SENATOR MARK ZIEMAN

Last fall’s election changed the balance of power dramatically in the Iowa Legislature. As a result, the process for considering new legislation has been drastically altered. The new majority party declared publicly that they would shed more daylight on the process. After this week, I would contend that our new leadership has forgotten their promise and now prefers to debate the most contentious bills under the cloak of darkness.

On Monday evening the Senate considered a bill that would increase funding to education by $174 million. It had a working title of “student achievement and teacher quality.” The bill did not address either of those issues. The teacher accountability language, passed with bipartisan effort in 2002 and signed into law by Governor Vilsack, was eliminated. Missing from Monday’s bill was any mention of the issue that we all should be most concerned about – student achievement. All our efforts should be directed to providing quality education for our youth that ensures their ability to compete in an international job market. Instead, the bill contained many unfunded mandates, the cost of which will have to be borne by property owners. Monday night’s session concluded at 10:30 P.M.

On Wednesday night, debate on raising the tax on tobacco products did not even begin until 8:30 P.M. This bill had been touted as a health care initiative, but there was no money earmarked for Medicaid reimbursement, cessation programs or any other issues related to tobacco usage. Many amendments were offered to direct this increased revenue to health care programs, but they were all rejected. Wednesday night’s session wrapped up at 12:30 A.M.

As I write this on Thursday morning, debate is scheduled for tonight regarding repeal of Iowa’s Right to Work law. Once again, an important and controversial issue will be considered under the shroud of darkness. If this continues to be the way laws are passed in our state, I can only imagine how many more will be railroaded through while Iowa sleeps and the Senate debates to empty visitor galleries.

SENATOR MARK ZIEMAN

Senate District 8

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For further information or clarification, please contact me at the Capitol (515) 281-3371 or at my home (563) 864-3104