Capitol Digest 4-21-09

Here are legislative items of interest for Tuesday, April 21:

DIRECT DEMOCRACY: Stymied by majority Democrats in attempts to have a debate about the Iowa Supreme Court's recent ruling striking down the state ban on same-sex marriage, Sen. Merlin Bartz, R-Grafton, is taking the campaign directly to Iowans. He's asking Iowans to sign a petition calling on county recorders to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples until the conflict between the court's decision Iowa 1998 Defense of Marriage Act that recognizes marriage only between one man and one woman is resolved by a vote of the people. The petition can be found at www.iowasenaterepublicans.org. Look for Bartz's name under “Senators.”

MORE DISASTER HELP: The Iowa Senate approved legislation Tuesday that would establish a new state housing tax credit to encourage larger-scale investments in affordable, multi-family units in disaster-affected communities. The provision was amended to Senate File 457, which dealt with other disaster-related issues. Senators also amended House File 756 to have the state water resources coordinating council make recommendations for better watershed and floodplain management to reduce the potential for future disasters.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It's funny about this place -- I can't wait to get up here and I can't wait to leave.” Sen. Tom Courtney, D-Burlington, commenting on the slow pace of the 2009 session shut down.

Compiled by the Des Moines Bureau staff