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Public hearing on gay marriage

January 31, 2011 By

What follows is a live blog of the first 10 speakers at a public hearing about a proposed House Resolution that (eventually) would put a constitutional amendment before Iowa voters, an amendment which would bar same-sex marriages, domestic partnerships and civil unions.

At 6:30 p.m. Rep. Richard Anderson, a Republican from Clarinda, opened this public hearing with an advisory about the “decorum” of the House and what is and isn’t allowed. “It is not a very nice evening out there, weatherwise,” Anderson said, adding that’s why the public hearing will end at 8:30 p.m. “because the streets are getting slick.”

At 6:36 p.m. the long process of listening to each legislator in the room announce their presence began. (There are state senators in the house, BTW, as well as state representatives.)  It took ’til 6:47 p.m. for that to end.   A supporter of the constitutional amendment will speak, then an opponent, and this will be pro/con process will continue through the end of the hearing.

Former State Rep. Danny Carroll of Grinnell from The FAMiLY Leader was first to speak, saying the pubic hearing was “two years overdue.”  Carroll called the supreme court’s ruling “offensive” and he said he was representing “thousands of families across the state” who want a chance to vote on the constitutional amendment.  “I support marriage as created by God…and I will be leading the campaign to support the institution of marriage that we have embraced in this state for so many years,” he said, saying a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment was a ”reasonable” move.

Dawn BarbaRouske was next.  She was one of the plaintiffs in the Varnum case.  She told legislators she and her partner had been together for more than 20 years and had been married for a year and a half.  “Our marriage is woven together with love, hard-work, honesty…and respect,” she said, her voice breaking as she spoke. “We should not judge each other.  Not one marriage has been negatively impacted by our love for the past 20 years,” she said. 

The like-minded people in the crowd applauded.

Karen Mogenhan spoke next.  “I support traditional marriage. I know it to be best for…our state and our society,” she said, warning of unintended or ignored consequences of same-sex marriage such as changes in the education system from sex ed to prom to college dorms; denial of tax benefits to religious organizations that don’t believe in same-sex marriage.   “How do we fend off bigamy, polygamy?” she asked. “How long ’til another group comes forth?”

Like-minded people in the crowd applauded.

Zach Wahls, a 19-year-old U-of-I student and Eagle Scout who was raised by two women was next. ”I guess the point that our family isn’t so different from any other Iowa family,” Wahls said.

More applause.

Mark Doland was next.  “Judges do not make law,” Doland said.  “…I’ve had to pull my kids out of public school.  It costs me $11,000.”  Doland said he had to pull his kids out of school because of an “activist teacher” who said it was normal to have same-sex relations.

More applause.

Suku Radia, CEO of Banker’s Trust, was next.  ”I know well the tyranny of intolerance,” Radia said, of his native Uganda.  “…You can see why I have long treasured the tolerance of Iowans.”

“Please refrain from clapping,” Anderson said after Radia concluded.

Jen Green was next. “I’m actually not here to defend marriage.  Make no mistake, regardless of what happens…marriage has already been defined thousands of years ago by our creator,” she began.  The breakdown of marriage has occurred because people won’t “fight for it” and preserve the institution, she said.

Jane Erickson, a grad student at ISU, was next.  She was living in Massachusetts with her same-sex partner, but moved to Iowa after the Varnum decision to be closer to grandparents.   “My life is richer for every year that I share with Sarah,” she said.  “…The word marriage carries a different weight…a higher standard of obligation to one another.”

Marvin Smith was next, calling the Iowa Supreme Court’s Varnum decision a “vicious attack” on society. “They violated the design of the almighty from creation…demolishing the very core of our society – the family unit,” he said.

Former State Senator Jeff Angelo (formerly of Creston, now of Ames) called himself a “citizen activist” and said he had co-sponsored a similar amendment in the past when he was serving in the legislature. “I have changed my position on this issue,” he said.  ”…The purpose of our constitution is to protect the rights of individuals.” Angelo said the debate in Iowa about gay marriage “centers around the devaluation of the lives of a select group of people” who are accused of a “nefarious” agenda.

“Iowans are discomforted by this debate, because we know it not to be true,” he said.  

Angelo got a little burst of applause.  “No more applause,” Anderson said.

No more live blogging.  I’m going to start writing a story for www.radioiowa.com.

Filed Under: Legislature, Politics, State Government Tagged With: ,

Update on “ObamaCare” lawsuit Branstad joined

January 31, 2011 By

A federal judge in Florida has ruled the “individual mandate” in the federal health care reform law (that stipulates all Americans are to acquire insurance, or face a fine) is unconstitutional.  Governor Terry Branstad’s legal counsel filed a brief in support of the case four days after Branstad took office, making Iowa one of 26 states joining the suit which had been filed last year by Florida’s attorney general.

