Abortion, gun control proposals split Minnesota lawmakers in session's 3rd week

ST. PAUL -- Family members of those killed in texting and driving related accidents broke down in tears as they asked lawmakers to stiffen penalties for using cell phones behind the wheel.

Gun owners and gun control advocates made their cases about potential changes making it tougher to buy firearms in Minnesota.

Abortion opponents marched on the Capitol and said they'd again push a bill vetoed last year.

As the Minnesota Legislature entered its third week of legislative session, agreement over issues like offering extra help to farmers and cracking down on texting while driving seemed to crystallize.

Read more: https://www.inforum.com/news/government-and-politics/958434-Abortion-gun-control-proposals-split-Minnesota-lawmakers-in-sessions-3rd-week

South Dakota legislative committee advances one of two abortion bills

PIERRE, S.D. -- A legislative committee has advanced a bill which, if passed, would require patients to sign a state-mandated “informed consent” form prior to receiving an abortion, and killed another bill which would have required patients to undergo a sonogram prior to receiving an abortion.

The Senate Health and Human Services committee on Friday, Jan. 25 unanimously voted to pass Senate Bill 72, a bill recommended by the governor’s office which would more strictly enforce the state’s already mandated informed consent process. Patients seeking abortions in South Dakota already must sign consent forms for treatment, but SB 72 would require providers to use a specific consent form written by the state Department of Health (DOH).

The completed forms would be subject to DOH inspection at any time, as is procedure now. Personal identifying information of patients is redacted prior to DOH inspection, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota spokesperson Jen Aulwes said.

Aulwes said SB 72 would change the Sioux Falls Planned Parenthood clinic’s current consent form process “pretty significantly” due to the DOH form’s length and content.

Read more: https://www.inforum.com/news/government-and-politics/958747-South-Dakota-legislative-committee-advances-one-of-two-abortion-bills

County auditors oppose bill from Bismarck legislators on polling places

BISMARCK -- County auditors spoke in opposition Friday, Jan. 25, to a bill sponsored by several Bismarck lawmakers that would require political party leaders to consent to changing voting locations.

House Bill 1270 was prompted by a disagreement between Burleigh County officials and Bismarck legislators over reducing the number of polling places and establishing universal vote centers.

Rep. Lawrence Klemin, the primary sponsor of the bill, told the House Political Subdivisions Committee his proposal aims to require meaningful consultation when a county commission considers changing precinct boundaries or polling places.

“We are all in this together. We represent the same constituency. We need to work together and collaborate on this matter to better serve the voters and the residents of our state,” said Klemin, R-Bismarck.

Read more: https://www.inforum.com/news/government-and-politics/958794-County-auditors-oppose-bill-from-Bismarck-legislators-on-polling-places

Jimmy Kimmel Live: Trump Blames Himself for Government Shutdown

Democrats seek to repeal law making English Iowa's official language

DES MOINES — A 17-year-old law making English the official language of the state of Iowa is outdated and “a terrible message” for immigrants, according to a sponsor of legislation to repeal it.

“It’s antiquated,” Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, said about the 2002 Iowa English Language Reaffirmation Act that requires official state documents to be printed in English.

Perhaps more importantly, she said, it tells immigrants they are not welcome.

“We should do everything we can to make them more welcome,” Mascher said about Hispanic, Bosnian and African immigrants coming to Iowa. “We have the lowest unemployment in the nation and we need workers.”

Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/democrats-seek-to-repeal-law-making-english-iowas-official-language-2002-iowa-english-language-reaffirmation-act-20190123

Iowa legislative rule change is a blow to transparency

Not long after the 2019 legislative session got underway, the Iowa Senate took a misguided step backward on transparency and sent an ominous signal to Iowans who care what happens at the Capitol.

In the General Assembly, most bills are referred for consideration to legislative committees, addressing subjects such as education or human services.

But those bills first are discussed by subcommittees, usually made up of three lawmakers. It’s the lone step in the committee process where Iowans and interest groups can weigh in on legislation in an open, public discussion.

But in the opening days of the session, several committees in the Republican-controlled Senate adopted rules eliminating previous provisions mandating public access and 24-hour notice of subcommittee meetings. Iowa’s open meetings law doesn’t apply to the Legislature, and the GOP majority can set its own rules governing procedure.

