By Mari Radtke
District 3 State Representative Dennis Bush, who provides representation for Cherokee and O’Brien Counties and parts of Sioux and Plymouth counties, gave a legislative update to more than 20 people Saturday February 19 at the Sutherland Library. Bush updated the crowd about proposed bills that made it successfully out of the House “funnel” for floor debate with the senate and the governor’s office for before reaching final approval. He also spoke about the income tax rate bill that advanced for debate.
He did advise the crowd that the governor’s education bill did propose a 3 percent increase to education. That was done through more than one bill to get the full 3% increase.
Most of the crowd in attendance Saturday was there to share with Mr. Bush growing concerns about the activity of Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) in O’Brien County. Bush, House vice chair of the appropriations subcommittee for Agriculture and Natural Resources spent more than an hour hearing the concerns of local agriculture producers. Attendees ranged from retired to under 30. Much of the concern centered on both the ability of IDNR to pay an excessive price for land as well as the purchase mechanisms IDNR is using to acquire land, including from not for profit organizations who may have received grant funds for the purchases in years prior. Other practices of IDNR were discussed including rent/lease practices they employ.
Bush expressed sincere surprise at the practices of IDNR in O’Brien County. Future meetings on the matter may be scheduled in an effort to find ways to enforce more reasonable practices between the state and the producers.