Lawmakers winnow their remaining 2013 session work

A small number of bills managed to eke under the wire Thursday while many others failed their last-gasp efforts to survive a self-imposed deadline designed to winnow the split-control Legislature's workload in the weeks leading up to adjournment.

The final day before the 2013 session's second “funnel” deadline arrives Friday saw House members keep alive a major health-care initiative and safety measures for novice drivers while senators approved a scaled-back requirement that criminals convicted of aggravated misdemeanors provide a DNA sample to authorities.

Of bigger interest were the measures that did not make the cut – a list that included efforts to expand transparency and accountability for state Board of Regents, require photo proof of identification and residence to vote in Iowa elections, broaden campaign finance laws related to independent expenditures, create a criminal offense for mothers whose babies test positive for drugs, expand training for child-abuse reporters, continue the Iowa mortgage hotline, and require pawn shops to return stolen merchandise to the property's owner.

“I know not everybody is happy with the bills we didn't do and I know not everybody's happy with the bills we did do and, with that said, welcome to the Legislature,” said Sen. Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, at the close of the Senate Judiciary Committee's afternoon meeting.

Friday marks the session's second self-imposed “funnel” deadline that requires non-money bills to have cleared one legislative chamber and a standing committee in the other house to remain eligible for consideration this session.

Thursday was peppered with laments from Democrats and Republicans in the split-control General Assembly over bills that the other chamber did not take up this session.

“I would say we've taken up every good idea they've come up with,” Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, told reporters at a news conference where Democrats distributed a list of 13 “common-sense” bills that were killed by majority House Republicans.

Likewise, House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, expressed his disappointment over GOP casualties as well, saying he was especially miffed that Senate Democrats chose not to approve a measure designed to protect against taking land via eminent domain for recreational purposes.

“It just does not make sense to me that we would condemn somebody's land so that someone else could ride a jet ski through their back yard,” he said.

Paulsen said House Republicans “have taken seriously everything that they've sent over,” even though the output of both chambers appeared to be down this year.

Likewise, Democrats were not pleased that GOP representatives replaced a Senate-passed bill seeking to expand Medicaid coverage to at least 100,000 more needy Iowans with intent language to do something about health care this session – a move that at least kept the issue alive for more consideration. The action came on a day when Gov. Terry Branstad's long-awaited Healthy Iowa alternative arrived at the House.

“I think they were trying to keep something alive by taking the action that they did,” said Senate President Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque. “ I'm still going to be very hopeful that we're going to reach agreement to make sure that every Iowan has access to health care in this state.”

Rep. Walt Rogers, R-Cedar Falls, said the governor's approach would cover uninsured people up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level. He estimated it would cover about 89,000 Iowans.

The legislation includes language to create health rewards accounts so people can save money on their premiums and has a provision that aims to get a provider within 30 miles or 30 minutes of an enrollee, he said. “This plan is a plan that incentivizes people to take ownership of their health,” Rogers added.

Paulsen said he believed the Legislature was on track to hit its May 3 adjournment target depending on how negotiations on a fiscal 2014 spending plan, property tax and education reforms, health care improvements and other priorities progress over the coming weeks.

“I'm feeling good about the progress being made,” Gronstal added.

Comments: (515) 243-7220; rod.boshart@sourcemedia.net