Photos

	On April 22, Governor Chet Culver signed Senate File 2420, which will help make up a $200-million-a-year shortfall in Iowa’s transportation budget. Estimates show that the legislation will generate about $125 million by 2012, in part by changing the way pickup fees are assessed. This is a first step to developing a stable, fair and long-term way of maintaining the safe roads and bridges that support Iowa’s growing economy.
	Legislators met with Kristie Fisher and Nicole Hill in the Senate Chamber on April 17. They were representing Kirkwood Community College women's basketball team, which was honored with Senate Resolution 153 for winning the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Tournament. Pictured, from left: Sen. Wally Horn of Cedar Rapids, Sen. Bob Dvorsky of Coralville, Hill, Fisher, Sen. Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids and Sen. Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City.
	Sen. Wally Horn of Cedar Rapids 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.
	On April 15, Governor Chet Culver signed Iowa's Smoke-free Air Act into law. This statewide ban on smoking will apply to most workplaces, public places and certain outdoor areas. On hand for the bill-signing ceremony was former state Senator Jim Wells, the first Iowa legislator to propose a statewide smoking ban 33 years ago. Wells had represented Cedar Rapids in the Legislature.
	Lily Lau of East Cenral Library Service Area, Senator Wally Horn and Jennie Garner of North Liberty Public Library during public libraries legislative day at the Statehouse Law Library on March 11.
	Randy Weigund visited Senator Wally Horn of Cedar Rapids at the Statehouse on March 12. In 1954, Senator Horn and Weigund's grandfather served together in the Army in Germany. (Credit: Hans Erickson)
	Senator Wally Horn of Cedar Rapids met with members of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) in the Senate Chamber on March 12. The group was at the Capitol to talk about motorcycle helmet laws. From left: Bill Bissett of Drakesville, Horn, and Gerald Stogdill and Jim Carlisle of Bloomfield.
	On March 11, Gov. Culver signed HF2359 a day after it was passed by the Senate. The bill 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.
	Members of AARP were at the Statehouse on March 11 to talk with legislators, including Sen. Wally Horn, about the concerns of Iowa seniors and retirees.
	Senator Wally Horn of Cedar Rapids congratulated Meghan Busswuitz for an outstanding paper she wrote for the Write Women Back into History essay contest. Meghan and fellow Prairie Middle School students Tyler Hupp and Connor Drahos were recognized at the Capitol on March 4. Winning essays can be found at www.women.iowa.gov.
	State Senator Wally Horn of Cedar Rapids 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. Horn and other legislators from across Iowa were at the Capitol to discuss priorities for the 2008, which convenes January 14. Last year’s budget left the state in better financial condition than the year before, and Horn and other legislators pledged to repeat that accomplishment. Pictured from left: Horn, Senator Jack Hatch of Des Moines, and Culver. (12/3/2007)
	Commitment to alternative fuels booms across Iowa On Aug. 21 and 22, several of my colleagues and I accepted an invitation from Senate President Jack Kibbie to visit his northwest Iowa senate district, which is home to several clean energy production facilities. One was the Hydrogen Engine Center in Algona, which designs and manufactures alternative-fueled engines and components. Company President Ted Hollinger reports that all of his engines run on a variety of fuels, such as hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic gas, coal bed methane, gasoline and ethanol. Hollinger started his business here in Iowa in 2003 because state laws enabled him to get his operation off the ground relatively quickly compared to other states he’d considered. For more information about the Hydrogen Engine Center, go to www.hydrogenenginecenter.com. Legislators also visited the Iowa Lakes Community College campus in Estherville, a worldwide center on wind energy and wind turbine technology education. Instructor Mike Schmidt and ILCC President Harold Prior spoke of the students that come to Iowa from all over the world to learn how to maintain wind turbines. This is a job that is in great demand as we become more and more focused on clean, renewable energy sources that reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Due to the demand, students in the program are able to line up good-paying jobs with benefits before they even graduate. There are still a few spots for students available in the program this fall. To learn more, visit the college web site at www.iowalakes.edu. Pictured: Hydrogen Engine Center President Ted Hollinger discusses his Algona facility and engine designs with legislators.
	On Thursday, May 24, legislators and the Governor, golfers from across the state, and hundreds of Iowans welcomed the 2007 Masters Champion and Cedar Rapids native Zach Johnson to the Iowa Statehouse. Governor Culver read a proclamation in the Capitol rotunda honoring Johnson for his achievements. Johnson played collegiate golf at Drake University in Des Moines and offered inspiring words to other young golfers. “I wasn’t the best high school golfer on the team or even the best golfer at Drake," he said. "But with hard work and perseverance, I won the Masters. Don’t let anyone get in the way of your dreams.” On April 8, 2007, Johnson stunned the international golf community by beating the best golfers in the world to win the Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club. Pictured in the Governor's office (from left): Gov. Chet Culver, Sen. Tom Rielly (Oskaloosa), Johnson, Sen. Wally Horn (Cedar Rapids), and Secretary of the Senate Mike Marshall.