The League of Women Voters of Sioux City held a forum on Saturday for legislators to speak with community members about concerns they may have.
The five legislators that were in attendance included Catelin Drey, D-Sioux City, Bob Henderson, R-Sioux City, Kevin Alons, R-Salix, JD Scholten, D-Sioux City, and Jacob Bossman, R-Sioux City.
During the forum, the legislators discussed ICE, IPERS, and eminent domain.
When asked how they plan on getting the eminent domain bill through the senate, Alons said he will continue insisting the eminent domain rights and property rights are protected.
Drey said she is hoping the bill will go through, but her biggest concern is that carbon capture is not a public utility, and that is the main reason a government would use eminent domain.
All five legislators were unsure where the eminent domain bill will end up but are hoping it will lead to a bigger conversation.
Additionally, when asked about the DOGE task force trying to make changes to IPERS, the legislators all said it was something they did not agree with.
Bossman said cutting IPERS would save money, but it doesn't mean it's a good idea.
Henderson noted just because the DOGE committee recommends something doesn’t mean the state legislature is going to agree or take the recommended action.
Scholten mentioned how finding ways to cut costs and save money is part of the state auditor’s job and that the auditor has had a lot of his rights taken away.
Furthermore, all five legislators said they would not support the bill that would leverage the state’s ethanol industry to drive the state toward a zero percent income tax.
Travis Sitzman was unable to attend the forum.
