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Iowa Lottery’s Board of Directors discusses sports betting after court ruling

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Iowa Lottery Board

The five-member board that oversees the Iowa Lottery has directed lottery staff to “explore…the feasibility” of having Iowa retailers use lottery terminals for sports betting.

Sports betting has been legal in the State of Nevada for decades, but a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May overturned a federal law which had prohibited legalized sports betting in other states. On June 5, Delaware began offering full-scale sports betting in casinos along with a more limited sports lottery in retail locations.

“In the last month, we’ve heard from several of the lottery’s largest retail organizations who have said that if sports betting is legalized in Iowa, they want the option of offering it as a product in their locations,” Neubauer said today during the lottery board’s meeting.

Mary Neubauer

Scientific Games, the company that helps run Delaware’s sports lottery, also has the service contract for Iowa Lottery terminals that handle play slips and print lottery tickets.

“Given the expertise involved, we fully anticipate that our current system provider could allow the Iowa Lottery to offer sports betting,” Neubauer said. “Ultimately, the decision as to whether sports betting will be legalized in Iowa and exactly what sports betting were to look like if that were to occur here is a decision for our state’s lawmakers.”

The casino industry has been lobbying Iowa legislators for several years to pass a bill that would allow sports betting run by the state’s casinos, if the court ruled states could proceed. Mary Rathje of Marion, a member of the Iowa Lottery’s board, said Iowa Lottery retailers “need to be represented,” too, and that’s why lottery staff need to continue doing the research about how a sports lottery could work here.

Rob Porter

“The casinos, I’m sure, have already got their scope and how they want to proceed with this and we need to be able to be on the same page, if and when it’s decided,” Rathje said during today’s board meeting.

Rob Porter, the Iowa Lottery’s legal counsel, said the businesses that sell Iowa lottery products are looking for ways to boost in-store traffic as consumers shift more of their purchases online.

“One of the things that has the most interest for our retailers is if individuals had a convenient option to place legal bets, it certainly would drive traffic to their store, especially in rural locations,” Porter said, “and the potential for economic development and additional traffic in the store is something that helps them and, by extension, helps us.”

Iowa Lottery officials will not lobby legislators to approve a sports lottery option, but have been directed by the board to research, monitor and prepare for a state law that might involve the lottery in sports betting.

A sports lottery would not be a big revenue producer for the state. Lottery officials predict is would yield between $1 million and $6 million annually. Last fiscal year, the Iowa Lottery generated nearly $81 million in revenue for the state.

Groups seeks to block abortion ban exceptions for rape, incest

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A group that opposes abortions for pregnant women who’ve been raped is asking Iowa courts to block the limited exceptions allowed under Iowa’s new ban on most abortions.

Iowa’s new “fetal heartbeat” law is on hold until a different legal challenge is settled that argues the abortion ban is too limited. A group called Save The 1 says the new law is too broad and does not protect children conceived in rape.

The group is asking the court to preserve the central focus of the new law and ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat may be detected, but then strike down exceptions for cases of rape, incest or fetal abnormality. Save The 1 argues those exceptions send the message that children conceived by rape or incest “are worth less” than others.

New Hubbell-Hart ticket visits Hart’s home territory

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Fred Hubbell, the Democratic candidate for governor, and Rita Hart, his running mate, went to Clinton today to meet with Hart’s hometown supporters. Hart, a farmer from nearby Wheatland, told the crowd it was a difficult decision to join the Hubbell campaign and end her bid for reelection to the state senate representing Clinton County and parts of neighboring Scott County.

“It has been such a pleasure to serve you guys, to work with you and for you for six years,” Hart said. “I look at each one of your faces and I see a memory there.”

Today’s campaign event was originally scheduled inside Clinton County Democratic Party Headquarters, but moved outdoors to a park across the street because of the overflow crowd. Hubbell promised the audience Governor Kim Reynolds has pursued a “shortsighted and destructive agenda” that he and Hart will reverse. Hart said she and Hubbell are pursing a “put people first” agenda.

