Rielly photos

	Sen. Tom Reilly met with a group from University of Iowa at the Earth Day Sustainability Conference at the Statehouse on April 22. Picture, from left: Dave Jackson, UI Facilities Management; Ben Kaplan, UI senior communications student; Reilly; and Cory Sanderson, UI Student. The UI representatives were at the Capitol to discuss their sustainability efforts with legislators.
	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.
	Sen. Tom Rielly talks with constituent Ginny Alderson about her business plan for Ginny's Babysitting Service. She developed her 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 14, the Iowa Senate honored the talented young men and women who make up the 2007-2008 Drake University men's and women's basketball teams. Congratulations to the athletes and coaches, Keno Davis and Amy Stephens, on an incredible season. Their efforts have elevated the Bulldogs to rank among the best teams in the nation.
	On April 1, the Senate passed a resolution honoring Iowa's 9 Olympic athletes, who will head to Beijing this summer as principal competitors or as alternates. Sen. Tom Rielly congratulated wrestler Sara McMann of Iowa City, skeet shooter Haley Dunn of Eddyville, track & field competitor Joey Woody of Iowa City, and wrestlers Joe Williams of Iowa City and Tolly Thompson of Janesville.
	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.
	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 State Senators who supported the legislation. From left: Sen. Bill Heckroth, Sen. Becky Schmitz, Sen. Tom Rielly, Connie Boettcher, Terry Boettcher, Sen. Rich Olive, Sen. Staci Appel, Sen. Frank Wood, Sen. Brian Schoenjahn, Sen. Tom Hancock, Sen. Daryl Beall, and Bob Holliday from the Gold Star Museum.
	Sen. Tom Rielly gave Oskaloosa freshman Charlie Comfort a glimpse of a legislator's work, when Charlie joined him at the Statehouse for the day on March 18.
	On March 11, with Oskaloosa residents Linda Fox, director of the Oskaloosa Public Library, Robert Leonard, and his father, Jaime Leonard.
	Randy Davis of Oskaloosa joined members of AARP at the Statehouse on March 11 to talk with legislators, including his state senator, Tom Rielly. Davis discussed issues of concern to seniors and retirees, including financial literacy and a Consumer Fraud Protection bill currently making its way through the Legislature. From left: Betty Kitzman, Davis and Rielly.
	German exchange students with the Council on International Educational Exchange visited the Statehouse March 7. Pictured are Julian Broszinski (Oskaloosa), Sen. Tom Rielly, Maya Markwald (Oskaloosa), Rep. Eric Palmer, Ariane Bialojan (Montezuma), and Oskaloosa resident Sally Hart (sitting). The three students have scholarships through the Congress Bundestag and are currently studying in Iowa.
	Senator Tom Rielly and other legislators watch debate on the Senate floor Feb. 27 when a statewide ban on smoking in public places passed on a bipartisan 29-21 vote.
	Senator Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa met with Dennis Groenenboom at the Statehouse on Feb. 26. Groenenboom, executive director of Iowa Legal Aid, and was at the Capitol for Volunteer Awareness Day. Iowa Legal Aid is non-profit organization that provides legal assistance to low-income Iowans in need of representation.
	Family Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) members visited the Statehouse on Wednesday, February 20th. The FCCLA students spoke with Senator Rielly of Oskaloosa about many issues they believe are important, including the state wide smoking ban, and financial literacy in the classroom. from left: Zach Mac Kain, Ty Stallman, Trevor Harrison, Sen. Tom Rielly, Joe Janssen, Lana Miller, and Sandy Miller.
