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Iowa House of Representatives
General Information
Type:	Lower house
Term limits:	None
2012 session start:	January 9, 2012
Website:	Official House Page
Leadership
House Speaker:	Kraig Paulsen, (R)
Majority Leader:	Linda Upmeyer, (R)
Minority leader:	Kevin McCarthy, (D)
Structure
Members:	100
	Democratic Party (40) Republican Party (60)
Length of term:	2 years
Authority:	Legislative Department, Iowa Constitution, Sec 3
Salary:	$25,000/year + per diem
Elections
Last Election:	November 2, 2010 (100 seats)
Next election:	November 6, 2012 (100 seats)
Redistricting:	Legislative Service Agency with legislative approval

The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Iowa State Legislature. It has 100 elected representatives, representing 100 disricts and meets at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. There are no term limits and representatives are elected to two year terms. Elections are held in even-number years. Each member represents an average of 30,464 residents, as of the 2010 Census.^[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented approximately 29,293 residents.^[2]

Sessions

The Legislative Department of the Iowa Constitution establishes when the Iowa General Assembly, of which the House of Representatives is a part, is to be in session. Section 2 of the article states that the General Assembly is to convene its regular session on the second Monday of January of each year. The General Assembly can also be called into special session by a proclamation of the Governor of Iowa or by a written request of two-thirds of both houses of the General Assembly.

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the House was in session from January 9 to May 9.

Major issues

The main issues will be a property tax relief package, along with education and mental health reform. Legislators are also expected to consider extending terms for representatives from two to four years.^[3]

2011

See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions

In 2011, the General Assembly was in session from January 10 through July 1. The legislature was in an extended session due to concerns on how to reduce commercial property taxes. House Republicans favored a 25 per cent reduction in commercial property tax rates, while Senate Democrats proposed a tax credit that would be paid directly to the owners of the commercial properties.^[4] During the extended session, legislators did not receive per diem. Iowa legislative rules allow lawmakers to receive per diem for a maximum of 100 days in even numbered years, and 110 days in odd numbered years. The 110th calendar day of the 2011 session was April 30. The rules may be amended at any time to extend the legislative session.

Budget

Iowa ended its 2011 fiscal year with $54.5 million in revenue collections above estimated figures, an increase of 6 percent over fiscal 2010. The 6 percent increase was one percent higher than expected.^[5]

As a whole, Iowa collected $329.3 million more in revenue than it did last year. Last year's overall total revenue is still not yet known, due to the continuing flow of expenses or revenue collections that can be attributed to fiscal year 2010. To account for this, the books will remain open until September, as is customary for the state.^[5]

2010

See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions

In 2010, the House of Representatives was in session from January 11th to March 30th. ^[6]

Elections

2012

See also: Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Iowa House of Representatives will be held in Iowa on November 6, 2012.

The signature filing deadline for the candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 16, 2012. The primary date is June 5, 2012.

2010

See also: Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Iowa House of Representatives were held in Iowa on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 19, 2010 and the primary election day was on June 8, 2010.

The partisan breakdown of the House before and after the election was as follows:

Iowa House of Representatives
Party		As of November 1, 2010	After the 2010 Election
	Democratic Party	56	42
	Republican Party	44	58
Total		100	100

In 2010, $13,358,470 in contributions was raised among all campaigns for state house. The top donors were: ^[7]

Donor	Amount
Iowa Republican Party	$2,784,031
Iowa Democratic Party	$2,071,130
AFSCME Iowa Council 61	$283,585
Iowans for Tax Relief	$273,900
Associated General Contractors of Iowa	$203,250
Iowa Credit Union League	$191,700
Iowa Bankers Association	$136,300
Master Builders of Iowa	$115,350
Iowa Association of Realtors	$105,500
Iowa Farm Bureau	$93,103

Qualifications

The Iowa Constitution states, "No person shall be a member of the house of representatives who shall not have attained the age of twenty-one years, be a citizen of the United States, and shall have been an inhabitant of this state one year next preceding his election, and at the time of his election shall have had an actual residence of sixty days in the county, or district he may have been chosen to represent." ^[8]

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures

The Governor is required within five days of a vacancy in the House to call for a special election. If the vacancy happens in session, the Governor must call for an election as soon as possible with a minimum 18 day notice. All other special elections require a 45 day notice as long the election does not happen on the same day of a school election^[9].

Representatives

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2011, members of the Iowa legislature are paid $25,000/year. Additionally, legislators receive $132/day per diem tied to the federal rate. Polk County legislators receive $102.75/day.^[10]

The $25,000/year that Iowa legislators are paid as of 2011 is the same as they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem has increased from $118/day in 2007 to $132/day in 2011. Additionally, Polk County legislators received $88.50/day per diem in 2007 but now receive $102.75).^[11]

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Iowa legislators assume office the first day of January after their election.