“You are the people we need to fight for and with,” Hart said, “and that’s what we’re going to do as we continue on this great journey.”

Democrats from Clinton and Scott Counties will meet soon to select someone else to run for Hart’s state senate seat, but no date has been set yet for the district nominating convention.

(Reporting by Dave Vickers, KROS, Clinton)

Hubbell chooses state senator, farmer, former teacher Hart as running mate

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Rita Hart

The Democratic ticket for governor and lieutenant governor is Hubbell-Hart. Fred Hubbell, the Democratic nominee for governor, has chosen state Senator Rita Hart as his running mate.

“I decided this is a challenge that is really important,” Hart told Radio Iowa. “It’s important for the state of Iowa and I needed to step up and answer the call.”

Hart is a farmer and former teacher from the small eastern Iowa town of Wheatland. Delegates at the Iowa Democratic Party state convention are expected to ratify Hubbell’s pick for his lieutenant governor running mate later today.

“My background as a teacher, as a farmer, as a mother, as a volunteer gives me the experiences and the background that will benefit me in this position,” Hart said. “My experience as a legislator has given me some background there that will be helpful and I think my interest in a lot of issues that are important to the people of the state of Iowa will always help me to do a good job on their behalf.”

Hubbell, Hart and the Democrats at their convention.

Hart and her husband have been operating his family’s century farm near Wheatland since 1986. They are the parents of five children. Hart, who is 62 years old, taught school for more than 20 years in the Calamus-Wheatland and Bennett school districts. She’s been a state senator since January of 2013, representing all of Clinton County as well as northern and eastern parts of Scott County. Hart’s 2018 bid for reelection to the state senate has ended as she emerges at the Democratic Party’s nominee for lieutenant governor.

“We’re ready to get started and roll up our sleeves and get to work,” Hart said.

She pledged to “fight tooth and nail” alongside Hubbell in the top-of-the-ticket race.

“And when I believe in something, I’m all in,” Hart said.

Hart grew up near Charles City. She holds an associates degree from North Iowa Area Community College, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa and a masters from the University of Iowa.

Lieutenant governors in Iowa were independently elected until 1990. That’s the year a constitutional change took effect and party nominees for governor began choosing a lieutenant governor as a running mate, in the same way the president and vice president run together as a team. In the past seven gubernatorial elections, Republicans and Democrats have presented voters with “gender balanced” tickets.

Iowa Republican Party state convention delegates will formally nominate Adam Gregg as Governor Kim Reynolds’ running mate later today as well.

(Hart photo from Hubbell/Hart Campaign)

Iowa Medicaid director says ‘there are savings’ from privatization

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The director of Iowa’s Medicaid program says the state will save about $140 million in the current year because patient care is being managed by private companies, but Mike Randol is not explaining why that estimate has tripled since he became Medicaid director in January.

“I think it’s important to understand that regardless of the methodology, that there are savings,” Randol said.

Randol made his comments today in a verbal report to the state board appointed by the governor to oversee the agency. Randol quickly left the room and did not speak with reporters seeking details about how his savings estimate was developed.

Senator Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, said Randol didn’t address how patients and health care providers have been affected by Medicaid privatization either.

“The director’s analysis or presentation to the council was incomplete and I really question the accuracy of the numbers that he provided,” Jochum said.

Last week, Republican State Auditor Mary Mosiman announced she will review the agency’s calculations. Fred Hubbell, the Democratic candidate for governor, said in a statement on Twitter that the lack of transparency about the finances of the state-run Medicaid program is “baffling and completely unacceptable.”

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Katarina Sostaric; additional reporting by Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson)

 

Iowa party platforms speak to key policies on guns, abortion

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The proposed platforms that Iowa Democrats and Republicans will be asked to approve at their state conventions this Saturday illustrate the stark contrast between the parties on major issues.

Delegates at the Iowa Republican Party’s state convention this Saturday will be asked to ratify a party platform that calls for banning all abortions in Iowa, “without exceptions.” Republican lawmakers enacted the toughest abortion law in the country this year, but that ban on abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected — about the sixth week of pregnancy — includes exceptions for rape and incest.

