YMCA held their annual legislative breakfast at the Statehouse on Wednesday, March 11. The YMCA serves thousands of Iowans through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body. I talked with Bob Carlson, the CEO of the Cedar Rapids YMCA, at the breakfast.
Senator Wally Horn, Senator Swati Dandekar and I had the opportunity to meet with 2 extraordinary students from the Cedar Rapids area in the Senate chamber on Thursday morning. They were being honored for essays they wrote as part of the "Write Women Back into History" presentation. The group included Senator Horn, Brenden Farr and his dad, thier teacher, Katrina Brown, Senator Dandekar, Morgan Exline and her parents, and Senator Hogg.
The Student Council from Vernon Middle School in Marion visited with Senator Swati Dandekar and I in the Senate chamber Tuesday afternoon. Along with meeting with legislators, the students also toured the building and recieved an inside look at Iowa government for the day.
Gevernor Chet Culver and I discuss Senate File 364 before he signed the legislation into law. I floor managed the bill in the Iowa Senate, where it passed unanimously to provide mortgage reforms that give homeowners a better chance of avoiding foreclosure.
I’m working with State Senator Steve Warnstadt of Sioux City on legislation to help veterans, reserve and active duty servicemembers. Last year, we helped win approval of a major renovation and expansion of the Iowa Veterans Home. This year, our goal is to better to support the families of Iowa’s soldiers, especially if they are forced to relocated by a call to active duty or military transfer. In January, Senator Warnstadt was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Iowa National Guard.
Senator Rob Hogg met with students Lance Seward (left), Josh Weeve (bottom right), and Trent Harem (right) on Monday as part of Innovation Day at the Capitol. The students, from East Marshall High School, are part of a virtual reality program for high school students that began with the assistance of Iowa businesses like Rockwell Collins, which helps connect Iowa students to Iowa's advancing enterprises in technology.
Senator Rob Hogg tries his luck at texting while meeting with the National Speed Texting Champion, Kate Moore, 15, from Des Moines. Kate was visiting with legislators to express her support on a ban on texting while driving. Senator Hogg supports that legislation to save lives and prevent accidents.
The Right Reverend Alan Scarfe, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, led the House and Senate for the opening prayer on Ash Wednesday, February 17. He was the guest of Senator Rob Hogg, a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Cedar Rapids, and Representative Wayne Ford of Des Moines.
Senator Rob Hogg, Senator Swati Dandekar, and Representative Renee Schulte visited with students from Harding Middle School in Cedar Rapids on February 17 after the students' tour of the State Capitol in Room 116 at the Capitol. The students had questions about issues like flood damage prevention and the day-to-day work of being a state legislator. Senator Hogg told the students that every day they are in school, state taxpayers invest more than $27 per student in their education, and he wanted them to work hard to make our investment pay off.
Senator Rob Hogg and Senator Swati Dandekar met with Elevate members on February 24 at the Statehouse. Elevate youth are ages 13 and up and have been involved in foster care, adoption or other out-of-home placements. They visited the Capitol to share their experiences and show their support for bills like SF 2298, which recently passed the Senate. The bill will allow juveniles to attend court hearings or meetings that pertain to them, and now goes to the House for consideration.
On March 9, Senator Swati Dandekar and I met with Katie Muholland (center), Superintendent of Linn-Mar Community School District.
Senator Rob Hogg answered questions in the Senate Gallery from participants in 4-H programs throughout Eastern Iowa. The students visited the Statehouse for a tour and a chance to ask questions about legislation that affects them, like driving restrictions and a texting ban. 4-H field trips like this are important because they provide young people with chances to enhance their ability to use critical thinking, leadership, communication, and social skills – tools that will give them a competitive edge in their future endeavors
Senator Rob Hogg poses with participants in the 4-H program in the Senate chamber. The group included students from schools across eastern Iowa who received a tour and had a chance to ask questions and discuss legislation with Senator Hogg.
Senator Rob Hogg met with Coach Kirk Ferentz of the Iowa Hawkeye football team on March 10, 2010 when the Senate honored the Hawkeyes on their 2010 Orange Bowl Championship. Go Hawks!
“Jobs, jobs, jobs” are my top priority for the 2011 session of the Iowa Legislature, which began on Monday, January 10. I hope to increase assistance to Iowa small businesses, help Iowa workers improve their skills, and continue the expansion of the Iowa’s clean energy economy. I took the oath of office for a four-year term in the Iowa Senate. I can be reached at rob.hogg@legis.iowa.gov or by calling 515-281-3371.
