The sky was overcast as BFIA pulled into the  CRST Van Expedited parking lot in Cedar Rapids this morning to attend a public hearing that was part of the Republican “Red Tape Tour” of the state. The Republican House, Senate and Governor launched the tour to collect information from business owners and citizens who feel subject to “onerous rules and regulations” and “overly burdensome” compliance requirements. This was stop 8 of 11 and Senators Bartz (R-06) and Kapucian (R-20) and Representative Pettengill (R-39) appeared to be the leaders of the tour. They were well organized, methodical and fair in how they handled the hearing. By the end of the day, the tour is expected to have collected over 600 comments.

Other elected officials in attendance this morning were Senator Swati Dandekar (D-18), Senator Sandy Greiner (R-45), Senator Rob Hogg (D-19), Senator Paul McKinley (R-36), and Representative Renee Schulte (R-37). The room was packed and several media outlets were video recording the proceedings. Blog for Iowa was in the front row.

After introductory remarks, 30 speakers were able to take the podium to speak for four minutes and answer panelist questions for an additional 60 seconds. Written comments were collected from people unable to speak because of time constraints. The range of topics was broad and diverse. If a person wanted to learn about Iowa society, this was the place to be.

The topics covered don’t fit easily into categories, but there were some recurring themes. Speakers mentioned the tension between business concerns and the public welfare. To some degree, this seemed overshadowed by the Republican talking point that government should not punish people who seek to grow the economy, which was a major reason for the tour.

Some speakers indicated that rules put into effect through legislation were being applied in ways never intended by the legislators. Others said existing regulations were not adequately enforced. Several speakers presented different sides of the debate over a uniform electrical code in the state. Some don’t like it, and others do. It all seemed familiar.

Following are some of the highlights:

Dave Coots of Coots Materials, a crushed stone operator in Benton County, said his number one complaint was the federal government. He resented the fact that someone from the United Mine Workers union was his inspector. His son-in-law Jody complained about the Environmental Protection Council (EPC) and said that anything not mandated by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency should be mandated by the legislature and not the Department of Natural Resources or EPC.

Eric Rosenthal complained that the Iowa ethics board had caused him some embarrassment during his campaign for county supervisor by releasing some documents to the media.

David Smithers advocated for international citizenry and to end the “English only” law in Iowa.

A corn, soybean and hog farmer was concerned about the limits on land application of manure during wet years. Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement felt the limits weren’t adequate to protect water quality.

A couple of care workers said there was too much compliance paperwork.

A school board member said school bus driver testing requirements were too difficult and he wanted to make decisions about hiring drivers locally, without the long tests.

There were comments about unemployment for casual employees, landfill liners, complicated tax codes, well installation, the interval for updating building codes, water quality, foster care and adoption rules, more (and less) labor laws, multiple agency compliance for the same work site, public notices, and naturopathic medical practices. It was a lot to take in, but in the end, democracy was at work.

The more we hear the debate over a uniform electrical code for the state, the more it reflects the condition of the state. An electrician said a uniform electrical code protects people from shoddy work, recalling how some 70 unlicensed electrical contractors were run out of Cedar Rapids in the aftermath of the 2008 flood. A well drilling operator said installing a well was overly complex when he had to deal with separate plumbing and electrical subcontractors when he used to do everything himself. Farmers want to do what they will in their out buildings and barns, saving money by installing and repairing electrical work themselves. Whether to have a uniform state electrical code does not require a yes or no answer. As one speaker said, “there are shades of gray.”

It is all a sticky wicket of individual rights in tension with the need to protect the common good, and there really is not a single progressive or conservative resolution. Instead, there is a cacophony of voices urging our legislators to do their best, hoping they get it right.

~Paul Deaton is a native Iowan living in rural Johnson County and weekend editor of Blog for Iowa. E-mail Paul Deaton