Capitol Digest 4-16-09

Here are legislative items of interest for Thursday, April 16:

LIQUOR DEBATE: A debate over state liquor policy broke out during Senate work on a budget bill Thursday. Senators turned back an amendment, 25-24, that sought to change the relatively limited availability of hard liquor products at convenience stores. Opponents warned it was a major policy change that was bypassing the normal legislative channels that could contribute to expanded binge drinking among young people and increase the potential for drunken driving. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, countered that the proposal was a minor shift that actually would have made it easier to police sales of hard liquor that was the victim of political posturing.

HISTORIC TAX CREDITS: The Iowa Senate voted 48-0 Thursday to expand by $30 million the amount of annual tax credits the state offers for historic preservation projects and cultural districts. Currently, the state provides $20 million annually, but Senate File 481 will expand the program to $50 million annually for the next three years with a special “carve-out” for projects in disaster-affected areas. “It's back to the future through the past,” said Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, in describing the package. The disaster-related provision would provide up to $50 million for eligible projects in that category.

BIG CITY BACKERS: The Metropolitan Coalition, which represents Iowa's largest communities, has endorsed Gov. Chet Culver's $750 million I-JOBS bonding proposal to invest in Iowa infrastructure and create jobs, according to Ross Wilburn, former mayor of Iowa City and coalition chairman. He said the bonding plan will help communities of all sizes fulfill unmet infrastructure needs. The coalition represents Ames, Council Bluffs, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Sioux City and West Des Moines.

BAD LANGUAGE: A House subcommittee meeting was littered with foul language Thursday during discussion of a labor bill. Reps. Rick Olson and Bruce Hunter, both Des Moines Democrats, dropped profanities on more than one occasion during the meeting. The other lawmaker on the panel, Rep. Lance Horbach, R-Tama, pointed out jokingly afterward that he didn't curse during the session.

LATE-NIGHT READING: Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, put his 49 Senate colleagues on notice Thursday that he will not be pressured to make a quick decision on complicated budget bills in the rush to adjourn the 2009 session. Zaun said if legislative action drags into the night and major budget pieces land on his desk during the shutdown push, he plans to demand that action be deferred until he has an opportunity to read the details before he agrees to proceed to a vote. Rep. Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, registered a similar complaint on the House side, saying “all of these decisions are being made in the dark with no debate.” Rants said that means Iowans won't be able to see the budget until after lawmakers already have voted.

LINGERING REGRETS: Sen. Dennis Black, D-Grinnell, made a last-ditch appeal Thursday to minority Republicans to reconsider this week's vote to defeat Shearon Elderkin's reappointment to the state Environmental Protection Commission. Elderkin failed to receive the 34 affirmative votes needed for confirmation by the Iowa Senate when all 18 GOP senators voted no. Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan, rejected any reconsideration, saying “it's time to move on” and allow another talented Iowans to fill that commission post.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: I didn't feel the love. I was really surprised by that. People are angry. I could not believe how angry everyone is and how wound up everybody was in regards to what's going on in Washington D.C. and what's going on in the state of Iowa with their elected officials and how we're managing their money.” – Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, describing Thursday the public mood he encountered during a “Tea Party” rally at the Capitol one day earlier.

Compiled by Des Moines Bureau staff