Government : Hello District 75 from the State Capitol!

The Iowa Legislature is currently working on budgets and getting close to the end of debating bills, and I think we will wrap up the 2021 session by the end of this month.

Last Wednesday, April 14th, the Iowa House passed what we considered a high priority when we started the session in January - the "Back the Blue" bill. This bill sent to the Iowa House from the Senate makes some very strong and important changes to stiffen penalties of crimes committed against our law enforcement officers (LEOs). While the U.S. Constitution mandates the protection of the people, some cities controlled by radical leftist democrats are actually defunding police departments and violent crimes are now soaring in these cities.

Some of the highlights of this bill are:

A. Increase protections and support for our LEOs

B. Criminalize shining laser lights into LEO's eyes

C. Ensuring LEOs can't be prevented from carrying their firearm while on duty.

D. Provide additional peer support, make changes to disability benefits, and require reasonable medical care and services for LEOs.

E. Give LEOs qualified immunity from frivolous lawsuits as long as the LEOs are operation within the law.

F. Increase penalties for violent rioting, blocking roadways, destroying public property, and harassing people in a public setting.

The Appropriations Committee in the House passed its budget last week which allocates almost $78 million to promote Iowa's economic development. Some of what it proposes is about $3 million for the Child Care Challenge Fund to create new facilities, $500,000 for nonprofessional sporting events such as youth sports, Special Olympics, and high school athletics. There is also $1.8 million in new dollars for the Job Training Program and $700,000 new dollars for the Skilled Worker and Job Creation Fund for the STEM Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers Program.

The Iowa House also passed House File 857, the Butchery Innovation and Revitalization Fund & Program. This bill creates a $750,000 grant program for eligible businesses for projects that expand or refurbish or establish a new state or federally inspected small scale meat processing business. This will hopefully promote the creation of meat locker businesses that the pandemic exposed a shortage of these.

This last Friday, Senator Dawn Driscoll and I toured the Frontier CO-OP in Norway. Frontier (www.frontiercoop.com) is a manufacturer and distributer of spices & seasonings, supplements & nutritional foods, cooking & baking ingredients, personal care products and more! It is a fabulous place known for its products and as a place to work. They are constantly expanding their facilities to meet an ever-increasing demand, including during the pandemic. They are almost always hiring, so if you're looking for a good job with very good benefits and a fantastic daycare onsite, please contact them! They have locations in Norway, Belle Plaine, Urbana, and North Liberty.

Please be safe and healthy out there!