Friday Morning with an Iowa Legislator

When the state legislature is not in session on Fridays, most legislators head back to their districts and meet with constituents to listen and to explain what’s going on in Des Moines. Events like the gathering at the Savvy Coffee and Wine Bar in Solon yesterday morning are typical. They are small enough that a person could get time with their legislator and be an active participant in the democracy we hear so much about. Here are some things that were on the minds of Iowans on Friday.

The feel good legislation of the year has to be HF 2456 which is a ban on text messaging while driving. This one is so obvious that one wonders about the motivation behind Kirsten Running-Marquardt (HD-33) and Bruce Hunter (HD-62) siding with Kraig Paulsen (HD-35) and Jodi Tymeson (HD-73) in voting against it. Distractions while driving, such as tuning the radio, talking on the phone, doing crossword puzzles and watching television all cause accidents according to the group in Solon. That text messaging was singled out by the legislature was curious, but welcome. The bill passed the house and senate last week and is back in the house waiting for reconciliation with the senate’s version.

The nuclear power discussion is back with HF2100 being replaced with HF2399 and its fresh from MidAmerican Energy language on how the state should move forward with nuclear power. I heard the words “zero sum gain” applied to MidAmerican’s process towards change for the first time. It seems to fit. According to Wikipedia, a zero sum gain is a situation in which a participant's gain or loss is exactly balanced by the losses or gains of the other participant(s). If the state wants to move forward with nuclear power, it’s okay with MidAmerican Energy, but they are a business, so the customers will have to pay.

The new language also covers some things that are already going on in the ever changing world of energy, conversion of coal power to natural gas and adding biomass fuel to an existing coal combustion power plant. The utility wants customers to pay for these improvements as well. As always with MidAmerican, they seem unable to do much to help Iowa achieve energy independence or reduce our reliance on carbon based electricity unless it is mandated and the customers pay. Tell me again, why did we de-regulate the electrical utilities? HF 2399 is to be considered by the Commerce Committee next week.

After an hour and a half with friends and neighbors, I had to get to work. We discussed the puppy mill legislation, increases in health care insurance for individuals, retaining part of the tax credit structure for films relevant to Iowa culture, tort reform, unfortunate remarks by Danny Homan about someone his union represented and the apparent death, at least for this session, of “reasonable reimbursement” or “fair share-lite,” as a union member called it.

Those at the meeting are getting to be friends and that is one of the best benefits of our democracy. My advice to readers is get involved and take advantage of the benefits of democracy.  Contact your legislator by clicking here.

~Paul Deaton is a native Iowan living in rural Johnson County.  Check
out his blog, Big Grove Garden.
   E-mail Paul Deaton