The Dickey Dispatch

For being the second funnel week of the session, this week seemed less hectic than expected. There was no debate this week, but instead a focus on governor appointees. In the Workforce Committee, we have 17 appointees this year. The committee will research, interview, and ultimately make a decision on whether we recommend the appointment of these individuals or not. In previous years, Senate Democrats have blocked the appointment of high-quality candidates. However, with a supermajority this year, Senate Republicans will have full ability to appoint candidates that we deem fit for the role.

With no floor debate this week, I do not have any passed legislation to speak on. However, with this being said, a piece of legislation that many have reached out to me about is HF 565 – Eminent Domain. The House passed this legislation late last week and unfortunately it did not make it to the floor for Senate debate this week. I was asked about the issue at a forum last week in Oskaloosa and I replied:

“A year ago we passed a bill for ethanol … I wasn’t a huge fan of that bill. I voted for it because most all of you asked me to, but I wasn’t a huge fan of it. However we were told that it was needed to save the farming industry. Now this year, it’s about the pipeline. We are being told by the [Iowa] Corn Growers Association ‘Oh, you’ve got to do it to save the ethanol industry.’ To be honest, I’m a little ticked at this reoccurring narrative of being told every year that we’ve got to do something to save the ethanol industry. That’s not an anti-farmer statement, that’s not an anti-Iowa statement. It just seems like every year it’s ‘Oh, we’ve got to have something else now to save ethanol.’”

There are many reasons for me to be against the pipeline, however that one really upsets me. I don’t know what the plan is, if there is one, for eminent domain. However I will, just as I did on the ethanol bill last year, vote according to what is best for my constituents. There is a lot of talk around this bill, and I appreciate everyone who has voiced their opinions, both for and against the legislation.

On Wednesday I was fortunate enough to be able to visit with 3 different local groups of students. The Pekin FFA chapter, the Fairfield FFA chapter, and a group of seniors from Mount Pleasant. It was GREAT listening to their concerns and plans for the future. It was very fun to be able to visit with these bright young individuals and show them around the Capitol.