We have now finished the fifth week of the legislative session. That means we are fast approaching the first deadline (funnel date) that cuts off all policy legislation that has not been passed out of committee in the House or Senate. After next week, we will focus on perfecting the legislation that has passed out of committee.
This week we worked on two items that would help moms for the first year after birth. The first would extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months. This would be available to women with a household income of $53,000 or less. Currently the threshold for eligibility is $93,000. By lowering the eligibility threshold we will be able to support a family until the child reaches his first birthday, giving more support where it is needed the most.
The second program to help support an Iowa mom is SSB 3114 which would update the More Options for Maternal Support (MOMS) program we passed last year. This program helps support women throughout and after their pregnancy. The updates will make it easier for providers to support more moms regardless of whether the pregnancy was planned or not.
Protecting Iowa’s farmland was another issue this week. SF 2204 protects Iowa farmland from being purchased by foreign entities like communist China. While Iowa has long had one of the countries toughest laws regarding foreign ownership of land, this bill will update and strengthen those laws. The bill increases reporting requirements for foreign corporations owning more than 250 acres of land and if they fail to register in a timely manner they would be subject to a penalty of up to 25% of the assessed value of the land.
The purpose of government is to promote good and punish evil. A big part of that is protecting the God-given rights of its citizens. SF 2097 and 2099 would help protect one of those rights, landowners’ property rights. SF 2097 by Senator Salmon deals specifically with carbon pipelines, and SF 2099, which I wrote, deals with many kinds of projects that might require eminent domain. Both of these bills require a 90% threshold of voluntary participation before eminent domain can be invoked. Our constitutions, both federal and state, require a public or benefit use before eminent domain can be used. If there is not a public benefit, then there is no eminent domain. I was disappointed when I was informed that neither bill will be allowed to advance this year.
This week I was on a subcommittee to consider eliminating County Compensation Boards. I called many county supervisors to get input and had many very receptive to the idea, but others were angry that the state is messing with local government. In reality, we only brought this issue up because there were requests from local governments to do so. Sometimes I feel like a parent trying to keep quarreling kids in line. When action is taken to settle the quarrel, both sides turn on the parent to keep them out of the fight.
Next weekend will be County Conventions across the state, so I have no forums planned. On Feb. 24, I will again be in Webster City at Iowa Central in the Chelesvig Center. Start time is 11:00 AM. Last month we had a great turnout and discussion at this event.
