Boone, Iowa public library – in Sen. Jesse Greene’s (R-Boone) district. Current street address: 702 Greene St, Boone, IA, 50036 Carnegie address: 702 Greene St, Boone, IA. Original building still standing: Yes Still in use as a library: Yes
UPDATE: My state senator Janice Weiner said the bill’s author, Sen Jesse Green pulled the bill. She expects it will return in another form, still bad. You can write to Jesse.green@legis.iowa.gov and to other members of the subcommittee – Senators Mike.klimesh@legis.iowa.gov) and Izaah.knox@legis.iowa.gov.
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The Iowa Fascist party, aka Republicans, are thinking it would be a good idea to ditch free public libraries. Never having been big on facts or the common good, they have a hard time seeing the value of an informed citizenry, apparently.
Continuing their quest to drown publicly funded services in the bathtub, Republican Sen. Jesse Greene (R-Boone) introduced a bill last week SSB 3131 that would change how cities and counties fund public libraries by changing the language of Iowa law from “shall” to “may,” which would allow local entities to stop funding libraries, as I understand it.
What other great ideas for Iowa can the Rs think of? Every week the legislature is in session brings a fresh, new, terrible idea. Hail to the Republican trifecta! Iowans need to wake up and stop voting for this crowd.
Ty Rushing at Iowa Starting Line has this:
“Iowa Republican’s bill would defund public libraries, eliminate local library boards
Greene has been at the forefront of Iowa’s book-banning efforts over the last few years. His latest bill is a more roundabout way of continuing that path, especially in light of recent failures to censor public libraries even in Iowa’s most conservative communities.
In an open letter, the Iowa Library Association said SSB 3131 could undermine the autonomy of more than 500 public library boards across Iowa as well as “vital funding that sustains our libraries and their invaluable services.”
Such a drastic measure threatens the operational and financial sustainability of communities and their libraries,” the board stated. “Library operations and services heavily rely on levies as well as volunteer Iowans appointed by elected bodies to represent, serve, and support the mission of their library. Libraries are cornerstones of education, providing free access to information, technology, and cultural enrichment.”
I am not alone in using the word “crazy” for some Republican ideas. Bob Leonard wrote about this speaking from his experience as a former member on the Knoxville, Iowa Library Board.
“..We can’t trust elected officials to necessarily do what is best for our libraries and our communities, given the Republican tax-cutting fever. It’s difficult for librarians to advocate against a hostile board or city council, as they can and have lost their jobs. They need board members to advocate.
“..Republicans used to tell me that some bills were pure craziness and that they would never pass a floor vote, and not to worry about them. They would laugh them off. I believed them then. No more. No matter how crazy the proposed legislation is, no matter how hurtful it is to Iowans, it may pass. Take, for example, school vouchers. It took years, but eventually passed. Public dollars for private schools, a handout to the wealthy, no accountability and our public schools are having budget cuts as a result.”
Follow Bob Leonard on Substack.
And here is a link to the public comments on the bill. Most people opposed as is the case for most crazy bills Rs bring to the table. The initial subcommittee scheduled for Monday was cancelled.
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