Photos


	Senator Becky Schmitz of Fairfield talks with Eryn Utterback about her Crouse Creek Quail business. She developed her business plan as part of the eSigourney Entrepreneurial Academy for Leadership program. eSEAL offers Sigourney’s junior and senior high school students the chance to learn entrepreneurial skills, write a business plan and ultimately open their own business. eSEAL students and educators were at the Statehouse April 17 to talk with legislators about how they’re learning to succeed in business and helping spur economic growth in their local community.
	Senator Keith Kreiman of Bloomfield and Senator Becky Schmitz of Fairfield met with students from Eddyville-Blakesburg in the Senate Chamber on April 9. The students are members of FFA and were at the Statehouse to help with the Wapello County Agriculture Day & Barbeque.
	On March 26, Governor Chet Culver signed what will be the biggest tax break of the 2008 session. House File 2417, which passed the Legislature earlier this session, will save Iowa taxpayers $67.5 million dollars by exempting state taxes on the federal tax rebates that are part of the economic stimulus plan approved by Congress.
	Terry Boettcher of Indianola and his wife, Connie, visited the Iowa Senate on March 26 to witness the approval of legislation that expands Iowa's Gold Star license plate bill to include veterans who “died as a result of injuries sustained,” as well as those killed in action. Boettcher’s father died as the result of injuries he suffered during World War II. While at the Statehouse, Boettcher talked with Sen. Becky Schmitz of Fairfield, who floor-managed the original Gold Star license plate bill last year.
	The Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa visited the Statehouse on March 18. During the event, Sen. Becky Schmitz of Fairfield got a chance to see her favorite Girl Scout troop leader, her daughter Cassie Schmitz. From left: Troop #538 member Cassie Douglas, Cassie Schmitz, and Sen. Schmitz.
	Erin Drinnin of the State Public Policy Group talks with Sen. Becky Schmitz during a Statehouse visit on March 18. SPPG helps state agencies and private sector organizations promote their issues, define their goals and evaluate their results. Projects include the Association of Iowa Workforce Partners, the Iowa Peer Support Training Academy, and the Successful Families Caucus. For more on SPPG, go to www.sppg.com.
	On March 13, State Senator Becky Schmitz of Fairfield was honored as the "Legislator of the Year" by the Iowa Fraternal Congress. The Congress includes such groups as the Knights of Columbus, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and other fraternal benefit society organizations in Iowa, with a total of 825 chapters statewide. Together in 2007, the groups' members volunteered two million hours and contributed almost $14 million to make Iowa a better place to live. From left to right, Treasurer Don Krall, Schmitz, and President Julie Vander Plas.
	With Susie Drish, Judy Garman, and Barb Hood, who were at the Statehouse March 11 with the Association of Iowa Workforce Partners.
	State Senator Becky Schmitz of Fairfield visited with Van Buren County Extension Council members and master gardeners on March 12 at the Statehouse. From left (front): Dale Muntz, Butch Gates, Schmitz, David Hellwig, Carolyn Pelky, Tommee Pelky, Steve Kisling, Helen Balmer, Daryl Kruse and Ron Fransen.
	Bob Krause of Fairfield, chair of the Iowa Democratic Veterans' Caucus, brought his family to the Statehouse March 11 when Governor Chet Culver signed HF2359 into law. The bill, which passed the Iowa Senate the previous day, creates a regular source of funding for the Veterans Trust Fund. The Legislature established the fund in 2003 to help Iowa’s veterans with expenses such as education and unemployment assistance. The problem is that there are only $5 million in a fund intended to contain $50 million. That will change now that we’ll have four new Iowa Lottery games, which are expected to pump an estimated $3.3 million a year into the Veterans Trust Fund. Pictured from left: Luke Matthiessen and his parents, Bob and Vicky Krause, State Senator Becky Schmitz, and Governor Chet Culver.
	AARP members Eve Casserly and Bob Welsh from Johnson County were at the Statehouse on March 11 to talk with legislators, including Sen. Becky Schmitz. They discussed some of the concerns of Iowa seniors and retirees, such as financial literacy and the Consumer Fraud Protection bill currently making its way through the Legislature.
