(SBA) - Twelve Republicans in the Iowa Senate are taking a stand against carbon pipeline developers by refusing to vote on any state spending bill until they get a chance to vote on a bill limiting the ability of these developers to seize land from unwilling property owners. This bold move has left Senate GOP leaders without enough Republican votes to pass their state spending plans.
“This is important,” said Senator Kevin Alons of Salix, one of the 12 Republicans pressuring GOP leaders on the pipeline issue. “It’s our number one priority and the budget is the must do and it’s what we’re going to use to get a vote on the topic of eminent domain.”
Senator Alons has been a vocal advocate for landowners' rights, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the misuse of eminent domain. His commitment to this cause was evident when he publicly committed to not voting for the budget on Tuesday, setting the stage for the subsequent actions of his colleagues.
During a recent speech on the Senate floor, Senator David Sires of Cedar Falls echoed Alons' sentiments, calling for meaningful protections for landowners. “We are witnessing the dangerous misuse of public power for private gain,” Sires said. “…It’s time to stand with our constituents, not corporations. I call on this body to reject the abuse of eminent domain and pass meaningful protections for Iowa landowners. Let us be the voice for those who feel ignored, let us check on government overreach and let us restore the principal that, in Iowa, private property still means something.”
The other senators involved in this effort include Rocky DeWitt, Lynn Evans, Dennis Guth, Mark Lofgren, Mike Pike, Dave Rowley, Sandy Salmon, Jeff Taylor, and Cherielynn Westrich. Senate GOP Leader Jack Whitver expressed optimism that a legislative solution would be found, stating that a number of Republican Senators are “working on policy surrounding eminent domain and pipeline issues.”
Doyle Turner, an active member of the Free Soil Foundation, highlighted the senators' refusal to vote on a budget bill unless two bills to protect landowners from the threat of eminent domain – SF 639 and SF 943 – are brought to the Senate floor. Turner explained that these bills have passed the House but have been stalled in the Senate Commerce Committee.
Meanwhile, in South Dakota, the Public Utilities Commission recently denied pipeline company Summit Carbon Solutions a building permit for the second time, reinforcing the stance against eminent domain for carbon pipelines.
Senator Alons' leadership in this matter has been pivotal. His unwavering stance and strategic use of the budget vote to push for eminent domain protections demonstrate his dedication to defending Iowa landowners. “This is important. It’s our number one priority,” Alons reiterated. “And the budget is the must-do, and it’s what we’re going to use to get a vote on the topic of eminent domain.”
The 12 senators signed a statement emphasizing the threat of eminent domain that has loomed over landowners for more than three years. They pledged to vote against any budget bills until Republican leaders allow a vote in the Senate on a bill sent over from the House.
Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver remains optimistic about finding a legislative solution, while House Speaker Pat Grassley expects the issue of eminent domain and protecting private property rights to be revisited before the legislative session ends.
Senator Cherielynn Westrich also voiced her support for private property rights, urging her colleagues to take up the bills from the House. Summit Carbon Solutions, which opposes the House version of the bill, remains committed to working with legislators despite the opposition.
The issue of eminent domain is not unique to Iowa. Along the southern border of the United States, the federal government has seized private land under the guise of border protection. This practice has been particularly aggressive in Texas, where the government has used eminent domain to acquire land for constructing physical barriers. The Department of Homeland Security filed over 360 eminent domain lawsuits against property owners in border states, involving thousands of acres of land. Critics argue that this undermines property rights and constitutes an abuse of power.
As the legislative session goes into overtime, the actions of Senator Kevin Alons and his colleagues continue to draw attention to the critical issue of eminent domain and the protection of Iowa landowners.
