Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — Republican Senators met for hours Friday to privately debate restrictions on the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions Pipeline, then emerged late Friday afternoon and adjourned for the week without taking any public action.
Pipeline opponents say it was a stunning development after being told a bill would come up for a vote. Dennis King, a fourth-generation farmer from Clay County, says the bill easily passed the House weeks ago with 85 out of 100 possible votes.
A dozen Republican Senators have vowed to boycott votes on state spending plans until the Senate votes to limit the pipeline company’s authority to seize land for the project.
Cindy Hanson and her sister are opposed to having the pipeline on their family’s Century Farm in Shelby County.
Monte Shaw of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association was at the Capitol all day, too, lobbying against any move by legislators that would block the pipeline’s construction.
Having senators shelve the bill is also a win for the ethanol industry.
The Senate’s only votes Friday were to confirm three officials to seats on state boards and commissions and to make changes in an education-related bill.