	State Senator Becky Schmitz talks with Iowa State Rehabilitation Council representatives Sue Frice and Ellen Sokolowski on Feb. 28. Frice and Sokolowski were at the Capitol to discuss their efforts to help people with disabilities find employment. The ISRC operates as part of the Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services. More information can be found at www.ivrs.iowa.gov. From left: Frice, Schmitz and Sokolowski.
	Ken Daley of Fairfield talked to Sen. Becky Schmitz on Feb. 26 about his hope for a healthy Iowa future. He urged legislators to support Healthy Kids legislation that promotes greater physical activity among children and a Clean Air Act so that no Iowan would have to be exposed to second-hand smoke. Daley was at the Capitol with the American Heart Association and is past-president of the Iowa Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance.
	Senator Becky Schmitz of Fairfield met with Shellie Orngard at the Iowa Statehouse on Feb. 26. Orngard works with Volunteer Centers of Iowa and was at the Capitol for Volunteer Awareness Day. Volunteer Centers of Iowa is a statewide network that connects, builds, promotes and mobilizes Iowa volunteers.
	Members of the Lutheran Services of Iowa were at the Statehouse for Lutheran Day on the Hill on February 19. The group was at the Capitol to raise awareness for the social issues they tackle all across the state on a daily basis. Senator Becky Schmitz of Fairfield spoke with the leader of LSI, Doug Johnson, about how the Legislature can continue to promote services for children and families. From left: Jake Byers, Johnson, Schmitz, Jana Olson, and Lyle Krewson.
	The Iowa Ophthalmology Academy hosted a legislative breakfast February 19 at the Capitol. Senator Becky Schmitz of Fairfield talked with Dr. Jean Spencer of West Des Moines about vision needs for children.
	Senator Becky Schmitz of Fairfield spoke with Rhonda Boltz from Children First of Lee & Van Buren County Empowerment in the Statehouse rotunda on February 14. Boltz was at the Capitol to advocate for children's health care issues.
	Senator Becky Schmitz of Fairfield met with members of Iowans for Health Care at the Statehouse on February 14. They were at the Capitol to discuss health care for children and the value of nurses.
	I met with members of JEL, which stands for Just Eliminate Lies, the State of Iowa's youth-run tobacco-control program, at the Statehouse Feb. 13. The students, who are from Jefferson and Keokuk counties, lobbied legislators for a statewide smoking ban. It's great to see these enthusiastic young people actively working to make Iowa a great place
	Governor Chet Culver signed a bill increasing the state's contribution to local schools by 4 percent on Feb. 12. The appropriation, which passed the Legislature last week, provides our K12 schools with an additional $222 per student. The money is used for textbooks, heating bills, technology and other necessities that help make students, teachers and schools successful.
	On Feb. 7, Sen. Becky Schmitz of Fairfield talked with with Maureen Horsley, a nurse practitioner who works in Spencer and Milford. Both Schmitz and Horsley serve on the Center for Rural Health and Primary Care Committee, which seeks to improve access to quality health care in rural areas.
	On Feb. 5, Resource Conservation & Development advocates from around Iowa visited the Statehouse to talk with legislators about their efforts to create jobs, protect the environment and improve the quality of life in rural communities. For more information, go to www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov/partnerships/rcandd.html. Pictured from left: Ernie Greiner of Keokuk County and Marvin Philips of Van Buren County, both with the Pathfinder RC&D; Ed Raber of Washington County, representing the Geode RD&D; and Sen. Becky Schmitz of Fairfield.
	Indian Hills Community College students traveled to Des Moines on January 31to meet with Senators Keith Kreiman of Bloomfield and Becky Schmitz of Fairfield. Iowa’s community colleges provide the training Iowans need to move up in life and the skilled workers the state’s economy needs to grow. Schmitz told the students that she will support increased funding for community colleges in order to keep tuition affordable. From left: Cindy Bashaw, Kreiman, Schmitz, Sara VanHulzen, , Robin DeCook, Zachary Lowe, David Johnson, Sarah Pankey, Barb Vaux, Bruce Dickerson, and Rhonda Conrad.
