership team

Minority leader Jerry Behn (bio) was first elected in 1996 and currently represents most of Boone and Dallas counties. Behn is up for re-election in 2012 in the new district 24, covering all of Boone, Hamilton, and Greene counties and part of Webster.

Minority whip Brad Zaun (bio) was first elected in 2004 from the old district 32, covering Urbandale and part of Des Moines in Polk County. He is up for re-election in 2012 in the new Senate district 20, covering Urbandale, Johnston and Grimes.

Assistant minority leaders:

Merlin Bartz (bio) served for 10 years in the Iowa Senate, left elected office for seven years, then won the 2008 election in district 6, covering Winnebago, Worth, Hancock, Franklin and much of Cerro Gordo County outside Mason City. In 2012 he will face Democratic State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm in the new district 26, covering Worth, Mitchell, Floyd, Howard and Chickasaw counties, part of Cerro Gordo (but not Mason City or Clear Lake) and part of Winneshiek (but not Decorah).

David Johnson (bio) was first elected in 2002 from a district covering Osceola, Dickinson, Clay and O'Brien Counties, plus part of Sioux. He holds over until 2014 in the new district 1, covering Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Clay and Palo Alto counties.

Tim Kapucian (bio) was first elected in 2008 from a district covering Benton and Grundy counties, most of Tama and part of Iowa County. He is up for re-election in 2012 in the new district 38, covering all of Benton, Iowa and Poweshiek counties.

Roby Smith was first elected in 2010 from a district centered in Bettendorf and Davenport in Scott County. He holds over until 2014 in the new district 47, which hasn't changed much. His official bio page on the Senate Republicans' website contains no background information.

Pat Ward (bio), first elected in 2004 from district 30, covering Clive, Windsor Heights and most of West Des Moines in Polk County. The redistricting plan put her in the new district 21, paired with Democratic State Senator Matt McCoy. Ward has said she will move to a different West Des Moines neighborhood and run for re-election in the new district 22 next year. A more conservative Republican, Jeff Mullen, has also announced his candidacy in Senate district 22.

Iowa Senate Standing Commitees

Agriculture

Chair: Joe Seng (bio) was first elected in 2002 from district 43, covering Davenport in Scott County. He holds over until 2014 in the new district 45.

Vice Chair: Gene Fraise (bio) has served in the Iowa Senate since 1984 and is retiring after the 2012 session.

Ranking member: David Johnson (see bio above)

Other members: Dennis Black (D), Tod Bowman (D), Tom Courtney (D), Tom Hancock (D), Jack Kibbie (D), Tom Rielly (D), Sandy Greiner (R), Jim Hahn (R), Hubert Houser (R), Tim Kapucian (R)

Appropriations

Chair: Bob Dvorsky (bio) was first elected in 1994 and currently represents district 15, covering parts of Johnson and Linn Counties, including Coralville. He holds over until 2014 in the new district 37, covering Coralvill e and a large area in Johnson County as well as Cedar County. He is married to Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sue Dvorsky.

Vice Chair: Matt McCoy (bio) has represented parts of Des Moines in the Iowa Senate since 1994. He holds over until 2014 in the new district 21, covering much of the south side of Des Moines and part of West Des Moines in Polk County.

Ranking member: Bill Dix (bio) was just elected to his first term in the Iowa Senate in 2010. He previously served in the Iowa House for ten years, rising to the position of House Appropriations Committee chair. He lost the November 2011 Senate Republican leadership election to Jerry Behn.

Other members: Dennis Black (D), Joe Bolkcom (D), Jeff Danielson (D), Bill Dotzler (D), Gene Fraise (D), Tom Hancock (D), Jack Hatch (D), Rob Hogg (D), Pam Jochum (D), Amanda Ragan (D), Brian Schoenjahn (D), Merlin Bartz (R), Nancy Boettger (R), Hubert Houser (R), David Johnson (R), Tim Kapucian (R), Steve Kettering (R), Jim Seymour (R)

Commerce

Chair: Matt McCoy moved up to this position after Swati Dandekar resigned from the Iowa Senate to accept a spot on the Iowa Utilities Board.

Vice Chair: Tom Rielly (bio)was first elected in 2004 from the old district 38. He is up for re-election in 2012 in the much more conservative-leaning district 40, covering Mahaska, Monroe and Appanoose counties and parts of Wapello and Marion.

Ranking member: Bill Anderson (bio) was just elected to the Iowa Senate in 2010 from the old district 27. He holds over until 2014 in the new district 3, covering much of Woodbury County (including southern neighborhoods in Sioux City) and most of Plymouth County.

Other members: Daryl Beall (D), Joe Bolkcom (D), Tom Courtney (D), Liz Mathis (D), Brian Schoenjahn (D), Joe Seng (D), Mary Jo Wilhelm (D), Rick Bertrand (R), Randy Feenstra (R), Steve Kettering (R), Pat Ward (R), Brad Zaun (R)

Economic Growth

Chair: Steve Sodders (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Bill Dotzler (see bio above)

Ranking member: Sandy Greiner (bio) served in the Iowa House from 1993-2000 and from 2003-2008, and spent two years in the Iowa Senate in 2001 and 2002. She came out of political retirement to defeat Democratic State Senator Becky Schmitz in 2010 from the old district 45. She holds over until 2014 in the new district 39, covering part of Johnson County, most of Washington County and all of Keokuk County. Greiner is also board president of the American Future Fund, a 501(c)4 organization that has spent heavily in elections in Iowa and around the country.

Other members: Tod Bowman (D), Jeff Danielson (D), Jack Hatch (D), Wally Horn (D), Liz Mathis (D), Tom Rielly (D), Mary Jo Wilhelm (D), Rob Bacon (R), Rick Bertrand (R), Mark Chelgren (R), Pat Ward (R), Jack Whitver (R)

Education

Chair: Herman Quirmbach (bio) was first elected in 2002 from the old district 23, covering Ames and immediate surroundings in Story County and a portion of eastern Boone County. He holds over until 2014 in the new district 23, covering Ames and some rural areas in Story County.

Vice Chair: Brian Schoenjahn (bio) was first elected in 2004 from the old district 12, covering Clayton County and parts of Delaware and Fayette Counties. He is up for re-election in 2012 in the new district 32, covering Bremer County and parts of Fayette, Buchanan and Black Hawk.

Ranking member: Shawn Hamerlinck (bio) was first elected in 2008 from district 42, covering most of Scott County outside the Quad Cities and part of Clinton County. He is up for re-election in 2012 but hasn't made clear whether he intends to seek another term. The new map paired him with Republican State Senator Jim Hahn in the new district 46.

Other members: Tod Bowman (D), Daryl Beall (D), Bob Dvorsky (D), Rob Hogg (D), Steve Sodders (D), Mary Jo Wilhelm (D), Nancy Boettger (R), Randy Feenstra (R), David Johnson (R), Roby Smith (R)

Ethics

This committee has three members from each party in accordance with Iowa law.

