(Arnolds Park)– Local lawmakers sounded off on a number of issues Saturday before a near-capacity crowd at the Okoboji Spirit Center in Arnolds Park.
One issue that drew a lot of discussion is large animal confinements and whether their locations should be determined by local officials. State Representative Mike May of Spirit Lake told the crowd that it’s not only agriculture, but environmentalists also need to be concerned about urban sprawl. May also called on the DNR to do something about the over-population of Canadian Geese…saying they’re putting the equivalent of waste of 200 head of cattle in the lake. May said he’ll introduce a bill on the issue of confinements later this week, but refused to give any details as to what it will consist of. May, along with State Senator David Johnson of Ocheyedan and State Representative Royd Chambers of Sheldon, who were also on hand Saturday, said they would all vote no on any bill advocating local control over the placement of large animal confinements.
Johnson sounded off on Governor Culver’s plan to promote biofuels in Iowa by establishing a so-called “Iowa Powers Fund”. Johnson says 25 million dollars needed to help fund that plan would have to come from the Senior Living Trust Fund. While he’s in favor of efforts to increase renewable fuels in Iowa, Johnson says it just isn’t acceptable to rob from another fund to pay for it.
The proposal to increase Iowa’s cigarette tax by a dollar a pack drew fire from Chambers. He told the crowd he’ll vote no if the additional revenue is used to expand government. Chambers says if the goal is to decrease smoking, the tax should be raised to five dollars pack. And he says young people will have more money to buy cigarettes now that the state will be raising the minimum wage.
All three lawmakers said they would oppose any change to Iowa’s Right To Work Law that would require workers covered by a union contract but who are not members to pay a fee for union services. They say it would basically amount to a repeal of the Right To Work law. The legislation is a priority of organized labor and is being supported by many Democrats, including the Governor.
Local lawmakers also blasted the anti-bullying bill that was passed last week. Johnson and May say it’s a badly written bill. Johnson went on to describe it as quote…”a magnet for trial lawyers”…unquote.
