Iowa Politics Today: Fighting for caregivers in the capitol

A roundup of Iowa Legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017:

FAMILY CAREGIVERS:

More than 90 AARP volunteers gathered at the Iowa Statehouse Tuesday in support of Iowa family caregiver legislation.

Association state director Kent Sovern said his members spent the day lobbying state policymakers to stand up for the more than 317,000 Iowa family caregivers to have better supports to care for their loved ones. AARP pressed for passage of the Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act, which would support Iowa's unpaid family caregivers who provide more than two-thirds of Iowa's long-term, home and community based care for older Iowans and adults with disabilities.

Association members are advocating that Iowa join 35 other states in passing legislation to help better support the 65 percent of Iowa family caregivers providing medical care for their loved ones at home, particularly after a hospital stay.

COMPENSATION BOARDS:

A bill to eliminate county compensations boards, which recommend salary adjustments for county elected officials, has been held over after the House Local Government Committee ran out of time debating a proposed change to the legislation.

Rep. Tedd Gassmann, R-Scarville, introduced an amendment to HSB 11 that would have members of township boards form the compensation board and make recommendations on salaries for sheriffs, attorneys, auditors, treasurers, recorders and supervisors.

It's better than previous bill,” Rep. Mary Gaskill, D-Ottumwa, a former county auditor, said. 'But I like the current law” that allows elected officials to have some input into salary recommendations.

Former county supervisor Rep. Andy McKean, R-Anamosa, called it an improvement over the current law, but suggested it needed more work before getting to the House floor.

ETHICS COMPLAINT:

The Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO has filed an ethics complaint alleging that a supporter of the recently passed public employee collective bargaining law violated House rules by not being registered as a lobbyist. It alleges that although Drew Klein of Americans for Prosperity has taken a position for, against or undecided on a number of bills pending in the Legislature, he did not register as a lobbyist until after passage of HF 291, the collective bargaining bill.

In a response, Klein said he registered before the session began.

'When I logged into the system this morning, using the same account I've used since 2012, I was prompted to register again,” Klein said. 'I'm working with the Chief Clerk's office to understand the source of the problem.”

Chief Clerk Carmine Boal said she is unable to speak about the complaint until the Ethics Committee meets to determine whether the complaint merits further action.

Ethics Committee Chairman Rob Taylor, R-West Des Moines, also said he is unable to speak to the complaint until the committee meets. He and Rep. Phyllis Thede, D-Bettendorf, the committee's ranking member, are in 'discovery mode” at this point, Taylor said.

HUNTING AND FISHING:

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is hosting public meetings over the Iowa Communications Network from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 22 to listen to the public's thoughts on the hunting and trapping regulations for this fall.

These meetings are part of the process for making rules in state government.

At each meeting DNR staff will facilitate a discussion about what went well last fall, what didn't, and what changes hunters and trappers would like to see for this fall.

These discussions along with the data that the wildlife bureau collects on harvest and population numbers will be used to develop recommendations for any rule changes. Any changes must be approved by the Natural Resource Commission and then go back to the public for further comment before taking effect next fall.

Meetings will be held in Ankeny, Boone, Calmar, Centerville, Clinton, Correctionville, Council Bluffs, Creston, Dubuque, Iowa City, Marshalltown, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sac City, Sheldon, Spencer, Tripoli and West Burlington.

Complete ICN locations are available online at www.iowadnr.gov/hunting.

FILM LOUNGE:

Iowa filmmakers have until June 1 to submit films for the next season of 'Film Lounge,” a new Iowa Public Television series showcasing short, independent films by Iowa artists and celebrating the economic and cultural vitality that filmmaking brings to the state. Submitted films must be two to 20 minutes in length, including credits, and will be accepted in the following genres: animation, art, documentary, experimental, music video and narrative.

Applicants will be notified by Aug. 1 and selections will be announced Sept. 1. The next season will air in February 2018. Selected filmmakers will receive a stipend of $500.

Submissions may be made to www.iowaartscouncil.slideroom.com. Only one application may be submitted per individual. Films produced as part of a production competition, including the 48-Hour Film Project, are not eligible.

For more information, contact www.iowaculture.gov, or Veronica O'Hern at (515) 281-3293 or veronica.ohern@iowa.gov.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'She came for entertainment. She's still looking,”

Rep. Jarad Klein, R-Keota, talking about his daughter, Vivian, who accompanied him at the Capitol Tuesday.

- Compiled by the Des Moines Bureau