Post by Logan on Apr 29, 2016 22:43:14 GMT -6
DES MOINES - The split-control Legislature forged hard-fought bipartisan deals on transportation, Medicaid oversight and abortion funding Friday but walked away from water quality, medical cannabis and other vexing issues in adjourning their overtime 2016 session on its 110th calendar day.
Democrats in charge of the Iowa Senate and the GOP-led Iowa House put the finishing touches on a $7.35 billion spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Lawmakers resolved a transportation funding dispute with a $4.85 million compromise, and found middle ground on legislative oversight of Iowa's privately managed Medicaid system. But they did not change taxpayer-funded family-planning efforts to achieve pro-life forces' goal of defunding Planned Parenthood.
"I do believe the end is near," Senate President Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, told session-weary colleagues at the start of the afternoon push to adjournment. The final gavels of the 2016 session fell at 6:10 in the Iowa Senate and eight minutes later in the Iowa House.
House Majority Leader Chris Hagenow, R-Windsor Heights, closed out his first session as floor manager with a message to his children: " To Owen, Noah and Sophia, I am finally able to answer the question they been asking a lot lately: Yes, Daddy is done at the Capitol." Senators closed their work by giving a prolonged standing ovation to Sen. Joe Seng, D-Davenport, who is battling health issues, and his wife, Mary, who serves as his clerk.
Read more: wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/legislature-adjourns-session/article_b526c217-c97d-5c12-aa44-70a09aad093e.html
Democrats in charge of the Iowa Senate and the GOP-led Iowa House put the finishing touches on a $7.35 billion spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Lawmakers resolved a transportation funding dispute with a $4.85 million compromise, and found middle ground on legislative oversight of Iowa's privately managed Medicaid system. But they did not change taxpayer-funded family-planning efforts to achieve pro-life forces' goal of defunding Planned Parenthood.
"I do believe the end is near," Senate President Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, told session-weary colleagues at the start of the afternoon push to adjournment. The final gavels of the 2016 session fell at 6:10 in the Iowa Senate and eight minutes later in the Iowa House.
House Majority Leader Chris Hagenow, R-Windsor Heights, closed out his first session as floor manager with a message to his children: " To Owen, Noah and Sophia, I am finally able to answer the question they been asking a lot lately: Yes, Daddy is done at the Capitol." Senators closed their work by giving a prolonged standing ovation to Sen. Joe Seng, D-Davenport, who is battling health issues, and his wife, Mary, who serves as his clerk.
Read more: wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/legislature-adjourns-session/article_b526c217-c97d-5c12-aa44-70a09aad093e.html