Filed Under: Politics, State Government Tagged With: ,

2012 round-up from the past few days

January 31, 2011 By

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has hired two veterans of Iowa political campaigns.  Nick Ryan ran Jim Nussle’s 2006 gubernatorial campaign and in the 2010 cycle he managed the American Future Fund.  Jill Latham, daughter of Iowa Congressman Tom Latham, was Iowa political director for Mitt Romney’s 2008 campaign.

Former Utah Governor John Huntsman is expected to resign his post as US Ambassador to China and there’s chit-chat about a possible Huntsman ’12 campaign for president.

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty took his “whiffed” statement one step further this morning, saying President Obama was “chicken” and “whiffed” during the State of the Union.

Indiana Congressman Mike Pence isn’t running for president.

Filed Under: Congress, Iowa Caucuses, Politics Tagged With: , , , ,

Pawlenty signs books, talks about Raisin Bran, 2012

January 30, 2011 By

“Well, this morning I woke up at five to get my daughter to volleyball by seven, Jay, so the thing I felt in my belly was a bowl of Raisin Bran,” Pawlenty said, when asked the “fire in the belly” question. 

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlety made an appearance late this afternoon at a Christian bookstore in Ankeny, Iowa, a suburb that sits on the north side of Des Moines.  Some people showed up at the store with a book in hand; staff at the store say they sold about 50 copies of his book.  (A display of Pawlenty’s books was stationed near the check out lines — on the other side of the display one could buy copies of Sarah Palin’s latest book.)

Pawlenty signed books for nearly an hour as a few television cameras and a group of still photographers captured the scene.  After the signing was done, a reporter from Minneapolis asked Pawlenty if he had the “fire in his belly” to run.

“The country’s in big trouble and we need some people who are concerned about that who are willing to rise up and be strong and be clear about how we got into this mess and help lead out of it, Pawlenty said, adding the next president has to be the kind of person who “has their compass set.”

The Minneapolis reporter followed up, asking Pawlenty how he felt “when you wake up each day, even on a tour like this, do you get excited by it?”

“Well, this morning I woke up at five to get my daughter to volleyball by seven, Jay, so the thing I felt in my belly was a bowl of Raisin Bran,” Pawlenty said. ”WhenI think about these issues, the country is facing just very obvious challenges and it’s not necessarily right versus left. It’s a matter of eighth grade mathematics…and if we don’t fix it, we’re going to take the country over the financial cliff.”

Pawlenty said President Obama “just doesn’t get it” and Pawlenty dismissed the president’s budget freeze proposal as a “spit in the ocean.  It’s a joke.”

Obama’s State of the Union messages was “a swing and a miss,” according to Pawlenty.  “He is, I think, taking the country in a misguided direction and he is not addressing the real issues,” Pawlenty said.

Pawlenty advocates changes in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.  “Reasonable things we can do” include smaller cost-of-living adjustments for the “wealthy” compared to middle and lower income Americans; raising the retirement age for new entrants. 

“The president, unfortunately, had a golden opportunity the other night with the State of the Union and he didn’t even significantly address the government spending crisis in this country and that it was a huge disappointment and it makes me very upset,” Pawlenty said, “and that’s one of the things that motivates me for 2012.”

At this hour (6:15 p.m.) Pawlenty is in the ballroom of the West Des Moines Marriott. In about half an hour he’s scheduled to address the more than 200 Waukee Chamber of Commerce folks who are in the room.

Filed Under: Iowa Caucuses, Politics Tagged With: , ,

Commission nominates 9 for 3 court openings

January 27, 2011 By

At 6:36 p.m. an email alert came from the Iowa Judicial Branch.  The Judicial Nominating Commission has chosen its nine nominees for the three openings on the Iowa Supreme Court.  The commission began conducting individual interviews with each of the 60 applicants on Monday and concluded those interviews earlier this afternoon.  Read the names of the nine they’ve nominated below.

Commission Names Nominees for Iowa Supreme Court

Des Moines, Iowa, January 27, 2011—After completing public interviews of all 60 applicants, the State Judicial Nominating Commission has selected a slate of nine nominees to fill the vacancies on the Iowa Supreme Court that occurred when the terms of Chief Justice Marsha Ternus, Justice Michael Streit and Justice David Baker ended on December 31, 2010. The nominees are:

Robert James Blink, West Des Moines, Age 60

District Judge (appointed 1995)—Fifth Judicial District

J.D., 1975, Drake University

  

Arthur E. Gamble, Clive, Age 58

District Judge (appointed 1983), Chief Judge (appointed 1995)—Fifth Judicial District

J.D., 1978, University of Iowa

 

John C. Gray, Sioux City, Age 56

Attorney—Heidman Law Firm

J.D., 1981, University of Iowa

 

Steven Verne Lawyer, New Virginia, Age 45

Attorney—Law Firm of Steven V. Lawyer & Associates, PLC

J.D., 1991, Drake University

 

Edward M. Mansfield, Des Moines, Age 53

Iowa Court of Appeals Judge (appointed 2009)

J.D., 1982, Yale

 

Michael R. Mullins, Washington, Age 58

District Judge (appointed 2002)—Eighth Judicial District

J.D., 1982, Drake University

 

 Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Grinnell, Age 37

 Professor of Law, University of Iowa

J.D., 1997, University of Michigan

 

Thomas Dana Waterman, Pleasant Valley, Age 51

Attorney—Lane & Waterman L.L.P.

