House Journal: Page 1367: Monday, April 10, 2000
I hereby transmit House File 2113, an act relating to the recognition of federal
rights and service, including eligibility for United States armed forces retired special
motor vehicle license plates and designation of a "Bill of Rights Day", in accordance
with Article III, Section 16, of the Constitution of Iowa.
This bill contains two worthwhile provisions, one which designates December 15 as
"Bill of Rights Day," and a second which makes it easier for certain retired and
honorably discharged military veterans to obtain special vehicle license plates.
I regret to inform you that I am unable to approve House File 2113 as presented.
Article III, Section 29, of the Constitution of Iowa, states, in part, that "Every act shall
embrace but one subject, and matters properly connected therewith…" This legislation
fails to meet that Constitutional test based on legal tests applied in relevant Iowa court
decisions. The bill clearly contains two distinct and separate subjects, and each section
of this bill has no relation to the other.
Throughout this legislative session there have been discussions of the proper use of
legal authority within state government. In this case, the question of legal authority is
a very basic one. This legislative enactment violates Article III, Section 29 of the
Constitution. As Governor, I have sworn to uphold the Constitution of the state.
Therefore, I have no choice but to respectfully disapprove House File 2113.
I call upon legislators, during the time remaining in this legislative session to pass
these two provisions in a proper Constitutional form. Both provisions have merit, and I
will approve them, if presented to me in proper form.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. Vilsack
Governor
April 7, 2000
Brent Siegrist
Speaker of the House
State Capitol Building
L O C A L
Dear Speaker Siegrist:
I hereby transmit House File 2229, an act relating to informed consent provisions
relating to an abortion and providing criminal penalties, and providing an effective
date.
House File 2229 provides that an abortion shall be prohibited without the
"voluntary and informed consent" of the woman seeking the procedure. To meet this
consent requirement, a physician or the physician's agent is required to provide
prescribed information, predominantly non-medical, to the woman at least 24 hours
prior to performing the procedure. The bill, in a rare move, would subject medical
professionals to criminal penalties for failing to comply.
© 2000 Cornell College and
League of Women Voters of Iowa
Comments about this site or page?
hjourn@legis.iowa.gov.
Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.
Last update: Thu Apr 13 13:35:00 CDT 2000
URL: /DOCS/GA/78GA/Session.2/HJournal/01300/01367.html
jhf