Capitol Update

June 22, 2023

It's that time of year again!

I plan to do a handful of parades in the district throughout the year and started off with the New Sharon Spring Festival on June 10th. Coming up next will be the 4th of July parades in Leighton and Sigourney. If you would like to get in on the fun, please let me know - I really appreciate the show of support and they are truly an enjoyable experience. I would love for anyone to be a part of it!

Thank you to the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition for allowing me to reprint their articulate statement below regarding last week's court decision. Please stay tuned for the next step!

The Iowa Supreme Court handed down its “verdict” this morning (June 16th) on whether or not it would allow Iowa’s Fetal Heartbeat Law to finally go into effect. The much-anticipated decision could have greatly curtailed the killing of Iowa’s innocent unborn children. Instead, it ended in a 3-3 tie — and this tie functions as a loss for the LIFE movement. It also feels like a kick in the teeth. 

When the supreme court is equally divided, the decision of the district court is affirmed and, essentially, nothing changes. Since the district court had previously ruled that it didn’t have the authority to lift the injunction, the injunction won’t be lifted. 

As such, at least for now, abortion remains legal in Iowa within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. At least for now, the silent pleas of Iowa’s unborn — our most innocent and our most vulnerable people group — continue to go unanswered. And, at least for now, most definitely, the fight for LIFE continues. 

But what is next? 

The opinion rendered by the court left the primary issue still undecided. We will spare you the tedious legal mumbo jumbo, but, effectively, it dared the legislature to pass a new law so the court could once again reconsider the standard by which abortion laws in Iowa will be evaluated in state and post the Dobbs decision. 



It is important to note, that in the case of a tie vote, like today’s, the opinions do NOT become legal precedent. But today’s renderings do serve to provide insight into how the high court might rule in the future. It seems that three justices read the Iowa Constitution in a way that would allow for pro-life legislation, while three others probably do not. As such, if the legislature passes another similar pro-life law, the court — as it is currently composed — could hand down another 3-3 tie — this assumes that Justice Oxley stays on the sidelines due to a conflict of interest and that no one leaves the bench in the meantime.

In a recently released statement, Gov. Kim Reynolds said her administration was considering options, but no specifics were mentioned.

Will the governor call a special legislative session? 

Will the legislature pass a new Heartbeat Law? 

Will the legislature do even better and pass a Life at Conception Law? 



While this all might sound futile in light of today’s tie and the probability of a future tie, but let’s not forget: The legislature and Gov. Reynolds could attempt to prohibit abortion — even from conception — by passing a bill armed with a private-right-of-action enforcement mechanism as Texas once did. That legislation would be much different than the one that died today. Please remember that even before Roe was overturned, the Texas law successfully halted abortions in that state. So there definitely are legitimate legislative paths forward. 

Stay tuned. 

The fight for LIFE continues. 

Pray like crazy. 

The Pipeline and Hazardous Safety Administration held a public hearing in Des Moines in June. They have the federal oversight of all U.S. pipelines once they are built. Since the Satartia, Mississippi explosion almost four years ago, they have yet to implement new safety standards identified after the investigation.

The two-day hearing in Des Moines was attended by hundreds of concerns Iowans and landowners directly affected by the three proposed routes. There were many great panel discussions and an equal amount of open mic time. Speakers brought up excellent concerns, questions and suggestions.

Watch for this semi-trailer as it makes its way around District 88 with its strong message! Please reach out to me to find out how you can be involved! Property rights and eminent domain are issues for all Iowans, especially since there are over 60,000 miles of carbon pipelines proposed in the near future, along with transmission lines, biogas connectors and more!

Photo below: I spent several days on a border tour in Texas during the second week of June. You can see the "Trump wall" below as a bus passes through as it finishes the mile long drive down to the temporary trailers that are processing illegals who have crossed the river in this location. Several buses passed by in our short time standing there.

Here is a press release that just went out about the border trip I just returned from.

 It was an incredibly insightful trip and I will be writing more details

in future newsletters.

A group of seven Iowa House of Representatives spent June 12-14 observing a variety of immigration, customs and law enforcement activities in southern Texas according to Representative Mark I. Thompson of Wright County. The trip was arranged and coordinated through a joint effort by Representative Thompson and a delegation of Texans. The cost of the trip was personally paid by each representative.

