Talking with Iowans

There’s a lot on the minds of Iowans from Vinton to Sheffield and in 16 communities in between where I held town meetings, spoke with service clubs, had Q&A with high school students, and visited a manufacturing plant this week.  I’ll be holding meetings in 15 more Iowa counties next week for a total of 33 constituent meetings during a two-week Senate recess.

Attendance at the town meetings this week was very strong.  And, just like during the set of meetings I had during the last Senate recess, I heard a lot about the over-reach of the Environmental Protection Agency.  People are very frustrated at the heavy hand of the EPA and its negative impact on their efforts to make a living, especially in agriculture.  Coincidentally, the EPA Administrator made a visit to Des Moines this week.  I keep in close touch with Administrator Lisa Jackson, on a regular basis, and appreciate efforts she is making to try to better understand rural America.  Even so, the EPA has a long way to go in demonstrating that it understands the challenges facing agriculture and job-creation efforts in Middle America.  The agency’s attempt to implement cap-and-trade type regulations, by using executive branch authority and going around the democratic process and debate that should occur through congressional consideration, would hit consumers in the Midwest with even higher energy costs than consumers living on the East and West coasts.
               
With the annual tax filing deadline coming last Monday, I also heard about taxes and some support for a flat tax.  No one tells me they’re under-taxed.  Instead, it’s clear that grass roots America understands that Washington overspends.

Moreover, for the first time, the credit-rating agency Standard and Poor’s downgraded the U.S. sovereign debt outlook from stable to negative, which emphasizes the urgency of Congress and the President taking meaningful action to reduce government spending.  Spending increases of 22 percent during the last two years have created a legacy of debt.  It’s not only an economic problem but also a moral problem.  It’s wrong to leave the bill for the next generation to pay.

Instead of more government, people tell me they want public policies that help to create private-sector jobs and opportunities.  I heard frustration from those in manufacturing and agriculture that the United States isn’t moving forward on free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama.  While America sits on the sidelines, other countries are in negotiations that could lead to job-creating export opportunities for companies and, in turn, workers.

Along with questions and comments on the federal budget debate, I heard from Iowans who don’t want tax dollars to go to organizations that support abortion.  I got questions about the health care overhaul enacted last year and comments about its cost and the higher premiums that have resulted already.

Iowans are also informed and concerned about foreign policy and America’s military commitments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.  They know that America needs to become more energy-independent and support greater development of renewable energy, more conservation and expanded domestic production of traditional oil and gas resources.
 
I appreciate the range of questions and concerns and the commitment of people to come out and give their opinions and hold me accountable.  That’s how representative government is supposed to work.  It relies on this kind of citizen participation, which Iowans are traditionally known for.  I’m at home in New Hartford as this week ends, and I look forward to celebrating the joy of Easter with my family on Sunday.

On Monday, I’ll be back on the road for meetings with Iowans.  On 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.  I authored the first-ever wind energy production tax credit in 1992.  I’ve worked to expand and extend it since then.  I also sponsored the clean renewable energy bonds legislation enacted in recent years.  They also have helped to develop wind energy.
 
Everyone is welcome at next week’s 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 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

I enjoyed all of these meetings during the last week.

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 in Sheffield