Capitol Digest -- Tuesday, April 7

SURF BALLROOM - The Iowa House on Tuesday honored the landmark Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. House Resolution 33 recognized the ballroom, which opened in 1933, for "providing music, dancing and a chance to escape for a few hours the worries and the cares of the Great Depression." It also was the site of the last show of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper before their infamous plane crash in 1959. Rep. Linda Upmeyer, R-Garner, one of the resolution's sponsors, called the Surf "a cultural icon in Iowa."

 PROGRESSIVE TAX The Iowa Department of Revenue has run "north of 50" versions of a middle-class tax relief plan being put together by majority Democrats, according to Jim McNulty, the department's lobbyist. Each run takes 10 to 15 minutes, he said, which is considerably faster than the last time. When the Legislature looked at major tax revisions six years ago, each run took overnight, he said.

 MEETING ELEANOR: Iowa First Lady Mari Culver will host "Meet Eleanor Roosevelt," presented by Elena Dodd, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the International Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations at 7 p.m. Thursday at the State Historical Center, 600 E. Locust, Des Moines. The event is sponsored by the United Nations Association Greater Des Moines Area Chapter, the Iowa United Nations Association, and Humanities Iowa.

 QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Therefore, after careful consideration and a thorough reading of the Court's decision, I am reluctant to support amending the Iowa Constitution to add a provision that our Supreme Court has said is unlawful and discriminatory." - Gov. Chet Culver on the Iowa Supreme Court decision declaring Iowa's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional