CHRISTIAN COALITION OF IOWA

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

Norm Pawlewski – Lobbyist

January 10 - January 21

            The Iowa legislature opened its 2005 session on Monday, January10th.  The election on November 2^nd resulted in a tie in the Senate and a one vote advantage for Republicans in the House.  This necessitated an unprecedented sharing of leadership in the Senate and concessions by the Republicans in the House prior to the start of the session.  The designation of leaders, committee chairs and committee membership in the Senate was accomplished on a bipartisan basis.  In the House, because of their one vote majority, leadership, like the Speaker of the House, committee chairs and membership was at the prerogative of the Republicans.  However, the slim majority in the House and no majority in the Senate will require that both parties will engage in a lot of deal making in order to avoid a grid-locked, and therefore unproductive legislative session.  Most voters will not accept a do-nothing legislature regardless of the political realities of a no clear majority legislative body.

            During the first week of this session, new legislators received an introduction to the rules, all legislators chose their desk locations and convened in joint session to hear the Governor’s state of the state speech and the Supreme Court Chief Justice Louis Lavorato give his report on the state of the judiciary. 

            The governor’s speech was vintage Vilsack, more money for education, more money for social programs and borrowing 800 million dollars to fund a new round of projects designed to stimulate economic growth.  According to the governor, the borrowed funds would be paid back by increased gambling revenues from new gambling venues already in process of being approved. 

            Justice Lavorato also said the judiciary was badly underfunded and unless additional money was appropriated, court houses around the state would be hard pressed to provide the services needed to maintain an effective judicial system.

            During the second week of the session CCI lobbyist Norm Pawlewski continued to make legislators aware of the Christian Coalition’s new presence under the gold dome.  The reception was good.   Most legislators who are supportive of the CCI expressed their pleasure at having it represented in the rotunda (where all the lobbyists hang out).  Other legislators, who have only a vague idea of the Christian Coalition’s issues of interest asked about what kinds of legislation we would be supporting or opposing.

            On Wednesday, January 19^th Norm Pawlewski and Steve Scheffler participated in the Iowa Right to Life Committee sponsored Prayer for Life events, marking the 32^nd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.  A copy of our statement at the press conference can be found on our web site.  President Scheffler took this opportunity to visit with CCI legislator supporters to touch base with them and request some financial contributions.

            Approximately 90 bills have been introduced in the House and around 60 in the Senate.  One bill of direct interest for us, HF 74, by Rep. Danny Carroll has been submitted.

            In the event of a divorce or application to modify custody or visitation which involves minor children, this bill requires submission of a parenting plan on forms supplied by clerks of the district court.  A copy of HF 74 can be found on our web site.