We Respectfully Decline

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UI Senator Matt Pfaltzgraf

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IOWA CITY - University students across the state of Iowa flocked to the Capitol Building Thursday to represent their respective schools on Students' Day, filling the Capitol's second floor with visual displays, fundraising booths and clamors for lowered tuition.  

Completely absent from the day's activities, however, were representatives from the state's largest school, the University of Iowa.  UI Senators instead hit the lobbying floor to push through a bill they've been working on for two years.  In short, the UI Senators went to work. 

Lobbying for a bill that has gained opposition from the Iowa State Bar Association, the University Senators spent the day speaking to state legislators about the problems the bill faces and how to overcome them. 

The bill seeks to reward individuals compensation for wrongfully retained rental deposits, and was approved by the state Senate in 2007.  However, a House amendment to the bill requires individuals to prove their landlords knowingly acted in "bad faith," lowering the bill's efficacy substantially. 

"The problem with the current law is that, to win the case, the landlord just has to show up, practically," said Senator Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City.  "I think we've done a pretty fair job trying to compromise."

University of Iowa Senator Bennett Noonan noted that the intention of the bill is not to alienate landlords, but rather, to level the playing field for students.  The University of Iowa students' attorney does not handle rental deposit cases, forcing students who feel they have been wronged to hire a private attorney, a potentially expensive ordeal.

"We tried to get Iowa State University on board, but they said their focus is on tuition," said Noonan.  "People know we want lowered tuition.  It becomes a broken record to have three schools come up and say the same thing."   

"There are a lot of other problems that aren't being addressed by other schools," added UI Senator Matt Pfaltzgraf.  Pfaltzgraf may soon have a more "official" say on state legislation.  The veteran UI Senator is currently running for the Iowa State House of Representatives in district 70.

Students advocate creating a joint committee to work out a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the bill before the session ends.  There's simply not enough time left in session to have the bill bounce back and forth between the House and Senate.

The Iowa State Bar Association's lobbying efforts favor the status quo, backing the Iowa Landlords Association on this issue.  "It's basically us versus the Landlord Association," said UI Student and participant James O'Hollearn. "It's an ethical issue."