LEGISLATIVE NEWS

STATE REPRESENTATIVE JULIAN B. GARRETT

Statehouse, Des Moines, IA 50319

[email protected].us, 515-281-3221

Reapportionment Maps

Last Thursday morning the proposed district maps for both the U.S. Congress and the Iowa Senate and House were released. This is the first step in establishing new districts that are based on the 2010 census figures. Warren and Madison Counties would be in the new 3^rd District that is made up of 16 counties in Southwest Iowa. Polk County is in the northeast corner of the new district and it runs south and west to Council Bluffs and the counties to the south. Our State Senate and State House Districts do not change too much, though because of population growth in our area they are smaller geographically. The Senate District is basically Warren and Madison Counties, except for a small area around Cumming that is part of a West Des Moines District. My House District, number 25, changes a little. I would now represent Norwalk, while Jefferson Township (Martensdale) and Richland, Palmyra, Union, Belmont, White Breast, and Liberty Townships would become part of District 26, currently represented by Glen Massie. That District would continue to include Indianola and Carlisle. All of Madison County would remain in the District that I represent. We lose the area of southwest Dallas County that is now in our Districts. The next step in the process will be public hearings around the State so that citizens can comment on the new maps. The closest hearing for us will be in Des Moines on April 7, at 7:00 p.m. at the Wallace State Office Building.

Two Year Budget

In the appropriations area we are now working on a budget for fiscal year 2013, that will begin July 1, 2012. You may remember that Governor Branstad proposed two-year budgets during the campaign. We believe this will give state agencies and others who receive state funds, an idea of what they can expect in the second fiscal year. We do realize that it may be necessary to make adjustments next year depending on conditions at that time. We also continue working with the Senate on the next fiscal year budget. The Senate wants to spend more money than we in the House do, and we will have to come to an agreement before we can send the new budgets to the Governor for his signature.

Late Term Abortion Bill

After a spirited debate, the House passed the bill that prohibits abortions after the 20^th week of pregnancy last Thursday. As I reported last week, this bill is intended to prevent Nebraska, late term abortionist, Leroy Carhart from opening a facility in Council Bluffs. It is modeled after a Nebraska law. It does provide an exception to avert the mother’s death or where a delay will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function. It now moves to the Senate.

Many Bills Die in the Senate

A number of bills that we had passed and sent to the Senate, were victims of the second funnel date last Friday. Among them is the Marriage Amendment, Collective Bargaining reform, Pre-school Vouchers, the Home School bills that I described two weeks ago,

Forum

Our next forum will be at the Farm Bureau Building on Highway 92 in Indianola, on Saturday morning, April 9.

As always please feel free to contact me with your ideas or concerns.