Iowa Democrats have a proposed platform which declares the party’s opposition to that law as well as its support of Roe v Wade, the court decision that legalized abortion. The Democratic Party’s platform also calls for restoring government funding to Planned Parenthood.

When it comes to the gun issue, the Iowa Democratic Party’s platform calls for an “updated” assault weapons ban that would include limits on how many bullets may be in the magazine inserted in the gun. The Republican platform outlines GOP opposition to new gun restrictions and calls for letting “authorized personnel” who’ve undergone training carry guns in Iowa schools.

As it did in 2016, the Iowa GOP’s platform calls for an end to public sector unions. The Democratic Party’s document calls for restoring the bargaining rights of government workers that Republican lawmakers erased in 2017.

Iowa Democrats added a line to their proposed platform spelling out their opposition to “presidential self-pardons.” The Iowa GOP’s platform says all agreements with foreign countries “should be done by treaty and subject to approval by congress” — a relevant section given President Trump’s meeting tomorrow with North Korea’s leader.

State convention delegates in both parties are likely to debate some items in each proposed document.

Iowa Libertarians held their state convention last Saturday. Libertarians nominated Lynne Gentry Rockwell City as their lieutenant governor running mate. In 2014, she ran for a seat in the Iowa legislature and got 21 percent of the vote in the district that covers Pocahontas, Humboldt and Calhoun Counties.

Regent says governor, legislators causing ‘pain’ at public universities

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The board that governs the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa has approved tuition hikes for the fall semester, but not before one board member blasted Iowa’s Republican governor and legislators for failing to provide more taxpayer support of the schools.

“The worst state government public attack on our three public universities that I can ever remember,” Board of Regents member Larry McKibben of Marshalltown, said today.

McKibben, a Republican, served 12 years in the Iowa Senate and was the Republican Party’s nominee in Iowa’s third congressional district in1998.

“We are taking three great public universities downhill,” he said.

For students who are residents of Iowa, fall semester tuition will be 3.8 percent higher at Iowa and Iowa State. Tuition rates for UNI students who are Iowa residents will go up two-point-eight percent this fall. Late this morning, the Board of Regents unanimously approved those increases, along with tuition hikes for out-of-state students attending the three universities.

McKibben was the only member of the board to comment before the vote was taken.

“I’m going to vote for this and I’m going to support it, but I think one of the things I’m trying to say to the State of Iowa and the citizens of Iowa is this: ‘We have to do better in the support of these universities,'” McKibben said, describing what he called “pain” at the schools.

A lack of state government support has made this a “very, very difficult time” at the three public universities, according to McKibben.

“Great faculty and staff and researchers at our universities are being picked off by states all over the nation,” McKibben said.

The former legislator predicts state support of higher education will be a “major item” debated in the fall campaign.

“I understand political talk, because I spent the time doing it, but there’s a difference between talking the talk and walking the walk,” McKibben said. “…If we are going to have economic growth, we have to have economic growth with the great students that come through our universities that stay in Iowa.”

AUDIO of McKibben’s remarks, 7:00

McKibben predicted more Iowa, Iowa State and UNI graduates will take jobs out-of-state to pay off the student debt that’s growing because of increased tuition costs. And McKibben warned there will more significant tuition hikes in the future if the governor and legislators do not boost state support of the three universities.

Reynolds takes actions on remaining bills from 2018 legislative session

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Governor Kim Reynolds. (file photo)

Governor Kim Reynolds has taken action on a dozen bills today, wrapping up her review of legislation passed by the 2018 Iowa General Assembly. Among the items tucked in a massive budget bill is a requirement that the University of Iowa Credit Union ditch that name, since it’s not associated with the university.

“I don’t think that’s unreasonable to ask for that, “Reynolds said earlier this week in Boone during a question-and-answer session with reporters.

