Iowa Legislature today: Down to the wire

IOWA LEGISLATURE, DAY 102, 2014 SESSION

The 2014 session is coming down to the wire. Agreements are being reached on spending bills, and there's speculation lawmakers could adjourn the session sine die on Saturday.

SENATE
A Senate subcommittee meets at 8:30 a.m. to consider a bill that would ratify an agreement reached between casinos in Council Bluffs and Dubuque and the Iowa Greyhound Association. The deal, which involves a $92 million payout by the casinos, would allow the shutdown of dog racing at Bluffs Run on Jan. 1, 2016. Meanwhile, Mystique Casino would give up management of Dubuque Greyhound Park after Nov. 1, 2014, and the track would be leased by the greyhound industry, which would continue to offer races. The deal is scheduled to be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee later today.

HOUSE

House and Senate negotiators will be ironing out the final details of appropriations bills. Shuttle diplomacy between the House and Senate is common at this point in the session.