Last Friday was the first legislative “funnel” deadline when bills needed to be passed out of committee in order to be considered for the rest of the year. This does not apply to budget or tax-related bills. ACTION ALERTS Death penalty A bill to bring the death penalty back to Iowa passed the [...]
FIRST LEGISLATIVE DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY This Friday is the first legislative funnel deadline when bills need to be passed out of committee in order to be considered for the rest of the year. However, this does not apply to budget or tax-related bills. Some failed bills are also brought back as amendments. ACTION ALERTS The ICC [...]
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR IN OPPOSITION TO GUN AMENDMENT Several bills providing for additional rights for persons to carry guns are advancing in the Legislature. The ICC encourages you to contact your legislators in opposition to a state constitutional amendment that would subject any restrictions on the right of the people to keep and bear arms [...]
Every person is made in the image of God and has certain rights and responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is to participate in the public life of the community. House Study Bill 68 is a state constitutional amendment which would return voting rights to felons after they have served their sentence. The Iowa Poll released [...]
You can find contact information for your federal and state legislators at www.votervoice.net/icc/home or on the Votervoice app. A proposed amendment to make our state Constitution “abortion-neutral,” Senate Joint Resolution 9, passed a Senate subcommittee last week. This past summer, the Iowa Supreme Court discovered a fundamental right to an abortion in the state Constitution. Now [...]
We recognize that gambling can be a legitimate recreational activity in an atmosphere of moderation and control, and we appreciate the assistance that some of our charities and institutions have received from casinos over the years. However, gambling becomes morally unacceptable when it deprives someone of what is necessary to provide for his or her [...]
A bill to address racial profiling in Iowa’s justice system was approved by an Iowa Senate subcommittee last week. The ICC testified in support of the bill. Senate Study Bill 1038 is now eligible for consideration by the full Judiciary Committee. The bill calls for increased data collection by law enforcement, officer training, and the [...]
Because of the Martin Luther King holiday and the snow, it was a little quieter week at the Capitol than normal. Senate Study Bill 1017, a bill allowing guns in vehicles in school parking lots, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 23 on a 12-2 vote despite the opposition of public and nonpublic schools. [...]
The Legislature will come back into session tomorrow after taking a break for today’s Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Regarding Dr. King, the president of the USCCB, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, said: “This year, as we again mark the anniversary of his life, and reflect upon the 51st anniversary of his death, we are [...]
The Iowa Catholic Conference supports the reform of our immigration system in a just and humane way. We believe that persons have the right to find opportunities in their homeland, in addition to a right to migrate to support and protect themselves and their families. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in collaboration with [...]