Sheets Snapshot
Rep. Larry Sheets (R) (photo by Don Hubbard)
Hello friends!
According to the calendar, this is the last week of session. Don’t believe everything you read, as we may be here a few more weeks until everything gets done. A couple weeks ago, I signed on to cosponsor an amendment proposed by Representative Alons. This amendment proposes that if the Supreme Court Justices insist on legislating, then their salaries should be lowered to the salary of legislators. The Supreme Court of Iowa gave an opinion in which they said that the Iowa Code section 595.2 paragraph 1 must be stricken, but did not say “By the Legislature.” It then said the rest of the chapter must be gender neutral. Subsequently the Attorney General, who is an officer of the court, gave an order to force all Recorders to issue same sex marriage licenses.
The issue here is not same-sex marriage, but judicial misconduct. After the judicial opinion, everything that followed violated the Separation of Powers inherent in the Iowa Constitution. The Iowa Code was not modified by the legislature, and the implementation was not performed by the Executive branch. The Supreme Court has operated outside of the law. We are now operating in a judicial oligarchy. Representative Alons’ amendment is an attempt to expose this.
The last day of April marked the day we debated the Governor’s Healthy Iowa Plan. It passed the House by a party line vote of 51-49. There was a lengthy debate on three amendments and the Bill itself. We had a 12 hour work day, leaving the Chamber at 7:30 that night. Of course, the debate centered on accepting Medicaid Expansion as defined by the Affordable Care Act (AKA Obamacare), or choosing to create an Iowa specific health care program. Those who prefer the Medicaid Expansion believe the Federal Government will fulfill its commitments 3 years from now. Those opposing explain that the Federal government is only capable of that by borrowing the money from the Chinese. Since they now borrow 46 cents for every dollar they spend, it’s hard to believe that can continue for more than 3 years. It now goes to the Senate and undoubtedly a conference committee.
The Iowa House introduced language April 30th to defund organizations that offer abortions. Hospitals, however, that do normal life-saving work will be funded for that non- abortion work. Planned Parenthood gets nothing. Research is showing that many women silently suffer physically and emotionally from this “choice”- another case of Supreme Court legislating. It is heart wrenching for those of us who are Prolife, see the consequences of this painful practice and then pay for it through our taxes. The battle rages on! This is the House Amendment to SF446, HHS Budget bill. Although this will be my last regular newsletter until next session, I will keep you posted on this and any other news that comes up. I extend my gratitude to you for granting me this privilege of serving you.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns at larry.sheets@legis.iowa.gov or 641-895-6153
