By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

A district court judge has ruled the list of landowners who haven’t agreed to voluntary easements for the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline must be released to the public. The Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club sued after the Iowa Utilities Board said the names would remain secret at the developer’s request.

Summit is still working to secure agreements with landowners for about 60% of its proposed carbon pipeline route through Iowa. If the Iowa Utilities Board grants eminent domain authority for the project, the list would be used to determine which properties could be seized without negotiations between Summit and landowners.

A spokeswoman for the Sierra Club’s Iowa chapter says reluctant landowners should be able to see the list so they can communicate with like-minded Iowans and organize unified opposition to the pipeline.

Summit could appeal the judge’s ruling. The company says it’s reasonable that landowners themselves get to choose whether their names and contact information are made public and Summit aims to protect landowners from harassment.

Earlier this month a Summit executive said about 750 Iowa landowners have voluntarily agreed to let Summit’s pipeline run through their property. Two other companies are proposing carbon pipelines through Iowa.

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is providing a $1,000 grant to every county in the state to improve voter access ahead of the 2022 general election. The grant is intended for counties to partner with local advocacy organizations and self-advocates to receive feedback on how polling places can be more accessible for Iowans with disabilities.

“I want all voters to have a positive experience when they cast their ballot,” Secretary Pate said. “Every polling place is required to be accessible, but we need to move past simple compliance. Inclusion begins in the planning stages and providing county auditors with the resources to work with local organizations to improve access will make sure every Iowan can easily navigate their polling place on Election Day.”

Approximately 300,000 Iowans have a disability. Counties can use the grant to improve accessibility considerations and receive communication, etiquette, and sensitivity training to understand the perspective of voters with disabilities.

“Voting can be challenging for people with disabilities,” said Bill Kallestad, public policy manager for the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council. “This grant opportunity is a great way to take steps to understand and address these challenges. Learning about voting challenges from people with disabilities can lead to meaningful change.”

The deadline for counties to request the grant funds is August 31 and the scope of work must be completed by the November 2022 general election.

By O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)

Iowa GOP chairman Jeff Kaufmann says Mahaska County Republicans do not have the power to formally censure Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks for her vote supporting same-sex marriage.

“County committees do not have the ability to censure. There is nothing in our bylaws that talks about censure. Even the Republican Party of Iowa cannot censure,” Kaufmann told reporters last night. “It’s a word to show disapproval.”

Mahaska County Republicans voted a week ago to censure Miller-Meeks for voting yes on a bill to ensure all states recognize same-sex and interracial marriages. Kaufmann issued a general call for party unity at an Iowa GOP fundraiser last night.

“There is no perfect candidate. If you think there is one, run then!” Kaufmann said, to applause. “This is no time to parse words. This is no time to think about: ‘I have to have agreement 99% of the time.’”

With the election in just 88 days, Kaufmann indicates his basic message to Iowa Republicans right now is to support Republican candidates.

“You might say: ‘Well, I don’t agree with them all the time,’ I don’t care! And neither should you,” Kaufmann said. “…Folks, we’re a team. This is a full-contact sport.”

Mahaska County Republicans say supporting same-sex marriage directly opposes the Iowa Republican Party platform, which calls traditional one-man and one-woman marriages the foundation of an enduring and healthy civilization.

Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion also voted for the Respect for Marriage Act. Hinson said it “maintains settled law” on same-sex and interracial marriages. An Iowa Supreme Court ruling legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa 13 years ago.