State payments to local schools, plus state spending at the public universities and community colleges are outlined in the batch of bills Reynolds signed into law today.. Reynolds also approved spending plans for multiple state agencies, including the Department of Natural Resources and the DOT. Most state agencies will be operating under “status quo” budgets, although legislators did set aside an extra two-million dollars for the state’s park system, to avoid closures.

Reynolds did use her item veto authority to reject some legislative proposals. Republicans had voted to shut down a pilot program that supporters say is reducing the number of people who sit in jail while awaiting trial. Reynolds took action to continue the program through December 31, then ordered the agencies involved to review its effectiveness. Reynolds said in a veto message that she supports efforts to come up with a fairer system for people awaiting trial for non-violent crimes, but the governor indicated legislators had raised legitimate questions about how the program works. The program is being used in Polk, Scott and Woodbury Counties. Linn County delayed participation after lawmakers started raising concerns.

The governor vetoed one bill out of all the bills passed by the 2018 legislature. It’s a bill that passed the House and Senate unanimously and it dealt with how Iowa’s stock insurance companies may split into two separate firms. Reynolds said a provision stuck into the bill would have led to more disruption in Iowa’s insurance market by allowing a single person who is self-employed to qualify for group insurance policies.

Also today, Reynolds announced Jake Ketzner, her chief of staff, is leaving “to pursue opportunities outside state government.” Reynolds is promoting her senior legal counsel and chief policy advisor. Ryan Koopmans will become the governor’s chief of staff on June 9.

Only independent member of legislature drops re-election bid

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David Johnson

A state senator who left the Republican Party in 2016 to protest Donald Trump being the G-O-P’s presidential nominee has ended his bid for reelection in November.

David Johnson of Ocheyedan was the only independent in the state legislature for the past two years — the first to choose “no party” status in decades. Johnson announced in December he would run as an independent and seek another term in the senate.

“I just decided this was a good time to get people thinking in a different way about the election coming this November,” Johnson said today.

Three Republicans are running in Tuesday’s Primary for Johnson’s spot in the state senate. He’s been a legislator for nearly two decades but, as an independent, he faced a tough run for another senate term in the northwest Iowa district where Republicans far outnumber both independents and Democrats.

Johnson had a long history in the Republican Party before he left it nearly two years ago. His father was a Republican candidate for governor in 1968. Johnson hints he’ll be back at the statehouse next year.

“I want to be engaged from a citizen’s point of view,” Johnson said. “I plan to return to the capitol, perhaps, and advocate for causes that are important to me and important to a number of Iowans.”

There are more than 20,000 Republicans, about 13,000 independents and 7300 Democrats in the district Johnson has represented. There is no Democratic candidate in the Senate District 1, but a Democrat could be nominated by convention before the ballot deadline in August.

(Reporting by Matt McWilliams, KICD, Spencer; additional reporting by Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson)

Group wants lawmakers to do more to protect bicyclists

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Many Iowans are getting their bicycles tuned up and ready for a summer full of riding.

Cycling enthusiasts are also hoping it’s a much safer season than recent years. According to the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, 11 people died in bicycle crashes in the state in 2016. Nine of those crashes involved collisions with vehicles. Roger White, with the group Cedar Valley Cyclists in Cedar Falls, says lawmakers could do much more to protect people pedaling on Iowa’s highways.

“It’s very difficult to prove reckless driving, so there’s a void in the law,” White says. “One of the things that would help is if the legislature would pass full-lane passing of bicyclists and, at the same time, increase the penalties for driving distracted.” While White is suggesting cars be required to move into another lane while passing bikes, others have called for a three-or-five foot passing clearance.

“Neither of those are enforceable because you have two vehicles moving down the road at the same time and the vehicle driver is sitting way over on the left side – it’s very difficult to judge the distance from the opposite side of the vehicle while you’re going 55 or whatever miles an hour,” White says. “The only thing that’s clear is you know when you’re in the opposite lane or not, so full-lane passing is the solution to that.”

White and many other bicyclists are also calling for greater penalties in Iowa for motorists who are found at fault for hitting a cyclist. White says, many times, a motorist is only charged with failure to yield – even if the cyclist is killed or seriously injured.