Kim Reynolds veto savages Republicans’ electoral prospects
Congratulations to Gov. Kim Reynolds. Your veto of House File 639, the eminent domain bill, just elected Rob Sand as the next governor of Iowa.
Richard McKean, Armstrong
Thank you, Governor Reynolds, for standing with Iowa’s future
As a lifelong Iowan, a cattleman, and someone who has spent decades working to advance agriculture and ethanol in our state, I want to thank Gov. Kim Reynolds for her careful, thoughtful decision to veto House File 639.
The governor took the time to listen. She weighed the facts, met with people on all sides, and ultimately stood up for Iowa’s long-term future. That kind of leadership isn’t easy — and it’s not always popular — but it matters.
Like many of my fellow farmers, I believe in private property rights. I also believe in our ability to come to the table, work together, and find solutions. That’s what this veto represents: a belief that we don’t have to choose between progress and principles. We can protect landowner rights while also embracing projects that create opportunity for agriculture, energy, and rural communities.
Reynolds recognized that House File 639 would have sent a message that Iowa isn’t open for investment or innovation. She knew what was at stake for ethanol, for farmers, and for the future of our economy.
There’s more work to do, and we’re ready for it. But today, I want to express my sincere thanks to the governor—for listening, for leading, and for making the tough call when Iowa needed it most.
Bill Couser, Nevada
Kim Reynolds turns her back on Iowans
Now it makes sense that Gov. Kim Reynolds is not running again. She aligned herself with big money and against the majority of people in Iowa, by vetoing the property rights bill.
Mark Bohner, Tripoli
Kim Reynolds serves a big donor, not the people
Of course Gov. Kim Reynolds vetoed the eminent domain bill. Did anyone seriously expect a different outcome, given that one of her significant donors was affected by the decision?
The use of eminent domain has no place where for-profit business is concerned!
Randy Beavers, Johnston
It’s the ‘how’ of immigration enforcement that people are protesting
News reports are regularly mischaracterizing the citizen protests in Los Angeles and elsewhere. The anger and protests are less about “the arrest of undocumented immigrants” but, rather, are overwhelmingly about the cruel and crude methods being used and the authoritarian processes that are overriding all peoples’ rights to legal processes.
David R. Witke, Des Moines
Keep religion out of the State Capitol
After reading the June 12 story regarding the filing of a complaint by the Satanic Temple, it made me wonder why any religious organization is allowed to have a holiday display in the Iowa Capitol.
Whatever happened to the separation of church and state?
Debra Lane, Carlisle
Axing FEMA would be dangerous
In 1776 Ben Franklin is purported to have said, “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we will hang separately.”
It is a thought to ponder as the Trump administration works to cut the Federal Emergency Management Agency and make states responsible for responding to natural disasters and President Donald Trump threatens to punish blue states by restricting FEMA funds.
When tornadoes, hurricanes, derechos, wildfires and other natural disasters strike, often whole states or multiple states are affected. Typically, Americans are generous in helping their “neighbors” in these situations, whether their neighbors are next door or across the country, but they need the organized resources of a well-funded, national FEMA to effectively coordinate their efforts.
And helping those in need because of a natural disaster should never be dependent on their political affiliation.
Dorothy Lifka, Des Moines
Congress should pass bill to protect our kids online
As a father of two children, a husband, and a politically active Iowan, I care very much about the dangerous consequences of unrestricted internet access for kids and teens. The recently introduced federal App Store Accountability Act is a comprehensive solution that lays our fears to rest and ensures family values remain.
This legislation empowers parents to be at the forefront of the decision-making process by promoting cooperation between parents and caregivers, our government, and tech companies. The App Store Accountability Act requires app stores to ensure parental approval before teens 16 and under can download apps to their devices. This legislation protects children, plain and simple.
Powerful statistics back this up. According to research, 81% of U.S. adults support requiring parental consent for teens to create a social media account, and more than 79% of parents support legislation requiring parental approval for teens 16 and under to download apps.
As parents and concerned citizens, we must advocate for robust age verification and parental consent measures. This commitment enhances the protection of children from online harm across all platforms while reaffirming parental liberties and core family values.
Josh Steuterman, Des Moines
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Thank you, Kim Reynolds, for standing with Iowa’s future | Letters