The Iowa Representatives observed border operations in 100 degree+ heat on the Rio Grande, customs inspections, and law enforcement coordination between a variety of agencies and ranchers. They also traveled to the Rio Grande to better understand the details surrounding the thousands who were staging on the Mexican side.

Representatives Helena Hayes (Mahaska County), Luana Stoltenberg (Scott County), Steve Bradley (Jones County), Eddie Andrews, (Polk County) Zach Dieken (O’Brien County) and Tom Gerhold (Benton County) accompanied Thompson. Iowa is a destination for many of those illegally crossing the border due to promises of employment by various large industries in the state. Due to their immigration status, or lack of, those entering are often subject to human trafficking. Many are minors who often have no parent or proven guardian accompanying them. Iowa schools and volunteers provide many essentials for these children.

Due to the influx of illegal migrants across the border, Texas Governor Abbott implemented Operation Lone Star in March 2021, a joint mission between the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department along the southern border between Texas and Mexico.

Governor Reynolds has also authorized the deployment of Department of Public Safety personnel and National Guard Soldiers to Texas in August in defense of our border to help stem the flow of illegal entries. According to the Representatives, the assistance is needed, and Texans are very appreciative.

On a related front, Governor Reynolds recently signed House File 630, unanimously passed by both Houses this year which significantly increases the punishment for those who participate in or benefit from human trafficking. Those found guilty will now face up to 25 years in prison if the victim is an adult, and upwards to life in prison if the victim is a minor.

The team of legislators will be drafting a report in the coming weeks to capture the knowledge and insight which was gleaned as well as further action which can be taken to support border states and defeat the scourge of human trafficking.

Above: More than 85% of those crossing the border are not from Mexico. While we stood on the shore of the Rio Grande in Brownsville, Texas in the photo above, we witnessed just a small portion of the Venezuelans who were awaiting crossing - in the meantime, they swam, bathed and washed laundry in their two - three month stay at the camp. During our visit, over 2,500 migrants from Venezuela were camped along the river. In the top portion of the photo, you can see the pedestrian bridge that is a point of entry and some of the "sea wire" along this section of the river.

We spent quite a bit of time addressing education policy in this past legislative session in response to many concerns in the public education. In order to better understand the public schools in my district, I set out in May to visit each one. I requested tours by students and a meeting time with administration.

Public schools in District 88 include: Oskaloosa, North Mahaska, Pekin, Tri-County, Keota, Eddyville/Fremont/Blakesburg, Fairfield, Sigourney, and English Valley. I have two more schools left to visit because I am waiting for new superintendents to settle in their new positions.

It was great to play with other lawmakers at Principal Park in Des Moines as we raised $56,000 for charity! Thank you to the organizers and supporters, including my family who attended the fun game.

My husband took this creative photo so that we could assure you that I seek to carefully hold this position as a servant leader carefully in my hand!

It was a nice pleasure to play catch with Govennor Reyolds before we started the game. Luetentint Govenor Adam Gregg even got to pitch an inning.

This month, Governor Reynolds signed into law House File 716, an important piece of legislation that ensures in person participation for delegate selection to their respective party’s national convention in order to select the presidential nominee.

Words have meanings and the definition of a caucus means a meeting of a group of people. Following the disastrous 2020 Democratic Caucuses, there have been discussion to move to a mail-in caucus to select preferred presidential candidates. These attempts, plain and simple, turn the process into a primary. The Iowa Caucuses are unique and special because it brings voters together to discuss and hear from supporters of all candidates before voters decide on a candidate. In other states where a primary model is used, campaigns with the most money are able to drown out the voices of other candidates. Ensuring that the selection of delegates takes place in person at the precincts ensures that the caucuses are determined by eligible voters who meet and discuss the nomination of their party’s nominee.

HF 716 also gives control back to the political parties to best decide for themselves who participates in their caucuses. Currently, eligible voters are individuals who will be of legal voting age in the November general election, have not already participated in another caucus that year, are a resident of the precinct and a registered party member. Under the new law, the state central committees of each party are allowed to set rules for participation and voting in precinct caucuses, including voter registration requirements. Giving this control back to the political parties allows each party to determine any rules they wish to adopt for their party’s process to select delegates for the nomination. This could include setting minimum amount of time to be a registered voter of the respective party. Caucuses are party functions and the political parties shall have the ability to regulate their process as they see fit.       

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