Legislative forum discusses government structure changes, other issues
By Nathan Countryman
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The proposed government consolidation, eminent domain and the discussion in book bans at the statehouse were among the topics discussed during the Linn County League of Women Voters legislative forum Saturday, Feb. 18.
Attending the forum were state Senators Molly Donahue (District 90), Todd Taylor (District 40), Charlie McClintock (District 42) and Representatives Art Staed (District 80), Eric Tjerde (District 90), Jeff Cooling (District 77), Elizabeth Wilson (District 73) and Tracy Ehlert (District 79).
McClintock said that there are hundreds of bills flowing through committees and subcommittees at the moment.
“It’s hard to keep eyes on all of those bills,” McClintock said. “Were all doing our best to keep up with bills, but it may take some research on our end to learn about where they are at in the process.”
Several noted this year is one of the busiest sessions they’ve seen, with some years having seen 38 bills passed the entire session. This year, there have been 21 bills already discussed and brought out of committee before funnel week even occurs.
Department of Education director Ann Lebo’s resignation and who would appoint her replacement was what started the state government reorganization bill discussion. Most feel that will be a governor appointment, but were unsure.
McClintock said the 1,700-page reorganization bill is one that has him concerned currently, especially with all the amendments that will move forward with such a comprehensive bill.
“It’s taking us a lot of time to work through and find information for constituent’s questions,” McClintock said.
Others noted the bill will most likely take a lot of time the rest of session to move forward.
All of the legislators in attendance were opposed to the proposed changes to child labor laws currently in committee discussion. McClintock said he is very concerned about minors being able to serve alcohol, pointing to his law enforcement experience. Wilson noted that the changes to allow students to be able to travel to grandparents’ residences was passed to make legislation allowing further travel on graduated licenses to give teenagers more opportunities to get someplace safe when traveling from school and jobs.
“Our committee determined these are more issues with graduated drivers’ licenses that should be addressed there as opposed to ad hoc,” Wilson said.
Taylor said the sweeping changes go against common sense, and that many businesses across the country already have been cited for breaking child labor laws. The proposed bill would remove protections students currently have from some of the most dangerous professions in the state.
On eminent domain, the consensus of the legislators was in opposition to the practice if it was not for the common good, and many feel the pipelines are not highlighting that common good for the state. McClintock said that many of the projects for carbon capture have been finding easements with private landowners, but he doesn’t like the idea of moving to eminent domain if there aren’t enough landowners in favor. Tjerde said private property owners should be able to decide what to do with their property, and eminent domain usage routinely goes against property rights.
Staed noted the health concerns for carbon sequestration pipes are a huge concern as well, especially when paths take them so close to schools and communities.
On the book ban discussion, Wilson sat on the committee where discussion started. That discussion only allowed one side to present their cases for 10 minutes each uninterrupted, and legislators only having five minutes of conversations after.
Wilson said school districts have ways to address challenges to books, and that this would step on local control if it were to move forward.
That was an issue for Donahue as well, the infringing on the rights of other parents when students could opt out of using or borrowing particular books when there is a way for students opposed to have an opt-out clause already. Most don’t know if the bill will move outside of committee, and opposition to the bill is forming.
Ehlert noted there are already procedures with local control for districts and this would be an overreach.
Discussion was held on the potential budget issues that cities and counties will have to address in budgets due to the bill to correct an oversight failing this past week.
“It was the governor’s error that they knew about in November 2022, but didn’t bring forward to cities and county until January,” Donahue said. “They had months to give cities and counties a warning, and they didn’t. There was talk this last week to backfill this that was rejected and puts this back on city and counties to address with their budget processes, which are already underway.”
The next legislative forum is Saturday, March 18 at Kirkwood Linn Regional Center in Hiawatha from 10-11:45 a.m.
Legislative forum discusses government structure changes, other issues
February 23, 2023
About the Contributor
Nathan Countryman, Editor
Nathan Countryman is the Editor of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.