Hull, Iowa — 2016 is almost completely in the history books. Shortly into the new year, the gavel will fall at the statehouse and lawmakers will again be busy in Des Moines.
Senator Randy Feenstra of Hull serves Iowa Senate District 2, which includes all of Sioux, O’Brien, and Cherokee counties, and the eastern four townships in Plymouth County.
We asked Senator Feenstra what legislation he’d like to see happen this year.
Of course these are just the big picture, or as Feenstra puts it, “30,000-foot ideas”. Feenstra says he’s personally involved in writing some legislation as well.
Feenstra says he’s a big proponent of local control of schools. He says some smaller things that they’ll talk about include possible legalization of fireworks and elimination of traffic cameras. Plus, he says he thinks they need to create more oversight of the new Medicaid system in Iowa.
We asked Feenstra if he would support a bill that would provide temporary funding for the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System construction while promised funding from the federal government continues to trickle in. He says they’ve been working with Iowa Economic Development Director Debi Durham on this.
He says the incoming Trump administration has also expressed interest in infrastructure spending.
Feenstra says the atmosphere will be a little different in Des Moines this year with Republicans controlling the House, the Senate, and the Governor’s chair. He says the push will be on to reduce taxes and regulations and create a business-friendly environment to improve the economy. He says they also will push on social issues like ensuring religious freedom and minimizing abortion.
Feenstra can be reached by his constituents at (712) 439-1244 or after the legislature gets underway you can ask for his office when you call the Iowa Senate switchboard at (515) 281-3371.
