Deadline slims lawmakers’ workload

DES MOINES - The split-control Legislature faces its own version of March Madness this week as inactivity on many bills leaves legislative brackets in shambles for both Democrats and Republicans.

Must-do priorities like education reform, property tax relief and mental health redesign will survive, but a host of other issues are on the bubble or are unseen and presumed dead once Friday comes. That second self-imposed “funnel” deadline sidelines any non-spending measures that have failed to pass the House or the Senate and a committee of the other chamber - a mechanism designed to winnow lawmakers' workload with about a month left in the 2012 session.

However, other measures face significant challenges this week to stay viable (see list, below).

“It's on the bubble,” said Rep. Walt Rogers, R-Cedar Falls, of a House bill to ban traffic enforcement cameras like those used in Cedar Rapids and other communities. “I'm right at 50 votes. It had momentum, but it lost a little bit of steam. We'll see.”

House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said last week the bill likely will die this week if more support doesn't materialize.

There are several ways issues can be resurrected for consideration after the funnel passes, though: They can be added as amendments to other bills; become Appropriations, Oversight or Ways and Means Committee measures; or become special leadership bills. In the case of the traffic camera ban, Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, has attached an amendment to an omnibus state Department of Transportation policy bill in hopes of forcing a debate on the issue in the Senate.

Lawmakers said the workload will be pared considerably after this week because neither chamber has debated many bills this session and partisan differences are stalling bills passed by the GOP-led House in Senate committees run by majority Democrats and vice versa for controversial Senate bills heading to the House.

“It's a glacial pace,” said Sen. Paul McKinley, R-Chariton.

Also this week, both chambers are expected to continue work on fiscal 2013 budget bills, and the House is slated to debate a modified version of Branstad's proposed education reforms.

Sen. Bob Dvorsky, D-Coralville, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the education reform issue is tied to budget decisions affecting K-12 schools, community colleges and regent universities, while the mental-health redesign initiative has become embroiled in the ongoing effort to find a property tax relief resolution as a growing list of issues await resolutions that likely will come in the final days of the 2012 session.

“It's all wrapped up in a big Gordian knot,” he said.

UPDATES ON THE ISSUES

Here is a status report on some of the issues facing Iowa lawmakers as they head into Friday's second “funnel” deadline of the session:

LIKELY SURVIVORS

Reform education system

Reform/redesign county mental health system

Provide property tax reform/relief

Provide flood mitigation state cost share money

Increase the state gas tax eight to 10 cents a gallon

Reform tax increment financing provisions

Nullify dove-hunting rule banning lead shot

Raise the state's earned income tax credit

Allow stillborn birth/death certificates

Toughen penalties for illegally passing a school bus

Implement more government efficiency/savings measures

Encourage businesses that supply anchor manufacturers

Encourage business owners to sell companies to Iowa-based ESOP

ON THE BUBBLE

Begin state regulation of online poker

Ban traffic enforcement cameras

Ease hurdles for MidAmerican Energy building a nuclear-powered facility

Establish “duty to assist” responsibility for emergencies/accidents

Notify care facility residents of sex offenders

Require job impact statement with new state rules

Amend Constitution with balanced budget/taxpayers trust fund resolution

Expand/toughen “move over” traffic safety law

Allow bars/restaurants more latitude with infused drinks

Bar discrimination against unemployed applicants in job postings

Exempt liability for trespasser injuries

Allow certain drivers to renew their licenses online

Strengthen state requirements on commercial dog breeders

Make changes to campaign finance laws

Restrict junk-food purchases using government food stamps

PRESUMED DEAD

Allow use of justifiable reasonable force

Require voters to produce photo identification

Amend Iowa Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman

Modify teen graduated driver's license provisions

Allow local pre-emption of state gun laws for certain public buildings

Create statewide health information exchange

Allow white emergency flashing vehicle lights for certain health care professionals

Strike Iowa code references to medical marijuana

Expand/revamp state bottle deposit law

License naturopathic medicine

Add Second Amendment language to Iowa Constitution