It does not appear the Iowa legislature has any interest in putting a stop to the abusive use of eminent domain when it comes to the CO2 pipeline projects planned for Iowa. When Republicans on the Iowa Senate Commerce Committee killed proposed legislation, it signaled the legislature lacks the political will and courage to stop a project that lacks any significant public support.
At least that is the sense I get from my research and conversations. At the subcommittee meeting on the bill, the only people who supported the pipeline projects are the people being paid to support the pipeline projects.
Yet Iowan after Iowan spoke out against it. Iowans who are Democrats and Republicans. Iowans who have put generations of blood, sweat and tears into their land — only to now have no say in the use of that land.
It is the worst of the worst of politics. Big GOP donor owns a company. Former GOP Governor Terry Branstad is hired by company as a senior policy advisor. Former chief of staff to Gov. Kim Reynolds is hired by company as vice president of government and public affairs.
Company’s project receives little, if any, resistance from the Republican-led legislature.
For a political party whose chief criticism is saddling up to corporate interests over “the little guy,” this is the opportunity to show it is just criticism and not reality.
But after legislative inaction, it seems perception is reality.
We will be highlighting stories from Iowans who object to this project in the coming weeks. It is important legislators know the abuse of private property rights they are allowing to take place.
