The following is a legislative update released Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, from Democratic Rep. Sharon Steckman, representing the middle-third of Cerro Gordo county in the Iowa Legislature:
The second session of the 88th Assembly convened on Monday, the 13th. Thank you again, Mason City, for giving me the opportunity to represent you here at the Statehouse over the next 100 days or so.
We have heard the Governor and the Chief Justice speak. Today, we will hear a message from Major General of the Iowa National Guard. We have also heard from the newly elected Speaker Pat Grassley and Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, along with Minority Leader Todd Pritchard. Committees are organizing, caucuses are meeting and proposed bills will soon be flowing.
I have proposed a few bills already: the bills would (1) tax e-cigarettes in same manner as other tobacco products; (2) provide a process by which voters could approve a proposition that township trustees provide emergency services to specified areas; (3) establish a moratorium relating to the construction/expansion of confinement feeding operation structures; (4) require grass buffer strips alongside waterways. These bills are making their way through the writing process and I am asking for additional sponsors. Once that happens, they will be assigned to a committee and, hopefully, work their way through the process.
As always, I look forward to hearing your ideas on these and other bills and issues that interest you.
A few of my colleagues and I attended the last Presidential Debate (before the Iowa Caucuses on February 3rd) that was held at Drake University on Tuesday night. We were excited to be there and to enjoy the experience of being part of the audience for the CNN broadcast.
Sharon has not accomplished anything since being elected and nothing is going to change. She is just lip service
Throw your hat into the ring, old man. You seem to have all the answers.
I usually disagree with her on most things, but this time I support her. She is trying to do something that needs to be done. Good LUCK. Especially with the pig farms. We are destroying out water and ground for corporate profits selling pork to China.
moratorium – is irrelevant at this point the ground water/water tables, soil and air are ruined forever, never to be restored – Iowa is a pig pen