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.
	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.
	Students and educators from Woden-Crystal Lake-Titonka visited the Statehouse on April 8, where they met with their state senator, Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg. Kibbie talked to the students about current bills the Legislature is considering, how he got involved in politics and what his job entails. The students also had the chance to sit in the Senate gallery, where they observed debate on a bill to ban smoking statewide.
	Seniors from Ruthven-Ayrshire were at the Capitol on April 2 during a visit by Iowa's Olympic hopefuls, who are heading to Beijing this summer. The students watched from the Senate gallery as the athletes were honored in the chamber.
	Senate President Jack Kibbie spoke an April 3 news conference that highlighted the only new big budget item of the 2008 session: an effort to expand health insurance coverage to all Iowa children. The bipartisan initiative passed the Senate on April 7.
	Senate President Jack Kibbie met with Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy and ISU's Legislative Liaison Andy Baumert in his Senate office on April 3. They were at the Statehouse to celebrate the university's 150th anniversary.
	On April 1, Gov. Chet Culver signed Senate File 2347 into law, providing $4.6 million to create a statewide system of optical scan voting machines before the November elections. This new law will give Iowans a verified paper record of the ballot they cast and will guarantee that voters with disabilities have the same opportunity to use a protected voting system.
	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.
	Members of Emmet County 4-H were in Des Moines for 4-H Day at the Capitol on March 26. Among the day’s events were an omelet breakfast at State Historical Building and a visit to the Senate, where they observed Senate President Jack Kibbie present a bill to the Veterans Affairs Committee. From left: Graye Farnum, adviser Kevin Sander, Allison Payton, Ryan Hoffmeyer, Kibbie, Brian Posburg, adviser Marcy Sander and Elliot Kinnander.
	Senator Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg met with the Iowa Corn Growers from Humboldt, Burt, and other communities on March 26. The group discussed ethanol and Iowa's agricultural issues.
	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. To find out more, visit: www.iowava.org.
	Irish Parliamentarian David Stanton was the guest of honor in the Iowa Senate on March 11. He and his wife Mary are the official guests of Emmetsburg for their annual Saint Patrick's Day celebration. He is a Fine Gael member of the Irish Parliament and represents County Cork.
	A group of Irish Dancers from Emmetsburg performed at the Capitol on March 11, in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. They were accompanied by instructor Lori Riley and 2008 Ms. Shamrock April Gunderson of Ringsted. Among the young dancers was Senate President Jack Kibbie's granddaughter, Whitney Kibbie. During their visit to the Capitol, the dancers enjoyed a tour of the Governor's office.
	Representatives of the Rural Iowa Independent Telephone Association (RIITA) met with Senate President Jack Kibbie in his office on Mar. 4. The group from Senator Kibbie's northwest Iowa district was at the Statehouse to discuss expanding communications networks in rural parts of the state. RIITA works to educate legislators about the strengths and needs of Iowa’s independent telephone companies and their efforts to provide the best telecommunications services available to rural communities. For more, go to www.riita.com.
	Students from North Kossuth Middle School and their teacher, Brooks Walter, toured the Capitol and visited Senator Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg on Mar. 4. Kibbie talked with the students about ongoing renovations at the Statehouse and how a bill becomes a law. During the students' field trip to Des Moines, they also made a stop at the Science Center of Iowa.
	Senator Frank Wood talks with Senate President Jack Kibbie during debate on the Senate floor Feb. 27 when a statewide ban on smoking in public places passed on a bipartisan 29-21 vote.
	Clay County Fair Board members were at the Capitol on Feb. 28 to share with legislators all the wonders and accomplishments of the Clay County Fair. Phil Hurst and other board members discussed the possibility of converting the seasonal event to a year around destination. We were happy to see our friends and were reminded of the good times at the fair in Spencer. Senator Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg and Senator David Johnson of Ocheyedan are pictured with advocates.
	Visiting in the President of the Senate office with Kay Kibbie was Palo Alto County Conservation officer Steve Pitt and Palo Alto Naturalists Miriam Patton, who were at the Statehouse advocating for Resource Enhancement & Protection (REAP) on Feb. 27.
	Senator Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg had the opportunity to visit with members of the Algona Hospital Auxiliary Association on Feb. 27. They were accompanied by Hospital Administrator Scott Curtis and were at the Capitol to talk with legislators about a statewide smoking ban, which passed the Senate later that day.