Co-chair: Jack Kibbie (see bio above)

Co-chair: Paul McKinley (bio) was first elected in 2000 from the old district 36, covering Marion, Lucas and Monroe Counties, plus the western portion of Mahaska. McKinley resigned as Senate Republican leader in November and announced that he will retire after the 2012 legislative session.

Other members: Gene Fraise (D), Joe Seng (D), Jerry Behn (R), Steve Kettering (R)

Human Resources

Chair: Amanda Ragan (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Mary Jo Wilhelm (bio) was first elected in 2008 from the old district 8, covering Allamakee, Winneshiek, Howard and Chickasaw Counties. She is up for re-election next year and will face GOP Senator Merlin Bartz in the new district 26.

Ranking member: Jim Seymour (bio) was first elected to the Senate in 2002. It's not clear whether he will be on the ballot in 2012. The new map paired him with fellow Republican Nancy Boettger in the new district 9, covering Harrison, Shelby, Ida, and Monona counties, plus parts of Crawford and Woodbury. If Boettger retires, Seymour would hold over until 2014. If he retires, Boettger holds over, and if both run, they will face off in the June 2012 Republican primary.

Other members: Joe Bolkcom (D), Bill Dotzler (D), Jack Hatch (D), Pam Jochum (D), Liz Mathis (D), Herman Quirmbach (D), Rob Bacon (R), Nancy Boettger (R), David Johnson (R), Jack Whitver (R)

Judiciary

Chair: Gene Fraise (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Rob Hogg (bio) was first elected in 2006 from the old district 19, covering northeast and southeast Cedar Rapids in Linn County. He holds over until 2014 in the new district 33, covering a slightly different area in Cedar Rapids.

Ranking member: Nancy Boettger (bio) has served in the Iowa Senate since 1995. She may be on the ballot in the new district 9 in 2012, if both she and Republican Senator Jim Seymour run for re-election. If he retires, she would hold over until 2014.

Other members: Bob Dvorsky (D), Tom Hancock (D), Wally Horn (D), Pam Jochum (D), Herman Quirmbach (D), Steve Sodders (D), Bill Dix (R), Kent Sorenson (R), Pat Ward (R), Jack Whitver (R)

Labor and Business Relations

Chair: Wally Horn (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Pam Jochum (bio) was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2008 from district 14, covering the city of Dubuque in Dubuque County. She is up for re-election in the new district 50, covering largely the same area.

Ranking member: Pat Ward (see bio above)

Other members: Tom Courtney (D), Dick Dearden (D), Bill Dotzler (D), Gene Fraise (D), Jack Hatch (D), Bill Anderson (R), Rick Bertrand (R), Mark Chelgren (R)

Local Government

Chair: Mary Jo Wilhelm (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Daryl Beall (bio) was first elected in 2002 from the old district 25, covering most of Webster County, including Fort Dodge, Greene and Calhoun Counties. He holds over until 2014 in the new district 5, covering Humboldt, Pocahontas and Calhoun counties and most of Webster County, including Fort Dodge.

Ranking member: Merlin Bartz (see bio above)

Other members: Tod Bowman (D), Tom Courtney (D), Tom Rielly (D), Herman Quirmbach (D), Brian Schoenjahn (D), Rob Bacon (R), Joni Ernst (R), Shawn Hamerlinck (R)

Natural Resources and Environment

Chair: Dick Dearden (bio) was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 1992 and currently represents district 34, covering much of the east side of Des Moines and Pleasant Hill in Polk County. He is up for re-election in 2012 in the new district 16, covering a similar area in Polk County.

Vice Chair: Dennis Black (bio) has served in the Senate since 1995 and now represents most of Jasper County and part of southeast Polk County. He holds over until 2014 in the new district 15, also covering most of Jasper and a large area in eastern Polk County.

Ranking member: Jim Hahn (bio) was first elected in 2004 from district 40, covering Cedar County, most of Muscatine County and a small part of Johnson County. He is up for re-election in 2012 in the new district 46.

Other members: Joe Bolkcom (D), Tom Hancock (D), Rob Hogg (D), Amanda Ragan (D), Brian Schoenjahn (D), Joe Seng (D), Joni Ernst (R), Jim Hahn (R), Shawn Hamerlinck (R), Tim Kapucian (R)

Rules and Administration

Chair: Mike Gronstal (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Jack Kibbie (see bio above)

Ranking member: Jerry Behn (see bio above)

Other members: Tom Courtney (D), Jeff Danielson (D), Dick Dearden (D), Bob Dvorsky (D), Amanda Ragan (D), Merlin Bartz (R), Paul McKinley (R), Brad Zaun (R)

State Government

Chair: Jeff Danielson (bio) was first elected in 2004 from district 10, covering Cedar Falls, part of Waterloo and some rural areas in Black Hawk County. He is up for re-election in 2012 in the new district 30, covering a similar area.

Vice Chair: Jack Kibbie (see bio above)

Ranking member: Kent Sorenson (bio) was just elected to the Iowa Senate in 2010 from the old district 37. He holds over until 2014 in the new district 13, covering a similar area in Warren and Madison counties.

Other members: Dick Dearden (D), Gene Fraise (D), Pam Jochum (D), Jack Hatch (D), Wally Horn (D), Matt McCoy (D), Steve Sodders (D), Rick Bertrand (R), Mark Chelgren (R), Bill Dix (R), Randy Feenstra (R), Roby Smith (R)

Transportation

Chair: Tom Rielly (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Tod Bowman (bio) was narrowly elected to the Iowa Senate in 2010, representing the old district 13 in Jackson and Clinton counties. Thanks to fellow Senate Democrat Tom Hancock's decision to retire, Bowman holds over until 2014 in the new district 29, covering Jackson, most of Dubuque County (but not the city of Dubuque) and a large area in Jones County.

Ranking member: Tim Kapucian (see bio above)

Other members: Daryl Beall (D), Jeff Danielson (D), Dick Dearden (D), Bob Dvorsky (D), Tom Hancock (D), Matt McCoy (D), Joni Ernst (R), Jim Hahn (R), Hubert Houser (R), Brad Zaun (R)

Ways & Means

Chair: Joe Bolkcom (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Joe Seng (see bio above)

Ranking member: Randy Feenstra (bio) was first elected to the Senate in 2008 from district 2, covering Lyon County, most of Sioux and Plymouth Counties. He is up for re-election in 2012 from the new district 2, covering Sioux, O'Brien and Cherokee counties.