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state houses

Party		As of May 2012
	Democratic Party	40
	Republican Party	60
Total		100

Leadership

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body.

House Leadership of the 84th General Assembly (01/10/2011 - 01/13/2013)^[12]

Position	Representative	Party
State Speaker of the House	Kraig Paulsen	Republican
State House Speaker Pro Tempore	Jeff Kaufmann	Republican
State House Majority Leader	Linda Upmeyer	Republican
State House Assistant Majority Leader	Dave Deyoe	Republican
State House Assistant Majority Leader	Steven Lukan	Republican
State House Assistant Majority Leader	Renee Schulte	Republican
State House Assistant Majority Leader	Matt Windschitl	Republican
State House Minority Leader	Kevin McCarthy	Democratic
State House Assistant Minority Leader	Ako Abdul-Samad	Democratic
State House Assistant Minority Leader	Mary Mascher	Democratic
State House Assistant Minority Leader	Mark Smith	Democratic
State House Assistant Minority Leader	Sharon Steckman	Democratic

Current members

District	Representative	Party	Residence
1	Jeremy Taylor	Republican	Sioux City
2	Chris Hall	Democratic	Sioux City
3	Chuck Soderberg	Republican	Orange City
4	Dwayne Alons	Republican	Hull
5	Royd Chambers	Republican	Sheldon
6	Jeff Smith (Iowa Politician)	Republican	Superior
7	John Wittneben	Democratic	Emmetsburg
8	Tom W. Shaw	Republican	Ottosen
9	Stewart Iverson, Jr.	Republican	Webster City
10	Dave Deyoe	Republican	Nevada
11	Henry Rayhons	Republican	Northwood
12	Linda Upmeyer	Republican	Garner
13	Sharon Steckman	Democratic	Mason City
14	Josh Byrnes	Republican	Charles City
15	Brian Quirk	Democratic	New Hampton
16	Bob Hager	Republican	Decorah
17	Pat Grassley	Republican	New Hartford
18	Andrew Wenthe	Democratic	Hawkeye
19	Bob Kressig	Democratic	Cedar Falls
20	Walt Rogers	Republican	Waterloo
21	Anesa Kajtazovic	Democratic	Waterloo
22	Deborah Berry	Democratic	Waterloo
23	Dan Rasmussen	Republican	Independence
24	Roger Thomas	Democratic	Elkader
25	Brian Moore	Republican	Dubuque
26	Mary Wolfe	Democratic	Clinton
27	Charles Isenhart	Democratic	Dubuque
28	Patrick Murphy	Democratic	Dubuque
29	Nate Willems	Democratic	Lisbon
30	David Jacoby	Democratic	Coralville
31	Lee Hein	Republican	Coralville
32	Steven Lukan	Republican	New Vienna
33	Kirsten Running-Marquardt	Democratic	Cedar Rapids
34	Todd Taylor	Democratic	Cedar Rapids
35	Kraig Paulsen	Republican	Cedar Rapids
36	Nick Wagner	Republican	Marion
37	Renee Schulte	Republican	Cedar Rapids
38	Tyler Olson	Democratic	Cedar Rapids
39	Dawn Pettengill	Republican	Mount Auburn
40	Lance Horbach	Republican	Tama
41	Dan Kelley	Democratic
42	Kim Pearson	Republican	Altoona
43	Mark Smith	Democratic	Marshalltown
44	Annette Sweeney	Republican	Alden
45	Beth Wessel-Kroeschell	Democratic	Ames
46	Lisa Heddens	Democratic	Ames
47	Ralph Watts	Republican	Adel
48	Chip Baltimore	Republican	Boone
49	Helen Miller	Democratic	Fort Dodge
50	David Tjepkes	Republican	Gowrie
51	Dan Muhlbauer	Democratic	Carroll
52	Gary Worthan	Republican	Storm Lake
53	Daniel Huseman	Republican	Aurelia
54	Ron Jorgensen	Republican	Sioux City
55	Jason Schultz	Republican	Carroll
56	Matt Windschitl	Republican	Schleswig
57	Jack Drake	Republican	Lewis
58	Clel Baudler	Republican	Greenfield
59	Chris Hagenow	Republican	Windsor Heights
60	Peter Cownie	Republican	West Des Moines
61	Jo Oldson	Democratic	Des Moines
62	Bruce Hunter	Democratic	Des Moines
63	Scott Raecker	Republican	Urbandale
64	Janet Petersen	Democratic	Des Moines
65	Ruth Ann Gaines	Democratic	Des Moines
66	Ako Abdul-Samad	Democratic	Des Moines
67	Kevin McCarthy	Democratic	Des Moines
68	Rick Olson	Democratic	Des Moines
69	Erik Helland	Republican	Grimes
70	Kevin Koester	Republican	Ankey
71	Jim Van Engelenhoven	Republican	Pella
72	Richard Arnold	Republican	Russell
73	Julian B. Garrett	Republican	Winterset
74	Glen H. Massie	Republican	Indianola
75	Guy Vander Linden	Republican	Oskaloosa
76	Betty DeBoef	Republican	What Cheer
77	Mary Mascher	Democratic	Iowa City
78	Vicki Lensing	Democratic	Iowa City
79	Jeff Kaufmann	Republican	Wilton
80	Mark S. Lofgren	Republican	Muscatine
81	Phyllis Thede	Democratic	Bettendorf
82	Linda Miller	Republican	Bettendorf
83	Steven Olson	Republican	DeWitt
84	Ross C. Paustian	Republican	Davenport
85	Jim Lykam	Democratic	Davenport
86	Cindy Winckler	Democratic	Davenport
87	Thomas Sands	Republican	Columbus Junction
88	Dennis Cohoon	Democratic	Burlington
89	Jarad Klein	Republican	Riverside
90	Curt Hanson	Democratic	Hilsboro
91	David Heaton	Republican	Mt. Pleasant
92	Jerry Kearns	Democratic	Keokuk
93	Mary Gaskill	Democratic	Ottumwa
94	Kurt Swaim	Democratic	Bloomfield
95	Joel Fry	Republican	Creston
96	Cecil Dolecheck	Republican	Mount Ayr
97	Richard Anderson	Republican	Clarinda
98	Greg Forristall	Republican	Macedonia
99	Mary Ann Hanusa	Republican	Council Bluffs
100	Mark A. Brandenburg	Republican	Council Bluffs

