Capitol digest

 A roundup of legislative items of interest for Monday, March 16:

MARRIAGE AMENDMENT: A pair of lawmakers is seeking an amendment to Iowa's Constitution that would define marriage as being between a man and a woman - a goal that's been elusive in recent years. Reps. Dwayne Alons, R-Hull, and Delores Mertz, D-Ottosen, are co-sponsors of the measure, House Joint Resolution 6. Alons said they wanted the Legislature to send a message after a proposal by one lawmaker to change references in the Iowa Code from "husband" or "wife" to "spouse." "We felt the vast majority of Iowans would want this message to go to the Supreme Court as well," Alons said. A case currently before the Iowa Supreme Court seeks the right of same-sex couples to marry.

ROAD SHOW: Gov. Chet Culver has scheduled stops on his "shovel ready" tour in Nevada, Fort Dodge, Mason City and Charles City on Tuesday to build public support for his $750 million infrastructure bonding proposal. The governor is touting his "I-Jobs" plan as a way to create jobs through infrastructure investment Culver plans to make additional stops in Eastern Iowa on Wednesday, while Lt. Gov. Patty Judge is slated to be in Western Iowa on Thursday and Friday.

NUMBER CRUNCHING: Sen. Jerry Behn, R-Boone, took to the Senate floor Monday to question whether the job-creation numbers being associated with Democratic bonding proposals are adding up. The Boone Republican said he did not believe a $175 million bonding bill that won Senate approval last week would produce nearly 5,000 promised jobs, calling the projection "totally unreasonable." However, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, cited a National Association of Industrial & Office Properties study indicating each $1 million invested would create 28.5 full-time, year-round jobs.

STIMULATING WEB SITE: Gov. Chet Culver on Monday announced the launch of Recovery. Iowa. Gov, a website dedicated to what the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will mean to Iowans. Iowa is estimated to receive about $1.9 billion in one-time direct assistance from the federal economic stimulus package. Recovery. Iowa. Gov currently lists a summary of key components, a breakdown of the estimated direct federal assistance to Iowa, tax benefits to individuals and businesses in the new law, and links to several state and federal agencies related to the economic recovery. The Web site will be updated regularly and a "dashboard" will be added to provide detailed information on the distribution and impact of the federal funds.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I think it's time to put our foot down and say enough is enough. The animals are the ones who are suffering, and we owe it to them as their stewards to help them. We are their voice." Mary LaHay, a Des Moines resident who is pushing a bill cracking down on dog breeding facilities that mistreat animals.

Compiled by the Des Moines Bureau staff