Iowa’s Legislative Session – Shortened by Virus – Concludes
Des Moines, Iowa – The Iowa Legislature has adjourned for the year after a session shortened by the coronavirus pandemic and altered by chaotic street protests over police treatment of African Americans.
Adjournment came around 1:30 p.m. Sunday after a long legislative day that started Saturday. Senate Republicans once again declined to bring up for debate a constitutional amendment proposed by Gov. Kim Reynolds to restore voting rights for tens of thousands of felons.
Advocacy groups including the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and local Black Lives Matter organizers have been pushing Reynolds to sign an executive order to do so, but she has resisted saying it lawmakers should approve a permanent change.
House Republicans added a last-minute amendment – without debate – to an unrelated bill to require a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking an abortion, and it quickly passed.
“Iowans want to see unborn lives protected and this bill is a big step in that direction,” said Rep. Sandy Salmon.
Clearly frustrated Democrats spoke out against the bill, which includes no exceptions for rape or incest.
“This is where we find ourselves, tonight, dealing with a blatantly unconstitutional amendment just because you can. Without understanding. Without empathy. I’m sure some of you will call this a win. It’s too bad that it’s not a win for the women of each of your districts whose lives will be made harder by your actions,” said Rep. Heather Matson.
Republican Rep. Shannon Lundgren said she hopes the bill would lead to the reversal of an Iowa Supreme Court ruling two years ago that found a 72-hour waiting period law was unconstitutional. The court also declared that the Iowa Constitution guarantees women the right to control their own bodies, including making decisions about abortion.
“Maybe this will provide an opportunity for the courts to rectify the terrible situation they’ve created in our state,” Lundgren said
On Sunday, House Republicans pushed through an amendment to a budget bill that would deny county voting officials the ability to use a voter database to confirm missing or incorrect information on absentee ballot requests.
Democrats labeled it a voter suppression bill.
“You know it, I know it, Iowans know it and they will hold you accountable for this,” said Iowa City Rep. Mary Mascher, her voice breaking with emotion.
Republican Rep. Gary Mohr defended the measure as “helping to ensure a person who applies for an absentee ballot is the one who casts the absentee ballot.”
It wasn’t immediately clear if Reynolds would sign either of the bills.
Republicans also passed a measure giving lawmakers veto authority if the secretary of state decides to send mail-in ballots to all registered voters. The current secretary of state – a Republican – did that ahead of the June primary to address coronavirus-related concerns.
When the GOP-dominated Legislature began the year on Jan. 13, Republicans talked of tax breaks for businesses, and how to address a lack of available workers and a shortage of affordable child care.
Reynolds had outlined her priorities including a sweeping tax proposal that would have increased state sales taxes and reduced income and property taxes. But everything changed when the coronavirus emerged in Iowa in early March, prompting legislative leaders to suspend the session for more than two months.
When they returned to Des Moines on June 3, the streets were filled with people protesting the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Police fired teargas and used other devices to clear large crowds who gathered on the front steps of the Iowa Capitol.
On the second day of the session, Iowa Democrats and black leaders called for urgent action to end racial injustice. In little more than a week, they made it illegal for law enforcement to use chokeholds in most instances, and prohibited police departments from hiring officers who were fired or resigned while being investigated for serious misconduct or excessive force.
Among other bills sent to the governor are measures that would: hold most of the state budget at current spending levels; increase penalties in certain animal abuse cases; revise criminal surcharges and court fees; provide $2 million to clear a backlog of unprocessed rape kit cases, and; ensure broad immunity to businesses from lawsuits by those who are sickened by coronavirus at the business.
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