Other members: Dennis Black (D), Bill Dotzler (D), Rob Hogg (D), Pam Jochum (D), Liz Mathis (D), Matt McCoy (D), Herman Quirmbach (D), Bill Anderson (R), Merlin Bartz (R), Mark Chelgren (R), Roby Smith (R), Brad Zaun (R)

Veterans Affairs

Chair: Daryl Beall (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Jeff Danielson (see bio above)

Ranking member: Jim Seymour (see bio above)

Other members: Dennis Black (D), Wally Horn (D), Jack Kibbie (D), Amanda Ragan (D), Steve Sodders (D), Rob Bacon (R), Joni Ernst (R), Sandy Greiner (R)

Budget Subcommittees

Administration and Regulation

Chair: Pam Jochum (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Jeff Danielson (see bio above)

Ranking member: Merlin Bartz (see bio above)

Agriculture/Natural Resources

Chair: Dennis Black (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Dick Dearden (see bio above)

Ranking member: Hubert Houser (see bio above)

Economic Development

Chair: Bill Dotzler (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Joe Seng (see bio above)

Ranking member: Nancy Boettger (see bio above)

Education

Chair: Brian Schoenjahn (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Herman Quirmbach (see bio above)

Ranking member: Bill Dix (see bio above)

Health and Human Services

Chair: Jack Hatch (bio) was first elected in 2002 from district 33, covering much of central Des Moines in Polk County. He holds over until 2014 in the new district 17, covering a similar area.

Vice Chair: Amanda Ragan (see bio above)

Ranking member: David Johnson (see bio above)

Justice Systems

Chair: Tom Hancock (bio) was first elected in 2004 from the old district 16, covering Jones County, most of Delaware County and most of Dubuque County outside the city of Dubuque. He opted to retire next year after the redistricting plan paired him with fellow Democrat Tod Bowman in the new district 29.

Vice Chair: Rob Hogg (see bio above)

Ranking member: Jim Seymour (see bio above)

Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals

Chair: Matt McCoy (see bio above)

Vice Chair: Daryl Beall (see bio above)

Ranking member: Tim Kapucian (see bio above)

Government Oversight

Chair: Tom Courtney (bio) was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2000. He currently represents district 44, covering Des Moines and Louisa Counties, plus a sliver of Muscatine County. He is up for re-election in 2012 in the new district 44, covering Des Moines and Louisa Counties, plus a larger area in Muscatine.

Vice Chair: Steve Sodders (see bio above)

Ranking member: Kent Sorenson (see bio above)

UPDATE: The full list of Senate Republican committee assignments by member is here (pdf).

The Democratic committee assignments are here.

Legislative panel delays lead ammo ban for dove hunting

desmoinesdem — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 02:51:42 GMT

The Iowa legislature's Administrative Rules Review Committee lived up to its unofficial nickname today: "Where good rules go to die." Nine of the ten lawmakers on the panel voted to delay a proposed ban on lead shot for dove hunting until after next year's legislative session. It's a safe bet that before then, legislators will pass a bill allowing hunters to use any kind of ammunition to kill doves.
The Iowa House and Senate ended a nearly century-old ban on mourning dove hunting this year, using some tricks to avoid the normal legislative process. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources drafted rules for a 70-day dove hunting season from September 1 through November 9. The legislature's Administrative Rules Review Committee, composed of five state representatives and five state senators, approved those rules in May.

Last month, the Iowa Natural Resource Commission voted unanimously to ban lead shot for dove hunting. The seven members were concerned about the impact on animals that eat carrion and can be harmed by ingesting lead. Those same concerns prompted the federal government to ban lead shot for waterfowl hunting in 1991.

The National Rifle Association put out an action alert asking members to contact Governor Terry Branstad, who has the authority to overturn rules proposed by the Natural Resource Commission. NRA members appear to have influenced Branstad on this issue:

Gregory Drees, chairman of the Natural Resources Commission, said panel members were under the impression they had the governor's backing when they unanimously approved the lead-shot ban in July. However, he said Branstad apparently had a change of heart since his representative at today's committee meeting said the governor believed the decision rested with the Legislature.
"This is an issue I feel the Legislature should decide on, not a commission," Branstad said in an interview earlier this month. "The Legislature authorized a dove-hunting season, but this issue of lead shot is a separate issue and it seems to me that's an issue the Legislature decide."

Sierra Club Iowa Chapter Director Neila Seaman attended today's Administrative Rules Review Committee meeting and reported,

Willie Suchy, of Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Unit, and Greg Drees, Natural Resource Commission (NRC) chair, presented information to the legislators about the rule and public comment. Drees mentioned that one of the NRC members (Conrad Clement) had talked to Gov. Branstad a couple of hours before the meeting and discussed the amendment he planned to propose requiring alternative ammunition. Clement said Branstad told him if there was consensus among the commissioners, he would support it.
In a complete about face, Brenna Findley, the Governor's staff assigned to the committee, stated that "The Governor's position is and always has been that the decision belongs to the legislature."

Findley had the NRA's endorsement for her attorney general campaign last year, so it's a no-brainer she would advise the governor to take this position. Really, Drees and the other Natural Resource Commission members should never have expected Branstad to back them up. In April of this year, the governor overturned a broader ban on lead shot in certain areas, as the NRA had asked him to do.

As it happens, the governor didn't need to take action on dove hunting ammunition. Today's Administrative Rules Review Committee vote means that the proposed rule can't be implemented until the state legislature has adjourned from its 2012 session. Hunting enthusiasts in both parties will make sure a bill is passed before then to allow the use of lead shot. When the Iowa House considered the dove hunting bill this year, members rejected an amendment that would have banned lead ammunition. Some senior Democrats in the Iowa Senate are on record opposing the Natural Resource Commission's proposed rule, including Senate President Jack Kibbie and State Senator Dick Dearden. Dearden claims "no science" supports banning lead ammunition, despite ample evidence that bald eagles and other wildlife are harmed by ingesting lead shot.

Hunters won't be restricted in their choice of ammunition during this year's dove hunting season. If for some reason the legislature fails to pass a bill regulating ammunition for hunting doves, the ban on lead shot would apply to the season that runs from September 1 to November 9, 2012.

Democratic State Representative Jo Oldson was the only member of the Administrative Rules Review Committee to vote against delaying implementation of the lead shot rule. The nine members who voted for the delay were Democratic Senators Wally Horn, Tom Courtney, and Jack Kibbie, GOP Senators James Seymour and Merlin Bartz, GOP State Representatives Dawn Pettengill, Dave Heaton, and Guy Vander Linden, and Democratic State Representative Rick Olson.

According to Seaman, four lawmakers who do not serve on the rules review committee spoke during today's meeting. Democratic State Representative Sharon Steckman supported the proposed ban on lead ammunition. Dearden and GOP State Representatives Henry Rayhons and Clel Baudler opposed the rule, which they depicted as anti-hunting. A national NRA board member, Baudler will probably be a leading force behind legislation next year to allow all kinds of ammunition for hunting in Iowa. The NRA's top Iowa legislative priority became law in 2010, but thanks in part to a mishap with a live mic in the Iowa House, nothing on the group's legislative agenda for 2011 made it through both chambers.

Share any relevant thoughts in this thread.