Linn County veterans met with State Senator Wally Horn of Cedar Rapids and me in the Iowa Statehouse on January 19. Along with hundreds of other veterans, they took part in the annual "Veterans Day on the Hill.” Last year, I helped make Iowa the first state to pass the top ten U.S. Department of Defense recommendations to support our troops, their families, and our veterans. I continue to look for opportunities to support our citizens who are answering or have answered the call to duty. From left: Horn, Ronald Tyne, a member Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission of Iowa, Donald Tyne, Veteran Affairs Director, Joe Stutler, Iowa Veteran Affairs Commissioner and I.
Steve Ovel with Kirkwood Community College and United Way volunteer Kay Jackson of Cedar Rapids, talked with me about how local volunteers are a vital part of efforts to improve Iowa communities. The United Way works with individuals, families, and businesses to promote financial stability and quality education for our children.
Donnie Stanley was unemployed and struggling to support her family when she learned of a pilot program at her local community college. It provided her with financial aid so she could earn her CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certificate. Now she is working full-time and looking forward to further improving her skills. I met with Stanley on February 1 when she came to the Iowa Statehouse to share her story. I support a new initiative which would take the pilot program statewide, so all Iowans have the same opportunities.
Wind energy brings good jobs and business opportunities to Iowa, and the state currently ranks second in the nation in wind energy production. Dr. Harold Prior of Spirit Lake, the executive director of the Iowa Wind Energy Association, and Marian Gelb, director of the Environmental Council, discussed expanding the green jobs industry with me at the Statehouse on February 3.
New nicotine-spiked products that look, taste and smell like candy are increasingly sold across Iowa. Because of the appeal to children and danger of nicotine poisoning, I support efforts to restrict sales to tobacco stores, whose customers must be 18 or older. I also oppose the push by some legislators to cut the anti-smoking efforts which have saved lives and reduced health care costs in Iowa. On February 7, I met with Asa Shorkey and Claire Meyer, two children concerned about candy lookalikes that are loaded with nicotine.
Cedar Rapids educators attended a Senate Education Subcommittee at the Capitol on February 8 to support Senate File 63, which would provide funding to help school districts overcome the achievement gap among Iowa students. Kim Miller from the Cedar Wood UniServ in Cedar Rapids, Rhonda Michels, a seventh-grade science teacher at McKinley Middle School, Sue Clapp, vice-president of the Cedar Rapids Education Association, and Tammy Wawro, president of the Cedar Rapids Education Association, met with Representative Kirsten Running-Marquardt and I to discuss student achievement concerns.
Dave Krejchi, owner of a plumbing, heating and cooling business in Cedar Falls (front center), has grown his business by doing solar hot water projects for homes and businesses. On Wednesday, February 9, he and other clean energy advocates James McCain, Jr. (front right), a clean energy contractor in Des Moines, Kamyar Enshayan, director for Energy and Environmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa (back center), and Jeff Benz, owner of The Solar Consultants in Des Moines (back right), talked with me about their work. I support a state consumer rebate for small solar and small wind projects to help local construction firms, plumbers, heating and air conditioning contractors, and other Iowa small businesses. These rebates could jumpstart the small solar and small wind industry the same way state investment succeeded in making Iowa’s “big wind” industry the second largest in the nation.
Jeff Pomeranz, the City Manager of Cedar Rapids, and Mayor Ron Corbett of Cedar Rapids met with Senators Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City, Swati Dandekar of Marion and I on February 14 at the Capitol.
State Senators Swati Dandekar of Marion, Bob Dvorsky of Coralville and I met with realtors from Linn County on February 22 at the Statehouse.
Iowans who earn industry-recognized certificates can often fill specific openings that prevent Iowa businesses from expanding. I support going statewide with a successful community college pilot project which provides this training and the financial aid which is currently unavailable. Nick Herrick, a student who earned a certificate rating home energy efficiency and now owns his own business, recently testified before the Senate Education Committee.
Legislators are working to protect the health and safety of our student athletes on and off the field. Matt Blair, former Minnesota Vikings linebacker and ISU Cyclone Hall of Famer, and Kenneth Edmonds, Director of Government Relations & Public Policy for the National Football League, came to the Statehouse on February 28 to talk about sports-related brain injury prevention and education. They talked with me about legislation requiring Iowa student athletes who leave a game after a concussion to get written medical clearance before returning to play. From left: I, Edmonds and Blair.