	Senator Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa, listens as Carolyn Bonifas, Associate Director of Research for The Road Information Program (TRIP) answers questions about the state of Iowa's bridges at a Statehouse press conference on February 20th. Iowa currently has the fourth highest percentage of structurally deficient bridges compared to other states. As Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, Senator Rielly said he understands the importance in making sure Iowa's roads and bridges are safe. (02/20/08)
	Senator Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa met with Dr. Dan McGeehee of the University of Iowa's Public Policy Center on Tuesday, February 19th at the Iowa Statehouse. Dr. McGeehe was at the Capitol to present a study on rural and teen driving. (02/19/08)
	Senator Rielly of Oskaloosa met with Laura Russel of the Oskaloosa Housing Trust Fund Tuesday at the Iowa Statehouse. She was at the Capitol for Iowa Housing Trust Advocates Network day at the Capitol. (02/19/08)
	Senator Tom Rielly, of Oskaloosa, spoke with representatives of Iowa Motor Truck Association on Tuesday. Rielly is the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, and he spoke with the group about upcoming legislation, and what he can do to improve Iowa's roads. (Photo credit Senate Intern Christjahn Beck) from left: Murry Fitzer, Brenda Neville, Jeff Wangsness, Sen. Rielly, Scott Weiser, Dave Vanwyk
	A group from Grinnell visited the Capitol Tuesday. They were here to talk to Senator Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa, about Senate File 348. They are advocating the inclusion of all horses in the bill and not just thoroughbreds. (photo credit: Senate Intern Christjahn Beck) From Left: Duane Roland, Leah Roland, Judy Roland, Tessa Roland, Sen. Tom Rielly, Ryan Shiver, Nick Roland, Kennedy Roland, Dan Roland, Dana Pedersen, LeAnn Pedersen.
	First Sergeant Strasser's family and employers, Dan and Mike Augustine, were at the Capitol Feb. 19 for General Ron Dardis's Condition of the National Guard address. The Augustine brothers received a national honor and were recognized by General Dardis for their remarkable support of the Strasser family while the First Sergeant was serving abroad. Tyler, Jessica and Reece Strasser (front) are pictured in the House of Representatives with Senator Tom Rielly, Rep. Betty DeBoef, Dan Augustine, Mike Augustine, Rep. Eric Palmer and Rep. Jim Van Engelenhoven.
	Senator Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa met with Al Millard and Tammy Wetjen-Kesterson outside the Senate chamber on Thursday, February 14th. Millard is part of Jefferson and Keokuk county empowerment, and Wetjen-Kesterson works with Mahaska county empowerment. (02/14/08)
	Senator Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa 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 lobbied legislators for a statewide smoking ban.
	Senator Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa talked with Poweshiek County Supervisor Lamoyne Guard and Poweshiek County resident Ellie Snook when they visited the Capitol Feb. 13 for Iowa Association of Counties Day.
	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.
	Iowa EMS workers were at the Statehouse on Jan. 31 to talk with legislators about the challenged facing Iowa's emergency workers. While at the Capitol, they talked with Sen. Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa, a strong supporter of Oskaloosa’s regional emergency services training center. Iowa’s professional and volunteer EMS workers provide essential services when Iowans are in dire need of help. Left to Right: Curtis Hopper, EMS director for the Cedar Rapids Fire Department; Rielly; Lee Ridge of Sumner, a state board member of the Iowa Emergency Medical Services Association; and Brandon Smith, West Liberty EMS Director.
	Kirkwood Community College students traveled to Des Moines on Jan. 30 to meet with legislators, including Sen. Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa. 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. Rielly told the students that he will support increased funding for community colleges in order to keep tuition affordable.
	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 on how modern building techniques result in new homes that use 65% less energy than older homes. We talked about how saving energy is creating jobs and improving the budgets of businesses and families across Iowa. If you'd like to know more, contact Bill at McAnally@iowacentral.edu. Left to right: Simon Lindner, Bill McAnally, and Senator Rielly (01/29/08)
	State Senator Tom Rielly talked with Jaia Rosenfels of Iowa City about Iowa's Independent Living Centers when she visited the Statehouse on January 24. Rosenfels works with a community-based, non-profit organization that helps disabled and elderly Iowans continue living in their own homes. Services include education, housing, and assistive technology.