UPDATE: From a sidebar in the Des Moines Register on August 19:

What does the science say?
Lead pellets in shotgun shells are poisonous. When a hunter shoots at an animal, these pellets are scattered all over. Wildlife ingesting a few of these tiny pellets can be poisoned to death. Studies reviewed by the Iowa Natural Resource Commission and shared with the Des Moines Register editorial page found:
• Unlike other upland-game hunting, mourning dove hunting "can deposit large quantities of lead shot on relatively small areas." Research has shown that 860,185 lead pellets were deposited on managed fields in New Mexico, 27,515 pellets in Indiana and 6,342 pellets in Missouri. "Mourning doves feeding in these managed fields ingest lead shots because the spent shotgun pellets appear similar to weed and grain seeds."
• As previous research has suggested, free-ranging mourning doves ingest spent lead pellets, succumb to lead poisoning and die "in a relatively short time." Wildlife management agencies should develop a "long-term strategic plan aimed at implementing a nontoxic shot regulation for mourning dove hunting."
The editorial page also contacted the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks agency because the debate over lead shot versus steel shot has raged there for several years. According to information distributed by the state of Montana:
• Each year about 6,000 pounds of lead shot are deposited into the environment by waterfowl hunters - killing an estimated 2 to 3 million birds each year from lead sot ingestion. "Losses of this magnitude nearly equal the annual duck harvest in the Central Flyway."
• "Studies show that significant numbers of endangered bald eagles also have died from lead poisoning since 1980." These eagles died after ingesting lead shot while eating waterfowl tissues containing lead pellets.

Nine Iowa senators call for shelving pro-nuclear bill

desmoinesdem — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:07:29 GMT

Nine Iowa Senate Democrats have signed an open letter asking their colleagues to shelve a pro-nuclear power bill this session and to create 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 senators who signed were Daryl Beall (district 25), Dennis Black (district 21), Joe Bolkcom (district 39), Dick Dearden (district 34), Robert Dvorsky (district 15), Gene Fraise (district 46), Jack Hatch (district 33), Rob Hogg (district 19) and Pam Jochum (district 14). The full text of their letter is after the jump. Excerpt:

Specifically, we have the following concerns:
* There is very little known about how much a new nuclear power plant would cost or how it would
impact utility rates, especially for seniors, working families, and Iowa businesses.
* The proposed technology - small modular reactors - is unproven and has not been approved by
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
* There are significant safety and financial liability concerns, especially after the nuclear disaster in Japan. United States Senator Joseph Lieberman has called for "putting the brakes on" the construction of new nuclear power plants "until we can absorb what has happened in Japan."
* There are potential issues with the creation of a permanent government bureaucracy to permit, monitor, and regulate any new nuclear power plants.
* There are unresolved siting issues about where the plant or plants would be located and how the property would be acquired for the construction of the plants.
MidAmerican Energy is only in the first of what was represented to be a three-year study on the feasibility of constructing a new nuclear power plant in Iowa. When that bill was passed, it was contemplated that Iowa would take at least three years to make any decision about new nuclear power plants. There is no rush.

Speaking to the Des Moines Register yesterday, Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen predicted the bill will pass this year. Iowa's only current nuclear power plant is in Paulsen's district. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal supports the bill.

MidAmerican Energy President William Fehrman is expected to attend an Iowa Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing on the bill later today. Fehrman has said the bill would help MidAmerican attract investors for a nuclear construction project. Critics point out that the legislation would lead to higher utility bills for hundreds of thousands of Iowans and would tilt the field so far in favor of expanding nuclear power that less costly energy efficiency and renewable energy projects might not be pursued.

On the other hand, even before this week's crisis at the Fukushima facility in Japan, financing was not coming together for proposed nuclear power plant projects in the United States. So one could argue that even if this bill becomes law, MidAmerican probably won't attract the investor support needed to build nuclear plants here. In that case, why let the company charge its Iowa customers more now to pay for anticipated future construction costs?

Meanwhile, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has ranked the 104 nuclear power plants across the country in terms of earthquake risk. Iowa's Duane Arnold nuclear reactor is 26th on that list. Yesterday several U.S. Senate Democrats urged the head of the NRC to conduct a thorough review of all nuclear reactors in this country, especially those in earthquake-prone areas.

In Germany, political leaders have decided to temporarily shut down seven of the country's oldest nuclear reactors in order to conduct a safety review. The prime minister of Spain has also called for a review of all that country's nuclear power plants. A nuclear energy expert whose name I didn't catch pointed out yesterday on CNN that baseload demand for electricity is relatively low in the spring, so it wouldn't cause problems on the grid to shut down U.S. nuclear power plants for a month or two during a safety review.

UPDATE: Fehrman told the Iowa Senate subcommittee that "MidAmerican Energy customers would see their power bills rise 10 percent over a decade to pay for the investor-owned utility's share of a proposed Iowa nuclear plant." He confirmed that the plant would be completed no sooner than 2020, and that Iowa ratepayers would not get their money back, even if the construction never moved forward.

Sen. Swati Dandekar of Marion said Iowans are concerned about paying for a project that may cost more than the utility thinks, given the nation's record on cost overruns at nuclear plants.
"There is no doubt there is a history of cost overruns in this industry," Fehrman said. "We've asked for more oversight of this project, and that's in the bill."
MidAmerican is pushing legislation that would set some of the rate-making principles to be applied to the plant, in effect telling investors how the utility would recover its expenses.

Also on Thursday, the Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club and the American Association of Retired Persons came out against the bill. From an AARP statement:

"AARP believes it is unfair to consumers and bad policy for the Iowa General Assembly to enact legislation that would allow utility companies to charge consumers in advance for costs of a new plant before it is in service, and require consumers to continue to have to pay even if the plant development is canceled, or goes over budget [....] 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."

Still the self-styled taxpayer watchdog groups are missing in action on this bill.

Iowa Senate
State of Iowa
Eighty-fourth General Assembly
STATEHOUSE
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Switchboard : (515) 281-3371
March 16, 2011 Dear Colleagues:
We are extremely concerned about proposed legislation that appears to be on a fast track to pave the way for the construction of one or more new nuclear power plants in Iowa.
Specifically, we have the following concerns:
* There is very little known about how much a new nuclear power plant would cost or how it would
impact utility rates, especially for seniors, working families, and Iowa businesses.
* The proposed technology - small modular reactors - is unproven and has not been approved by
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
* There are significant safety and financial liability concerns, especially after the nuclear disaster in Japan. United States Senator Joseph Lieberman has called for "putting the brakes on" the construction of new nuclear power plants "until we can absorb what has happened in Japan."
* There are potential issues with the creation of a permanent government bureaucracy to permit, monitor, and regulate any new nuclear power plants.
* There are unresolved siting issues about where the plant or plants would be located and how the property would be acquired for the construction of the plants.
MidAmerican Energy is only in the first of what was represented to be a three-year study on the feasibility of constructing a new nuclear power plant in Iowa. When that bill was passed, it was contemplated that Iowa would take at least three years to make any decision about new nuclear power plants. There is no rush.
We specifically request that we take more time to investigate this decision, and not advance this legislation this session. We further propose that a legislative commission be established this year 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.
Respectfully submitted,
Senator Daryl Beall
Senator Dennis Black
Senator Joe Bolkcom
Senator Dick Dearden
Senator Bob Dvorsky
Senator Gene Fraise
Senator Jack Hatch
Senator Rob Hogg
Senator Pam Jochum

Year in review: Iowa politics in 2009 (part 1)

desmoinesdem — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:08:56 GMT

I expected 2009 to be a relatively quiet year in Iowa politics, but was I ever wrong.

