Gives Senate Democrats a second chance at protecting private property rights
Today, Representative Bobby Kaufmann offered an amendment to Senate File 272 which would protect Iowan’s private property rights and family farms from government overreach.
The amendment, which mirrors House File 219, strengthens property laws in Iowa by preventing the taking of private land for a recreational lake. Entities would still be allowed to condemn land to create a lake, but only for drinking water. If the lake is designed for recreational purposes, the land must be willingly sold by the land owner. Additionally, individuals whose land is being condemned for drinking water will have the opportunity to get a second engineering opinion to determine the actual amount of water needed for the community. The amendment also provides an appeals process for land owners losing land to eminent domain for the creation of a lake. House File 219 originally passed with a bipartisan vote of 93-6 only to die in the Senate.
Rep. Kaufmann proposed the amendment in hopes that Senate Democrats will bring this bill up to protect private property rights.
The amendment was approved and the bill passed, as amended, with a bipartisan vote of 95-2.
House Republicans urge Senate Democrats to bring this bill to a vote and protect private property rights and family farms.
Below is a list of bills that survived the second funnel
2013 Second Funnel Survivors
Rep. Baltimore (R-Boone) on the House Floor
Today, House Republicans passed House File 478, a bill that leaves more money in Iowans’ pocketbooks and reduces Iowans’ income taxes.
The bill gives Iowans a choice when paying their income taxes, either the current system or a 4.5 percent flat tax with zero deductions or credits. No one will pay higher income taxes under this plan. Additionally, it raises the filing threshold so that the first $6,235 (or $12,450 for married couple) would not be taxed.
“House File 478 not only cuts Iowans’ taxes, it makes our tax system simpler, flatter, and fairer,” said House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake).
The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency (LSA) predicts that with the House proposal, close to 492,000 taxpayers will see their taxes reduced. With the flat tax option, the greatest number of taxpayers who benefit fall in the $30,000 to $40,000 income bracket.
Read more »
With the bulk amount of committee work done for the 2013 Session, the House has moved to floor debate. This week, several freshmen members have been managing bills on the floor of the House during debate. Below are some pictures of new members running their legislation on the floor.
Rep. Bobby Kaufmann (Wilton) during debate on House File 219, an bill regarding eminent domain authority and procedures.
Rep. Sandy Salmon (Janesville) during discussion on House File 222, an bill regarding confidentiality of information filed with the court for the purpose of obtaining an arrest warrant.
Read more »
In March of 2008 Democrats in the Iowa House attempted a dramatic expansion of Iowa’s collective bargaining law. Here is the original website update posted by House Republicans in the wake of that debate. In contrast to the way that debate three years ago was handled, Republicans in 2011 are using a more transparent approach to HF 525 which reforms Iowa’s collective bargaining law. Click on the link to see the full post.
floor debate 3-19-08
(DES MOINES)—Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Kaufmann (R-Wilton) delivered opening remarks to the Iowa House of Representatives today. The following are his remarks, as prepared for delivery:
Thank you Representatives Chambers, Grassley, and Swaim. You are friends and colleagues and I will do my best to not let you down. And my appreciation to all of my fellow legislators; I have the greatest respect for all of you.
Read more »
(DES MOINES)—House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer (R-Garner) delivered opening remarks to the Iowa House of Representatives today. The following are her remarks, as prepared for delivery:
Thank you Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, and guests, welcome to the 84th General Assembly.
As we assemble here today, I am reminded of my first day as a freshman legislator. Read more »
(DES MOINES)—Speaker of the House Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) delivered opening remarks to the Iowa House of Representatives today. The following are his remarks, as prepared for delivery:
I want to welcome family and friends to the Iowa House of Representatives, this is the people’s house and it is important we never lose sight of that fact. I also want to extend my congratulations to all of the members; the people of Iowa and in particular the people in your individual House districts have placed their trust in you by electing you to serve as their voice in Des Moines. It is a privilege and a responsibility that I know all of you will take seriously.
Read more »
Floor Action | ctadlock | April 9, 2013 | 
Comments (1) 
