Making Representative Government Work

The Senate is in recess for two weeks.  Today I went to Mapleton and Early to meet with local residents and see the tornado damage and encourage the recovery effort.  I’ve also planned meetings with constituents in 33 Iowa counties.

More than half of these meetings will be town meetings.  I’m also going to tour and meet with employees at a manufacturing plant, speak with service club members in six communities and discuss issues with Iowa students in seven local high schools.

A week from Wednesday, I will receive the National Association of Manufacturers’ Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence.  I look forward to talking with those gathered at Vermeer in Pella for this event about public policy to help to revive America’s economy and create jobs.

I also look forward to speaking at the Iowa Wind Energy Association Conference about the potential for greater wind energy development.  Iowa’s outstanding workforce and its wind energy potential are a great combination.  So much has happened since I first authored the wind-energy production tax credit in 1992.  This incentive, the clean renewable energy bonds I sponsored in recent years, and so many other efforts have helped wind energy become a success story.  Now, more than ever, we know that America needs more domestic energy production.  It’s a matter of national security and economic opportunity.  Wind energy is, and must continue to be, a key player in making America more energy independent.

From April 18 through April 29, I’ll be in Allamakee, Appanoose, Benton, Black Hawk, Cedar, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clayton, Davis, Decatur, Dubuque, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Howard, Jefferson, Jones, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Mitchell, Monroe, Polk, Ringgold, Wapello, Washington, Wayne, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Worth, and Wright counties.

All of these meetings give me a chance to talk face-to-face with Iowans.  This dialogue, along with other ways of keeping in touch, is needed to make representative government work.  I have a responsibility to go to Iowans to listen to their points of view, and Iowans have a responsibility to share their concerns with their elected representatives.

Everyone is welcome at the town meetings listed below.  I’m a guest at the other events, so please contact the event hosts for more information about those.

Monday, April 18
8:30-9:30 a.m. -- Meet with Vinton-Shellsburg High School students and staff
12 noon-1 p.m. -- Meet with Oskaloosa Kiwanis Club at William Penn University
1:45-2:45 p.m. -- Keokuk County Town Meeting at the Sigourney Public Library
4-5 p.m. -- Washington County Town Meeting at the Riverside City Community Building

Tuesday, April 19
7-8 a.m. -- Meet with Anamosa Rotary at Jones County Medical Center
9:30-10:30 a.m. -- Meet with Cascade Junior/Senior High School students and staff
12 noon-1 p.m. -- Visit Caterpillar Production Facility in Elkader
2:30-3:30 p.m. -- Allamakee Town Meeting at Farm Bureau in Waukon
4:30-5:30 p.m. -- Winneshiek Town Meeting at the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah

Wednesday, April 20
7:30-8:30 a.m. -- Chickasaw County Town Meeting at the Wellness Complex in New Hampton
9:30-10:30 a.m. -- Howard County Town Meeting at Cresco Bank and Trust
12 noon-1 p.m. -- Meet with Osage Kiwanis at Farmers Mutual Insurance
1:45-2:45 p.m. -- Meet with Central Springs High School students and staff in Manly
3:45-4:45 p.m. -- Winnebago County Town Meeting at the Lake Mills Public Library
6:30-7:30 p.m. -- Meet with Garner Lions Club at Matt’s Place

Thursday, April 21
7:15-8:45 a.m. – Attend the Iowa Prayer Breakfast at the Polk County Convention Complex
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. -- Wright County Town Meeting at the Leinbach Center in Belmond
1:30-2:30 p.m. -- Franklin County Town Meeting at the Sheffield Inn

Monday, April 25
1:50-2:50 p.m. -- Meet with Northern University High School students in Cedar Falls
                                               
Tuesday, April 26
9-10 a.m. -- Floyd County Town Meeting at the Nora Springs City Hall
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. -- Meet with Ventura High School students and staff
3:30-4:30 p.m. -- Marshall County Town Meeting at the State Center Fire Station
6-8 p.m. -- Speak to the Central Iowa Human Resources Group at Lennox in Marshalltown

Wednesday, April 27
8-9:30 a.m. -- Attend Partnership for a Drug Free Iowa/Face it Together Meeting in Des Moines
10-10:45 a.m. -- Speak at the Iowa Wind Energy Association 2011 Conference at the Polk County Convention Complex
11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. -- Attend National Association of Manufacturers Luncheon at the Vermeer Corporation in Pella
2:15-3:15 p.m. -- Lucas County Town Meeting at the Chariton Public Library
4:30-5:30 p.m. -- Decatur County Town Meeting at the Leon Community Center
7:30-8:30 p.m. -- Speak to Diagonal Lions Club at the Diagonal Community Center

Thursday, April 28
10-11 a.m. -- Meet with Seymour High School students and staff
12 noon-1 p.m. -- Appanoose County Town Meeting at Mercy Medical Center in Centerville
2:15-3:15 p.m. -- Monroe County Town Meeting at First Iowa State Bank in Albia
4:15-5:15 p.m. -- Davis County Town Meeting at Mutchler Community Center in Bloomfield

Friday, April 29
8-9 a.m. -- Speak to Ottumwa Kiwanis at the Sirloin Stockade in Ottumwa
9:45-10:45 a.m. -- Jefferson County Town Meeting at the Batavia Community Center
1-2 p.m. -- Meet with West Branch High School students and staff