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Making the way the state of Iowa uses technology
more efficient could save taxpayers millions. That’s what the
State Government Reorganization Commission was told on Wednesday
by experts now working for the state and by leaders from
Microsoft, Google and others. During a break in the meeting,
commission member State Senator Jeff Danielson of Black Hawk
(right) spoke with Tony Wilson, Microsoft’s Midwest Director of
Governmental Affairs. (9/9/09) |
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I met with some young Taiwanese political leaders
when they visited the Iowa Statehouse on July 16. The group was
hosted by the American Council of Young Political Leaders, which
offers bipartisan international exchange programs. I am an
alumnus of the program and was happy to share my knowledge of
Iowa state government with this enthusiastic group of Taiwanese
visitors. |
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My intern, Arlene Somona, and I in Governor Chet
Culver's formal office. Arlene is a UNI student. |
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My Waterloo parade. |
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On May 26, Governor Chet Culver signed four bills
that will benefit Iowa veterans and servicemembers, including:
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House File 503, which updates the definition of “veteran” to
include those who served on active duty during peacetime. This
will provide more of those who’ve served with access to services
and benefits.
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House File 706 to protect active-duty military from
foreclosure and keep them from losing their homes.
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Senate File 186, which gives preference to veterans in
state, county, municipal and school hiring.
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Senate File 451 to allow veterans and their families to pay
in-state tuition at community colleges and at Regents’
institutions while they are living in Iowa. |
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A special certificate of recognition for
Ed Gallagher, during the signing of key veterans legislation at
the Sullivan Brothers Museum in Waterloo May 26. |
First responders from across Iowa applauded
Governor Chet Culver's signature May 8th on a bill that will
extend new health benefits to firefighters and police
officers.
On hand for the bill signing ceremony in the
Governor's office were International Association of Fire
Fighters General President Harold Schaitberger, Iowa
Association of Fire Fighters President Rick Scofield, and
dozens of Iowa's police officers and firefighters. Black
Hawk County firefighters were well-represented by
Representative Kerry Burt and myself.
Senate File 226 states that firefighters and
police officers covered under the 411 Municipal Fire &
Police Retirement System, who are stricken with cancer or
certain infectious diseases, will now benefit from a
presumption that their disease is work related. This will
ensure our first responders and their families get the
disability retirement or death benefits they deserve.
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Rear Admiral Michael Franken visited the Senate
Veterans Affairs Committee as a guest of Senator (and Army
National Guard Colonel) Steve Warnstadt. Admiral Franken is a
native of Sioux Center, Iowa, and is the deputy director for
strategy, plans and policy for the United States Central
Command. His command includes the former Soviet “stan” republics
and the Middle East. He spoke about the recent Navy Seals
capturing and killing Somali pirates. The admiral noted that the
pirates must be dealt with on land, not on the high seas.
Pictured with Admiral Franken are fellow members of the Senate
Veterans Affairs Committee, Senator Jeff Danielson, Admiral
Franken, Senator Warnstadt, and Senator Daryl Beall. |
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The University of Northern Iowa's Basketball team visited the
Statehouse on Wednesday. They were honored with a resolution in
the Iowa House of Representatives for doing so well this season.
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The Iowa Alliance for Choice in Education held a press
conference at the Statehouse on Tuesday afternoon. I was honored
to speak about what the Iowa Legislature has done to advocate
for choices in education and how that will benefit Iowa's
students. |
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Reverend Dennis Platt, pastor of the Cedar Falls Church of
Christ in Cedar Falls, provided the opening prayer in both the
Iowa House and Senate chambers on Tuesday, April 7.
L to R: Representative Doris Kelly, Rev. Platt, Senator Danielson |
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Tuesday was Non Public School Day at the Capitol, and I met with
students from St. Edwards, Sacred Hearth and Blessed Sacrament
Elementary School in Waterloo. The elementary school is a
combination of several Catholic Churches in Waterloo. I was able
to provide a little inside look at Iowa government and answer
any questions the students had. |
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Students from the University of Northern Iowa visited with me at
the Statehouse on Monday afternoon for Regents Day on the Hill.
We discussed several issues, including tuition increases and
what the legislature can do to maintain Iowa's status as a
leader in education across the country. |
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The Iowa Credit Union League was at the Statehouse on Wednesday
afternoon. The ICUL visits the Statehouse each legislative
session to speak with legislators about the importance of credit
unions and the issues affecting their industry.
I met with members from the Cedar Valley area to discuss a
variety of issues relating to finances and the current tough
economic times. |
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I met with Jyothi Dhanwada and Mason Walsh, two
students from Northern University High School in Cedar Falls,
while they were participating in the Capitol Project at the
Statehouse. The Capitol Project is a program co-hosted by
Governor Culver and Secretary of State Mauro for high school
students in grades 9th - 12th and provides participants the
opportunity to learn first-hand about their government. |
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The American Cancer Society held their annual Day on the Hill
Thursday, March 18. I met with a great group of advocates from
Cedar Falls to discuss healthcare reform, increased funding for
cancer research, and a variety of other health related issues.