Lance Mack of Marion, portrayer of President Abraham Lincoln, met with State Senators Wally Horn of Cedar Rapids, Swati Dandekar of Marion, and I. Mack was at the Statehouse on March 3 to deliver the opening prayer in the Iowa Senate using Lincoln’s own words. He also recreated Lincoln’s first inaugural address; one day before its 150th anniversary. These were the first events in Iowa’s observance of the Civil War Sesquicentennial.
Members of the Iowa Fraternal Congress came to the Capitol to visit with state legislators on March 10. Kitty Chadima of Iowa City, board member and Fraternal Manager at the Western Fraternal Life Association, met with State Senators from Cedar Rapids, Wally Horn and I.
Lauren Kuch of Cedar Rapids met with me to discuss the importance of keeping deserving women prominently discussed in history. Kuch, a 6th grader at Prairie Creek Intermediate, took part in the Write Women Back Into History Essay Contest and was recognized at the Capitol on March 10. She wrote her essay on Mary Eduards Walker.
Active duty military will no longer pay state income tax in Iowa. I supported House File 652 and attended the ceremony on May 11 when Governor Branstad signed it into law. The bill makes tax exempt all income from the federal government for military service while on active duty in the armed forces, military reserve or National Guard. This tax exemption is retroactive to January 1 of this year. Iowa law currently only exempts active duty pay for certain combat-related situations. This new legislation is expected to return about $10 million in income taxes to Iowa active duty service personnel annually. This is just one small way we can give back to those who sacrifice so much for our safety and freedom every day.
Cedar Rapids legislators and officials on June 3 discuss the importance of passenger rail to Iowa’s future. We were joined by Senator Matt McCoy (right), chair of the Senate’s Transportation, Infrastructure & Capitals Appropriations. In October, Iowa was awarded $230 million in federal funds to establish passenger rail service between Chicago and Iowa City via the Quad Cities. The route is part of a long-term effort to connect Iowa City to Des Moines, and then connect to the national passenger rail system at Omaha. This massive federal investment in Iowa’s passenger rail system means jobs and future economic growth for our state. Federal funds would cover about 80 percent of the start-up costs, but if we turn them down they are gone forever. Unfortunately, House Republicans want to reject this federal investment in Iowa railroads, Iowa jobs and the Iowa economy.
I participated in a series of public hearings on the state budget at the Iowa Capitol. These hearings give legislators a chance to learn how the budget could impact Iowans. I am pictured here at a hearing on proposed tax cuts on June 14. Local officials testified that a Republican tax proposal would force large increases in residential property taxes and hurt local economic development efforts. There was strong approval for the proposal I support, which gives more commercial property tax relief to small and Main Street businesses, is fully paid for, and won’t increase taxes for homeowners. Pictured with me here is Senator Swati Dandekar of Marion.
At the invitation of the Laborers Local 43 and the Iron Workers Local 89, Representative Nate Willems (center), Senator Brian Schoenjahn (third from right) and I had the opportunity to visit a wind farm development north and west of Greeley in Delaware County. It is impressive to see these enormous wind turbines being built. Over the next three months, these local unions will help build 17 new 2.3-megawatt wind turbines to generate clean, renewable electricity to serve the needs of Iowans for decades. This would not be happening without government support for the wind industry through production tax credits and other incentives that recognize the economic, environmental and national security benefits of wind power. Green jobs really are providing good jobs for Iowans.
The Floyd County Soil & Water Conservation District sponsored a tour of urban and agricultural soil and water conservation practices that are making a difference in controlling flooding, pollution and erosion in our Cedar River basin.
I had the opportunity to speak for a moment with U.S. Representative Bruce Braley of Iowa's 1st Congressional District and U.S. Representative Dave Loebsack from Iowa's 2nd Congressional District on the first day of the 2012 session.
Senator Wally Horn and I celebrating his 40th year of service as a state senator in the Iowa Senate on January 9, 2012.
This week I met with Dan Tallon of Iowa City, an Iowa National Guard infantry specialist who returned from Afghanistan this summer. He’s now in his third year at the University of Iowa. Dan watched as the Senate approved an additional investment in college tuition assistance for returning soldiers like himself. In December, the Iowa National Guard informed us that, due to increased demand, former soldiers like Dan would have to pay as much as $1,300 more per semester. I’m glad the Senate set aside our differences and voted unanimously to make it easier for Iowa’s returning soldiers to attend college, improve their skills and help build a stronger Iowa economy. I hope the Iowa House will quickly do likewise and that Governor Branstad will sign the legislation.
