(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has sent Governor Kim Reynolds the state government reorganization plan her staff and a consulting firm developed over the past year. It reduces the number of state agencies from 37 to 16. It also shifts some government functions, like fire investigations and services for students with disabilities, to different areas of state government.

“We’ve been working on this bill, we’ve been discussing this bill since the start of session,” Representative Jane Bloomingdale, a Republican from Northwood, said. “This is a simple bill — ha ha, 1600 pages — but this is a bill that is necessary. It’s time.

“We are going to streamline state government, we’re going to save taxpayer dollars, we’re going to reate efficiencies and, with all of that, we are going to better serve all of Iowans.”

The Iowa House. (RI photo)

Fifty-eight House Republicans backed the bill. All Democrats and five Republicans voted against it. Democrats say efficiency in state government is important, but the bill was rushed through the process and no changes were made to improve it. Representative Amy Nielsen, a Democrat from North Liberty, said the bill lets the governor fire administrators “on a whim” and gets rid of salary limits, so the governor can decide the pay for top state agency officials.

“I don’t think that consolidating power into the governor’s office makes state government more efficient and it certainly won’t save taxpayers any money,” Nielsen said. “…We are one part of a three branch governement and it’s really disappointing to see the capitulation of all of our power to the governor’s office.”

House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights said the bill “diminishes the legislature’s role” in determining how state government is run. “We will have a Democratic governor sooner than some folks in this room think,” Konfrst said. “…There are some things in here that I think if a Democrat was in charge, some folks in this room wouldn’t like a Democratic governor to have power over.”

Democrats raised concerns about having the leader of the agency that serves blind Iowans be appointed by the governor rather than selected by an independent board of blind Iowans. Representative Bloomingdale announced at the end of debate that Governor Reynolds is promising to keep the current Iowa Department for the Blind director in that role.

“This governor’s not going to hire cronies…She’s going to hire the best people she can find and when we have a Democratic governor, they’re going to do the same thing,” Bloomingdale said. “They’re going to hire the very best people they can find and if they don’t do the job, they lose the job.”

The bill eliminates about 200 full-time positions in state government that aren’t currently filled. Reynolds, in a statement released after this afternoon’s vote, called the bill “transformational” in dealing with a “bloated bureaucracy”

(Radio Iowa) – The U.S. Surface Transportation Board today (Wednesday)  approved the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads — a move that eventually will triple train traffic through parts of eastern and southern Iowa.

Board chair Martin Oberman talked about the decision in an online news conference. “One of the underlying factors that we found in this merger is that putting these two small railroads together, will actually provide a stronger competitive landscape in the rail industry visa vie these much larger railroads,” he says.

Oberman says there has been much discussion about the consolidation of the industry — but the board found this to be a unique circumstance.  “One of the key aspects of this merger, which is different from all past mergers that I’m aware of, is that it is end to end. The the roots of CP and KCS do not overlap, they do not serve the same origins and destinations. So there will be no loss of a parallel competitive route by putting these two railroads together,” Oberman says.

Martin Oberman. (photo from STB video)

He says there are many gateways in the rail system that overlap and give shippers an option and this agreement will protect that. “This decision imposes a requirement that all of those gateways remain open on the same open terms that exists today without the merger,” Oberman says. “And we imposed a very stringent supervision of that requirements so that it is complied with.”

Oberman says the benefits to the economy from the merger will be substantial. “Single line service between Canada through the United States and Mexico will enhance trade enhanced productivity, enhance shipper opportunities to expand their own businesses. That was one of the key factors that led us to find that this merger is in the public interest,” he says. Oberman also says safety was a factor as he says despite recent events — rail transportation has far fewer accident issues when shipping dangerous materials than shipping on the highway system.

There were hearings in Iowa on the merger and that included people opposed to the increased traffic, noise and plans to shut off some rail crossings. Several cities agreed to settlements with Canadian Pacific to finance improvements around the tracks. Davenport approved a ten million dollar settlement, while Muscatine and Bettendorf each approved three million dollar settlements with the Canadian Pacific.

(Radio Iowa) – A Senate committee has approved a bill that would gradually eliminate the state income tax — if state tax revenues continue to grow. Senator Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs, is chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. “It is a continuation of modernization and competitiveness of our tax code here in Iowa,” Dawson said, “…not only for families to come here, to stay here but as well as for businesses to recognize that Iowa has a very competitive and compelling footprint here to locate.”

Governor Reynolds signed a bill into law last year that will gradually reduce the state income tax to 3.99%. This new bill would cut the rate to 2.5% by 2028 and it would reduce Iowa’s corporate income tax from 5.5% to 4.9%. “We can’t rest on our laurels and think what we accomplished is all we can do,” Dawson said.

The five Democrats on the committee voted against the move. Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames said getting rid of the state income tax will lead to cuts in state services. “The state income tax is half the state revenue,” Quirmbach said. “So how are we going to pay our bills?”

According to Quirmbach, 56% of the state budget is spent on education and getting rid of half of state tax revenue would mean the state universities would dramatically raise tuition and class sizes would double in K-12 schools.