L to R: Marty Mullnix, Annemarie Goldhorn, Senator Danielson,
Shirley Roof, Bob Roof, and Bryan Garnest. |
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I hosted Pastor Roger Twito at the Statehouse while he provided
the opening prayer in the House and Senate chambers on Thursday,
March 12. |
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Students from the University of Northern Iowa were at the
Statehouse on Monday, March 9 with the Iowa Regent Universities
program, "Research in the Capitol." The students choose a topic
to research that relates to their major, and then have the
opportunity to present it to lawmakers and staff. First
Picture: Leah Short from Des Moines, a Spanish and Religion
major, presented "Our Aliens: How Does a Criminal Become Human?"
which focuses on how the languege we use affects our views on
immigration in America.
Second Picture: Michelle Formanek of Cedar Falls, a
Biomedical major at UNI, presented her project on the effect of
Homocysteine on development of contractions and catenin
expression in chick embryo precardiac mesoderm. |
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I had the opportunity to meet with students from the University
of Northern Iowa to discuss Senate File 193, to exempt textbooks
from a sales tax.
L to R: Joel Anderson, Matt Horihan, Adam Haselhuhn, and Senator
Danielson |
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Mike Peters of I-Hope Ministries of Waterloo opened the Thursday
session of the Iowa Senate with a prayer. He was the guest of
State Senator Jeff Danielson of Black Hawk. |
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I met with a group from Allen Hospital in Waterloo in the
Capitol rotunda on Wednesday afternoon. They were at the
Statehouse for the Iowa Hospital Association's Day on the Hill. |
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I met with the Black Hawk County Labor Council in the Statehouse
rotunda on Tuesday. |
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Rachel Zeinen of Benton and Amy Shutte of Black Hawk talked with
me Wednesday afternoon in the Senate chamber. They were here
with CAFE Iowa, Clean Air For Everyone, to lobby for clean air
regulations. |
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On February 17, I talked with Lauri Young of Cedar Falls in the
Iowa Senate Chamber. Lauri is with the Lutheran Services in Iowa
and was here for their legislative day of the hill. |
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I talked with Peg Thomas of Waterloo at the Capitol on February
17. She was for the Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association
legislative breakfast. |
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U.S.
Representative Bruce Braley spoke to our caucus on Tuesday,
February 17. He discussed the opportunities for Iowa in the
recently passed federal stimulus bill. He said the
legislation will create 37,000 Iowa jobs by rebuilding
crumbling roads and bridges, investing in passenger rail and
putting people to work on aviation, water and flood control
projects.
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I met with members of the Iowa Soybean Association at the
Statehouse on Tuesday, February 10. |
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Three community college students visited the
State Capitol on Wednesday to thank lawmakers who supported
Iowa’s wind energy expansion efforts. The trio talked with State
Senator Jeff Danielson of Black Hawk, encouraging him to
continue supporting Iowa’s community colleges and the Iowa Power
Fund. A two-year program at Iowa Lakes Community College in
Estherville to train students to learning to build and maintain
wind turbines will grow from 71 students this year to 102
students next year. Graduates typically receive 10 to 20 job
offers when they complete their courses. |
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I talked with Tom Ferguson, the Black Hawk County Attorney, at
the Statehouse on Wednesday, February 4. |
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It's always great to have our Iowa veterans at
the Statehouse. I am proud of the steps we've taken in the Legislature to honor
our veterans and meet their needs. The Iowa Veterans Council
reported that the 2008 Legislative session was “the most
successful year for veterans in the Legislature since the
1950s.” The council includes several organizations, including
the Marine Corps League, Vietnam Veterans of America, the VFW,
and Disabled American Veterans. |
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Shortly after President Barack Obama's inauguration on January
20, I hung his portrait in the Senate Chamber. |
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My clerk for the 2009 legislative session is
Jamie Miller of West Des Moines. |
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You always know
when firefighters visit the Capitol because they wear their
distinctive red blazers. Pictured in the Senate Chamber on
January 13: Senator Tom Hancock of Epworth, a retired volunteer
firefighter; Brian
Seymour, Indianola, past president of the Iowa Firemen's
Association; I; Ellen Hagen, Jewell, vice-president of the IFA; and
Senator Daryl Beall of Fort Dodge. |
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Major General Ron Dardis spoke January 14 at
the first meeting of the Senate Rebuild Iowa Committee. General
Dardis chairs the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission and is
retiring as the adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard.
I thanked the General for his work and the work of the Iowa National Guard
during last year’s devastating floods and tornadoes. The Senate
is now working to approve Governor Culver’s request for
additional disaster assistance to Iowa communities and families. |
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Pastor Brad Braley of Cedar
Falls First Presbyterian Church was at the Statehouse to give
the morning prayer in the Iowa House and Senate January 13. |
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I took the oath
of office on January 12, the first day of the 2009 session of
the Iowa Legislature. I expect this year we'll stay focused on
managing our tight state budget, expanding Iowa’s energy economy
and rebuilding flood damaged communities. |
