STATE ISSUES FROM SANDS

House District 87

Serving Louisa, Muscatine and Des Moines Counties

 HOME ADDRESS                                                                    CAPITOL CONTACT

   134 Orchard Lane, Columbus Junction, IA 52738                                                                          Statehouse:  (515) 242-6437

  Hm: (319) 728-8716 Cell: (319) 750-1423                                                                                     E-mail: Tom.Sands@legis.state.ia.us

   Hm email: trsands@louisacomm.net                                                                                              Web: www.SandsForStateHouse.com

 

News from the Hill…

 

Commerce…

Since taking office last year, Governor Chet Culver has called on the Legislature and Iowans to take the necessary steps to make Iowa the alternative energy capital of America.  Now an opportunity arises for Iowa to take a major step toward meeting that goal. 

 

On November 22, Vestas Wind Systems announced that they would be building a research and development center in the United States to further the company’s work in wind energy.  The Danish company is the world’s largest manufacturer of wind turbines, having a 28 percent market share of the worldwide turbine business.

 

The Vestas research center would be operational by 2009.  When completed in 2010, the center would employ up to 80 people.  Vestas officials expressed their desire to place the facility close to a major research university.  But they have not decided where the facility will be located.  And thus, the competition to land this project is off and running.

 

What are the governor and state government leaders doing?  At this point, there has been no indication that Governor Culver or any part of state government has taken any steps to bring the Vestas Center to Iowa.  One natural source of incentives would be the Power Fund.  Will they step up to the plate and use the Fund as intended, or is their talk just empty rhetoric?

 

 

Veterans Issues…

Thursday morning the Iowa House unanimously passed House File 2065, a bill which protects the jobs of reservists and National Guard members who are called to service.  The approved legislation ensures that when a military member has completed their service, they are able to return to their job.   

 

While most businesses have been very supportive and understanding of Iowa service men and women, however there have been a few reported incidents.  This bill tightens the current law to ensure that our military members are fully protected.

 

 

 

 

Air & Water Quality…

This week in the Environmental Committee we had a presentation from three members of the Environmental Protection Commission.  They gave their annual Report and recommendations to the committee.  There is a very distinct difference, between the democrats and the republicans in the ideas of how to best protect our environment.

 

 

Transparency in Government Budgeting…

 

I am sponsoring different bills this year to increase the transparency in Government.  Too many times I have seen and heard elected officials say one thing and do another.  I must admit this is a pet peeve of mine.  It is not uncommon or wrong to disagree, but you should at least tell the truth.  One of the bills that I have submitted is to have the state budget available on the web.  This makes the budget much more accessible for those who have access to the internet.  All elected officials, at all levels of government, need to be held accountable for the money we/they spend.

 

I have submitted a House Concurrent Resolution that provides more openness in state government.  If an individual or individual entity wishes to receive state funding, it should have to provide justification for the need for such funding.  This bill would help to limit or even eliminate earmarks.  This way, all legislators would know what they were voting for and the public would know why the funding was included in a bill.  The legislators and the public both deserve and need to know.

 

 

Until next time,

 

Tom Sands

 

 

Committee Assignments

Environmental Protection                                                                   Ways and Means

Commerce                                                                                             -Ranking Member

Public Safety