Blog for Iowa :: Civil Liberties

By Christina Butts

Being an ex-intern for the Iowa Senate Democrats and their team cheerleader/critic :-) , it sort of annoys me the inference that the Senate was the last to get this bill and finally approve when it was the first and consistent legislative house that has introduced this bill and got the votes to pass it but it died repeatedly in the House. It has been the House that was the stick in the mud, even with the new Democratic majority and needed the final prodding and concession to the extremely conservative Republican Leaders to include the amendment not undermine the DOMA(Defense of Marriage Act) laws on Iowa's books. The public announcement of this as being a wonderful Iowa House bill misconstrues of the facts of history in my mind and somewhat annoys me. True, once it finally passed the House's amendments to the Senate file/bill, the Senate had to re-vote to concur, but most people don't know these legislative steps in getting a bill passed. The second Senate approval concurrence INCREASED in the AYE votes.

I've just been reading national press releases on the announcements and congratulations all around to Iowa. I know I worked hard on my end of the spectrum to make sure this was one of the KEY issues in the state's Democratic party's platform to be made into public policy, as Co-Chair on the '06 IDP Platform's Government Subcommittee, with Andrew Keiffert of Dubuque, which was overwhelmingly approved during the last state convention by the party delegates/members from around the state. It was a puzzle that needed many pieces(people) to fit into place to make it happen.

But so goes life. :-( :-P K' Plagh!! Enough with my sour grapes, And celebrate our victories this year!! 8-) :-)
-------------------------------------------

Here's THE TRUE HISTORY -

Bill History for SF 427

By State Government.

A bill for an act relating to the Iowa civil rights Act and discrimination based upon a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. (Formerly SF 224.)

March 8, 2007	Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 629.
March 8, 2007	Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 641.
March 13, 2007	Fiscal note. SCS.
March 21, 2007	Deferred. S.J. 873.
March 26, 2007	Deferred. S.J. 889.
March 26, 2007	Amendment S-3168 filed. S.J. 901.
March 26, 2007	Point of order raised on S-3168, ruled out of order. S.J. 901.
March 26, 2007	Amendment S-3166 filed, lost. S.J. 902.
March 26, 2007	Amendment S-3167 filed, lost. S.J. 902.
March 26, 2007	Amendment S-3171 filed, lost. S.J. 903.
March 26, 2007	Amendment S-3172 filed, lost. S.J. 904.
March 26, 2007	Amendment S-3169 filed, withdrawn. S.J. 904.
March 26, 2007	Passed Senate, ayes 32, nays 17. S.J. 905.
March 26, 2007	Immediate message. S.J. 905.
March 27, 2007	Message from Senate. H.J. 1026.
March 27, 2007	Read first time, referred to Human Resources. H.J. 1033.
March 29, 2007	Subcommittee, Wessel-Kroeschell, Grassley, and Hunter. H.J. 1163.
April 5, 2007	Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 1268.
April 9, 2007	Amendment H-1626 filed. H.J. 1287.
April 12, 2007	Placed on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 1369.
April 25, 2007	Amendment H-1626 adopted. H.J. 1745.
April 25, 2007	Call of the House. H.J. 1745.
April 25, 2007	Passed House, ayes 59, nays 37. H.J. 1746.
April 25, 2007	Immediate message. H.J. 1747.
April 25, 2007	Call of the House lifted. H.J. 1747.
April 25, 2007	Message from House, with amendment S-3487. S.J. 1453.
April 25, 2007	Senate concurred with S-3487. S.J. 1454.
April 25, 2007	Passed Senate, ayes 34, nays 16. S.J. 1454.
April 25, 2007	Immediate message. S.J. 1459.
April 25, 2007	Message from Senate. H.J. 1811.

Now Going to the Chetster (the Guv) to sign into updated Law!

