By Zach Weigel
There are many ways to characterize “big government,” ranging from Thomas Hobbes’ political philosophy equating an oppressive state to Leviathan — the biblical sea monster — to more colloquial conceptions of the state as a near totalitarian institution dictating what can and can’t be done. Nonetheless, while admittedly these characterizations of the state are dubiously exaggerated, the current state Legislature may be approaching this realm.
To date, four bills proposed in the state Legislature have made it quite apparent that the Republican lawmakers intend to make the state of Iowa a more powerful entity by taking power away from the local levels. And although independently each bill marks a rather small power grab by the Legislature, collectively, the four bills suggest that local government will have a diminished capacity in the future.
First, Senate Study Bill 1172 attempts to rob local governments (such as Iowa City) and institutions (such as the University of Iowa) of the ability to function as “sanctuaries.” Under this proposal, every entity in the state would be required to follow federal immigration guidelines, in turn relinquishing their right to enforce deportations with leniency. Thus, in this case, state law would give no leeway in interpretation.
Second, numerous bills have been advanced in both houses that aim to limit the right women have to health services provided by Planned Parenthood (notably abortion). Similar to Senate Study Bill 1172, a bill along these lines would also serve to adjudicate what an entity can and can’t do. Whereas the former bill limits what cities, counties, and institutions are able to do in regard to immigration enforcement, the latter limits what services an institution (Planned Parenthood) can provide.
Third, a component of House Study Bill 133 rewrites gun laws so that local ordinances cannot trump state and federal law. Specifically, this hits close to home as the bill would force the UI to lift its ban on firearms because regent universities are not protected public areas under state law.
Last, House File 295 would prevent cities and counties from crafting their own minimum-wage laws by forcing them to comply with the state minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Moreover, this bill also includes language barring local governments from pre-emptively instituting their own laws on the issues of paid family leave, banning plastic grocery bags, and implementing excise taxes on certain items such as sodas. Once again, this bill would limit the rights of local governing bodies.
Taken together, these four bills mark a blatant attempt by the state Legislature to subjugate the authority of local governing units by telling localities what they can and can’t do. What is more, the consequence of these four proposals stands in stark contrast to what you would expect from a Republican-controlled Legislature. Aren’t Republicans supposed to be the party of small government? Traditional Republican orthodox preaches as much, yet it certainly looks like the current Legislature is hell-bent on declaring what local government can and can’t do.
So long, decentralized government by local institutions, and hello, totalitarian control of government by the state. Buckle up because Iowa government is getting bigger.