State legislators engage with constituents at town hall

By Audrey Posten | Times-Register

District 64 State Rep. Jason Gearhart and District 32 State Senator Mike Klimesh engaged with roughly 150 constituents at a legislative town hall at Luana Savings Bank on March 8. Legislators fielded questions on topics ranging from cancer research and environmental protections to proposed book bannings and the rights of trans individuals.

Gearhart serves on the agriculture, natural resources and public safety committees and is vice chair of veterans affairs. Klimesh chairs the health and human services committee and serves as vice chair of local government and the administrative rules review committee, which meets year-round and oversees all administrative rules presented by different departments. He also has seats on ways and means, commerce and transportation and the senate rules committees.

Gearhart noted that “funnel week,” the time during which a bill dies or is advanced to a committee or subcommittee, had just wrapped up.

One topic Klimesh was eager to speak on was cancer research, an issue brought up by Monona resident and advocate Marti Post, whose son is a cancer survivor. 

“Cancer in Iowa is a really hot topic right now. Iowa has the second highest cancer rate and it’s estimated there will be 20,000 newly diagnosed cases,” Post told the crowd. 

Charlie benefited from cancer research, but she said more is needed to help Iowa kids and adults. She thanked Gearhart and Klimesh for their support, noting that Klimesh even sponsored a bill to generate funding through a tax on vaping products.

According to Klimesh, Iowa is one of few states that doesn’t do so. A tax would disincentivize people from using the products, similar to taxation on cigarettes, while generating an average of $5 million for cancer research.

“We’re trying to establish a level that’s comparable to surrounding states, otherwise we’ll have folks who just leave the state and buy it,” he explained. “I’m going to keep pushing this bill. It got moved out of health and human services and it’s in ways and means now. I’m very hopeful and excited for the possibility.”

Brittany Keyes, who has a home in McGregor and is a provider in environmental health, also addressed rising cancer rates.

“What’s happening now on the federal level is agencies who are supposed to be protecting us from major polluters are being gutted. Historically, in Iowa, our protections as far as pollution have also been stripped away and we’re looking at rising cancer rates. What are you doing to ensure big polluters are not putting our health at risk?” she asked.

Allamakee County farmer Lisa Hermeier said a nearby dairy operation has polluted her property and affected the health of her cattle with manure spills for seven years. She’s found little recourse through federal, state or local officials.

“I have gone through the assistant attorney general. He says the DNR may be limited on its regulatory authority, so they can’t do anything. What are we going to do to stop this kind of thing?” she too wondered.

Gearhart, who works for the Iowa DNR as an environmental specialist, said he investigates and conducts research when pollution occurs.

“Then it’s up to if the state penalizes or how much the penalty is. Maybe we as legislators could come up with a better finding structure or maybe the DNR could come up with different penalties for certain polluters. I’m passionate about protecting our natural resources. That’s why I do what I do,” he responded. 

In a separate conversation, Gearhart also stated his view on large chemical companies is “I’m not voting to give them immunity.”

Both Gearhart and Klimesh said they would oppose legislation to increase the pay of state elected officials and did not agree with proposed legislation that addressed banning books in public libraries.

Klimesh does not like bills that change the structure between the city council and library board.

“I was a mayor for 20 years of Spillville. We had that independent process to make sure there was separation between the council and library board. For cities to start to meddle in the operation of library boards or for the state to intercede in that, I’ve got great concern with that,” he said.

“If it’s about just banning certain books, I think that’s a local control issue,” Gearhart added. “But I think some communities want the state to fix their problems until they don’t want the state to fix their problems. For example, the governor wants to do a cellphone ban in schools. I think it’s not our business to say. It falls on the school boards. But a lot of schools want the state to tell them they have to do it.”

Allamakee County resident Ann Klees, who’s on the county’s board of adjustment as part of planning and zoning, brought up another instance of local control, complaining that a bill Klimesh proposed but later withdrew would have removed local control for siting renewable energy. 

“No county would be allowed to deny a commercial company a permit or limit the number of turbines or solar panels in that county. Allamakee County is right now working on a new ordinance for solar, wind and battery storage,” she said. “We don’t want to lose that control to the state.”

Klimesh argued the bill was “about the localist of local control that can possibly be. It’s about property owners’ rights to do what they see fit on their property to financially benefit themselves.”

The bill would have established a set of ordinances dealing with specific setbacks, specific flipper rates and specific height requirements, he explained.

“There are the private property rights of the individual who doesn’t want to have the wind turbine and there’s the private property rights of the individual who could benefit from that lease on their property. I believe private property rights should be equally applied across the board,” he said. “All my bill was trying to do was set that standard...There are several other states exploring it right now and I will reintroduce that next session.”

The legislators additionally vowed to continue conversations surrounding the governor’s energy bill as well as state Medicaid changes that one audience member, a cancer survivor, said would require “unjust work requirements.”

“We’re a long way from having that bill on the floor. Conversations are ongoing,” Klimesh said.

He also plans to advocate for continuing state investment in the Childcare Solutions Fund, after Postville Childcare Director Kristy Turner said her facility was able to increasing staffing and wages, add more kids and keep costs for families stable through this.

“But investment has stalled and we are asking if the state plans to invest again,” she said.

“I would support that,” Klimesh stated, but noted he would like to see adjustments to the structure set up for matching dollars and a larger incentive from the state.

Gearhart vowed to “be supportive of whatever I can do” should a measure come to the floor for vote.

The most heated moment of the town hall came when one attendee asked Klimesh and Gearhart to comment on recently signed state legislation that removes gender identity as a protected class under the state’s civil rights code.

“I want to know, since you say you are for ethical care, and many doctors agree it’s ethical care, what are you doing to protect trans health care and women’s reproductive health care?” the individual asked.

While Klimesh did not address the topic, Gearhart said the move was part of Republicans’ ongoing efforts to “protect girls and women,” a statement that was met with a resounding “no” from much of the crowd. “How invasive is that going to be for females?” one person asked.

Gearhart cited several news articles that he said demonstrated trans individuals assaulting others. 

“I know people think it’s not an issue, but there are many, many articles out there,” he said.

Allamakee County resident Scott Boylen said he was concerned some of the responses—and the actions of the legislators—did not demonstrate their care for the citizens they represent.

“Who are your employers right now?” Boylen questioned. 

“I’m a public service member for you guys,” responded Gearhart. 

“So could you guys do that? I would like to be represented,” Boylen said in statement that closed the town hall.