Iowa Politics Today: Voter bill heads to governor

A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Thursday, April 13, 2017:

VOTER BILL TO GOVERNOR:

The GOP-led Iowa Senate put the finishing touches Thursday on election law changes that establish new verification procedures for voters and shortens the voting period in Iowa.

Senate File 516 is now on its way to Gov. Terry Branstad's desk for his expected signature.

'It's a common sense solution supported by the vast majority of Iowans,” said Sen. Roby Smith, R-Davenport, following Thursday's 28-21 Senate vote.

The legislation changes Iowa's early-voting period for requesting and casting absentee ballots from 40 days down to 29.

Also, prospective voters may be asked to have their signatures verified as part of the safeguards Smith said are needed to prevent voter fraud.

Smith said majority Republicans are appropriating about $700,000 to implement the new law, with some of the new money going to provide new voter ID cards to the estimated 85,000 eligible Iowa voters who do not have a driver's license.

Opponents, like Sen. Tony Bisignano, D-Des Moines, called the measure a 'voter suppression bill” during Thursday's Senate floor debate.

Rita Bettis, ACLU of Iowa legal director, said, 'It is outrageous that Iowa legislators have passed the Secretary of State's omnibus voter suppression bill. It includes measures calculated to harm voting in Iowa, including not only voter ID, but also unreliable and burdensome signature verification, cuts to early voting, and other provisions.”

BRANSTAD SIGNS 14 BILLS:

Gov. Terry Branstad signed 14 bills Thursday that included Senate File 438 - a measure restricting project labor agreements in taxpayer-funded construction projects.

'I've been waiting for this for a long time,” Branstad told backers at a bill-signing ceremony, noting he signed an executive order on his first day upon returning to the governor's office in January 2011 that effectively made the change, which he says ensures fair competition for Iowa's construction workforce.

The bill he signed Thursday now puts the language he ordered by executive action into the Iowa Code.

CANNABIS FEES APPROVED:

The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted 14-1 Thursday to approve a schedule of licensing fees that are part of a proposed expanded medical marijuana measure.

Senate File 506, which is now eligible for debate by the full Iowa Senate next week, would allow the making and dispensing of cannabis products in Iowa for adults to legally possesses and administer under a doctor's direction to treat up to 18 'debilitating” medical conditions.

Under the bill, Iowa would license up to four manufacturers to 'possess, cultivate, transport or supply medical cannabis” by July 2, 2018, so up to 12 licensed dispensaries could begin distribution to qualified adult Iowans by July 16, 2018.

Patients or primary caregivers 18 or older who are permanent Iowa residents and who have been certified by a health care practitioner would be eligible to receive registration cards to procure medical cannabis to cope with various medical conditions.

Some majority Republicans in the House have indicated the bill could face problems winning support in their chamber this session.

HIGH MARKS:

Gov. Terry Branstad told reporters Thursday he believed the 87th Iowa General Assembly was having 'a very productive” 2017 session under Republican leadership.

Branstad's political party took full legislative control in the 2016 election, with margins of 59-41 in the Iowa House and 29-20-1 in the Iowa Senate.

The six-term governor said he is in the process of signing a number of significant policy measures, thanks to the 'diligent” work of majority Republicans and managing a difficult budget situation.

'We're going to continue to work with them right through the end of the session on the budget issues, but I'm pleased with the policy bills that are now coming through and being signed, and I think it's going to go down as a productive session,” the governor said.

SENATE CONFIRMATIONS:

The Iowa Senate confirmed two of Gov. Terry Branstad's appointees to state posts on Thursday.

Senators voted 49-0 to confirm Maj. Gen. Timothy Orr as adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard and Ron Hansen as Iowa's superintendent of banking.

Gubernatorial nominees are required to receive a two-thirds majority - or at least 34 affirmative votes - to be confirmed by the Iowa Senate.

FINE ARTS STANDARDS:

Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise says he's seeking public input on fine arts standards that are under consideration in Iowa.

Iowans also are encouraged to provide feedback during public forums on April 25 in Johnston and on April 27 in Cedar Falls.

There will be satellite sites where Iowans can participate as well, Wise said Thursday.

Also, an online survey will be open through May 12, following a state team's recommendation to get feedback on the National Core Arts Standards. The standards were developed by the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards, an alliance of national arts and arts education groups.

Fine arts standards serve as a guide for educators to provide a high-quality arts education for students in preschool through 12th grades. Fine arts include visual art, music, theater, dance and media arts.

Feedback from the public forums and online survey will be used to provide guidance to the Fine Arts Standards Adoption Team, which is expected to submit a final recommendation to the State Board of Education later this year.

If adopted, fine arts standards would be optional for school districts.

Iowans can access the online survey regarding the National Core Arts Standards at surveymonkey.com/r/ZF7BCQY.

GAS PRICES RISE:

Retail gasoline prices recorded a second week of gains in Iowa, rising by 4 cents to $2.35 per gallon. That compares to the national retail gasoline average was $2.40 per gallon, according to AAA.

Iowa's current average price for gasoline is 33 cents a gallon higher than one year ago.

Retail diesel fuel prices in Iowa were up 2 cents a gallon, with a statewide average of $2.47. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $2.07 in Iowa. The current Iowa diesel average is 5 cents lower than the national average of $2.52 per gallon.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

'I guess we don't understand sustainable budgeting, so why would we keep this?” - Rep. Bruce Bearinger, D-Oelwein, talking about a GOP budget plan that zeros out funding for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University