LIBERAL FIRST
Liberal's leading source for news and views
I’m an opinion columnist. As such, my commentaries should never be mistaken as sources of unbiased news. At some point, you may have read a disclaimer accompanying my words: “The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of this publication or its affiliates.”
We had a good group from home in Topeka last week for Pancakes at the Capitol. This is always one of the most anticipated events of the session for legislators and their staff. Legislators from across the state come by to eat pancakes and talk about Liberal and Pancake Day.
In Topeka for Pancakes at the Capitol, Seward County Administrator and Commission Chair testified on HB 2004. This bill lets Seward County voters decide on a 0.5 percent sales tax for road and bridge projects. If voters approve, the tax will expire 10 years after implementation. Below, I will discuss Seward County’s and the state’s road funding issues.
So far the USD No. 480 School Board has met several times in the month of January to address concerns that were initially exposed when head football coach Bryan Luetters stepped down because of the adjustments in pay that adversely affected his assistants.
The public became aware of how much of a challenge the district has with trying to find certified instructors, and in addition to that, how interim instructors who are trying to fill the gaps have been compensated.
Yesterday, I got to talk with an old friend.
I used to see Cheryl almost every day. But for the last several years, we have seen each other once a year, at most. She’s going to direct my show, so we’ll be working together again. We had coffee and soup on a very cold day, and I had this strange feeling I had slipped back in time. I didn’t need to explain a thing, talking to this old friend. I knew her and she knew me, and I lost track of the number of times we finished each other’s thoughts.
Effective advocacy requires understanding the legislative process and employing strategic communication. Constituents can impact legislation by providing their perspective on a bill and explaining the reasoning for their position.
As a former Iowa State Senator from Maquoketa, I served in the Iowa Senate from 2011 to 2019 and saw countless examples of advocacy in action.
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