“I understand the short term benefit, pelvically, from saying: ‘Oh, whoopie, we’re going to cut taxes,’” Quirmbach said. “I don’t like paying taxes any more than anybody else, but I know that my constituents value education. They want their K-12 schools to be first in the nation again, which they aren’t right now.”

Dawson said cuts won’t be necessary if the state budget and tax cuts are “managed appropriately.” He said under the bill, state income taxes are only reduced if there’s money in the Taxpayer Relief Fund. State tax revenue that’s above expectations or left unspent at the end of a budgeting year is deposited in that fund.

Republican lawmakers are also developing a plan to reduce property taxes. Governor Reynolds has said she’s left drafting of property tax cuts up to GOP lawmakers because her priority this year was state-funded education savings accounts for private school expenses — something she’s already approved.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Glenwood man, 33-year-old Joseph Steven Tyler Harris, was arrested this (Wednesday) morning, on a warrant for Enticing a Minor Under the age of 16  for Sexual Purpose, and Lascivious Conduct with a Minor.

He was being held in the Mills County Jail, without bond.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs are asking for your help in locating a missing Nebraska man. Authorities say on March 4th, they took a report about a missing adult that was last seen in Council Bluffs. It was reported that 56-year-old Patrick Weber, from Kearney, NE had traveled to Council Bluffs on Feb. 27^th. He had checked into a hotel near Interstate 80 and the South Expressway. After Weber failed to return to Kearney, to attend work, family members came to the Council Bluffs Police Department to file a report, as they had not been able to make contact with him.

Weber’s vehicle, a blue 1996 Buick LeSabre with NE Plate 9E7999, was last seen, parked and unoccupied, on March 6^th in the 8200 Block of South 48^th Street in Bellevue NE. The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking that if you have any knowledge of the possible whereabouts of Weber, or his vehicle, to please contact us at 712-328-4728.

Patrick Weber

Photos of Weber and his vehicle are included below.

(Radio Iowa)- It was an unusual feat — nineteen puns and corny references during three minutes of debate in the Iowa House. Representative Austin Harris of Moulton kicked it off on a bill dealing with the licensing of podiatrists. “To ensure podiatrists start off on the right foot, this bill would allow for podiatry students to apply for a license after two of their three years of residency,” Harris said. “This would put podiatry on the same standing as other medical doctors.” Representative Austin Baeth, a doctor from Des Moines, rattled off a dozen more puns. “This bill will ‘heel’ our lack of podiatric access in this state,” Baeth said. “In time of ‘calloused’ hyperpartisanship, just a real a good ‘midfit’ of the road legislation and I urge your ‘arch’ support,” Baeth said, as other members in the House laughed.

Speaker Pat Grassley jokingly intervened. “If they keep behaving like that, I believe Representative Windschitl is going to have a place for his foot moving forward,” Grassley said, prompting more laughter. Undeterred, Harris continued. “Thank you to my colleagues for not ‘de-feeting’ my amendment,” Harris said, to more laughter and some groans. “This is a terrific bill that gives podiatrists a foot in the door to starting their careers…I encourage my colleagues to follow in my foot steps in supporting House File 635.”

The bill passed the House unanimously.

(Clive, Iowa) – March Madness tips off this week with college basketball teams battling for the No. 1 spot in the nation. But you don’t have to live and breathe hoops to cheer on restaurants vying for Iowa’s best pulled pork sandwich. Every March, the Iowa Pork Producers Association searches for Iowa’s best pulled pork sandwich. Nominations were accepted from March through the 10th. Voting is now open until 10-a.m. March 17th, for the “Elite 8,” from the “Sweet 16” nominations. A vote for the “Final 4” will be held from 5-p.m. March 17th until 10-a.m. March 22nd. The event wraps up with the “Final 2, and a vote for the Champion on March 31st.

The winning restaurant receives $250, a plaque, and the honor of being this year’s Pulled Pork Madness CHAMPION!!!  Past winners cannot be nominated. Pulled pork must be from a restaurant that is typically open year-round with regular hours. Food trucks, concession stands, seasonal establishments, and catering businesses are not eligible. No email or social media nominations will be counted.

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is calling for every Iowa high school to conduct a voter registration drive on Wednesday, March 22.

Iowa law allows 17-year-olds to register to vote and there are currently more than 3,400 already registered. They can also participate in primary elections as long as they turn 18 prior to or on the day of the general election. Iowa law requires high schools to conduct two voter registration drives every school year.

“Voting is both a fundamental right and an important way for individuals to engage in their communities,” said Iowa Department of Education Director Ann Lebo. “When young people are registered, they are more likely to turn out to vote. Participating in high school voter registration day is a great opportunity to promote civic engagement and motivate young people to take part in shaping the world that we live in.”

To check your voter registration status, register to vote or update your information, visit VoterReady.Iowa.gov.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Tuesday afternoon, arrested a woman on Forgery and Theft charges. 36-year-old Alana Marie Johnson, of Red Oak, was arrested on four Felony counts of Forgery (Class-D Felony), and an Aggravated Misdemeanor charge of Theft in the 3^rd Degree. Johnson was being held on a $5,000 cash bond.