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Once again we read about the misappropriated money. Our taxes also pay for the state auditor’s salary. It’s past time for asking for a state audit. It’s $5 million. Maybe more or less. That’s chicken feed. Wherever it went it could have been put to so much better use. Everything seems to be put off, except for King’s Pointe. An audit would clear the air of the smell something’s not right. What’s to hide?
Annabelle Chindlund | Storm Lake
As the state representatives of our districts, we are extraordinarily concerned about the revised schedule for the consideration of the Summit carbon dioxide pipeline. It is vital that Iowans have the chance to express their opinions and that safety risks are fully understood before the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) begins hearings on the pipeline.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) hearings about carbon dioxide pipelines have continued to escalate the fears over the safety of this project. The process of the Summit pipeline needs to be halted until PHMSA finalizes its new rules and we can ensure the safety of all Iowans.
Over 1,000 parcels of land are not yet signed over and 78% of Iowans oppose eminent domain usage for this project. Yet, the fast-tracking schedule leaves no time for public comments. This is far from a simple case and preventing a full process is unacceptable. In this case, fast tracking bulldozes the rights of thousands of impacted stakeholders to have their voices heard.
Our job as legislators is to represent our communities. Our communities have made it expressly clear to us that they have significant and persistent concerns about this project. The 2023 legislative session proved the concerns Iowans have over the pipeline are genuine and widespread. A bipartisan majority of the Iowa House of Representatives made their concerns clear this legislative session. Fast-tracking the process without public comment goes against the wishes of Iowans and their elected leaders.
By following a robust process with public comment, the thousands of Iowans that will be impacted will have a chance to make their voices heard, all stakeholders will have a chance to present information, and the safety of Iowans can be guaranteed.
We urge you to do the right thing and ensure that the process measures up to the standards that a significant project like this requires.
State Represenatives: Sean Bagniewski, Elinor Levin, Mary Madison, Art Staed, Sharon Steckman, Dave Jacoby, Austin Baeth, Sami Scheetz, Bob Kressig, Sue Cahill, Elizabeth Wilson and Tracy Ehlert
I’m confused. Mr. Trump and his Republican acolytes keep telling everyone that the reason he is being indicted is because Biden and the Biden justice department are trying to interfere in the 2024 election and that it is all a political witch hunt.
It is true that the special counsel, Jack Smith, brought charges against Trump, but he had to prove to grand juries, made up of ordinary citizens chosen at random, that the charges were true. All of the grand juries convened so far in the Trump cases, grand juries in multiple states, have voted to indict Mr. Trump.
I’m not really sure exactly how Joe Biden or his justice department was able to corrupt all of these randomly chosen citizens and convince them to join in their “witch hunt.”
Could it be that the evidence against Mr. Trump is so overwhelming that the ordinary citizens on the grand juries just did their duty and voted to indict Mr. Trump?
Nah. I’m sure that’s not the right explanation. Somehow Biden controlled all of these citizens and, using his magical powers, forced them to indict Trump.
Pretty neat trick for a decrepit old man to pull off.
Barbara Paulding | Russell
This afternoon, Aug. 15, 2023, I called each senator’s Des Moines office to ask two simple questions: Did either of them read the Jack Smith indictment against the former President, or read any part of the Georgia indictment against the former President? Grassley’s office said he had not read the Jack Smith indictment against Trump, and would get back to me (more likely in a form letter, meaning the other question would more likely go unanswered). When I asked the young woman if she had read or plans to read either, she said she did not have to respond, which is fine.
When I called Senator Ernst’s office, the young man said that he did not know if the senator had read either, or if she plans too, that he would check and get back to me. When I asked him if he had read either, he said no, when I asked him if he was going to read either, he said no.
These are the people that claim they are working for the people of Iowa, and represent everyone, no matter what political philosophy one may have. It is quite evident that at this time they want to remain ignorant, which is a disservice to everyone in Iowa.
If senators from Iowa will not read these documents, what else are they not reading? What are they really doing in Washington?
P.S. I have read the majority of the Jack Smith document, and have a healthy start on the Georgia document. Quite interesting reading if I say so myself.
Thom Williams | Pleasant Hill
Letters to the Editor can be sent to times@stormlake.com or by mail to P.O. Box 487, Storm Lake, IA 50588. Letters must include the writer’s name, address and telephone number.
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