CHRISTIAN COALITION OF IOWA

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

Norm Pawlewski – Lobbyist

January 24^th – February 4, 2005

            Marlys Popma and Norm Pawlewski met with leadership in both the Senate and House of Representatives.  The purpose of the meetings was to alert them to CCI’s new visibility and activities in the Capitol and inform leadership about our priorities during this session of the Iowa Legislature.  We wanted to also gauge their willingness to support us on legislation in which we have an interest, i.e., an Iowa constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union of one man and one woman and any pro-life legislation not limited or forbidden by Roe v. Wade.

            In the Senate, because of the tie, leadership is shared by both parties making it more difficult to introduce and process legislation.  Sen. Jeff Angelo and eight co-sponsors, Senators Jerry Behn, David Johnson, James Hahn, Larry McKibben, Nancy Boettger, Jim Seymour, Bob Brunkhorst and Paul McKinley have introduced Senate Joint Resolution 2.  This Resolution would add to Article 1, Section 26 of the Iowa Constitution the following language:  Only marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in the State of Iowa.

            SJR 2 was sent to the Senate State Government Committee which assigned it to a sub-committee.  The members of the sub-committee are Sen. Bob Brunkhorst (R), Sen. David Miller (R),  Sen. Jack Hatch (D), and Sen. John Kibbie (D).  Senators Hatch and Kibbie have informed our lobbyist that they do not intend to let SJR 2 go to the full committee for a vote.  As it stands now, because of the reluctance of these Senators to proceed with it, SJR 2 is dead in the Senate.

            On the House side, Rep. Betty De Boef  has requested a Resolution draft which would not only protect traditional marriage but forbid any semantic substitutes to get around the constitutional amendments.  We will post on the CCI Web Site the legislation introduced in the Iowa House as soon as it becomes available.

            In the meantime, the Senate sponsors of SJR 2 should be getting phone calls, e-mails or letters thanking them for their support of traditional marriage.  Senators Hatch and Kibbie should be getting POLITE messages asking them to reconsider their opposition and allow the people of Iowa to voice their support or non-support by the constitutional amendment process.