Iowa House, Senate agree on spirit of ‘direct communication,’ but disagree on details

DES MOINES - Iowa senators and representatives have approved legislation requiring elected officials, including themselves, to provide citizens with a conduit for 'direct communication.”

However, they don't agree what that means.

House File 550 floor manager Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls, believe it means an Iowan should be able to phone of email an elected official without going through a gatekeeper.

'For democracy to work, you should have direct contact with elected officials,” he said Tuesday before the Senate voted 50-0 to approve HF 550. Some public bodies are screening those communications, he said.

That's the case for many members of the Iowa House and some senators who list the legislative switchboard as their contact number. A spokeswoman for House leadership said it's their understanding using the general number, rather than a number that connects a citizen with the legislator, 'is fine.”

'It's hard to argue that's in the spirit of the law,” Danielson said. 'If it's our switchboard number, there's still a gatekeeper.”

Despite the different interpretations of the bill, Danielson is optimistic the House will approve the bill with changes the Senate made. Senators clarified who is covered by the bill - all public elected officials - and that it would not require public entities without an Internet website to create one to comply with the law.

In other action, the Senate:

l Voted 30-20 to approve SF 509 to require gas stations to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act by installing pumps that can be operated, perhaps by voice, and requiring stations to offer refueling assistance to a disabled customer upon request. The bill also would provide a $500 tax credit to gas stations that install pumps that are accessible to and can be operated by people with disabilities.

l Voted 49-1 to approve SF 616 to allow a taxpayer, after filing a protest, to enter into a voluntary process with the assessor to resolve assessment issues. Also, property owners would receive a mailed notice if an equalization order increases their assessment. It also made changes to how property housing both residential and commercial uses is assessed.

l Approved HF 660 50-0 to require cities to have a public hearing before increasing franchise fees.

l Unanimously approved HF 662 to allow county recorders access to all birth records available through the electronic birth certificate system, including those prepared and delivered to parents named in an adoption decree pursuant.