2013 Guide to the Iowa Legislature
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tools they s with the 2013 need to take action Guide to the Iowa Legislature Connecting advocate PO Box 71369 Des Moines, Iowa 50325 [FIRST_NAME] [LAST_NAME] OR CURRENT RESIDENT [ADDRESS_1] [ADDRESS-2] [CITY], [STATE-PROV] [ZIP_POSTAL]-[ZIP_4] Your Senator is: Sen. [Name-Senate] Your Representative is: Rep. [Name-House 2 3 2013 HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE For many years, we have published special issues of INFONET at the start of each legislative GUIDE TO THE IOWA LEGISLATURE session, listing things like committees, new legislators, meeting schedules. ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE Page 4 This year we are combining these issues into a WHAT CAN MY LEGISLATOR DO FOR ME? single “Guide to the Iowa Legislature” so that Page 5 you have a single user-friendly resource. We LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP hope that you will keep this Guide and use it to Page 6 help with your advocacy efforts. MEET THE SENATORS Page 8 There are many issues facing the Iowa MEET THE REPRESENTATIVES Legislature in 2013, including funding for the Page 18 redesign of the mental health and disability LEGISLATIVE PROCESS Page 38 services system. Lawmakers do not always SESSION TIMETABLE know how a bill they are voting on will affect the Page 41 people they are elected to represent. That’s why COMMITTEES it is so important that you let them know. Page 42 CONTACT INFORMATION In the words of a famous author, “It is easy to sit Page 58 up and take notice. What is difficult is getting up GOVERNOR & STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS and taking action.” Page 70 WEBSITE RESOURCES We hope this guide will help you do just that – Page 72 stop taking notice, and get up and take action! FREQUENTLY CALLED NUMBERS Page 73 infoNET Guide to the Iowa Legislature [i2012 issues 11 & 12] 4 5 AbOUT THE LEGISLATURE WHAT CAN MY LEGISLATOR DO FOR ME? THERE ARE 150 LEGISLATORS IN IOWA’S LEGISLATURE. THE JOb OF A LEGISLATOR Some states have more, some less. Iowa’s Legislators are elected to represent the people that live in legislature is made up of two bodies, the Iowa House their district (called “constituents”). They have many roles, of Representatives and the Iowa Senate. but they are mainly problem solvers. They pass laws and decide how to spend taxpayer dollars, and help solve • There are 100 Representatives serving in the problems their constituents have with laws or government. Iowa House of Representatives, or the “Iowa In Iowa, legislators work only part time. The Iowa House” for short. Representatives serve two- Legislature meets for 110 days in the first year of a two-year year terms, so they will be up for election term (like 2013), and for 100 days in the second year (like again in November 2014. 2014). • There are 50 Senators in the Iowa Senate. That means legislators work at the Capitol from January to They are elected to four-year terms. Half (25) April; the rest of the time they have other jobs. Many are of the Senators will be up for election in teachers, farmers, insurance agents, and small business November 2014, and the other half (25) are up owners. Some are retired, and some are students. They for election in November 2016. really are just like the rest of us. The legislative district maps are drawn so that every HOW CAN MY LEGISLATORS HELP ME? Iowa Senate District includes two Iowa House Your legislator works for the people of your district. That districts. They are drawn so that every Senator means they work for you. They are a “public servant” represents about 61,000 people, and every which means they serve the public. Representative represents about 30,500 people. So if you have concerns about issues affecting you, your One Senator and one Representative represent you family, your community or the state, contact your at the Iowa Capitol. legislators. They represent you. Iowa legislators don’t have big offices and large staffs. • One in four legislators is new this year. They have a desk and filing cabinet on the floor of the • Democrats control the Iowa Senate by 1 vote. House/Senate, and a session-only clerk that helps them file papers. That means legislators are very accessible, and • Republicans control the Iowa House by 3 votes. respond personally to calls, emails, and letters . infoNET Guide to the Iowa Legislature [i2012 issues 11 & 12] 6 7 LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP IOWA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Speaker of the House: Minority Leader: Rep. Kraig Paulsen Rep. Kevin McCarthy Majority Leader: Assistant Minority Leaders: Rep. Linda Upmeyer Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad Rep. Mary Gaskill Speaker Pro Tem: Rep. Mary Mascher Rep. Steve Olson Rep. Mark Smith Majority Whip: Rep. Chris Hagenow Assistant Majority Leaders: Rep. Joel Fry Rep. Walt Rogers Rep. Jeff Smith Rep. Matt Windschitl LEGISLATIVE LEADERS IOWA SENATE The legislators from each political party pick leaders. Leaders make committee assignments, set the debate President of the Senate: Minority Leader: schedules, and are in charge of negotiations between Sen. Pam Jochum Sen. bill Dix House and Senate and Governor. Senate Majority Leader: Minority Whip: Right now Iowa has a split Legislature – Republicans Sen. Mike Gronstal Sen. Rick bertrand control the House with 53 votes, and Democrats control President Pro Tem: Assistant Minority Leaders: the Senate with 26 votes. That means both parties will Sen. Steve Sodders Sen. Joni Ernst Sen. Randy Feenstra have to compromise to get something passed. Majority Whip: Sen. David Johnson Sen. Joe bolkcom • Iowa House of Representatives Sen. Tim Kapucian o Majority Party (Republicans): 53 Assistant Majority Leaders: Sen. Roby Smith o Minority Party (Democrats): 47 Sen. bill Dotzler Sen. Wally Horn • Iowa Senate Sen. Matt McCoy o Majority Party (Democrats): 26 Sen. Amanda Ragan o Minority Party (Republicans): 24 infoNET Guide to the Iowa Legislature [i2012 issues 11 & 12] .