The governor's race heated up, state revenues melted down, key bills lived and died during the legislative session, and the Iowa Supreme Court's unanimous ruling in Varnum v Brien became one of this state's major events of the decade.

After the jump I've posted links to Bleeding Heartland's coverage of Iowa politics from January through June 2009. Any comments about the year that passed are welcome in this thread.

Although I wrote a lot of posts last year, there were many important stories I didn't manage to cover. I recommend reading Iowa Independent's compilation of "Iowa's most overlooked and under reported stories of 2009," as well as that blog's review of "stories that will continue to impact Iowa in 2010."
January 2009

In a Des Moines Register interview, Chet Culver evaluated his first two years in office and said he was aiming to be the best Iowa governor in history. His comments inspired this post on what kind of politicians make history, and what Culver would have to do to go down as one of the all-time greats.

The Iowa State Board of Education was considering new restrictions on junk food in schools.

I reflected on the Iowa caucuses on the one-year anniversary.

Jennifer O'Malley Dillon was named executive director for the Democratic National Committee. She had been John Edwards' Iowa campaign director before the 2008 caucuses and later served as director of battleground states strategy for Barack Obama's campaign.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources was wavering on new coal ash disposal rules.

Key investors pulled the plug on a proposed coal-fired power plant near Waterloo after a joint venture fell apart.

Bleeding Heartland user American007 offered nine predictions for 2009 and wasn't far off the mark.

I discussed the need to field a strong candidate against Chuck Grassley in 2010.

Hackers caused some big problems with Soapblox, the software that runs this blog.

Matt Strawn became the new chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa and vowed to improve the way the GOP communicates with voters. I argued that the Republicans' problem is what they say, not how they say it.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and Senate President Jack Kibbie laid out their priorities on the opening day of the 2009 legislative session.

Governor Culver appointed Charlie Krogmeier as his new chief of staff after Patrick Dillon resigned from that position in order to move to Washington.

The Des Moines Register published a bizarre article claiming that Tom Vilsack had relatively few ties to agribusiness.

Bleeding Heartland user IowaVoter reported on problems with the audit logs of Diebold voting machines.

A state infrastructure bonding program was the highlight of Governor Culver's Condition of the State address to the Iowa House and Senate. I supported borrowing money for infrastructure, but only if money was spent on a "fix-it first" basis.

Guest poster Senate Guru wondered whether Chuck Grassley might retire, but Grassley's office quickly denied that he was considering retirement.

A bunch of well-connected Democrats expressed interest in the U.S. attorney position for Iowa's southern district.

Governor Culver's outgoing chief of staff, Patrick Dillon, was appointed White House deputy director of political affairs.

Mary Lundby, a former Republican Iowa Senate majority leader, passed away.

I considered whether Hillary Clinton or John Edwards could have won the Iowa caucuses, assuming Barack Obama ran the same outstanding campaign he ran. This was one of the longest posts I've ever written, and it got a mixed reaction on national blogs where I cross-posted it.

John Norris announced plans to leave the Iowa Utilities Board in order to serve as Tom Vilsack's chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Norris was Vilsack's chief of staff during his first term as governor.

Selling the lottery would have been bad policy and disastrous politics. Fortunately, Culver's chief of staff announced that the proposal was going nowhere.

Former Des Moines City Council member Archie Brooks was sentenced for his role in the CIETC scandal, and I supported taking his name off the south-side community center.

Bleeding Heartland user IowaVoter explained the need for campaign finance reform.

Governor Culver endorsed significant spending cuts and no tax increases as he prepared to offer his 2010 budget proposal.

I took an early look at Chet Culver's re-election chances and concluded that he was in reasonably strong shape, but faced some danger signs including a declining economy.

Governor Culver recommended Michael Kiernan to be the new chair of the Iowa Democratic Party.

Swing State Project determined that Iowa's 2010 Senate contast was a "race to watch" but presumed safe for incumbent Chuck Grassley.

Iowa moved back up to second place in installed wind capacity.

Bleeding Heartland user cman (now a blogger for the Des Moines Register) warned Republicans that they had better adapt or die as a party.

The Des Moines Register announced the 2009 RAGBRAI route.

The Republican National Committee elected Michael Steele as new chairman. Iowa's RNC reps backed South Carolina Republican Party Chair Katon Dawson instead.

Jim Paprocki made a strong case for implementing instant-runoff voting in Iowa. It probably will never happen, but one can dream.

Bleeding Heartland user IowaVoter attended one of State Senate President Jack Kibbie's town-hall meetings and reported that Kibbie "showed his progressive side."

February 2009

I finally signed up for Twitter, but it took a few months for me to become well and truly addicted.

Michael Kiernan became the new chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party and said he would make it a priority to keep newly registered Democrats in the fold. I argued that he won't be able to do that unless the Democrats in charge of state government deliver real, lasting change that improves people's lives.

David Yepsen announced plans to step down as political columnist for the Des Moines Register in order to become director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University.

The City Council of Sioux City passed a resolution (with no legal force) declaring marriage to be between a man and a woman. I urged Bleeding Heartland readers to get ready to make the case for marriage equality if the Iowa Supreme Court handed down a favorable ruling.

State Senator Staci Appel was selected to serve as Iowa State Director for the non-partisan Women Legislators' Lobby.

The Iowa Utilities Board delivered a long-awaited ruling on "ratemaking principles" for the proposed coal-fired power plant near Marshalltown. The ruling was not what the utility had hoped for, increasing the chance that investors would abandon the project.

Iowa showed slight growth in the number of small farms, according to the latest USDA survey.

Democratic State Senator Dick Dearden was still obsessed with dove-hunting for some reason.

The Iowa Commission on the Status of Women posted a diary about their legislative priorities. I'd like to see more organizations posting this kind of information during the legislative session.

State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald said the proposal on leasing the state lottery would be a very bad deal for the government.

The Iowa legislature wasn't considering any of the campaign finance reforms this state needs most.

The Iowa Family Policy Center warned that homosexuals were "co-opting" Valentine's Day.

As the House approved the stimulus bill (with Iowa's representatives split on party lines) and Tom Harkin said he wasn't a "happy camper" in light of compromises made, I looked at what the stimulus bill would mean for Iowa.

The Iowa Senate passed a bill banning wage discrimination based on age, race, religion, gender and the other protected classes cited in the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

President Obama signed the stimulus bill, and I linked to various pages with more details about what the package allocated to Iowa.

