(SBA) - The 2024 Iowa legislative session has passed its second funnel, which means lots of bills didn’t “make the cut” and won’t advance further this year (except for Ways & Means bills or if amended to a bill that did advance).
I have repeatedly mentioned SF2108, a bill to define an Iowa gold-backed currency, that would give all Iowans the ability to store some of their liquid assets in gold and/or silver, secured by the state, but fully available for day-to-day usage while serving as a safe alternative to an ever inflating Federal Reserve Note (aka US dollar). I was unable to achieve enough grass roots support to advance the bill this year, but have gotten the attention of many and believe the time for this prudent and common-sense solution is now.
Another bill I sponsored was the “fetal development” bill, that ensures the human growth and development curriculum in our schools include instruction on human biology related to pregnancy and human development in the womb. The requirement includes a requirement for the showing of a 3 minute animation of a baby from conception to birth, like or similar to the “Baby Olivia” video, which illustrates the incredible nature and value of all human life. While this bill did not advance through the Senate, it did in the House so it can still move forward.
I also sponsored a bill that would require age verification to access online pornography, which currently is far less restricted than an unrated movie at the theater. The bill in the Senate did not advance, but a similar bill did advance in the House, and Governor Kim Reynolds expressed support for this important protection for Iowa kids, which I wholeheartedly support and hope will merge with the Senate version and become law this year. Another bill advanced in the House that requires social media companies obtain parental consent before a minor child can create an account.
There are quite a few major bills left to go, to include FY2025 school spending (SSA), mental health reform (which combines mental health and substance abuse, along with changing the associated regions and adding state oversight), income tax rate cut acceleration and tax payer relief scheduling (with discussions about a constitutional amendment to require a supermajority to raise taxes), potential AEA reform, and the overall budget for next year.
We live in a country where so many have lost a connection to our Creator and the faith of our founding fathers. I believe the many divisions that exist in our culture today can be traced to this departure from Biblical principles, the foundation of the Ten Commandments that all of western civilization is built on, and the very concept of absolute truth – which can only be defined by God, a being beyond our control.
The notion of inalienable Rights, including Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, are absolutely dependent on God. A blind and impartial justice system, which favors no person but uniformly enforces the law, does not work without God. The unprecedented indictments of President Trump, something never done before in the history of our country, highlights the dangerous place we are in America – a massive erosion of the “rule of law”, leaving everyone aware that everything has become political.
Our federal government is well outside its constitutional boundaries, grossly exceeding the enumerated powers allowed to it by US Constitution. It is critical that political power be returned to the states respectively, or to the people.
It is an honor to serve in the state capitol, thank you for sending me to Des Moines to represent Senate district #7.
