deerhunter93
Well-Known Member
I pulled this from ISC's Facebook page. I'm not sure what I'm missing here as to why Meggers and Hora killed it. My assumption is the great Farm Bureau but I don't have anything to support that.
Alert: HF2167 – An Act Providing Buffer Strip Program and Funding
As you are all likely aware, House Representatives Jason Gearhart and Travis Sitzmann, brought us House File 2167, that would have built upon our current pilot program for buffer strip use in Iowa. This comes as attempt to help farmers and landowners avoid the costs associated with protecting our waterways, cleaning up our fisheries, and reducing the cost of cleaning our drinking water from surface-level runoff and bank erosion. A current pilot program provides $3M for very specific locations, and it's running as a test. HF2167 would have built on that with an additional $5M to be used along waterways spread throughout the rest of the state. Read HF 2167 here: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91...
What you may not know is what happened yesterday. In a subcommittee meeting at the Capitol, public opinion was heard on this bill. 37 lobbyists representing 17 different organizations registered in support of this file, and 0 registered in opposition. These supporting groups included the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Nature Conservancy, Central Iowa Water Works, Des Moines Water Works, Iowa Farmers Union, and of course, the Iowa Sportsman’s Club among others.
During the meeting we heard verbal support from the Water Conservation Groups and Water Works, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, County Conservation Boards, Iowa Sportsman’s Club, and the Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy also provided polling that had confirmed 87% of Iowans support voluntary buffer strip practices. Farm Bureau attended, and stood quietly on the side.
When all of that support had been presented, there wasn’t a single voice in the room providing opposition. From there, House Representative Joshua Meggers quickly stated that the pilot program is doing enough and that he didn’t see any reason to move forward. Representative Heather Hora seconded his call for adjournment, and they promptly killed HF2167 and left the room.
In our opinion, this decision was made before the subcommittee meeting was held for open comment. This is why Iowans get frustrated with politics. These are the only open forums to have our voice heard. The testing has been done to prove that buffer strips work to clean up our state’s waterways/fisheries. The bill to help landowners implement these practices was created, and overwhelming support showed up for it.
If you’re confused on why this bill wasn’t at least passed through subcommittee for further conversation, as is routinely done, we suggest emailing Representatives Meggers and Hora yourselves, at the email addresses below:
[email protected]
[email protected]
You can also email Reps. Gearhart and Sitzmann to thank them for introducing this important legislation.
[email protected]
[email protected]
Alert: HF2167 – An Act Providing Buffer Strip Program and Funding
As you are all likely aware, House Representatives Jason Gearhart and Travis Sitzmann, brought us House File 2167, that would have built upon our current pilot program for buffer strip use in Iowa. This comes as attempt to help farmers and landowners avoid the costs associated with protecting our waterways, cleaning up our fisheries, and reducing the cost of cleaning our drinking water from surface-level runoff and bank erosion. A current pilot program provides $3M for very specific locations, and it's running as a test. HF2167 would have built on that with an additional $5M to be used along waterways spread throughout the rest of the state. Read HF 2167 here: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91...
What you may not know is what happened yesterday. In a subcommittee meeting at the Capitol, public opinion was heard on this bill. 37 lobbyists representing 17 different organizations registered in support of this file, and 0 registered in opposition. These supporting groups included the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Nature Conservancy, Central Iowa Water Works, Des Moines Water Works, Iowa Farmers Union, and of course, the Iowa Sportsman’s Club among others.
During the meeting we heard verbal support from the Water Conservation Groups and Water Works, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, County Conservation Boards, Iowa Sportsman’s Club, and the Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy also provided polling that had confirmed 87% of Iowans support voluntary buffer strip practices. Farm Bureau attended, and stood quietly on the side.
When all of that support had been presented, there wasn’t a single voice in the room providing opposition. From there, House Representative Joshua Meggers quickly stated that the pilot program is doing enough and that he didn’t see any reason to move forward. Representative Heather Hora seconded his call for adjournment, and they promptly killed HF2167 and left the room.
In our opinion, this decision was made before the subcommittee meeting was held for open comment. This is why Iowans get frustrated with politics. These are the only open forums to have our voice heard. The testing has been done to prove that buffer strips work to clean up our state’s waterways/fisheries. The bill to help landowners implement these practices was created, and overwhelming support showed up for it.
If you’re confused on why this bill wasn’t at least passed through subcommittee for further conversation, as is routinely done, we suggest emailing Representatives Meggers and Hora yourselves, at the email addresses below:
[email protected]
[email protected]
You can also email Reps. Gearhart and Sitzmann to thank them for introducing this important legislation.
[email protected]
[email protected]