Iowa House votes to continue 'tradition' of late-night voting

By James Q. Lynch 

The Gazette

DES MOINES -- “Culture and tradition” trumped “common sense: Thursday as the Iowa Legislature as lawmakers rejected a ban on voting to make law between midnight and 8 a.m.

West Des Moines Republican Rep. Peter Cownie offered an amendment banning voting during those hours, calling it “good governance.” It was based on the last weekend of the 2009 session when the House was in session 44 of 48 hours. Constituents thought it was ridiculous lawmakers were voting at 5 a.m.

But House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, encouraged members to reject the amendment to House rules even though it's “a good goal to try to have debate occur in a reasonable timeframe.”

“However, given the culture and tradition of the Iowa House,” McCarthy said, “it's important not to unduly box us in.”

Rich Anderson called on his fellow “ordinary, run-of-the mill legislators” to support the amendment. Midnight to 8 a.m. “is not a good time for we ordinary, mortal legislators to function.”

The amendment failed 46-49 with three Democrats joining Republicans in supporting it.

McCarthy said that in the shortened 80-day session it may be necessary to debate after midnight or start debate before 8 a.m. The House typically gavels in at 9 a.m. although subcommittee regularly meet earlier.