Under the Golden Dome

A water quality bill with a long history in both chambers passes and will be the first law Governor Reynolds signs. It started in 2016 during the last general assembly. It passed in the house, but did not get debated in the senate. The general assembly ended, killing the bill. When the senate switched to all Republican for this general assembly starting in 2017, they took up a bill with very similar language and passed it. The house, didn’t like it so Rep. Chip Baltimore wrote an amendment that

The beginning of the session is a good opportunity for groups to present their recommendations to lawmakers. On Wednesday morning, veterans’ organizations came to the Capitol for that purpose. Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs chair, Dan Gannon, talks with us about three of them: a bill to mandate the POW / MIA flag be flown at state buildings on designated holidays, instill Americanism and Patriotism in grades K - 12, and encourage the judicial branch to expand Veteran’s Treatment Courts.

This is the beginning of the 2018 session where legislative leaders lay out their intentions. During the opening week, party leaders speak about their goals. Republican praise their work from last year and intend to support the governor’s new tax code for Iowa. Only a few details are revealed about a tax code changes, and the governor says the process may take several years. The Republicans want to add more skills to Iowa’s workforce through post high school education, and Democrats agree.

The first half of the 87th General Assembly ends Saturday morning, April 22nd, at 7:15. The chambers are mostly silent as amendments and budget bills are finalized in committees. In the middle of the night, House leaders give their sine die speeches a few hours before adjournment. By daybreak, debate begins for the last bills of the session. One expands medical marijuana and the other is the standing appropriations budget bill. On the floor, one of the last items of the budget to be criticized

It's the last full week of the 2017 legislative session with many long and complicated discussions about next year's budget. This week's show stays clear of most of the budget discussion and we can present a final show next focusing on the budget with a wrap up of the past 15 weeks. For this second to last show in the series, we focus on some of the final non-budget bills passing both chambers. A consumer fireworks bill in the House is managed by Representative Matt Windschitl. Days before it

As the end of the session nears, leaders are often asked a simple "yes or no" about the likelihood of a bill becoming law. The Senate president says a bill that would change how independent water utilities are managed isn't moving forward. This bill's passage would affect the Des Moines Water Works, for example. A last-minute addition of a medical marijuana bill passes through committees and is eligible for debate in the Senate, but even if it gets this far, House leaders say representatives

This week, the House passed the most restrictive abortion bill in the state's history. It bans abortions after 20 weeks except when the life of the mother is in danger. The bill originated in the Senate two week ago, but the House makes many revisions. In this podcast, we condense the six-and-a-half hour long debate from the chamber floor to 15 minutes. Last year, the legislature approved funding to fix the Capitol's dome. For a couple of years moisture has gradually been leaking in. Repairs are

Since 2007, two legislators are surprised every year with an award from the Herbert Hoover Foundation. On Thursday Senator Rob Hogg and Representative Zach Nunn were honored. Previous honoree House Speaker Linda Upmeyer says it's one of the most meaningful awards a legislator can receive. Earlier in the week, an unexpected amendment in the House Human Resources Committee would forbid abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is around six weeks. It was dropped within 24 hours and

Six weeks ago, legislation about changing Iowa's collective bargaining law featured a long and contentious debate in both chambers, and hundreds of demonstrators at the Capitol. During this process lobbyist Drew Klein, state director for Americans for Prosperity, advocated for this bill. Turns out he was not registered during this time as a lobbyist. The House Ethics Committee took up a complaint about Klein this week and we'll hear part of the committee's process during their first action of

Week 10's podcast begins with the state of Iowa being low on money, again. The Revenue Estimating Conference projects a $131 million shortfall by July 1st. Legislative leaders say budget cuts this close to the end of the fiscal year aren't practical, so the state's rainy day funds will be used. The REC's short term forecast gives backers some momentum for a proposed amendment to the state's constitution. Senate Joint Resolution 9 would turn some of Iowa's balanced budgeting laws into an

This week, the House passes a bill expanding gun rights. Among the things it will allow includes a person with a permit can bring a concealed pistol to city council meetings, but not school board meetings. Similarly, one can be brought inside the state Capitol. Representative Matt Windschitl leads the effort to pass this bill. During the debate he says, “If I had my druthers, a law-abiding Iowan would be able to carry a firearm wherever they are lawfully present.” Four public hearings at the

This is the first funnel week of the session, where bills that have not come before a committee are eliminated. It also provides party leaders a chance to reflect on what they've accomplished and what they can realistically expect to see coming to the House or Senate floor for debate. Senator Rob Hogg (D-Cedar Rapids), minority leader, says the Republicans' remaining agenda is "nonsense." House Speaker Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) says Hogg's use of "hyperbole" is an example of the Democrats

There is lingering bitterness from last week's long debate about changing Iowa's collective bargaining laws. On Monday afternoon, Democratic senators use their points of personal privilege to voice their disappointment and to ask more questions about the authorship of the bill.

A Republican bill changing collective bargaining passed through the House and Senate on Thursday after a long and contentious debate. Governor Terry Branstad signed it into law on Friday. Collective bargaining began in 1974 requiring the state to negotiate items like wages, health insurance, vacation, seniority, safety rules, work conditions, and overtime with unions for state worker contracts. As of Friday, the revised law will limit bargaining to wages for most of Iowa's 180,000 public

On this show, representative Monica Kurth from Davenport took her oath of office on Monday. She won a special election on January 31st . Now the Iowa House is full and her first day was a long one. The House debated a K-12 education spending bill, as well as a new rule banning the use of visual aids, during a debate without approval from the Speaker of the House. The education spending bill gives public schools an increase of 1.1%. Democrats introduced an amendment asking for 4%. After it was