	Helping Iowa children learn to read was much discussed at the Statehouse on January 24. Sen. Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa 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.
	How to fund the repair of Iowa's roads and bridges continues to be hot issue facing the Legislature. Iowa Department of Transportation Director Nancy Richardson and her staff visited the Statehouse Jan. 24 to talk with members of the Senate Transportation Committee. Left to right: vice-chair Senator Jeff Danielson of Waterloo, Senator Tom Hancock of Epworth, chair Senator Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa, and Richardson.
	Governor Chet Culver met with legislative leaders on transportation and infrastructure issues on January 23. The Department of Transportation estimates that an additional $200 million a year in new investment is needed to maintain Iowa's roads and bridges. From left to right, Culver; Senator Matt McCoy of Des Moines, chair of the Senate Transportation & Infrastructure Budget Subcommittee; Senator Jeff Danielson of Waterloo, vice-chair of the Senate Transportation Committee; and Senator Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.
	Senator Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa opened the 2008 legislative session January 14 at the Iowa Statehouse with his clerk, Cathy. Rielly said his primary goal this year is to keep making progress on commitments made last session to improve teacher pay, expand access to quality child care, limit increases on college tuition, make health care more affordable, and boost the state's economy through the Iowa Power Fund initiative.
	On Jan. 10, Sen. Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa was named "Legislator of the Year" by the Associated General Contractors of Iowa. Rielly was recognized for his work as Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, where he has been a strong advocate for solid transportation infrastructure and safe roads in Iowa. The award was presented by Kurt Rasmussen, president of the Des Moines-based construction company The Rasmussen Group.
The Poweshiek Leadership Program (PLP) held a day-long mock debate and roundtable discussion with state leaders at the State Capitol on Nov. 15. The leadership group is designed to cultivate new and emerging leaders in Poweshiek County. “The Poweshiek Leadership Program is really a great way to get people more involved in our community,” said State Representative Eric Palmer. “From government to business to non-profits, the program also helps people in different careers network with each other.” Palmer and State Senator Tom Rielly, both of Oskaloosa, hosted the PLP participants during their visit to Des Moines. "We're honored to meet with this group of civic-minded constituents at the Statehouse," said Rielly. "It's a great opportunity to listen to their thoughts about issues facing our state and local communities. At the same time it gives us, as legislators, a chance to demonstrate what it is that we do on a daily basis at the Capitol and how we go about our decision-making process.” Pictured: State Representative Eric Palmer, of Oskaloosa, and Dan McCue, assistant director of Alumni Relations at Grinnell College, confer with State Senator Tom Reilly, of Oskaloosa, during their mock debate on transportation funding in the House Chambers.
	The PLP participants and legislators held a mock debate on funding for roads and bridges in the House Chambers and spent the afternoon talking with state leaders about a variety of issues. The program is sponsored by Poweshiek County Extension, Poweshiek Area Development, Iowa Valley Community College, and Imagine Grinnell. PLP was first started in 1995 and has over 160 graduates. There are 20-25 people selected each year for the program and it lasts nine months. Martha Pinder of Grinnell coordinated the event. Pictured: Sen. Tom Rielly talks with some of the PLP participants about the nitty-gritty of transportation funding during preparation for their mock debate in the House Chambers.
	Members of the Poweshiek Leadership Program (PLP) gathered in the well of the House Chambers at the Capitol after their mock debate session on Nov. 15. The group was hosted by their state legislators, Rep. Eric Palmer and Sen. Tom Reilly, both of Oskaloosa.
	On Oct. 17, the Transportation Investment Moves the Economy in the 21st Century Committee met in Des Moines to discuss long-term solutions to funding Iowa highway infrastructure. Sen. Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa and Rep. Geri Huser of Altoona are co-chairing the committee, which is studying how to bring in roughly $200 million more annually. The TIME-21 Committee will make its recommendations to the Legislature in January. Among the funding streams under discussion are an increase in the gasoline tax, an increase in pickup-truck registration fees, and increasing license fees.