Legislators tackle citizens' questions

(Sentinel photo by Amy Erickson) Sen. Randy Feenstra, left, and Rep. Chuck Soderberg met with local residents to answer questions and address concerns Saturday at the Le Mars Public Library. [Click to enlarge]

From cuts in the judiciary budget to can redemption, Rep. Chuck Soderberg and Sen. Randy Feenstra answered citizens' questions at a public forum Saturday.

Of the about 10 citizens gathered, one woman, who said she worked in the Plymouth County Clerk of Courts office, wanted to know why other departments weren't facing the same cuts.

The clerk of courts office is now going to be closed Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. and employees are required to take two days a month off without pay.

"We've been hit really hard and we've heard that we are possibly going to get hit harder," the woman said. "We have the department of corrections, the department of public safety. We've got the human services. They're not taking anything. We are taking the brunt of everything."

Soderberg said he was also concerned by the cuts and that the matter is being discussed and the cuts reassessed.

"I would agree with you. I think the judiciary budget has been cut too deep," Soderberg said. "We're going to ask state employees to take cuts."

Another subject tackled by the legislators were questions from Patrick Schmitz, executive director of Plains Area Mental Health.

Schmitz was concerned about a bill that would shift control for mental health care for residents from counties to regional control.

"I think we have to stay with local control," Feenstra said. "Locally they can do better to help those who cannot help themselves."

He said that was going to be a big topic this week with those on both sides of the issue looking at it "a little deeper."

Soderberg added that they are trying to bring the IowaCare Program, which is based in Iowa City, regionally to better serve people in western Iowa.

Another topic addressed was the question as to whether a bottle bill that will take money out of the distributors pockets to help redemption centers survive.

"Distributors continue to get unclaimed deposits," said Cheryl Juhl, owner of the can farm. "We've been working on the same penny for 29 years."

Although that specific bill isn't on the table, Soderberg said there is a bill that could let redemption centers set guidelines that people would have to meet to get their full 5 cent deposit back.

"It would allow redemption centers to keep 1 penny if the cans or bottles do not come in the right cleanliness and everything," Soderberg said. "It's the only bill that I'm aware of that has a chance of getting through. Maybe we can amend it."

Other topics the legislators briefly touched on included that no bills are on the table concerning the state no smoking act, that rural legislators currently have a bigger voice over urban legislators although that is changing, and that although unemployment may reach 5 percent in Iowa there is money set aside for unemployment benefits.

Soderberg and Feenstra began Saturday's discussion by explaining current legislation focusing on bills they see as problematic for Iowa residents.

Soderberg said the biggest legislation moving forward through the House was the prevailing wage bill, which deals with contractors following set criteria for bids on public works projects; the right to work bill, which is about workers' choice to belong to a union and the worker's compensation bills, which includes the choice of doctor.

"I think the last thing we want to do is increase the burden on workers or the burden on businesses that are just trying to survive right now," Soderberg said. "These bills would not be, I don't think, in the best interest long term for Iowa."

Feenstra talked about the problem with a $174 million bonding bill that was passed by the appropriations committee.

The bill dedicates money to new projects like restoration at the state capital, updating and building new department of correction facilities and making improvements to the state fairgrounds, Feenstra said.

"We have less revenue coming in this year than last," Feenstra said. "At these budget times we should wait on these things."