Recently at the Iowa Statehouse, I met with newly appointed president of Iowa State, Dr. Steven Leath. Keeping tuition affordable for Iowa students attending our nationally recognized public universities is an essential part of rebuilding our economy. Our universities provide Iowa employers with talented, innovative employees and university students will make up a large part of the next generation of Iowa entrepreneurs.
Recently at the Iowa Statehouse I met with Iowa Board of Regents member Thomas Evans. Keeping tuition affordable for Iowa students attending our nationally recognized public universities is an essential part of rebuilding our economy. Our universities provide Iowa employers with talented, innovative employees and university students will make up a large part of the next generation of Iowa entrepreneurs.
Donald Tyne, director of the Linn County Veteran’s Affairs, John Powers, commissioner of the Linn County Veteran’s Affairs, and Linn County Veteran’s Affairs member Joe Stutler, spoke with Senators Wally Horn and Liz Mathis, Representative Kristen Running-Marquardt and me about new legislation dealing with tuition assistance for National Guard soldiers and the USS Iowa Battleship.
Linn County 4-H'ers were in Des Moines taking a tour of the Capitol as well as the Supreme Court and Historical Museum on January 19th. Senator Mathis and I stopped to talk with them about their experiences in the 4-H as well as the projects they're working on.
I had the chance to speak with members of the Linn-Mar Future Farmers of America when they visited the capital on January 30. I was able to learn about their experiences and skills gained by being in the program. Activities like the FFA are a good way to help Iowans gain valuable tools like leadership and hard work. From the left: Carina Meeker, Alexa Klimes, myself, Regan Sippy, and Barb Lemmer.
The Iowa State University Institute for Physical Research and Technology was in the Statehouse on February 9. I had the opportunity to speak with David Eisenmann, a research scientist at the Center for Non-Destructive Evaluation at the University. David helps solve problems by employing non-destructive methods of inspection. We were able to talk about the usefulness of his work and how it affects our daily lives.
Leaders from Iowa State University were in the Capitol on February 16. I was able to speak with ISU president Dr. Steven Leath (left) and Senior Associate Dean of ISU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Joe Colletti (right). We talked about providing sufficient funding for Iowa's colleges and about the ongoing projects at the university.
Clean, renewable fuel is something that is highly valued now to reduce our dependence on oil, and that is exactly what Robert Brown of Iowa State University's College of Engineering is working on. In the Capitol on February 16, Robert explained to me how organic material such as corn stalks and wood chips can be turned into a product that can be refined into fuel. The new fuel could then also be used as a fertilizer that would replenish nutrients in our soil that we lost due to cultivation. Breakthroughs like this really help us get closer to indepenence from oil and preserving our precious soil. Pictured here are (left to right): myself, Robert Brown, and Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames.
Leaders from many AEA agencies from around the state were in the Capitol on February 23. Lane Plugge from the Green Hills AEA in Council Bluffs talked to me about current education legislation and his concern for the need for adequate funding of Iowa’s schools. Making sure our schools have the abilities and tools necessary to perform as some of the best in the country means a lot to me and is something I’m working for during this session.
Active, informed citizens like Leta Wall of Cedar Rapids help make state government work for all of us. Leta gave me a hug at the statewide AARP reception Wednesday at the Iowa Statehouse. I’m working closely with AARP members to stop the “nuclear tax,” an effort to force ratepayers to pay millions for possible new nuclear power plant. Work by AARP members like Leta are credited with slowing, and maybe stopping the legislation in the Senate.
Eighth-graders from Harding Middle School in Cedar Rapids visited the Capitol on March 1. I had the opportunity to speak to them about what I do at the Senate and some of the legislation I’m currently working on. Educating our young constituents and encouraging them to get involved in the political process is important because it helps Iowans become more informed and take an active role in making our state the best in the country.
Science and technology careers are in high demand today, and getting Iowa students involved with these disciplines early on is essential to creating more skilled workers. The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) programs used in Iowa’s school districts are a great way to get young men and women interested in possible careers in the fields of science and technology. On March 7, Rockwell Collins employees visited the Capitol along with other STEM representatives and talked with me about the latest STEM projects and how they are helping Iowa students. Pictured here, from left: Kari Jastorff, myself, Jenny Becker and Kim Beals.