The Iowa House and Senate approved the Natural Resources Trust Fund constitutional amendment, which was backed by a large coalition of environmental groups. The amendment is now subject to a public vote in November 2010.

A top legislative priority for organized labor, the prevailing wage bill, stalled in the Iowa House. Leaders kept the vote open for a whole weekend, hoping to find a 51st vote. I saw the episode as the price of the Obama campaign's flawed GOTV program in 2008, which produced smaller down-ticket gains than expected.

The Culver family adopted a shelter dog.

I reflected on my biggest health scare and how much worse it might have been if I didn't have health insurance.

As the Iowa House failed to pass the prevailing wage bill, I discussed who was to blame for the fiasco and how Democrats should proceed on labor issues.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee decided to keep Leonard Boswell in its Frontline program for vulnerable incumbents.

The Iowa Senate's state government committee approved a bill that would assign Iowa's electoral votes to the presidential candidate who won the national popular vote.

Because the food-stamp program produces more economic stimulus than any other form of government spending (and much more stimulus than any kind of tax cut), I looked at how Iowa compared to other states in terms of food stamp participation rates.

State Auditor David Vaudt advocated rejecting some of the federal stimulus funds available to Iowa.

March 2009

The Iowa Citizen Action Network announced its 2009 award winners, including Representative Bruce Braley.

Rival colleges Wartburg and Luther channeled their competitive energy into a contest to see which campus could conserve more and reduce utility bills.

More details emerged on the highway funds allocated to Iowa under the stimulus bill.

Governor Culver and Secretary of State Mike Mauro spoke out against a bill that would award Iowa's electoral votes to the winner of the nationwide popular vote, but I warned that saving the electoral college would not necessarily keep Iowa relevant.

Environmental groups asked citizens to send public comments to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on key water and air quality issues.

The nonprofit organization Plains Justice asked Iowans to contact state legislators about energy efficiency bills.

I urged state legislators to show engaged citizens some common courtesy when they care enough about a bill to contact lawmakers.

Interstate Power and Light pulled the plug on the Marshalltown coal-fired power plant.

Governor Culver named Rob Berntsen chairman of the Iowa Utilities Board, replacing John Norris.

Comments by Elizabeth Dole's former campaign manager reminded me that it helps for incumbents to have some record to run on.

I wondered whether it would be politically smart for Representative Tom Latham to cooperate with President Obama.

Guest poster Nathaniel90 created a 2012 Congressional map for Iowa, which sparked a blog skirmish between Bleeding Heartland and Republican blogger Krusty Konservative over alleged gerrymandering and compact districts.

Iowa Republicans let their hypocrisy show in the debate over a bill that would have allowed employees to select their own doctor in case of a workplace injury.

Survey USA released a pretty bad poll for Chet Culver, leading Bleeding Heartland user American007 to ask, Is the Big Lug in trouble?

Howard Learner, executive director of the Chicago-based Environmental Law & Policy Center, urged Iowa to "be a leader in the rapidly growing green economy."

President Obama proposed reforms to the Congressional earmarking process, and I gave background on the failure of Democratic leadership that led to Tom Harkin's $1.8 million earmark for studying odors from large hog confinements (CAFOs) in Iowa. That earmark that became a poster child for Republican outrage over wasteful spending.

Tom Latham took credit for getting earmarks to fund Iowa projects in the omnibus spending bill he voted against.

Chuck Grassley posted my all-time favorite tweet by him, indicating that Iowa Republican lawmakers felt ignored by business lobbyists.

Tom Harkin recommended Stephanie Rose and Nick Klinefeldt for the positions of U.S. attorney in Iowa's northern and southern districts.

Steve King took credit for stimulus funds that will help widen U.S. Highway 20 in rural northwest Iowa, even though he voted against the stimulus bill.

On my 40th birthday I posted a list of 40 good bloggers over 40, though it turned out a few of them were younger than I realized.

Bleeding Heartland user ragbrai08 posted an outstanding piece analyzing Iowa's 2001 redistricting process and evaluating three possible Iowa maps with four Congressional districts.

The Iowa Global Warming Campaign noted that "Iowa residents and businesses could save over $690 million on their utility bills if utility companies cut demand for electricity by 15 percent and natural gas by 10 percent by 2020."

Iowa Democratic Veterans Caucus chair Bob Krause announced plans to run against Chuck Grassley in 2010.

One of Iowa's largest employers, the Principal Financial Group, announced pay cuts to affect all employees in lieu of another mass layoff (which Principal had enacted in December 2008).

The Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference had more bad news about the economy.

A bill that would allow some early ballots to be counted before election day concerned me.

Organic dairy farmer Francis Thicke announced that he was considering a bid for Iowa secretary of agriculture in 2010.

The Iowa legislature pretended to care about money in politics, passing a bill to close the so-called "Fallon loophole."

The White House held a regional forum on health care reform in Des Moines.

Bleeding Heartland user Iowan said Iowans need the large increase in clean water funding in President Obama's budget proposal.

The cover story for the Atlantic Monthly promped me to make my case against Hanna Rosin's case against breastfeeding.

The Rebuild Iowa Office announced smart growth assistance for five Iowa communities needing to rebuild after tornadoes and floods in 2008.

Food Democracy Now founder Dave Murphy made the economic case for healthy food.

I urged statehouse Democrats to pass key bills that would benefit Iowa women.

The Iowa Global Warming Campaign made the case for expanding passenger rail in our state.

Bleeding Heartland user Sean Flaherty posted an action alert about election reforms that passed the Iowa House unanimously but stalled in the Iowa Senate.

David Yepsen published his last column for the Des Moines Register.

I pondered why Iowa leaders don't do more to protect the environment.

April 2009

I was a respondent for a detailed Republican poll on the 2010 governor's race and wrote up what I could remember from the survey. I later learned that a 527 organization involving Doug Gross commissioned the poll. It marked the beginning of the effort to recruit Terry Branstad to run for governor again.

A new report from the U.S. Geological Survey indicated that Iowa contains 42 of the 150 watersheds that create the "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Iowa Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act. Advocates had expected that ruling but were surprised the seven judges acted unanimously. This post summarized early Democratic reaction to the court ruling, and this post summarized early Republican reaction.

Food Democracy Now advocated changes to current rules, which allow "large corporate farms to take advantage of [federal] subsidy loopholes that place independent family farmers at a serious competitive disadvantage."

I previewed the coming battle to amend the Iowa Constitution.

Opponents of marriage equality immediately funded robocalls to identify like-minded Iowans.

Bleeding Heartland user Elton Davis cross-posted Drake Law Professor Sally Frank's take on the Iowa Supreme Court ruling.

Four days after the Varnum v Brien decision was announced, Governor Culver said he would not seek to overturn the ruling, in part because it "reaffirmed that churches across Iowa will continue to have the right to recognize the sanctity of religious marriage in accordance with their own traditions and church doctrines."