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Tuesday, April 17

Action Needed on Civil Rights Bill in Iowa House

by Sam Garchik on Tue 17 Apr 2007 07:50 AM CDT

Action Needed on Civil Rights Bill in Iowa House

Janelle Rettig

Friends,

SF 427, the civil rights bill, is in trouble in the Iowa House. The bill would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state civil rights code, making discrimination in employment, housing education, credit, and public accommodations illegal in Iowa. The bill previously passed the Iowa Senate with large margins. The Iowa House is controlled by Democrats 54-46, with one Democrat not voting while serving in Iraq.

The Speaker of the House, Pat Murphy Pat.Murphy@legis.state.ia.us, last week said the bill was likely dead for the session because he didn't have the Democratic votes. In the last election you might recall the talk about what good things could happen if we only gave a Democratic triffecta. The Democrats control the house, they control the senate, and we have a Democratic Governor. It seems reasonable to think that the Democratic triffecta and a few reasonable Republicans could get basic civil rights done if they truly wanted it to happen.

Here's how you can help.

1) Write your legislator asking them to do everything they can to give gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people basic civil rights like working, eating in a restaurant, renting an apartment. Tell your stories of discrimination and your fears, the fears you have for your friends and family, the desire you have to live in a place where everyone is valued. You can find your legislator here:

http://www.legis.state.ia.us/FindLeg/

2) If you are a Democrat think about everyone you've ever given money to, ever volunteered for, or anyone you voted for and consider asking them to get involved and pull in all the political capital they have to make this happen.

3) Dig through your address book and contacts looking for anyone from these counties asking them to help:

Polk, Winneshiek, Scott, Kossuth, Benton, Chickasaw, Union, Cerro Gordo, Pottawattamie, Black Hawk

4) Write these Democrats telling stories of discrimination, fears, hopes and dreams of a better state:

Pat.Murphy@legis.state.ia.us, Kevin.McCarthy@legis.state.ia.us, Beth.Wessel-Kroeschell@legis.state.ia.us, Geri.Huser@legis.state.ia.us, Doris.Kelley@legis.state.ia.us, Dolores.Mertz@legis.state.ia.us,
Dawn.Pettengill@legis.state.ia.us, Brian.Quirk@legis.state.ia.us, Mike.Reasoner@legis.state.ia.us,
Paul.Shomshor@legis.state.ia.us

Murphy is the Speaker of the House, McCarthy is the Democratic Majority Leader, and Wessel-Kroeschell is the floor leader of the bill

5) Write these Republicans doing the same:

Christopher.Rants@legis.state.ia.us, Dan.Clute@legis.state.ia.us, Chuck.Gipp@legis.state.ia.us, , Libby.Jacobs@legis.state.ia.us, Linda.Miller@legis.state.ia.us, Scott.Raecker@legis.state.ia.us, Bill.Schickel@legis.state.ia.us, Tami.Wiencek@legis.state.ia.us

Christopher Rants, is the Republican Majority Leader.

This is a defining moment in Iowa history. We can take the path of being a welcoming state where everyone is valued or we can take the path of fear and discrimination. Make no mistake about it this is also a defining moment in the Democratic party. The question is whether GLBT people our friends and allies have any value to a party that we have shown profound loyalty. If Democrats value GLBTA people they can find a way to get this done now, not next year, not one more election. I'm tired of hearing just one more election, just do this, just do that. We've been loyal, we are Iowans, now treat us as equals.

Some of the people on this list have been working on this bill for over 20 years. Each and every year we've been told just one more election, just one more something. We've been patient for plenty of time. Now let's get basic civil rights passed into law. As individuals we may not be that powerful, but together we know people who know people who have power. If you believe in equality there has never been a better time to call in your friends.

Janelle

Janelle Rettig
110 Shrader Rd
Iowa City, IA 52245
319-338-0999 (phone/fax)
319-330-0916 (cell)
janellerettig@aol.com

Additional list you might find helpful:

Iowa House

Iowa House By Party -- Democrats

Iowa House By Party - Republicans

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