Iowa’s natural resources are a very valuable asset to our state, and preserving them is crucial. On March 13, I spoke to Mark C. Ackelson, president of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, an organization devoted to protecting and restoring our land, water, and wildlife. Mark talked to me about ongoing projects around the state and told me about issues facing Iowa’s natural resources.
The Iowa Cultural Coalition visited the Capitol on March 19 and shared their work with legislators and staff. I had the privilege to watch the Advanced Harp Ensemble of the Orchestra Iowa School perform as well as get to know a little more about the work of the organization. I am pictured here with Senators Wally Horn and Daryl Beall enjoying the music.
Controversial legislation to fund a new nuclear power plant will lead to significantly higher electrical rates if legislation to build a new nuclear power plant becomes law. That was the message I and other legislators brought to a Statehouse news conference on March 20. The legislation puts consumers at risk in order to finance a project that Wall Street investors see as too risky. See video from the event at http://youtu.be/eLMcqWT0W7w. From left: Senator Daryl Beall (Fort Dodge), Senator Joe Bolkcom (Iowa City), Senator Rob Hogg (Cedar Rapids), Senator Tom Courtney (Burlington), Senator Pam Jochum (Dubuque) and Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm (Cresco).
Leaders in Iowa’s higher education system were in the Statehouse on March 27, and I had the chance to meet Sally Mason, the president of the University of Iowa. I had the opportunity to talk with President Mason about college funding and legislation regarding Iowa’s colleges. She also shared with me some concerns she had and I was able to talk to her about making school more affordable for Iowa students.
Retiring Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg helped create Iowa’s nationally recognized community college system. Senator Wally Horn and I are working closely with him so Kirkwood Community College and other community colleges can do even more to ease Iowa’s shortage of skilled workers. Business leaders say that would help grow Iowa’s economy. Unfortunately, deep cuts in state funding over the last 10 years have caused sharp increases in tuition and fees, according to a new report by the Iowa Fiscal Partnership. (http://tinyurl.com/7h6ckue)
Sarah Olson and her daughter Willa of Cedar Rapids were in the Capitol on March 28. I really enjoy meeting my constituents, young and old.
A research project by ISU student Emily Artz was selected for inclusion in the 7th annual Iowa “Research in the Capitol” exposition on Wednesday, April 4. Emily explained to me her research about the dispersal of seed by bison and post-dispersal seed predation.
Todd Eipperle of Marshalltown, an Iowa Army National Guard member wounded in Afghanistan last July, visited the Iowa Statehouse on Thursday, April 5, to thank legislators for helping Iowa’s returning combat veterans transition back to civilian life. Thousands of Iowa National Guard members are returning from the services largest overseas deployment ever.Both the Iowa Senate and House have voted to create the most intensive, long-term post-traumatic stress and dual diagnosis center in the state at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. Eipperle spent four months in rehabilitation in Kansas before returning to Iowa and to his job at the Boy Scouts of America.“If you’ve been in combat, it is not unusual to experience some level of post-traumatic stress,” said Eipperle. “I’m glad Iowa soldiers will be able to receive intense, professional care in their home state. That will help veterans more quickly and more completely return to civilian life.”I’m pictured here w
This week, I met Stan Pfoff of Marion and Steve Fugate, Executive Director of iRenew in Iowa City. Clean energy and creating Iowa jobs are important issues to me, so I was glad to hear about the programs that provide Iowa with skilled workers in the energy industry and that businesses like Stan's (which has doubled in size since he can install solar panels) will be able to hire them.
Singers from Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids had the honor of performing in the Senate chamber on April 17. Senator Liz Mathis and I congratulated them on being recognized as America's Favorite Show Choir by Parade Magazine. Check out a video of their performance in the Senate at www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_LzRBArvU8.
I co-sponsored Senate Resolution 106, honoring former Negro League baseball player Art Pennington for his role as a great athlete and civil rights pioneer. Art is considered one of the best players of his time and competed against some of the game's all-time greats. After his baseball career, he moved to Cedar Rapids and continued to be an active citizen, running for mayor, sheriff and safety commissioner while working at Rockwell-Collins. Pictured from left Senator Liz Mathis, Art Pennington, I and Senator Jack Hatch.
