Iowa House expected to approve proposal to limit state spending

A House panel is expected to approve a proposed constitutional amendment this week that would make it harder to increase spending, but Democrats said Monday the measure has no chance of passing in the Senate and is a political ploy aimed at scoring points before this fall's election.

The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to take up the measure Wednesday. It would require a 60 percent vote of the Legislature before the state could raise taxes, and a two-thirds vote to issue bonds. Such legislation now can be approved with a simple majority.

Rep. Scott Raecker, the Appropriations Committee chairman, said he expects the panel and then the full House to approve the measure. Both are controlled by Republicans.

"It's something we're sincere about," said Raecker, R-Urbandale. "We're not sending bills out just to make a statement. We're trying to advance a bill."

Democrats called the measure a political move intended to be used by Republicans in campaigning before the November elections.

Sen. Bob Dvorsky, D-Coralville, called the measure "99 percent political."

As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Dvorsky has the power to decide what measures his panel will consider. He said the proposed constitutional amendment won't be taken up this year.

"I think current law works very well," Dvorsky said. "I doubt there would be much incentive for change."

Before it could be sent to voters, the measure would have to be approved by the next Legislature. The earliest it could reach the ballot would be 2014.

If lawmakers don't approve the measure this session, it would need to come back before the Legislature in 2013 and 2015, since proposed constitutional amendments must be approved by legislators elected in different but consecutive elections. That would mean the measure couldn't go before voters until 2016.

Rep. Tom Sands, R-Wapello, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said the likelihood the measure won't be approved this year isn't a good argument for not taking up the matter.

"Sometimes big issues take two or three years to get into law," said Sands. "It still needs the discussion and it's worth our time."

Raecker said Republicans have campaigned for years on the issue of limiting state spending, and the measure will be proof that they're keeping their word.

"It's a concept that Republicans have been talking about for a long time, and the way to advance the discussion is to move a bill," said Raecker.