	Senator Jack Kibbie visiting with Jill Euken, Iowa State University, assistant director of the Office of Bio-renewables. She was at the Iowa Statehouse on Feb. 27. 2008.
	Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg met with Algona labor representatives in his Senate office on Feb. 26. They are employed at Snap-on Tools, which produces some of the most sought after tool boxes in the country. From left: John Herrig, a business representative, Karen Mueller, Jean Huizenga, and Senator Kibbie.
	Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg talked with Lorie Bennett, city administrator for Humboldt. Bennett is an appointee of the Institute of Tomorrows Workforce.
	Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg met with Anne Stansbury from the Iowa Association of College Admissions Counseling on Feb. 20 in his Senate office. Stansbury was at the Capitol to discuss funding for community colleges.
	Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg discussed a variety of issues with Algona City Administrator Cole O'Donnell and members of the Algona City Council, including the possibility of a statewide smoking ban and open records laws.
	Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg met with members of the Leadership Fort Dodge in his Senate office on Feb. 13. Leadership Fort Dodge is sponsored by the Fort Dodge Area Chamber of Commerce and is designed to prepare participants to take on leadership roles in the community.
	Members of the Iowa Grocers Association met with Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg on Feb. 13 to discuss possible changes to the bottle bill. Pictured clockwise are Kibbie; Scott Walters of Estherville Hy-Vee; Kent Wagner, Rita Schmidt and Randy Joenz of Emmetsburg Food Pride; Tom White of Fareway in Algona; and Steve Smith and Todd Treganza of Fareway in Humboldt.
	Katie Walker and her three daughters were at the Capitol on Feb. 13 with NICHE, the Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators. The Walker family and others discussed their passion for home schooling and thanked legislators for preserving the parents' right to educate their own children here in Iowa. With the Walker family are Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg and Senator Dennis Black of Newton.
	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. Left to right: Sen. Joe Seng of Davenport, Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg, and Culver.
	Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg spoke with Monsignor Stephen Orr of Des Moines at the Statehouse on Feb. 12. Orr was at the Capitol with other members of the Iowa Catholic Conference to talk with legislators about issues important to the Catholic Church and society.
	Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg, visits with State Board of Education members Mary-Jean Montgomery and Wayne Kobberdahl prior to a meeting of the Department of Education at the Iowa Statehouse on Feb. 6. Kobberdahl is a long time community college board member, and Montgomery is currently serving the last of her 15 years with the Board of Education.
	Senator Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg met with representatives of the Mid Iowa Growth Partnership on Feb. 6. They were at the Capitol with the Professional Developers of Iowa. MIGP advocates for initiatives to improve Iowa's great quality of life and create a great environment to attract and grow businesses. Left to right: Gary Sandholm of Webster City, Steve Heldt of Emmetsburg, Sen. Kibbie, Kay Kibbie, and Senate Clerk Bonnie Fokken.
	Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg and Rep. Dolores Mertz of Ottosen met with Humboldt County residents on Feb. 6. They were at the Statehouse for Humboldt County Day at the Capitol. From left: Kibbie; Carl Mattes, Humboldt County Supervisor; Mertz; Paul Jacobsen, Humboldt County Engineer; and Mort Christianson, Humboldt County Supervisor.
	Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg met with Gary Leonard, Palo Alto County Auditor, and Dennis Goeders, Palo Alto County Sheriff, in his Senate office on Wednesday, February 6th. They were at the Statehouse to discuss a variety of legislative issues, including election laws. The men enjoyed their visit to the Capitol and are a perfect example of state and county government working together. (03/04/08)
	Russ Piehl, director of Algona EMS, and John Hill, president of Spencer EMT, were at the Statehouse on Jan. 31to talk with legislators about emergency services work in Iowa. While at the Capitol, Piehl and Hill talked with Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg and his wife, Kay, who are strong supporters of Emmetsburg’s regional emergency services training center. Iowa’s professional and volunteer EMS workers provide essential services to thousands of Iowans each year. From left: Piehl, Sen. Kibbie, Kay Kibbie, and Hill.