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal dared conservatives to push for a constitutional convention, saying "There's a lot of good, progressive issues that we could pursue: a woman's right to choose, guaranteed health care for all Iowa citizens, workers' rights - so if there are people that want to help us get to a constitutional convention, that's kind of my dream world."

A bar in West Burlington became the first business to lose its liquor license for failing to comply with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act.

Guest poster RDemocrat discussed child poverty in rural America.

Iowa House Speaker Pat Murphy blocked attempts by Republicans to bring a resolution to the floor on amending Iowa's constitution to ban gay marriage. Only two of the 56 Iowa House Democrats voted with Republicans on a key procedural motion.

Bleeding Heartland user sgarystewart wrote an open letter to his state senator about the real threat to Iowa marriages and his plans to marry his partner in Ringgold County.

Governor Culver confirmed that he is against passing a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, because "we have to be very respectful of the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution. This court in a unanimous decision has stated that it is discriminatory to deny people rights that they're given under the current Constitution."

Activists on the religious right confirmed that they will urge Iowans to vote against retaining the three Supreme Court judges who will be on the ballot in 2010.

Representative Steve King continued to speak out against same-sex marriage and recorded robocalls paid for by the National Organization for Marriage.

Chuck Grassley's public comments on same-sex marriage in Iowa enraged social conservatives, and I wished they would follow through on their threats to run a primary challenger against Grassley in 2010.

Guest poster The Electrical Worker wrote about efforts to help workers in the renewable energy manufacturing sector to join labor unions.

Democratic leaders kept trying to round up votes for the tax reform package that stalled in the Iowa House.

After Bob Vander Plaats and Bill Salier suggested defying the Iowa Supreme Court ruling, I wondered if any Republicans in this state understood the concept of judicial review.

My message to county recorders thinking about discriminating against same-sex couples: No one who applies for a marriage license needs your blessing.

On April 15 I posted some links related to the federal and Iowa tax systems as Mike Huckabee and Representative Steve King appeared at a "Fair Tax" rally in South Carolina.

With Iowa about to experience a wave of same-sex marriages, I posted some wedding planning advice here and here.

A harsh exchange of words between Ed Fallon and Governor Culver's staff prompted this post urging the governor to take his Democratic critics seriously.

Iowa House Democrats were unable to find enough votes to pass a tax-reform package, but the state bonding initiative remained alive.

Iowa Senate Republicans blocked the confirmation of three Culver appointees: Shearon Elderkin for the Environmental Protection Commission, Carrie La Seur for the Iowa Power Fund board, and Gene Gessow as head of the Department of Human Services.

I examined the best ways for interest groups to buy influence in the Iowa legislature.

Chuck Grassley's comments on how to address the Iowa Supreme Court ruling didn't please red-meat conservatives.

Iowa Republicans pushed legislation that would have allowed county recorders to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Democratic leaders didn't let the idea go anywhere. The Iowa Attorney General's Office drafted a memo that the Iowa Department of Public Health sent out to all country recorders, confirming that "All county recorders in the state of Iowa are required to comply with the Varnum decision [...]."

I took another look at Chet Culver's re-election chances in light of the deepening recession and softening of his poll numbers. Several Bleeding Heartland commenters were more pessimistic about his prospects than I was.

State Senator Merlin Bartz used his official page on the Iowa Senate Republicans website to push a petition drive to pressure county recorders not to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

President Obama came to Newton for Earth Day.

One Iowa ran a pro-marriage equality tv ad in five Iowa markets.

Ed and Lynn Fallon filed an ethics complaint against State Senator Merlin Bartz, saying his actions violated the Senate Code of Ethics requirement for every legislator to "encourage respect for the law."

Visiting a friend in Pella, I was amused to find a flier from a national group opposing gay marriage. It compared Iowa Senate Republican leader Paul McKinley to a "chicken," because he "refuses to do what it takes to get a vote on the Iowa Marriage Amendment."

The Iowa legislature ended its 2009 session after several long days and late nights, and I recapped some of the most important bills that passed or failed to pass. Tax reform died, but the I-JOBS state bonding initiative survived.

I discussed the divisions among Iowa Republicans and concluded that the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage would make it even harder for moderates to reorient the party, downplaying social issues.

I posted links to my favorite online sources for Iowa news.

Governor Culver pulled a switcheroo by appointing Shearon Elderkin to the Power Fund and Carrie La Seur to the Environmental Protection Commission.

I discussed a few reasons to eat pork that's not factory-farmed.

Governor Culver named Charlie Krogmeier to head the Department of Human Services.

The Varnum v Brien ruling went into effect on April 27. There were protests outside county recorder offices in Des Moines and some other parts of the state, but I never heard of any couples being denied a marriage license.

Governor Culver said county recorders had a duty to comply with the court ruling, while Senator Tom Harkin predicted that one day marriage will be uncontroversial. Jefferson County supervisors led by Stephen Burgmeier passed a resolution demanding that state legislators take action to stop same-sex marriage. What seemed like pointless grandstanding (since the legislature had just adjourned until 2010) made more sense a few months later when Burgmeier became the Republican candidate in the Iowa House district 90 special election.

May 2009

The Iowa Democratic Party announced plans to induct former Governor Tom Vilsack, former First Lady Christie Vilsack and former Lt. Governor and IDP Chair Sally Pederson to the Hall of Fame.

Marshalltown considered banning non-biodegradable plastic bags.

The H1N1 flu continued to spread in Iowa. Marshalltown schools closed for several days.

I wrote about the joys of "sample Sunday" at three central Iowa farms.

The advance of marriage equality in Iowa and Vermont made it even more important to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

The long list of exemptions in a bill allowing individuals to sue businesses for fraud indicated the influence of lobbyists over the Iowa legislature.

I continued to wait for some Republican, any Republican, to explain the concept of judicial review to religious conservatives who refuse to accept the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling in Varnum v Brien.

Tom Harkin defended his decision to recommend Stephanie Rose for U.S. attorney in Iowa's northern district, even as the U.S. Supreme Court found that "federal prosecutors have inappropriately used aggravated identity theft laws to prosecute undocumented workers."

The USDA had some good news for organic and transitioning farmers.

Inspired by Woodbury County rural economic development director Rob Marqusee's "local food challenge," I suggested seven ways to eat more local food.

Terry Branstad ruled out running for governor again, and I said I doubted he would have a smooth ride in the GOP primary if he did run.

Survey USA found significant dips in the approval ratings of Chuck Grassley and Chet Culver during the month of April. I noted that Survey USA tends to find lower numbers for Culver than other pollsters.

Former Governor Terry Branstad and his onetime chief of staff Doug Gross went on record supporting the concepts of separation of powers and judicial review, even though they sometimes disagree with the Iowa Supreme Court's decisions. I took that as a sign that Branstad wasn't planning to run for governor again.

I wondered why Bruce Braley's Populist Caucus wasn't speaking up more on health care reform.