J.D., 1984, University of Iowa

 

Bruce B. Zager, Waterloo, Age 58

District Judge (appointed 1999)—First Judicial District

J.D., 1980, Drake University

 

Governor Branstad has thirty days in which to make the appointments to the court from this slate of nominees. A summary resume, completed questionnaire and writing samples for each candidate are posted here on the Judicial Branch website.

Filed Under: Politics, State Government Tagged With:

Lights are dimmed

January 27, 2011 By

All the lights in the Iowa House dimmed seconds ago.

“Just part of the savings plan,” someone in the back of the room quipped.  The lights are slowly warming back up as I type.

Filed Under: Politics

Branstad budget & $200 M casino tax hike

January 27, 2011 By

Governor Terry Branstad is to deliver his budget address to Iowa legislators in a few moments.  His budget director briefed reporters this morning, revealing Branstad is seeking a double-digit tax increase on the state-licensed casinos.  Prairie Meadows in Altoona and the Horseshow in Council Bluffs now pay a rate of 24 percent; the rest pay 22 percent.  Branstad proposes taxing all state-licensed casino at a 36 percent rate, which he describes as ”the level at which it was agreed to years ago.”

While the focus of today is on the next two years, the current year’s budget is also getting attention as Branstad is asking legislators to approve $40 million more for the current year.  That’s about half of what Governor Culver Culver ordered in budget cuts on his way out earlier this month.  Branstad recommends:

$3 million more for MHIs

$1 million more for health care costs

$14 million more for prisons

$3 million more for public safety

$19 million more for indigent defense

Branstad began his speech by telling the crowd Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds has a new grandchild, Wyatt, born yesterday afternoon.

Branstad soon sounded a bit like President Obama did at the beginning of the State of the Union speech. Obama said: 

New laws will only pass with support from Democrats and Republicans. We will move forward together, or not at all — for the challenges we face are bigger than party, and bigger than politics.

Today Branstad said:

In this storied chamber, I cut my political teeth as a young state representative – learning both to advocate my position and respect my adversary.

–To disagree without being disagreeable. 
–To listen, because that is the only way to learn. 

Because, at the end of the day, we are all Iowans working hard to make our special state an even better place.  Let us never forget why we are here:  to do the people’s business as their servants with respect and dignity and good will.

In the next breath, Branstad launched into what he called “a stern talking to” about past state spending practices he has criticized. ”It will come to an end,” Brantad said, adding loudly, “now!”  That got Republicans to stand and applaud.  Democrats sat silently.  

Branstad told lawmakers his budget plan “cleans out the cobwebs of state government” because “the status quo is not longer a viable option.”

Branstad also vowed to call a special session of the legislature this fall to enact education reforms he believes will be drafted by those who participate in a “summit” he plans to host this summer.

Brantad set aside $43 million to provide state subsidies to parents who cannot afford the send their kids to preschool, although his aides say the details on who will be eligible (in other words, at what income level are parents deemed able to afford preschool) is not yet ready.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Iowa Caucuses, Legislature, Politics, State Government Tagged With: , , ,

The rules and gay marriage

January 27, 2011 By

There’re all in their places, but I’m not so sure about the bright, shining faces.  The Iowa Senate convened shortly after 7 a.m. today.  A rules fight is a brewin’ here and at the center of it is a push to get a senate vote on a resolution calling for a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage, civil unions and domestic partnershipsin Iowa. 

After a silent prayer for the Iowa troops who’re on active duty and recitation of the Pledge, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal spoke, asking for unanimous consent to call up a piece of legislation. 

Senator Kent Sorenson (R-Indianola) asked for the floor, saying: “I ask unanimous consent to call up Senate Joint Resolution 8.”

A bunch of senators went to the “well” of the senate, which is at the center of the room.  It’s where Senate President Jack Kibbie (D-Emmetsburg) sits.  He functions as the parliamentarian.

Kibbie said since Senate Resolution 2 had already been called up for debate by Gronstal, Sorenson’s motion was out of order.

Sorenson responded. “I call that into question,” he said, employing Senate Rule 52 to “ssk the body to overrule the ruling from the chair.”

