Issues survive, flounder in Legislature 'funnel'

DES MOINES – The legislative death knell sounded Thursday for scores of proposed bills that dealt with same-sex marriage, “sexting” messages by teenagers, “age-appropriate” sex education, abortion restrictions and a host of other topics.

Also, Iowans won't be able to remove the front license plates on their vehicles, get access to marijuana for medicinal purposes, or legally drive 60 mph on primary roads now that those issues won't be eligible for further consideration this legislative session.

Friday officially marks the deadline for nonmoney bills to clear at least one standing committee of the House or Senate to stay alive for debate this year. However, the Senate already has adjourned for the week and only a handful of House committees planned to meet while representatives debated a major state government reorganization measure Friday, meaning most issues' fates were sealed Thursday.

“This is the first narrowing of the funnel in terms of what we're going to deal with, so there are a lot of bills that will go by the wayside,” said Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs.

Even a big share of the “funnel” survivors still will face an uphill path to Gov. Chet Culver's desk with another hurdle approaching in three weeks for bills not dealing with budget or tax policy matters to progress in the legislative process, he noted.

For instance, a House committee passed a “shell” bill to deal with gun permit issues in hopes of crafting workable language yet this session while Sen. Tom Courtney, D-Burlington, succeeded in winning committee support for a measure to let workers accrue paid sick leave but admitted it will need major retooling to possibly cap the benefit or exclude small employers to advance.

“I intend to keep working on it,” he said.

The House Education Committee Thursday decided not to take up a bill that would have expanded the state educational standards by adding age-appropriate, comprehensive sexuality education to be taught in kindergarten through grade 12 by public school districts and nonpublic accredited schools. Even with an “opt-out” provision for parents the measure was staunchly opposed by Catholic and private school interests.

In the House Public Safety Committee, members reduced a proposal to place speed-monitoring cameras in highway work zones to a pilot project, while the Senate State Government Committee approved a bill to rein in corporate political contributions that were unleashed by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling earlier this year – with the caveat it will be modified during Senate floor debate.

The Senate Economic Growth Committee voted – with Sen. Jack Hatch, D-Des Moines, in opposition -- to officially suspend the state's film tax credit program to bar registering new projects until July 1, 2011. The state currently has 22 projects under contract and another 105 registered that may or may not progress further.

A measure seeking to bring amateur mixed martial arts bouts under the regulation of the state boxing commission, similar to pro MMA events and professional and amateur boxing, cleared the Senate Labor Committee this week but lead sponsor, Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, said the bill will be changed to lower the age limit from 21 to 18.

Another bill that advanced with modifications was a measure making it unlawful to intentionally advertise or conduct a live-music performance or production under the guise of a classic or throwback band if the performing group does not contain at least one of the band's original members.

“In other words, if you claim to be the Beatles, you'd better be the Beatles,” Sen. Swati Dandekar, D-Marion, told Senate Commerce Committee members who approved the bill after exempting media outlets from liability for advertising an act that violated the state's consumer fraud law.

Hidden behind Thursday's committee successes was a long list of bills drafted for individual legislators or committee leaders that quietly ended their 2010 run due to inactivity.

Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, bemoaned the demise of a bill seeking to restrict pay-day loans and predatory lending practices and he expressed disappointment that a number of renewable energy initiatives had stalled.

Nearly 10 resolutions seeking to amend Iowa's Constitution – mostly authored by minority Republicans – were sidelined Thursday, including the high-profile call to allow Iowa voters to decide whether marriage in Iowa should be defined only as between a man and a woman. That and other “funneled” issues are expected to resurface during the session's remaining weeks as amendments proposed to eligible bills, backers said.

Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan, said five Democratic senators have joined 18 Republicans in signing a discharge petition seeking to move the marriage resolution to the Senate debate calendar but he did not expect to get closer to the required 26 signatures.

Other proposed constitutional changes sought to limit state spending and to protect Iowans' right to work, life and keep and bear arms. Also, there were attempts to constitutionally change Iowa's process for selecting judges, cut by half the number of counties and allow for ballot initiatives to come before voters.

Senate GOP Leader Paul McKinley of Chariton said so far 2010 has been a session of “missed opportunities” especially in the areas of creating and nurturing private-sector jobs, protecting property taxpayers and “getting runaway spending under control.”

By contrast, Gronstal said work should be finished by next week on a major state government reorganization package, after which majority Democrats will issue fiscal 2011 budget targets and begin assembling a spending plan.

“We're pleased with our progress for this session,” he said. “I think we're on schedule to get out of here by late March and not going too much later.”