State Lawmaker Introduces Legislation That Would Require A Large Majority Of Landowners To Agree To Have A Pipeline Before Eminent Domain Could Be Used
(Des Moines) — A key lawmaker is drafting a plan to require that a large percentage of landowners agree to a carbon pipeline project before state regulators could approve seizure of the remaining property through eminent domain. Representative Bobby Kaufmann (COUGH-man) of Wilton is chairman of the House State Government Committee.
In 2006, the Iowa legislature overrode Governor Vilsack’s veto of a law that has limited the authority of local governments to seize private property for economic development projects. Kaufmann says current state law requires transmission lines and pipelines that ship electricity or products through the state to sign up a majority of landowners before the Iowa Utilities Board can grant eminent domain to seize the rest.
But Kaufmann says the two proposed pipelines aren’t just pass through operations like Dakota Access. Each would transport carbon emissions from Iowa ethanol plants, so he says the current law must be changed so it applies to pipelines with terminals inside the state’s borders.
Kaufmann says he’s currently aiming to force pipelines to have contracts with around 75 percent of landowners before state regulators could grant permission to get the rest of the property through eminent domain. Kaufman says he’s researching pipeline-related laws in other states and discussing the issue with stakeholders in the two proposed carbon pipelines that would cut through Iowa.
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Pat And Chuck Grassley Both Say Iowa Needs To Refund Tax Dollars To State Taxpayers
(Des Moines) — Both political leaders with the last name of Grassley think alike when it comes to tax collections. Republican Pat Grassley, the Speaker of the House at the Iowa Legislature from New Hartford, says since the state has a surplus of revenue collected from the people, then the state should return the money to the state taxpayers. Pat Grassley delivered his comments during his speech of the opening of the new state legislature session.
Pat Grassley’s grandfather, U-S Senator Chuck Grassley, also a Republican, said essentially the same thing when he spoke to reporters during his weekly news conference.
Pat Grassley did not indicate how low the Iowa House of Representatives would be willing to reduce taxes.
Governor Reynolds Expects to Reveal Income Tax Cut Plan in Condition of State
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds will give the annual “Condition of the State” address tonight (Tuesday 6 p-m) and she’s promised to reveal details of a “bold, yet practical” plan to cut income taxes. The Republican governor signed a bill into law last June that eliminates the state inheritance tax and reduced personal income tax rates. She also approved income tax cuts in 2018. Reynolds said, “Iowa is moving in the right direction and I’m — and we’re — determined to build on the progress and the momentum that we’ve seen over the last couple of years.” Democrats say Iowa’s one-point-two-four-billion-dollar surplus wouldn’t have been possible without the billions of dollars in federal pandemic aid. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights says addressing the workforce crisis should be a top priority for state lawmakers.
Southwest Iowa Child Killed by Patrol Car in Red Oak
(Red Oak, IA) — A child is dead in southwest Iowa after being struck by a patrol car Monday night in Red Oak. The Iowa State Patrol says state troopers and Red Oak police were responding to an apartment fire when one of three squad cars struck the pedestrian child in the roadway. The victim died of injuries suffered in the crash. Red Oak School District officials confirmed the victim was a student at the Inman Elementary School. State Patrol investigators are still looking into the incident.
December Derecho, Record Tornadoes Cost Iowa $700 Million
(Washington, DC) — A new report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) finds the December 15th derecho will cost Iowa around 700-million dollars. The National Weather Service says there were at least 61 tornadoes in the state that Wednesday – a single-day record. Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued in 97 of Iowa’s 99 counties on December 15th and more than 150-thousand homes lost power. One person died in eastern Iowa when a semi was blown over in Benton County. NOAA (NOH’-uh) says severe storms that day did more than a billion dollars damage nationwide.
Iowa Donor Network Reports Record Organ Numbers For 4th Straight Year
(North Liberty, IA) — The Iowa Donor Network is reporting a record number of organ and tissue donations for the fourth straight year. Officials say donors who died in Iowa gave 365 organs for transplant in 2021. I-D-N also says a record 984 tissue donors saved, healed, and enhanced thousands of lives last year. The network has seen a 137-percent increase in the number of organs donated and a 121-percent rise in organs transplanted since 2017. Their goal is to recover at least 400 organs for transplant in 2022.