	Iowa Lakes Community College students traveled to Des Moines on Jan. 30 & 31to meet with their state senator, Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg. Iowa’s community colleges provide the skills Iowans need to move up in life, as well as the skilled workers the state’s economy needs to thrive. Kibbie told the students that he supports increased funding for community colleges so that tuition remains affordable. Pictured from left: Julie Carlson, Megan Hanson, Caryn Robinson, Joe Feauto, Amy Hotovek, Mike Blair, April Wolf, Emily Geerdes, Kibbie, Tina Dudley, Alejandra Rodriguez, Sarah Wielenga, Candy Robstock, Elizabeth Rusch, Ijeoma Nnebedum, Jeremy White, and Bill Lapczenski.
	The proven benefits of doing more with less energy was a hot topic this week at the Iowa Statehouse. I 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. We 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: Lindner, McAnally, and I.
	Members of the Algona, Manson, and Monticello chapters of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) visited the Statehouse on January 28. Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg talks with the students about the leading role Iowa agriculture is playing in the world-wide renewable fuels boom. Manson FFA: Adviser Doug Gaul, Zak Steis, Brendan Libbey, Nicole Kigge, Brenan Green, Houston Rumthum, Austin Birchard, Tom Lawler, Elizabeth Calmer, and Sara Reicks. Algona FFA: Agricultural Education Instructor and FFA Adviser Lynn MacVey, Annie Berkland, Brandon Keller, Nolyn Elliott, Hannah Limbaugh, Katelyn Seely, Joe Cook, Jessica Kuhlmann, and Andy Skalleuo.
	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. I met with Rich Dana and Gregg Heide of the Iowa Renewable Energy Association. Heide is a Pomeroy farmer, who is working to increase the presence of wind energy in the state. Left to right: Rich Dana of Gernsey, Senator Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids, me, and Heide.
	At a Statehouse news conference on January 24, Democratic leaders said that more than 500,000 Iowans will pay less in state taxes this year. Over 430,000 seniors will see a 32% decrease in taxes on social security and the first $18,000 ($24,000 for couples) will be exempt from state income tax. In additiojn, some 64,000 working families will receive a larger tax refund this year thanks to a $10 million expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit approved in 2007. Left to right: Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg and Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs.
	Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg welcomes his new clerk to the Iowa Senate: Bonnie Fokken of Spirit Lake.
	On Jan. 22, Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg met with Art Pixler, superintendent of Sentral-Fenton Schools, and John Joynt, superintendent of Emmetsburg School District. They and other education leaders from across Iowa traveled to the Statehouse in support of increased educational opportunity for Iowa students.
	Senate President Jack Kibbie and Skip Wallace of the Iowa Water Quality Association, talked Jan. 23 about efforts to enhance Iowa's natural resources. Wallace, who lives in Kibbie's hometown of Emmetsburg, was at the Capitol encourage legislators to continue their investment to improve water quality in every corner of the state. (photo credit: Iowa Senate Intern Christjahn Beck)
	Members of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women visited the Capitol Jan. 22. Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg met with Commissioner Jill Olsen to discuss a range of issues, including gender balance on boards and commissions and opportunities for women as the need for skilled workers grows in Iowa. (photo credit: Christjahn Beck)
	Executives from a company that is building a new corn wet milling plant in Fort Dodge visited the Iowa Statehouse on Jan. 16. James Cornelissen and Chris Olsen of the London-based firm Tate & Lyle met with Iowa Senate President Jack Kibbie (Emmetsburg) and State Senator Daryl Beall (Fort Dodge). The new high-tech plant, expected to be completed in March 2009, will employ approximately 100 people when it is fully operational. From left: Cornelissen, Kibbie, Olsen, and Beall. (1/15/08)
	Iowa Senate President Jack Kibbie (Emmetsburg) introduces Governor Chet Culver before a joint session of the Iowa House and Senate January 15. During his 2008 Condition of the State address, the Governor promised to keep commitments made to improve education, health care and Iowa's renewable energy industry. From left: Kibbie, Culver, and House Speaker Pat Murphy of Dubuque. (1/15/08)
	Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg talks with Father Brian Hughes of St. Mary's in Armstrong, and St. Patrick's in Estherville. Father Hughes delivered the opening prayer on the first day of the 2008 legislative session. (1/14/08, photo credit: Christjahn Beck)
	Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg and other legislative leaders announced Monday at the Iowa Statehouse their priorities for the 2008 session, including the best ways to stand up for middle-class families and to continue responsible, prudent budget-making. Kibbie said last year’s budget left the state in better financial condition than the year before, and he pledged to repeat that accomplishment in the 2008 session, which convenes Jan. 14. (12/3/2007)