House Vote on Master Matrix Amendment
Yesterday, the House had the opportunity to add an amendment to the Agriculture Budget Bill that would have allowed for changes to the Master Matrix. In a matter of a few hours, we generated over 150 emails to 64 legislators telling them we need more protections from factory farms, and a moratorium! This bill was our opportunity to force our State Representatives to take a side on an issue that impacts every single Iowan.Earlier this year, a group of CCI Action lobbyists representing 10 counties asked Representative Steckman (Cerro Gordo) to introduce an amendment to the Ag Budget Bill. Her amendment would have opened up the Master Matrix for stronger protections for our water, air, and communities.Honoring the request of CCI Action citizen lobbyists, Representative Steckman (Cerro Gordo) introduced the amendment. But, Representative Mommsen and Speaker Upmeyer didn’t want this amendment to be voted – on so they ruled Steckman’s amendment “not germane.” How is an amendment to an ag bill to protect water from factory farm pollution not germane!?With support from over one hundred Iowans emailing in, Representative Steckman continued to push for her amendment and called to “suspend the rules” and have an immediate vote our Master Matrix amendment. This vote failed 39-55-6. But, now, because of this vote, we know which legislators are ready to hold an honest debate about changing Iowa’s current factory farm permitting scheme.Scroll down to see how your legislator voted. Send them an email to thank them for their vote, or tell them why you think they voted the wrong way.We know that we really need a moratorium on new and expanding factory farms until there are fewer than 100 polluted waterbodies and local control, but this was one small, commonsense step our Representatives could have taken in the right direction.
On the question "Shall the rules be suspended to consider amendment H–8405?" (H.F. 2491)
The ayes were, 39: Abdul-SamadAndersonBearingerBennettBreckenridgeBrown-PowersCohoonFinkenauerGainesGaskillHallHeddensHunterIsenhartJacobyKacenaKearnsKressigKurthLensingMascherMcConkeyMeyerMiller, P.NielsenOldsonOlsonOurthPrichardRunning-MarquardtSheetsSmith, M.StaedSteckmanTaylor, T.ThedeWessel-KroeschellWincklerWolfe
The nays were, 55: BaconBaltimoreBaxterBerganBestBloomingdaleBossmanCarlsonCownieDeyoeDolecheckFisherFryGassmanGrassleyGustafsonHagenowHagerHanusaHeartsillHeatonHeinHighfillHinsonHoltHolzHusemanJacobsenJonesKaufmannKerrKleinKoesterLandonLundgrenMaxwellMcKeanMohrMommsenMooreNunnPaustianPettengillRizerRogersSalmonTaylor, R.Upmeyer, Spkr.Vander LindenWattsWheelerWillsWorthanZumbachWindschitl, Presiding
Absent or not voting, 6: BaudlerForbesMiller, H.SextonSieckSmith, R.