Iowa Senate debate over child labor laws goes deep into the night
A marathon session at the Iowa Statehouse ended just before 5 a.m. Tuesday
A new video shows lawmakers and their staff leaving after a long night.
While many of us were sleeping, Iowa senators were locked in a late-night stalemate.
Senators started to debate a bill to change Iowa's child labor laws just before midnight. But when Republicans wouldn't answer a question about the bill, Democrats broke away for discussions.
Senate minority leader Zach Wahls was so frustrated that he posted a video on Twitter, calling the move unprecedented.
"We're told this is a new policy from the Iowa Senate Republicans in response to an Iowa Supreme Court ruling," Wahls said. "This is a huge departure from how the Iowa Senate has operated since its inception 150 years ago."
The Iowa Supreme Court ruling that Wahls mentions used debate from the Senate floor as reasoning for overturning a law.
At 3 a.m., the head of the Senate Republicans, Jack Whitver, sent vlog a statement.
"In light of that ruling, Senate Republicans do not expect to engage in spontaneous and speculative discussions of legislative intent during floor debate until that question is resolved."
But he says the legislative process will remain.
Lawmakers didn't return to debate the child labor bill until just before 4 a.m.
The bill, , passed 32-17 .
Two Republicans voted against the bill alongside all 16 Democrats.
The bill now goes to the House for further debate.