Capitol Comments by Rep. Curt Hanson

State Representative Curt Hanson, represents Iowa House District 82, which includes most of Jefferson County and Davis and Van Buren counties, in the state Legislature.

Monday was Water Day at the Capitol and I was happy to see the Rathbun Regional Water Association represented.

The RRWA supplies water to many in our district. Last fall, I had the opportunity to visit the new treatment facility located near Rathbun. The construction of the facility and the filtration technology was impressive.

I hear positive reports of the widespread cooperation in the management of the watershed that fills Rathbun Lake and supplies water to many in our area.

I received a troubling phone call from a constituent concerning the filling of their propane tank. If you have placed a standing order to top off your propane tank, your tank may be filled at an extremely high price.  In some cases, the pre-approved filling of your propane tank may have been authorized a long time ago and you may not recall authorizing the procedure. Prices are changing often and can significantly vary between communities. Your best protection is to be knowledgeable of when and at what price your propane tank will be refilled.

Committees are starting to shift from an informational mode to an action mode.

While some committees are still hearing department reports, other committees are beginning to pass bills that may be scheduled for later debate in the House Chamber. At this time we have passed Joint House-Senate Resolutions, such as the most recent Resolution supporting the longstanding Canadian-Iowan relationship. However, we have not debated or voted on any bills on the House floor.

Dale Garner, Ph.D, of the DNR, gave the Natural Resources Committee an update of the Iowa deer herd. Garner is a recognized national authority in the study of Chronic Wasting Disease. This is an always fatal disease of the deer family that has been found on several game preserve properties in Iowa, including a property located near Drakesville.

The diseased properties have been depopulated and are currently under quarantine. Should the spread of CWD not be contained, Southeast Iowa could suffer a sizeable economic downturn.

Several years ago the DNR was asked to reduce the herd and Garner?s report reflected the DNR?s work in carrying out the wishes of Iowans. The stress of unusual weather has also impacted the deer population.

Randy Taylor of the Iowa Conservation Alliance and of the Iowa Bowhunters Association reported the concerns of hunters in the management of the Iowa deer herd. We must now consider if it is it time to re-evaluate the DNR policy from the reduction of the deer herd to maintenance of the deer herd.

Late this past week, we passed a number of technical bills in the Education Committee. These bills were all noncontroversial, passing in the committee 23-0. These bills fix unintended problems of bills passed in previous sessions and will now be placed on the debate calendar.

In a recent survey, Iowa superintendents overwhelmingly believe state lawmakers should quickly set basic school aid for schools next year, as required by state law. Superintendents feel their top priorities would be expanding early literacy, implementing Iowa?s common core and reducing class sizes.

The House Commerce Committee voted to prohibit new products commonly called e-cigarettes from persons under the age of 18 years. Most Iowans favor the idea of not making this product available to children.

In my opinion, House File 2109 has several serious flaws including licensing and taxation issues. This bill also does not address the new gateway products companies have recently began producing. These products, in the opinion of many, are designed to encourage the use of nicotine at the age of 18. I recently learned of the use of this type of product on a school bus in Iowa. Iowa and most school boards have not developed laws or policies regarding the use of such products, due to the recent introduction of these e-cigarettes and other similar products.

Iowa continues to have one of the strongest traditions of commitment to the National Guard and veterans. Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Timothy Orr, the Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard, updated the Iowa Legislature on the Condition of the Guard.

Currently only two Iowa National Guard units have received notification for potential overseas deployments later this year. Presently, several hundred thousand men and women are being released from active duty across America. This provides Iowa with a great opportunity to employ skilled workers.

A new website was launched to help Iowa?s military find job opportunities. The website, www.homebase.org, is a source of job services available to veterans including job postings, job fairs and educational opportunities, such as skilled training or tuition assistance.

This year, more than 1,300 Iowa National Guard soldiers and airmen have taken advantage of the National Guard Education Assistance Program. The program has helped the Iowa National Guard attract high quality soldiers and airmen by assisting them in continuing their education here in Iowa.

I met with Dave Buford from Bonaparte and we discussed his transportation issues in the building of water control structures in our area. Dave and I spoke at a subcommittee hearing, which approved the passage of a measure benefitting the transportation of equipment necessary in the building of these structures.

Tom Vilsack, U.S. Ag Secretary designated Ames as one of seven regional climate hubs that will study the effects of extreme weather and help farmers adapt to these conditions.

For the third straight month, Iowa?s index of economic indicators made gains suggesting that employment growth will continue for at least the next several months.

I will continue to focus on a balanced budget, infrastructure, education, research and development, and meaningful and carefully considered regulation.  These are foundations of what I believe Iowa government should be all about.

Contact Hanson anytime by email at curt.hanson@legis.iowa.gov or call 641-919-2314.

Hanson serves on the House Agriculture and Education, Natural Resources committees, as well as the Education Appropriations Subcommittee.