Legislature looking to shut down

DES MOINES – Democrats who control the Legislature hope to wrap up the 2009 session with a blockbuster week.

Legislators enter the session's 13th week with some formidable issues to resolve – including the authorization of up to $750 million in bonding for infrastructure projects, revamping Iowa's income tax system, balancing a vexing and recession-challenged state budget, expanding health care coverage for kids, and possibly reshaping Iowa labor laws.

“There's a lot of stuff left on the plate. It takes a while in our process to reach consensus,” said Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs. “We're going to slog through those issues and try to get done.”

That could well mean working on Good Friday and possibly deeper into the Easter holiday weekend if minority Republicans choose to stretch out debates, legislative leaders indicated.

“Our goal is to see if we can work with the Senate and adjourn by next Friday night,” said House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque.

 “Early in the week or so, we should have the beginning of the light at the end of the tunnel of shutdown. We're beginning to map that process out,” added House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines.

Lawmakers received Gov. Chet Culver's proposed budget revisions last week and expect to focus much of their attention on finalizing a fiscsl 2010 spending plan.

Majority Democrats also plan to debate a major change in tax policy that would eliminate federal deductibility and use the $595 million in proceeds in a “revenue neutral” manner to reduce tax rates while also providing some tax breaks for lower-income Iowans.

Backers project that two out of three Iowa taxpayers will see a decline or no change in their income tax liabilities, while the other one third – mostly at the high-income end -- will pay higher taxes. Critics say imposing a “tax on a tax” will hit Iowans across the income spectrum with increased taxes and those costs likely will grow in future years.

“It should be clear that Iowans are opposed to it and hopefully it will never move and there never will be a vote on it,” said Sen. Steve Kettering, R-Lake View.

However, top House Democrats projected they have 52 votes in support and the only reason the expected debate was pushed back until Tuesday was to make adjustments sought by Gov. Chet Culver.

“He just wants to make sure we have as many winners as possible,” Murphy said. “We are trying to put more money in people's pockets and help middle-class families.”

Murphy said negotiations are progressing on a proposed infrastructure bonding plan of at least $700 million, but the hangup continues to be over road and bridge construction currently financed via dedicated road use tax fund proceeds.

Minority Republicans also are expected to push for legislative action on a constitutional amendment to protect traditional one-man, one-woman marriage in the wake of last Friday's unanimous Iowa Supreme Court ruling to legalize gay marriage and begin issuing licenses to same-sex partners by as early as April 24.

“There is currently a bipartisan proposal protecting marriage before the legislature (House Joint Resolution 6) and it should be debated immediately,” said House GOP Leader Kraig Paulsen of Hiawatha.

Senate GOP Leader Paul McKinley of Chariton noted that Culver made a pledge during a 2008 TV interview to “do whatever it takes to protect marriage between a man and a woman” and the time has come for the governor to “show some leadership and make good on his word.”

Democratic leaders indicated last week it was unlikely they would take up the marriage issue before adjourning this week. However, they did not rule out the possibility of taking up any or all of four labor policy issues in this week's march to adjournment.

Before adjourning, the Senate also would have to complete work on confirming the remaining Culver appointees to state posts, boards and commissions still listed on the Senate calendar. The nomination of Eugene Gessow, director of the state Department of Human Services, has run into significant opposition with 34 votes needed for confirmation in a chamber where Democrats hold a 32-18 edge.