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Iowa General Assembly
| Iowa General Assembly | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2012 session start: | January 9, 2012 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | John Kibbie (D) |
| House Speaker: | Kraig Paulsen (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Michael Gronstal (D) (Senate), Linda Upmeyer (R) (House) |
| Minority leader: | Jerry Behn (R) (Senate), Kevin McCarthy (D) (House) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 50 (Senate), 100 (House) |
| Length of term: | 4 years (Senate), 2 years (House) |
| Authority: | Legislative Department, Iowa Constitution, Sec 3 |
| Salary: | $25,000/year + per diem |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 25 seats (Senate) 100 seats (House) |
| Next election: | November 6, 2012 25 seats (Senate) 100 seats (House) |
| Redistricting: | Iowa Board of Apportionment |
Contents |
Prior to the 2006 election, Iowa had one of the most evenly divided state legislatures in the country, with a 25-25 split in the Senate and the House composed of 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats. Following the 2010 election, Republicans took control of the House by a margin of 58-42, while Democrats hung onto the Senate 27-23.
In 2011, the General Assembly was in session from January 10 to April 29, while in 2010, they were in session from January 11th to March 30th.[1]
Sessions
The Legislative Department of the Iowa Constitution establishes when the General Assembly is to be in session. Section 2 of the article states that the General Assembly is to convene its regular session on the second Monday of January of each year. The General Assembly can also be called into special session by a proclamation of the Governor of Iowa or by a written request of two-thirds of both houses of the General Assembly.
Bills may be pre-filed for the senate between odd year and even year sessions.[2]
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the General Assembly was in session from January 9 to May 9.
Major issues
The main issues will be a property tax relief package, along with education and mental health reform. Legislators are also expected to consider extending terms for representatives from two to four years.[3]
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the General Assembly was in session from January 10 through July 1. The legislature was in an extended session due to concerns on how to reduce commercial property taxes. House Republicans favored a 25 per cent reduction in commercial property tax rates, while Senate Democrats proposed a tax credit that would be paid directly to the owners of the commercial properties.[4] During the extended session, legislators did not receive per diem. Iowa legislative rules allow lawmakers to receive per diem for a maximum of 100 days in even numbered years, and 110 days in odd numbered years. The 110th calendar day of the 2011 session was April 30. The rules may be amended at any time to extend the legislative session.
Session highlights
Budget
Iowa ended its 2011 fiscal year with $54.5 million in revenue collections above estimated figures, an increase of 6 percent over fiscal 2010. The 6 percent increase was one percent higher than expected.[5]
As a whole, Iowa collected $329.3 million more in revenue than it did last year. Last year's overall total revenue is still not yet known, due to the continuing flow of expenses or revenue collections that can be attributed to fiscal year 2010. To account for this, the books will remain open until September, as is customary for the state.[5]
School funding
A brief tussle over state spending on public schools ended in compromise, with Democrats agreeing to a Republican-proposed 2 percent increase in spending (equivalent to about $60 million) for FY 2012. The Senate approved the plan by a vote of 26-19 and the House by 56-39. Though Democrats had originally asked for a 3 percent overall increase in funding, they secured an extra $24 million for preschool programs in exchange for their support for the Republican plan.[6]
No property tax reform
Lawmakers failed to agree on reforms to the state's property tax system. House Republicans called for across-the-board property tax cuts, while Democrats sought to limit tax concessions to small businesses. Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal said the Republican plan "favored tax breaks for giant corporations."[6] Republicans countered that "all property taxpayers in the state of Iowa deserve relief."
Iowa collects commercial property taxes based on 100 percent of a property's assessed value, a considerably higher level than in neighboring states; in Missouri, for instance, taxes are only calculated based on 33.3% of a property's value.
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the General Assembly was in session from January 11th to March 30th.
Role in State Budget
- Main article: Iowa state budget
Sometime in January of every year, the Iowa General Assembly receives an annual budget proposal from the Governor. The annual budget proposal is for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1st. The Legislature then revises this budget over the course of the next couple of months. [7]
In hard economic times, the Iowa Legislature has scrambled to balance the budget. Reduced revenue projections back in April of 2009 led Gov. Culver to revise and cut 7.9% from his FY 2010 budget recommendation to the Legislature during its session.[8]
Legislators
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2011, members of the Iowa legislature are paid $25,000/year. Additionally, legislators receive $132/day per diem tied to the federal rate. Polk County legislators receive $102.75/day.[9]
The $25,000/year that Iowa legislators are paid as of 2011 is the same as they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem has increased from $118/day in 2007 to $132/day in 2011. Additionally, Polk County legislators received $88.50/day per diem in 2007 but now receive $102.75).[10]
When sworn in
Iowa legislators assume office the first day of January after their election.
Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing fifty single-member districts across the state. Each member represents an average of 60,927 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[11] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 58,586.[12] The Senate meets at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.
Unlike the lower house, the Iowa House of Representatives, Senators serve four-year terms and half of the chamber is up for re-election every two years. There are no term limits.
| Party | As of May 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 26 | |
| Republican Party | 24 | |
| Total | 50 | |
House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives. Each member represents an average of 30,464 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[13] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 29,293.[14]
Unlike the upper house, the Iowa Senate, state representatives serve two-year terms with the whole chamber up for re-election in even-numbered years. There are no term limits.
| Party | As of May 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 40 | |
| Republican Party | 60 | |
| Total | 100 | |
Joint committees
External links
References
- ↑ 2010 session dates for Iowa legislature
- ↑ Senate Rule 27 and House Rule 29
- ↑ Sioux City Journal, "Legislators predict 'different' 2012 session," January 8, 2012
- ↑ RadioIowa, Property tax reduction still holding up close of legislature, June 15, 2011
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 DesMoinesRegister.com, Iowa ends fiscal year with better-than-expected revenues, July 14, 2011
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Forbes.com, "Iowa lawmakers agree on local school funding," June 29, 2011.
- ↑ Sometime in the following weeks and months, the Legislature votes on a budget. National Association of State Budget Offices, 2008 Budget Processes in the States
- ↑ Gov. Culver Press Release , “Governor Culver: During Tough Times, We Must Be Fiscally Responsible,” April 3, 2009
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislator Compensation Data"
- ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
