In late 2020 Bruce Rastetter’s CO2 Pipeline Boondoggle (Summit Carbon Solutions) began with negotiations with ethanol plant GM’s and board members. The backchannel message was that Summit would not seek eminent domain. Anyone who knows Iowa farmers knew then that 700 miles of pipe would not be bulldozed through some of the best farmland in the world without their property being condemned. It was clear, at least to we who abide by the Constitution, that Rastetter’s proposal was and is a private enterprise. August 8, 2022, Summit filed an application requesting eminent domain. Soon the cry went up, there shall be “No eminent domain for private gain!”
Today, at least four years and four months after Rastetter launched his Boondoggle, the Iowa legislature is embroiled in a renewed effort to protect the Constitutionally guaranteed property rights of its citizens. In 2023, legislation was passed by the House and killed in the Senate. Again in 2024, even better legislation was passed by the House and killed in the Senate. It grates on one’s nerves to repeatedly hear the excuse, “We don’t have the votes.” After 24 years in public office, I can tell you, “Yes, we do have the votes. I can tell you how many and who they are.” The House bill, HF 639, passed the House with 90% support of Representatives voting. If it comes to the floor of the Senate, HF 639 will pass with a veto proof majority, likely also with a 90% margin which will exactly reflect the will of the people.
The Iowa Utilities Commission’s three appointed members have all sworn this oath of office:“I, (name of officer), do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa, and that I will faithfully and impartially, to the best of my ability, discharge all the duties of the office of (name of office) in Iowa, as now or hereafter required by law.”
It is clear that the Code of Iowa, specifically Section 479.B, the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa have beenunanimously violated by the Utilities Commissioners. They are ironically chaired by, hand picked, Erik Helland, who is the current and active CEO of 49th Summit Solutions. All of them have violated their oath. They all need to be replaced.
But the cold hearted voices for Bruce Rastetter continue to block the House legislation as they did the previous two sessions. All the property rights bills filed by Senators were referred to the Commerce Committee, chaired by Mike Bousselot who, for the second year in a row, summarily and without remorse killed all but one, HF 639. Senator Bousselot needed a “vehicle” and decided to file a strike all amendment that would wipe out all of the House language and replace it with a version that would give Summit heretofore unrealized advantages. Once again, the deck was stacked against “We the People.”
One person, Commerce Committee Chairman, Mike Bousselot, killed every piece of property rights, CO2 pipeline legislation, filed by every House and Senate Member, save one. The only person in the Senate who had the power to stop him is the Majority Leader whose history favors Bousselot and Rastetter. The Majority Leader has the power to call up bills to the floor for debate and vote. It was clear the duo was determined to open more doors for Summit and close and lock the doors that protect our property rights from Bruce Rastetter. Knowing Rastetter as I do, it’s easy to convince me that he is calling the shots.
Any other year, in any other session, Senators would have capitulated to the Leadership duo. Not this time. There are a Dauntless Dozen stalwart Senators who stepped up to stand on principle. They are: Kevin Alons, Doug Campbell, Rocky DeWitt, Lynn Evans, Dennis Guth, Mark Lofgren, Mike Pike, Dave Rowley, Sandy Salmon, Dave Sires, Jeff Taylor, and CherieLynn Westrich. The twelve have taken a stand to vote against appropriations bills until the House pipeline legislation comes to the floor of the Senate.
The net result of this move is the General Assembly cannot adjourn until appropriations are passed. The Dauntless Dozen will hold their ground and Leadership will have to allow the vote. This will happen soon. It won’t matter whether Governor Reynolds signs or vetoes the legislation. Any veto would be overridden by the huge majority in both chambers. The Dauntless Dozen, sticking together, are facing retribution from Leadership. They risk losing committee assignments and seeing their bills blocked as lessons for them to fall in line, to stop thinking for themselves.
Whatever the anticipated consequences, we have at least twelve noble Senators who take their oaths seriously. They are models of character, commitment, resolve, and dedication. They stand as examples of leadership that will one day be taught in civics classrooms. Our young people will learn their names and take inspiration to live by the examples of the Dauntless Dozen.
Author: Steve King
Steve King founded King Construction 1975, elected Iowa Senate 1996 and the U.S. Congress 2002 to 20021, Chair of the Constitutional Committee, Chair of Free Soil Foundation 2022 to present. Steve King spent his career standing up for the rights of citizens. He is a founding member of the Free Soil Foundation and believes if we lose this fight against eminent domain and CO2 pipeline companies it will just be a matter of time for land grabs for any reason.
