Leaders optimistic adjournment is near

By Rod Boshart

Des Moines Bureau

DES MOINES – Top legislative Democrats emerged from a closed-door meeting with Gov. Chet Culver Wednesday optimistic they had resolved key differences that were holding up adjournment.

“We're off to the races,” said Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs.

“People of good faith sat down and talked with each other, identified their differences and found a way to accommodate each other. That's where we're at. We're moving towards resolution,” he said.

Gronstal said there are still details to be negotiated, but Democratic leaders and the governor reached “an agreement that we can find agreement” on a $700 million bonding package and remaining details of the fiscal 2010 budget plan.

 “We're working together,” Gronstal said.

Wednesday's development appeared to break a stalemate between Culver and majority Democrats over the infrastructure bonding bill that the governor has pushed as a way to create jobs, repair aging infrastructure and aid disaster-affected communities.

Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, a negotiator who's been working with the governor's office on the bonding issue, said a key sticking point has been Culver's desire to earmark $100 million in bond proceeds for road and bridge construction. McCoy said legislative Democrats have offered to commit $40 million, possibly up to $50 million, to that effort but it would be “a heavy lift” to get that level passed in the House – where Democrats hold a 56-44 edge.

Gronstal said he was optimistic lawmakers could adjourn this year's session “by the weekend.” The timing of the session shut down would depend whether “there is traction” to move a rewrite of Iowa's sex-offender law and a few other possible bills in the House, he added.

 “Quite frankly, the things that keep us here are very few,” said House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque.

Murphy said he plans to talk with House Republicans about the prospects for the sex-offender bill but he indicated is inclination as of Wednesday was “we're going to proceed” on that bill. The chances were less likely for a proposed tax policy change that would eliminate federal deductibility and lower income tax rates and several labor-related issues, but he said “we would stay” to debate them if 51 affirmative votes emerged on any of those remaining bills.

“I'm planning on being here until we finish or at least Saturday night,” Murphy said. “If we have to be here next week, we'll work until at least Saturday night because I want to see how far we can push this toward conclusion.”