From the ground up

Notes from the Capitol
By: 
Dan Zumbach
Iowa State Senator, 48th District

Wrapping it up

     Our days in Des Moines are consumed with passing bills on the Senate floor, budget meetings and winding down the 2017 legislative session. We have a few more policy bills to address in the next few days with our emphasis on creating a balanced budget for the citizens of Iowa.

     As we work through the budget, I want you to know that we are “appropriately appropriating." We are constantly prioritizing and reprioritizing, shifting and filling in the budget columns. We make ongoing edits as we attempt to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. I lose sleep at night analyzing the best ways to meet the needs of the budget.

     My colleagues are continually sharing their “ah-ha” moments as we brainstorm collectively to find solutions that are innovative to the needs of the state. The “inside the box” and “outside the box” ideas help us to articulate the numbers to the most appropriate need.

     Last week we set aside an evening to honor our Senate Pages. The Senate Page Program is an opportunity for high school students to have a front-row seat to their state government and to history in the making.

     Senate page duties consist primarily of preparing the Senate chamber for session and delivering bills and amendments onto the Senate floor. Other duties include delivering correspondence, messages and legislative material within the Capitol complex. The Iowa Senate has 12 pages and each are paid an hourly wage for their service. The pages come from all around Iowa.

     New for me this session is having my son, Alex, here serving as a Senate Page. He is the Page to the President of the Senate. The experience he is gaining will benefit him for his entire future.

     While he is learning about state government through this experience, I too am learning from his perspective of the “goings on” in the chamber. 

     I enjoy the opportunity to visit with Alex at the end of our day at the Capitol. He sees and hears things at the Senate President’s desk I do not and his reactions to those matters provides insight to the dynamics of the Senate.

The opportunity for students to serve as a Page in the House or the Senate is available each session. In the fall interested students can apply at: http://www.legis.iowa.gov.

     The work in the Senate Chamber is winding down, but the work at home is winding up! As we complete our duties my next step is back to Delaware County – back home where I enjoy my passion for farming. It is important you know I’m still working for you past the legislative session. Please know you can reach me outside of the session days to talk about our Iowa and how together we can make this state the best place to live, play and raise a family.

Interesting fact

     Did you know McDonald’s Food Chain supports Iowa growers and producers, purchasing more than $187M annually in Iowa?

     $89.6 million of pork

     $71.2 million of eggs

     $20 million of soybeans

     • $5 million of corn

     $1.1 million of oats

     $527.7 thousand of beef

 

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