Done and undone at the Iowa’s Capitol

We're getting simultaneous lessons on how things get done at the Statehouse, and how they don't get done.

First, take the effort to boost Iowa's fuel tax by a dime. It now looks like done deal.

My last lingering doubts disappeared last week, when House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, pulled two opponents of a gas tax increase from their seats on the Ways and Means Committee, where the tax increase had to pass to become eligible for a full House debate. He replaced one of them, Rep. Jake Highfill, R-Johnston, with Rep. Brian Moore, R-Bellevue, a tax hike supporter who was recently named Legislator of the Year by the roadbuilders' lobby.

Paulsen then took a temporary seat on the committee for himself, replacing Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Bondurant.

So the dime passed 13-12. Paulsen got it through, while also saving two lawmakers from being pressured to take a tough, politically dicey vote.

Was it shady legislating? Yup. Truth is, just about every major piece of legislation has its shady side. Maybe a bill gets written behind closed door with special interests at the table. Perhaps it gets passed in the middle or the night, or gets slyly attached to a seemingly non-controversial bill. Arms get twisted, procedures get bent and leaders wield power. Shocked?

It was also the clearest sign yet that top leaders in both parties want this gas tax issue on the governor's desk and off their backs sooner than later. When you've got the votes, you don't wait around. And frankly, after years of chewing this over, and without any gubernatorial leadership whatsoever to make things easier, it's hard to blame them. Barring more unforeseen drama, the dime is likely to pass. But never count out drama.

Then there's the debate over K-12 school funding, a good example of not getting things done. In this case, leaders have not stepped up to do what needs to be done.

We're still spinning fantasies. Democrats want a 4 percent increase in state funding. Republicans are at 1.25 percent. Democrats are pretending 4 percent is affordable without identifying reductions elsewhere in the budget that would make it so. Republicans are pretending that 1.25 isn't ridiculously low and won't kneecap school budgets.

Here's the reality. Two years ago, Democrats and Republicans agreed to cut commercial property taxes, reimburse local government for lost revenue, and expand the state's share of school funding to hold down local taxes. They made a deal to expand Medicaid that costs Iowa more than simply accepting expansion bucks through Obamacare. And passed another top-down school reform experiment.

These calls, among others, mean that our surplus is eroding fast. Big bucks have been pledged to these efforts over the next decade. Maybe you love or loathe these deals. But what they may mean is your local school gets the shaft.

That is, unless lawmakers get serious and work it out. Democrats concede 4 percent is a heavy fiscal lift and Republicans stop heaping blame on schoolteachers. If lawmakers are really searching for reasons why school budgets are messed up, check the mirrors in the House and Senate washrooms. You're looking at it.

l Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@thegazette.com