	Senator Becky Schmitz of Fairfield met with members of the Rathbun Regional Water Association of Centerville. The group was at the Statehouse on January 30 for Water Utility Day. Pictured from left: RRWA Chief Administrative Officer John Humphrey, Schmitz, Administrative Manager Mindy Payne, and Environmental Management Specialist Marty Braster.
	The proven benefits of doing more with less energy was a hot topic this week at the Iowa Statehouse. Sen. Becky Schmitz of Fairfield talked with Bill McAnally, chair of Industrial Technology at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, and Simon Lindner, a 2007 graduate of his carpentry program. The two were in Des Moines to testify before a Senate committee about how modern building techniques result in new homes that use 65% less energy than older homes. They discussed how saving energy is creating jobs and improving the budgets of businesses and families across Iowa. To learn more, contact Bill at McAnally@iowacentral.edu. Pictured from left: McAnally, Lindner, and Schmitz.
	Helping Iowa children learn to read was much discussed at the Statehouse on January 24. Sen. Becky Schmitz of Fairfield met with Donna Rempe of the Great Prairie AEA, a teacher trainer for the Reading Recovery program, a year-long professional development program for classroom teachers. The Reading Recovery program involves short-term one-to-one tutoring for low-achieving first graders, focusing on developing a student's vocabulary and comprehension. Great Prairie Area Education Agency serves much of southeast Iowa.
	A wide variety of groups dedicated to protecting and improving Iowa’s soil, air, and water braved the bitter cold to visit the Statehouse on January 24. Sen. Becky Schmitz of Fairfield had the chance to meet with Jim Gerok and Mike Vardaman about our state's soil and water conservation districts. The men said that Iowa’s lakes and rivers are not in the shape that they should be. Left to right: Schmitz, Gerok of Jefferson County and Vardaman of Page County.
	Senator Becky Schmitz of Fairfield spoke with Senior Officer Ted Stroope of Des Moines and Representatives Dan Huseman of Aurelia and Dan Rasmussen of Independence at the Statehouse Jan. 23. Stroope visited the Capitol on behalf of the Iowa Association of Chiefs of Police and Peace Officers. The group talked about the unique challenges law enforcement officers face on the job every day and what the Legislature can do to help them keep the rest of us safe. Pictured from left: Rasmussen, Stroope, Huseman, and Schmitz. (Credit: Hans Erickson)
	State Senator Becky Schmitz of Fairfield talks with Sue Rich of the Washington County Veteran Affairs office. Rich was at the Statehouse January 16 for Veterans Day on the Hill, an annual event that gives Iowa veterans the opportunity to discuss their legislative priorities with elected officials. (Photo Credit: Christjahn Beck)
	State Senator Becky Schmitz of Fairfield met with Governor Chet Culver at the Iowa Statehouse on Monday to discuss the best ways to stand up for middle-class families and to continue responsible, prudent budget-making. Schmitz and other legislators from across Iowa were at the Capitol to discuss priorities for the 2008 session, which convenes January 14. Last year’s budget left the state in better financial condition than the year before, and Schmitz and other legislators pledged to repeat that accomplishment. Pictured, from left: Culver, Representative Ro Foege of Mount Vernon, and Schmitz. (12/3/2007)
State Senator Becky Schmitz of Fairfield met Oct. 29 with Robert Shireman, a national expert on college student debt. Shireman was at the Iowa Statehouse to speak with the Legislative Oversight Committee about the high debt loan that Iowa college students have. Shireman, president of the Institute for College Access and Success in California, told Schmitz, a member of the Oversight Committee, that high student debt in Iowa is primarily caused by insufficient grants for low income students at Iowa’s public universities and high tuition at community colleges. Shireman said high levels of student debt discourage students from making their home in Iowa and from entering teaching, law enforcement and other occupations. Shireman discusses his findings in a three-minute video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoB7FjNtE9g. A transcript of Shireman’s testimony before the Government Oversight Committee is available at www.legis.state.ia.us/lsadocs/SC_MaterialsDist/2008/SDMAT011.PDF. Further information for students and their parents can be found at www.projectonstudentdebt.org.