Standing committees

Iowa House of Representatives has 19 standing committees:

External links

• Official website of the Iowa General Assembly
• Official list of the current members of the Iowa House of Representatives
• Project Vote Smart on the Iowa House of Representatives

References

v • d • e Current members of the Iowa House of Representatives House Speaker: Kraig Paulsen (D) • Majority Leader: Linda Upmeyer (D) • Minority Leader: Kevin McCarthy (R)     Jeremy Taylor (R) Chris Hall (D) Chuck Soderberg (R) Dwayne Alons (R) Royd Chambers (R) Jeff Smith (R) John Wittneben (D) Tom W. Shaw (R) Stewart Iverson, Jr. (R) Dave Deyoe (R) Henry Rayhons (R) Linda Upmeyer (R) Sharon Steckman (D) Josh Byrnes (R) Brian Quirk (D) Bob Hager (R) Pat Grassley (R) Andrew Wenthe (D) Bob Kressig (D) Walt Rogers (R) Anesa Kajtazovic (D) Deborah Berry (D) Dan Rasmussen (D) Roger Thomas (D) Brian Moore (R) Mary Wolfe (D) Charles Isenhart (D) Patrick Murphy (D) Nate Willems (D) David Jacoby (D) Lee Hein (R) Steven Lukan (R) Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D) Todd Taylor (D) Kraig Paulsen (R) Nick Wagner (R) Renee Schulte (R) Tyler Olson (D) Dawn Pettengill (R) Lance Horbach (R) Dan Kelley (D) Kim Pearson (R) Mark Smith (D) Annette Sweeney (R) Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D) Lisa Heddens (D) Ralph Watts (R) Chip Baltimore (R) Helen Miller (D) David Tjepkes (R) Dan Muhlbauer (D) Gary Worthan (R) Daniel Huseman (R) Ron Jorgensen (R) Jason Schultz (R) Matt Windschitl (R) Jack Drake (R) Clel Baudler (R) Chris Hagenow (R) Peter Cownie (R) Jo Oldson (D) Bruce Hunter (D) Scott Raecker (R) Janet Petersen (D) Ruth Ann Gaines (D) Ako Abdul-Samad (D) Kevin McCarthy (D) Rick Olson (D) Erik Helland (R) Kevin Koester (R) Jim Van Engelenhoven (R) Richard Arnold (R) Julian B. Garrett (R) Glen H. Massie (R) Guy Vander Linden (R) Betty DeBoef (R) Mary Mascher (D) Vicki Lensing (D) Jeff Kaufmann (R) Mark S. Lofgren (R) Phyllis Thede (D) Linda Miller (R) Steven Olson (R) Ross C. Paustian (R) Jim Lykam (D) Cindy Winckler (D) Thomas Sands (R) Dennis Cohoon (D) Jarad Klein (R) Curt Hanson (D) David Heaton (R) Jerry Kearns (D) Mary Gaskill (D) Kurt Swaim (D) Joel Fry (D) Cecil Dolecheck (R) Richard Anderson (R) Greg Forristall (R) Mary Ann Hanusa (R) Mark A. Brandenburg (R) Democratic (40) • Republican (60) • Iowa House of Representatives • Iowa State Senate

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	v • d • e State of Iowa Des Moines (capital)
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