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A proposed constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights to Iowans with felony convictions has an uncertain future in the state Senate
key lawmakers are expressing doubts ahead of a deadline for bills to be approved by a second committee.
A Senate panel has advanced the proposal, which is a priority of Republican Governor Kim Reynolds.
But a key lawmaker says his fellow Senate Republicans are still discussing whether they’ll vote for it in a committee later this week to keep it eligible this year.
Republican Senator Dan Dawson of Council Bluffs says the full Senate won’t vote on the constitutional amendment unless lawmakers decide on additional restrictions.
0402dawson1: 07 “With parameters, there is support, but we have to figure out what kind of parameters there are and give members reassurance that we will address those parameters.”
The House passed the resolution 95 to 2, with Republicans in that chamber saying they’d consider additional restrictions next year. A lobbyist for the governor told senators Reynolds is still very interested in seeing this pass, and she thinks it’s the right thing to do.
4thdistrict U.S. Rep. Steve King will hold his eighth town hall meeting this year, on Saturday afternoon in Le Mars, the county seat of Plymouth County.
The meeting begins at 3 p.m. at the Plymouth County Historical Museum,
King, who is running for re-election, is a Republican from Kiron first elected in 2002,
He has vowed to hold 39 meetings in a public town hall format this year -- one in each 4th congressional district county.
