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Your Capitol Voice: Education, bridges, property rights: State gets started
by Bobby Kaufmann, State Representative · Op-Ed · January 16, 2015
Hello and Happy New Year — this week marks the beginning of the 2015 Iowa Legislative Session.
There are many differences between the first and second years of a two-year term. During the first session, we go for 110 days instead of 100. Typically the extra time can translate into more results. The makeup of your Iowa government is nearly identical to last year. Senate Democrats still maintain a 26-24 majority, Governor Branstad was re-elected as your Governor, and the House maintains a healthy Republican majority, 57-43.
This means that to achieve results in the Iowa Legislature we will continue to work together, in a bi-partisan manner. My pledge to you is that I will continue to vote for what is best for all of you back home and not what is best for a political party or interest group. I pledge to work with all of my colleagues, including our own Senator Dvorsky, to continue to achieve common-sense results.
I look forward to my new committee assignments. I retained my membership on the Judiciary Committee. Like Senator Grassley, I am on the committee as a non-lawyer. I am also on Local Government, Veterans Affairs, and Commerce. I am most looking forward to being the Chair of the Government Oversight committee. This will be the first time a Representative from this District has chaired this committee. Government Oversight is tasked with overseeing all of state government and ensuring that fraud, corruption, and inefficiencies in government are found and fixed. I plan to be very proactive in my oversight responsibilities.
This past weekend I held my first three Listening Posts in Bennett, Clarence, and Stanwood. I spent over six hours giving a preview of the upcoming legislature, fielding questions, and listening to concerns. Attendance was great but I would continue to remind you that if you can attend a Listening Post, I would highly recommend it. I will appear over 30 times across the District this session to hear your concerns and questions. The top six issues at the Listening Posts, that overlap with what appears to be statewide priorities include the following:
Budget – I have never and will never vote for a budget that spends more money than the state takes in. Iowa continues to have a balanced budget, pay down our debts, and fund our obligations. This is the driving force behind any session.
Education – It is a priority of mine to set allowable growth within the first 30 days of session. We are looking at a Senate who is pushing for 6 percent and a Governor who is looking at anywhere from 0-2 percent. There is obvious room for compromise here, And I strongly believe we should set Allowable Growth in the first 30 days.
Infrastructure Funding – It is unacceptable that our state’s roads are bridges place Iowa among the bottom three states in the country in this category. Three decades of neglect has made this issue a near crisis. There are many different ideas from many different people, but solving the issues of our $230 million/year infrastructure deficit is a top priority for me.
Eminent Domain/RICL – Protecting your private property rights continues to be a top priority for me. If a government, or worse yet a private industry, can condemn your private property for economic gain then not a single one of your personal liberties are safe. I gave the Rock Island Clean Line a year to obtain easements from affected landowners. Of the 1,500-plus affected landowners, RICL has only been able to obtain roughly 15 percent agreement. This means 85 percent of the affected people are potentially part of the largest property seizures in the history of our state. This would be unacceptable and unconscionable in my opinion. I will continue to vigilantly defend your private property rights.
Soil Conservation/Water Quality – I have heard from many of you about water quality and soil conservation. I have always considered myself to be a “Teddy Roosevelt Republican” in the area of the environment. You can count on me to push for more funds for our soil and water, and policies that act as an incentive as opposed to unfunded mandates.
Respecting Fallen Veterans – I heard overwhelmingly from people across the District that you wanted me to try to do something to about the court ruling that allows the Westboro Baptists to desecrate our flag while they protest military funerals. This behavior is appalling and should not be allowed. I intend to push for legislation that mirrors the Missouri language that was recently upheld by a federal judge as constitutional. It would forbid the protesting of funerals within a 2000 foot radius. The families of those that gave the ultimate sacrifice should not have to endure this despicable behavior.
You may contact Rep. Kaufmann at bobby.kaufmann@legis.iowa.gov, 515-281-3221 or 1527 330th St. Wilton, IA, 52778
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