Read more: https://www.thegazette.com/subject/opinion/staff-editorial/iowa-legislature-rule-change-senate-transparency-subcommittee-policy-open-meetings-government-20190125

Iowa House denies press credentials to Bleeding Heartland blogger

The Iowa House is denying press credentials to an influential liberal blogger who has covered the Legislature for years.

Laura Belin, who operates the Bleeding Heartland blog, said she suspects the denial is tied to her critical coverage of Republican leaders and policies. Belin, who has reported on the Legislature since 2007, has appealed the decision and is considering legal action.

Carmine Boal, the chief clerk of the Republican-controlled Iowa House, said on Friday she applied the chamber rules "uniformly and consistently without consideration of content."

Belin applied for formal credentials for the first time to cover this session, which would grant her space to work, among other things. But she, or anyone else, can attend press briefings with lawmakers or hearings without credentials.

Read more: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/25/bleeding-heartland-blog-laura-belin-denied-press-credentials-iowa-house-chief-clerk-carmine-boal-ia/2678296002/

Board suspends license of ex-Iowa prosecutor who stole coworker's underwear then lied about it

A former central Iowa prosecutor who admitted to stealing a subordinate's underwear has had his law license suspended.

Ben Stansberry, 42, who worked in the Marshall County Attorney's Office, can apply for reinstatement in one year, but his license has been suspended indefinitely, the Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board ruled.

Several cases the former assistant county attorney oversaw were dismissed because of his failure to follow office guidelines, wrote Justice David Wiggins in the ruling.

On Aug. 22, 2016, Stansberry texted his coworker asking if he could come over with his small child. She said "yes," and Stansberry and the toddler arrived while the victim was cutting her grass. He asked her if she would watch the child as he used the bathroom, and she agreed.

Read more: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2019/01/25/marshall-county-attorney-ben-stansberry-iowa-prosecutor-stealing-underwear-marshalltown-trespassing/2680690002/

Iowa House Republicans are making a mistake

Every Iowa House Republican will likely vote on January 28 to dismiss Democrat Kayla Koether’s contest of the House district 55 election. She trails State Representative Michael Bergan by nine votes according to certified results, but 29 absentee ballots that voters in Winneshiek County mailed on time remain uncounted.

Although Republicans on a special House election contest committee insist “there exists no legal authority to open and count the twenty-nine ballots in question,” they are wrong about the law. Dismissing the contest without allowing Koether to call witnesses, take depositions, or have the ballots opened will open the door to judicial review.

It’s also terrible politics.

THE MAJORITY DISREGARDED A DISTRICT COURT RULING

The House Election Contest Committee met for the last time on January 24. As expected, Republican State Representatives Steven Holt, Jon Jacobsen, and Matt Windschitl voted to recommend that the House dismiss Koether’s contest. Here’s the full text of the majority report, which the House is scheduled to consider on Monday.

Key GOP lawmaker seeking to gut Iowa's consumer advocate

Iowa Senate Commerce Committee Chair Jake Chapman has introduced a bill that would destroy the independence of Iowa’s Office of Consumer Advocate.

The agency’s mission is to represent consumers on issues relating to gas and electric utilities and telecommunications services, “with the goal of maintaining safe, reliable, reasonably-priced, and nondiscriminatory utility services.” Under Iowa law, the attorney general selects the consumer advocate, unlike most department leaders, who are named by the governor. Attorney General Tom Miller appointed Mark Schuling as consumer advocate in 2011 and reappointed him in 2015. Schuling easily won Iowa Senate confirmation.

The office’s small staff includes “six utility attorneys and eight technical specialists in the areas of economics, accounting, finance and engineering,” according to information the Attorney General’s office provided on January 23. Much of the consumer advocate’s work involves matters before the Iowa Utilities Board, which regulates the state’s investor-owned utilities, Alliant Energy and MidAmerican Energy.

NEW GOVERNING BOARD “SHALL DIRECT THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE”

Senate Study Bill 1036 would put Schuling’s office under the governor’s indirect control. The consumer advocate currently has an advisory panel, which he may consult when desired. The attorney general names five of that panel’s nine members, and the governor names the other four, one from each Congressional district. None are subject to Iowa Senate confirmation.

Read more: https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2019/01/23/key-gop-lawmaker-seeking-to-gut-iowas-consumer-advocate/