The jig is up

THE JIG IS UP Time may have run out on a 22-year St. Patrick's Day tradition at the Iowa House. Rep. Dolores Mertz, D-Otteson, the organizer of the music and dancing in the House chamber on St. Patrick's Day, may have danced her last jig in the House. Mertz, the logest-serving woman in the House, has announced she will retire at the end of this term. She's the last of a group that included the late Rep. Johns Connors, D-Des Moines, who provided an Irish flag and vocals, and former Reps. Dan Boddicker, R-Tipton, and Ed Fallon, D-Des Moines, who provided music.

Mertz, who wore her shamrock-decorated tam and scarf, and displayed a small Irish flag at her desk Wednesday, was born Dolores O'Shea. However, her father dropped the “O” and changed the spelling to “Shay.”

“I guess this will be the last time I dance the jig here,” she said, adding, “Unless the invite me back.”

Meanwhile, the Senate carried on in fine Irish tradition, taking on the air of an Irish pub – absent the stout – with Sens. Joe Seng, D-Davenport, on the accordion and Merlin Bartz, R-Grafton, on the tuba pounding out some Irish tunes before the Senate gaveled into session. The duo cranked out versions of “McNamara's Band” and “In Heaven There Is No Beer” while Sen. Nancy Boettger, R-Harlan, and her husband, Dave, danced a sort of Irish polka in the rear of the chamber. Decorum was restored a short time later and the senators heard a brief speech from Ned O'Sullivan, a senator in the Irish Parliament.