As the 12th week of the legislative session came to an end, it also signaled the end of the second funnel. While we did not have floor debate this week, there was a large effort to get any bills through committee that we needed to consider. A number of student members from S.E.A.L. (Students Empowering And Leading) from East Marshall High School came to the Capitol to participate in the Iowa Council of Foundations Legislative Breakfast.

It was great to meet these student leaders who are focused on bettering our local communities. They wanted to speak about HF673 which is a proposed use of sports gaming proceeds. Specifically, they wanted to talk about the grant-making they currently do with current county endowment funding.

Rep. Sue Cahill was also at the meeting. We had a great open discussion about some of the recent bills that passed through the Senate, one of them being the welfare reform/eligibility bill (SF494) I recently ran through the Senate. It was a great opportunity for me to explain the problem this bill was addressing and a very common-sense fix to the problem.

Next week we will be back in debate and to work on the budget. We continue to strive for an efficient, high-yielding, yet smaller government to reward you by helping you to keep more of your hard-earned money.

Thank you to all of you who have reached out on issues that are important to you.

——

Jeff Edler, a Republican from State Center, represents District 26 in the Iowa Senate.