An Iowa Independent feature on carcinogens in coal ash made me thankful that two proposed coal plants in Iowa were shelved.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee kept Leonard Boswell in its "Frontline" program for vulnerable incumbents, but I argued that Boswell would not be vulnerable in 2010. (2012 is a different story.)

I posted links on the anniversary of the immigration raid in Postville.

A group of bar owners dropped their lawsuit against Iowa's public smoking ban, which went into effect in July 2008.

The Iowa Senate Ethics Committee voted unanimously to dismiss the ethics complaint against State Senator Merlin Bartz, who tried to pressure county recorders not to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Iowa Republicans pushed lots of misleading talking points about the I-JOBS bonding, and I tried to set the record straight.

On the anniversary of the immigration raid in Postville, Iowa, guest poster Frank Sharry profiled Steve King's extremist statements about the incident and immigration.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources considered lowering recreational use protections on 119 stream segments.

News emerged that the FBI infiltrated an Iowa City anti-war group in late 2007 and 2008.

Federal stimulus funds and revenues from the I-JOBS state bonding initiative will improve water quality in Iowa through sewer upgrades and other programs.

State Auditor David Vaudt ruled out running for governor in 2010.

Ed and Lynn Fallon blasted the "sham" hearing on their ethics complaint.

Several Iowa communities received stimulus money to remove lead from housing units.

Chuck Larson, a former state senator and U.S. ambassador to Latvia, said he didn't plan to run for governor in 2010.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey hired "high-profile staffers" in an apparent move toward exploring a gubernatorial campaign.

Yes, you can avoid mosquitoes without using DEET.

I advocated letting native plants take over your yard.

Appalling new details emerged about how mentally disabled workers were underpaid and exploited by a company with ties in Iowa and Texas.

The Des Moines Register profiled Iowan Dave Murphy, a founder of Food Democracy Now, and I liked his message about local foods strengthening rural economies.

When California's Supreme Court let Proposition 8 stand, I reminded Bleeding Heartland readers that Iowa recognizes all California marriages.

I took an early look at the 2010 Iowa Senate races and predicted at most three or four realistic pickup opportunities for Republicans.

There was good news for water quality in Culver's final bill signings, including an important line-item veto.

Howard Dean spoke in Des Moines about marriage equality and reflected on his experience after he signed a civil unions bill in Vermont.

Steve King recorded robocalls to identify and solicit donations from opponents of same-sex marriage rights. The National Organization for Marriage paid for the calls.

Governor Culver discussed gay marriage during an appearance on Iowa Public Television.

Iowa Workforce Development issued a huge fine against the company that allegedly exploited mentally disabled workers.

June 2009

I made the case for having Kate Gronstal, daughter of Iowa Senate Majority leader Mike Gronstal, on the I-JOBS board.

Grade A wingnut Bill Salier got into a public fight with Representative Steve King about the right way to oppose same-sex marriage.

I analyzed how the nursing home industry's political investments paid off, as the state legislature passed and Governor Culver signed a bill that will make it easier for nursing home owners to evade the law.

The I-JOBS board convened and adopted rules and a timeline for considering applications.

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy declined to reclassify marijuana in Iowa.

Iowan Jackie Norris departed as chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama to become a senior adviser to the Corporation for National and Community Service. Unnamed sources said she wanted out of the job.

Just for fun, guest poster possumtracker1991 wondered if it would be possible to gerrymander Iowa for four Democratic-leaning seats if we had politicized redistricting. Here's the map he came up with.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi came to Des Moines to raise money for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and Republicans responded with tired rhetoric and robocalls about taxes, Pelosi's liberal agenda and San Francisco values.

Former Iowa GOP chair Mike Mahaffey said he was considering running against Leonard Boswell in 2010. Boswell defeated Mahaffey in Iowa's third Congressional district in 1996.

The Republican Party of Iowa's revamped outreach strategy struck me as a new machine built to sell old ideas.

Chet Culver announced plans to crank up his political operation, saying, "I'm excited about it. I love campaigning."

A Supreme Court ruling related to a West Virginia Supreme Court judge made me grateful that Iowa did away with judicial elections in the 1960s.

Newsweek placed six Iowa schools on its list of the top 1,500 public high schools in the country. Bleeding Heartland readers pointed out some problems with Newsweek's methodology.

President Obama nominated John Norris to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa created an online petition for Iowans of faith and goodwill who support marriage equality.

Iowa Republicans continued to demonstrate that they didn't understand the point of the stimulus bill. They criticized Governor Culver and statehouse Democrats for using federal funds to "backfill" the 2009 budget, even though that was the express purpose of the state transfer funds included in the stimulus package.

Ed and Lynn Fallon announced that I'M for Iowa would recruit primary challengers to certain unnamed Iowa House Democrats, leading me to speculate about which "six-pack" members might be targeted.

The Project on Government Oversight reviewed state websites, looking for resources for those who want to report fraud, waste and abuse in how federal stimulus funds are being used. Iowa's website on the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act scored well in the report but wasn't in the top tier of especially whistleblower-friendly websites.

Some Iowa legislators weren't happy with the State Board of Education's new nutrition standards, so the legislature's Administrative Rules Review Committee voted to let state lawmakers review the nutrition standards during the 2010 session.

Francis Thicke argued that organic farming can employ cutting-edge technology and won't take us back to obsolete practices.

Former Iowa Democratic Party chair Gordon Fischer announced that he was permanently retiring from politics.

I wasn't pleased by the changes Leonard Boswell advocated in the climate change bill.

The official website for the I-JOBS infrastructure bonding program launched. It includes lots of charts and a search engine to help people track spending.

Des Moines School district administrators recommended against extending a controversial contract with a firm that managed construction projects.

Inspired by Rob Marqusee's local food challenge, I posted links to help people find locally produced foods in Iowa.

The Iowa Democratic Party hired Dena Gleason to be field director during the 2009/2010 election cycle.

Health Care for America Now ran tv ads supporting the public option in 10 states, including Iowa.

This post contained constructive criticism of the Cash for Clunkers program, for which Representative Bruce Braley was a lead sponsor.

I wasn't convinced by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack's creative analogy comparing climate-change skeptics with opponents of genetically-modified foods.

The Des Moines City Council took Archie Brooks' name off the community center on the city's south side.

Ed Failor Jr., head of Iowans for Tax Relief, likened Democratic economic policies to events in Nazi Germany in 1933.

Survey USA's May and June findings on Chet Culver's approval rating prompted this post.

Haley Barbour headlined the Iowa GOP's "night of the rising stars" fundraiser. I was struck by how much modern-day Republicans have embraced Herbert Hoover's approach to economic policy.

The Des Moines Register named Kathie Obradovich as its new political columnist.

Bleeding Heartland user American007 put early odds on the Republican race for governor.

I had good news and bad news about the Iowa Democratic Party's Hall of Fame event.

At its first meeting, the I-JOBS Board approved eight flood recovery projects totaling $45.5 million.

Smart Growth America released a review on how wisely states were spending transportation money from the stimulus bill. Iowa got good marks.