By Senator Kevin Alons (R), Iowa’s 7th District
In 2016, Iowans had enough.
At the federal level, voters rejected the status quo and helped send Donald Trump to the White House for his first term. He ushered in a presidency that would reshape American conservatism and redefine our nation’s role in the world.
Here at home, Iowans were also tired of seeing Republican priorities stalled in the Iowa Legislature. They gave Republicans control of the Iowa Senate, and in the elections that followed, that Republican majority continued to grow.
This year, however, the political environment looks a little different. Polling suggests Republicans may be underperforming compared to recent elections, despite delivering policy victory after policy victory for the people of Iowa.
Well, almost every policy victory.
But before I get to the one glaring exception, Republicans deserve credit for what we accomplished.
This year, Republicans in the Iowa Legislature passed meaningful property tax reforms designed to slow the growth of property taxes and provide greater transparency for taxpayers.
We approved a $10 million investment in infrastructure improvements at Gen. Bud Day Field, home of the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City. Those funds will support the larger $220 million airfield renewal project, including runway reconstruction and other critical infrastructure improvements necessary to preserve the 185th’s important role in our national defense and the Siouxland economy.
We also took action to protect children online by requiring websites and social media platforms with significant amounts of pornographic content to implement reasonable age-verification measures.
These are meaningful conservative victories. They reflect the priorities Republican candidates campaign on and the principles contained in the Republican Party of Iowa platform, but there remains one issue on which the Iowa Senate continues to deny Iowans the vote they deserve: property rights.
After months of advocacy from landowners and legislators, Senate leadership chose to adjourn without allowing a vote on my amendment, Senate Amendment 5190.
That amendment, co-sponsored by ten Republican senators, would have prohibited the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines while still allowing companies such as Summit Carbon Solutions to pursue their projects through voluntary agreements with willing landowners.
That is not radical. It is not anti-business. It is not anti-development.
It is a balanced, reasonable solution that recognizes economic opportunity while defending one of the most fundamental rights we possess as Americans: the right to own property without fear that government will seize it for the benefit of a private company.
Republicans should never be afraid to stand for that principle.
Because of my wife, Ngu, I remain an optimist at heart. I hope to return to Des Moines in January with a renewed Republican majority and a renewed determination to work on behalf of the citizens of this great state.
But I am also concerned.
If Republicans lose seats in the upcoming election, it will not be because grassroots activists fought too hard to protect the property rights of themselves and their neighbors. It will not be because landowners demanded too much from their elected representatives. It will be because too many Iowans watched their government refuse to act on an issue that matters deeply to them.
When voters repeatedly ask their elected officials for action and those officials repeatedly refuse even to allow a vote, we should not be surprised when voters become frustrated.
There is a lesson in Joshua 24:15 that I believe applies today. After gathering the tribes of Israel and calling upon them to renew their covenant with the Lord, Joshua makes his own position unmistakably clear: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua understood that there comes a time when a man must declare where he stands.
So let me make my position equally clear.
As long as the people of my district give me the privilege of serving them in the Iowa Senate, I will not forget who sent me there. I will stand for private property. I will stand for the landowners who have spent years asking their government to listen. And whether it is convenient for leadership or not, I will continue demanding that the Iowa Senate do its job and give the people of Iowa the vote they deserve.
If Republicans lose, it cannot be blamed on those protecting our fundamental rights; it must be placed on those fighting for private interests.
As for me, I will serve the people of Iowa.
Let Me Hear from You
As always, I value hearing directly from you. Your insight and perspective guide my work at the Capitol and help ensure that legislation reflects our shared values.
If you have a concern, a suggestion, or simply want to share your thoughts, please reach out to my office. Together, we can continue working toward an Iowa that is strong, prosperous, and rooted in common sense.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
Warm regards, Senator Kevin Alons
Iowa State Senate, District 7.
