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News from the Hill…
This week has been one to score in the record books. I think I have received more emails, phone calls and been called more name’s than any other legislative session. To top it off we are just over one fourth of the way through. I am always eager to know where people stand on different issues. I just hope people would make their decisions based on facts and not what they think is true. The following are some correct statements to help make some clarifications. The Road Use Tax Fund is a constitutionally protected fund that the monies can only be used for road infrastructure. As for the bike and other recreational trails, that money comes from different federal sources as well as through the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF), which is funded through gambling revenues and is specifically used to fund infrastructure-related projects. None of the fuel tax money goes into the Rebuild Iowa Fund. The fuel tax money does not go into the General Fund, but instead goes to the Primary Road Fund, Secondary Road Fund, Farm-to-Market Road Fund and the Street Construction fund, all funds dedicated to different levels of government to go toward road/bridge infrastructure.
Pressure Cooker…
The bill to increase the fuel tax continues to work its way through the process while the pressure continues to build. The question that only time will answer is will the bill pass before the lid gets blown off. This week has been the most stressful and hardest of my thirteen years up here. While there is other action going on, the bill to raise the fuel tax is taking up most of the time and energy in the State Capitol. There have been people pushing me to vote yes to raise the fuel tax for the last several years. Just this session several people have been to the capitol and different forums to encourage me to vote yes. I have been a no vote all along. No matter how hard I was pushed I held my position. Different people have taken polls and the results have been all over the board. Some showed strong support others showed strong opposition. There have been people showing up at the forums for the last several years on both sides of this issue. While my stance was steadfast and I explained why I was a no vote, people seemed to respect my position even if they did not agree with it. It does not appear all people respect my position any longer, but I have been consistent, open and honest through the entire process. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case with all people. Thursday HF 351 passed the Ways and Means Committee 13 voting aye and 12 voting nay. I was a nay vote. It will be one of the very few bills that will pass to the house floor in the Ways and Means Committee without my support. But this issue needs to be decided by the entire body of 150 Legislators, not a committee of 25.
Visitors at the Capitol…
While the week has been stressful, there have been some very positive times as well. I always enjoy visiting with people from back home while they are at the Capitol. This week it was especially helpful to see friendly faces that I could visit with on a very positive note. It is the people of Iowa, but mostly from my district that make this position so worthwhile. So I would like to end with a big thank you to all of you for caring enough about this state to help make it a better place for the next generation.
“I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” – George Washington
For more information on these and other bills: www.legis.iowa.gov
Until next time,
Tom Sands
Dorothy Luella Gerdner, 93, West Burlington, died Friday, February 20, 2015
Jean A. Heinzel, 83, Burlington, died Friday, February 20, 2015
Jeffery Allan Warth, 55, Burlington, died Saturday, February 21, 2015
Jane V. Snider, 93, Burlington died Sunday, February 22, 2015
Linda L. Barton Smith, 72, Burlington died Sunday, February 22, 2015
Floreine Cornelia Klenk, 98, New London, died Monday, February 23, 2015
Marge Marie Trumbo, 73, West Burlington, died Thursday, February 12, 2015
Lester A. Huntington, 85, Burlington died Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Bonnie Raid, 93, of Burlington, died Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Michael “Mike” C. Geren, 70, Ashland, NE, formerly Burlington, died Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Michael Craig Kennedy, 66, Yarmouth, died Friday, February 27, 2015
Notre Dame’s Kori Mesecher drives the lane against Holy Trinity in the Region-6 Semifinal Friday night at Father Minett Gymnasium in Burlington. Notre Dame defeated Holy Trinity, 100-50.
Notre Dame’s Riley Kilbride (left) fights for the ball with Holy Trinity’s Allison Sporkman (right) in the Region-6 Semifinal Friday night at Father Minett Gymnasium in Burlington. Notre Dame defeated Holy Trinity, 100-50.
Notre Dame’s Taylor Hickey (32) goes to the basket past Holy Trinity’s Brett Schneider (14) in the Region-6 Semifinal Friday night at Father Minett Gymnasium in Burlington. Notre Dame defeated Holy Trinity, 100-50.
Notre Dame’s Johanna Myers takes the ball to the basket against Holy Trinity in the Region-6 Semifinal Friday night at Father Minett Gymnasium in Burlington. Notre Dame defeated Holy Trinity, 100-50.
Notre Dame’s Alyssa Schwartz shoots a three against Holy Trinity in the Region-6 Semifinal Friday night at Father Minett Gymnasium in Burlington. Notre Dame defeated Holy Trinity, 100-50.
West Burlington Fans erupt after the Falcons defeated Notre Dame, 70-65, in the District-10 Semifinal at Father Minett Gymnasium in Burlington.
West Burlington’s Caleb Hoenig sinks a three against Notre Dame in the District-10 Semifinal at Father Minett Gymnasium in Burlington. West Burlington defeated Notre Dame, 70-65.
Notre Dame’s Jeff Giannettino guides the ball to the basket against West Burlington in the District-10 Semifinal at Father Minett Gymnasium in Burlington. West Burlington defeated Notre Dame, 70-65.
West Burlington’s Jarod Fogle (11) drives past Notre Dame’s Spencer Ferguson in the District-10 Semifinal at Father Minett Gymnasium in Burlington. West Burlington defeated Notre Dame, 70-65.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VBAEJlR4pk
Notre Dame’s Johanna Myers (right) is brought to tears after New London Teammates presented her with an autographed t-shirt supporting her father Jim Myers’ battle with cancer.
New London Teammates Victoria Noel (21) and Paetyn Prottsman (right) present Notre Dame’s Johanna Myers (left) with an autographed t-shirt supporting her father Jim Myers’ battle with cancer.
Nikes’ Courtney Coffin scores over 1000 career points
Notre Dame’s Gabrielle Koelker goes to the basket against New London in the Region-6 Quarterfinal Tuesday night in Burlington. Notre Dame defeated New London, 84-20.
Notre Dame’s Riley Kilbride goes to the basket against New London in the Region-6 Quarterfinal Tuesday night in Burlington. Notre Dame defeated New London, 84-20.
Notre Dame’s Courtney Coffin scores her 1001st career point with a 3-pointer from the top of the key against New London in the Region-6 Quarterfinal Tuesday night in Burlington. Notre Dame defeated New London, 84-20.
Notre Dame’s Taylor Hickey takes it to the basket against New London in the Region-6 Quarterfinal Tuesday night in Burlington. Notre Dame defeated New London, 84-20.