There was a parade of senators to Kibbie’s desk to discuss the matter off mic (so we don’t know what is being said).

“This is going to be a circus,” Senator Jack Hatch said as he sat at his desk near the press bench. 

Kibbie spoke to the senate, via the sound system, a few moments later, saying he ws taking a little time for a reason. ”This is the first time I’ve had to call a vote on a ruling of the chair,” Kibbie said, “and that’s what we’re a gonna do.”

Sorenson: “I believe it’s a debatable motion.”

Kibbie: “Yes it is.”

Gronstal, at about 7:14 a.m., was recognized to speak.  “There’s been much misinformation about what is in the rules.  We don’t override rulings of the chair,” Gronstal said to start.  Gronstal gave a little history, saying ”for a decade, we couldn’t get the minimum wage dealt with in this chamber, but we never voted to overrule the ruling of the chair.”

Gronstal said if the senate can override Kibbie’s ruling this morning, there is no such thing as a committee chair because at any point this body on any issue, whether it’s the iminimum wage or a constitutional amendment.”

He suggested the power of committee chairs would be diminished by the matter, too.

“I even understand that people may characterize this as a vote on the constitutional amendment.  It is not.  I understand that people can lie and say it is,” Gronstal said.

Senator Merlin Bartz (R-Grafton) yelled from his desk, saying Gronstal had violated Senate Rule 9, which says senators are not to  imply a colleague has improper motives.

Kibbie said Bartz’s “point is well taken” and Gronstal replied. “I did not say anything about the motives of the senator.  I said people can.  There’s a good deal of misinformation,” Gronstal said, mentioning email messages being sent out by The FAMiLY Leader, a group which opposes gay marriage.

“This is not a vote on the constitutional amendment on gay marriage,” Gronstal said.

Senator Mark Chelgren (R-Ottumwa) spoke next, saying he’s “only been here for two and a half weeks.”  He quoted the state constitution, saying there was nothing in there about committees.  Chelgren criticized Gronstal for blocking a vote on the constitutional amendment about gay marriage for the past couple of years: “The very act of denying us that is unconstitutional.”

Senator Bartz spoke next. “Extraordinary times deserve extraordinary measures,” he said. “And the real issue we’re standing up here is not because we wish to somehow change the traditions of the senate.”

Sorenson spoke. “I didn’t come over to try and disrupt the process. I didn’t come over here to try to toss tradition out the window and I understand that some of the people doesn’t realize this is a vote for marriage. but the fact of the matter is the people of Iowa have been denied a vote on marriage…We have the opportunity right now to vote on the marriage amendment right now.”

At 7:34 a.m. the voting began on Sorenson’s motion to override the ruling of the chair (senate president).  At 7:35 a.m. the vote was over, failing on a 26-24 party line vote.

The senate then began debate on the senate rules of operation. Gronstal said this is a “pretty arcane discussion” and he asked Bartz to “yield” which in the senate sort of means the two have a conversation over the senate sound system.  Gronstal read something Bartz was quoted as saying in The Mason City Globe Gazette about changing the traditions of the senate, a quote made before the session started.

Bartz said the quote was accurate.  Gronstal then said that proved Republicans, not Democrats were first to start talking about changing the traditions of the senate. Gronstal spoke a few moments more, then said: “It’s time for us to get on about passing (these rules).”

Senate Republicans decided they wanted to caucuses, which means they went into a closed-door meeting and senate activity is suspended.

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: ,

Loebsack befriends worried Utah Republican

January 25, 2011 By

Utah’s Jason Chaffetz was featured in this HuffPo story, fretting about not having a “date” for tonight’s State of the Union address.  Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-Mt Vernon, Iowa) is going to be sitting with Congressman Chaffetz tonight.  No word on “the flowers thing” that Chaffetz tweeted about earlier; nor has he tweeted about sitting with Loebsack.  Loebsack’s staff, about half an hour before speech time, revealed the two will pair up.

Filed Under: Congress, Politics Tagged With:

Boswell’s buddy for SOTU

January 25, 2011 By

Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-Des Moines) has a date for tonight’s State of the Union address.   From Jane Slusak, Boswell’s press secretary:

He has made plans to sit with Congressman Mike Conaway from Texas. He is the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, which the Congressman serves on as Ranking Member.

In case you haven’t been following the saga, some members of congress are literally trying to mix it up tonight, sitting with someone of the opposing party. It means there won’t be Republicans on one side of the room and Democrats on the other when the president gives his speech in less than an hour.  Senator Grassley (R-New Hartford) has a date. Congressman Steve King (R-Kiron) does not.  Here’s a bit more about the whole “prom night without the corsages” atmosphere, with details about Congressman Tom Latham (R-Ames) and Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-Mt Vernon).  UPDATE:  Loebsack will sit with Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah).

Filed Under: Congress, Politics Tagged With: , , , , ,
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