Photos

	Speaking with a constituent during Waverly's Heritage Days parade in July.
	I've had lots of great help passing out 2008 State of Iowa transportation maps at this summer's parades and community celebrations.
	Greeting parade-goers at the Tripoli Fun Days parade on Aug. 2.
	2008 Fayette County Fair
	With the Sumner Municiple Utilities Manager Alan Junkers and the Municiple Utilities' Trustees, Peggy Becker, Les Teeling, President Rich Rath. I attended their July board meeting to discuss issues and ideas for energy management. It was a very informative session and a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of the issues a municipal utility like Sumner's faces on a daily basis.
	On April 25, the Senate passed a resolution honoring Code Talkers from all tribes, including Iowa’s Meskwaki tribe. Code Talkers were valiant soldiers during both World Wars I and II. Among those on hand for the tribute was Rob Roberts of Montour.
	Sen. Rich Olive and Sen. Bill Heckroth talk with Sigourney students about their business initiatives. Aaron Meiners is planning for Aaron's Shave Ice business, and Austin Hammes wants to open Austin's Bike Shop. The students developed their business plans as part of the eSigourney Entrepreneurial Academy for Leadership program. eSEAL offers Sigourney’s junior and senior high school students the chance to learn entrepreneurial skills, write a business plan and ultimately open their own business. eSEAL students and educators were at the Statehouse April 17 to talk with legislators about how they’re learning to succeed in business and helping spur economic growth in their local community. Pictured, from left: Meiners, Olive, Heckroth and Hammes.
	The Iowa Senate honored the Wartburg College wrestling team at the Statehouse on April 8 for winning the 2008 Division III NCAA National Championship. They were congratulated by Sen. Bill Heckroth, and by Rep. Ro Foege of Mount Vernon, a Wartburg College alum.
	Sen. Bill Heckroth talked with Tommy Boerigter and his sister Clare in the Senate Chamber on April 2. Tommy, a senior at Waverly-Shell Rock High School, is serving as a Senate Page this legislative session. Clare, a high school sophomore, was in Des Moines for the week to participate in Capitol Project '08. The program brings high school students to Des Moines to learn about state government and the legislative process. Tommy participated in Capitol Project in 2007.
	Sen. Bill Heckroth and Rep. Andrew Wenthe visited with students from Readlyn Community Lutheran Schools at the Statehouse on April 2.
	Sen. Bill Heckroth and Rep. Andrew Wenthe met with a group of health professionals from West Union to discuss important changes to Iowa's Hawk-i insurance program. Healthy And Well Kids in Iowa (Hawk-i) provides health coverage to children from low-income families in Iowa. From left: Tina Huinker, Deb Chensvold, Wenthe, Emily Hiatt and Heckroth.
	On April 1, the Senate passed a resolution honoring Iowa's 9 Olympic athletes, who will head to Beijing this summer as principal competitors or as alternates. They include Haley Dunn, from Eddyville, skeet shooting; Lee Fullhart, from Hesper, wrestling; Kirk Hinrich, from Sioux City, basketball; Shawn Johnson, from West Des Moines, gymnastics; Sara McMann, from Iowa City, wrestling; Doug Schwab, from Osage, wrestling; Joe Williams, from Iowa City, wrestling; and Joey Woody, from Iowa City, track and field. It was especially rewarding to finally meet constituent Tolly Thompson, a wrestler from Janesville. I've heard about him for years, so it was an honor to shake his hand and offer my congratulations. I certainly want to wish Tolly and all of the great athletes good luck in their efforts. Be sure to cheer them on during the Olympics, August 8-24.
	On March 26, Governor Chet Culver signed what will be the biggest tax break of the 2008 session. House File 2417, which passed the Legislature earlier this session, will save Iowa taxpayers $67.5 million dollars by exempting state taxes on the federal tax rebates that are part of the economic stimulus plan approved by Congress.
	Terry Boettcher of Indianola and his wife, Connie, visited the Iowa Senate on March 26 to witness the approval of legislation that expands Iowa's Gold Star license plate bill to include veterans who “died as a result of injuries sustained,” as well as those killed in action. Boettcher’s father died as the result of injuries he suffered during World War II. While at the Statehouse, Boettcher talked with Sen. Bill Heckroth of Waverly, a supporter of the legislation.
	Congratulations to Tom Boerigter of Waverly. He's serving as a Statehouse Page this session in the Legislative Services Agency. A page position is a great opportunity for high school juniors and senior to experience the law-making process first-hand. To learn more, go to www.legis.state.ia.us/Educational.html and click on "Legislative Page Application Package."
	Pastor Bill Thalacker of Bennington Lutheran Church in Waterloo served as Pastor of the Day for the Legislature on March 18. Pastor Thalacker gave the opening prayer in both the House and the Senate. From left: Sen. Bill Heckroth of Waverly, Bill Thalacker, Marilyn Thalacker, and Rep. Andrew Wenthe of Hawkeye.
	State Senator Bill Heckroth of Waverly and Representative Andrew Wenthe of Hawkeye met with Bremer County Supervisors Chair Gaylord Hinderaker and Supervisor Ken Kammeyer at the Statehouse. From left: Wenthe, Kammeyer, Heckroth and Hinderaker.
	On Saturday, March 8, Rep. Andrew Wenthe of Hawkeye and I visited Oelwein, West Union and Clermont to meet with constituents and get their perspective on some Iowa's most important issues.
	At Two Brothers Restaurant in Oelwein (above) and Tap't Out in West Union (left), residents expressed concern over Fayette County's deteriorating roads, their hope that the local option sales tax for schools could be expanded statewide, and their mixed reviews for the statewide smoking ban making its way through the Legislature.
	At Brick City Bar & Grill in Clermont (left), forum attendees raised an additional concern over coal-fired power plants. Many said they'd like to see greater use of nuclear energy as a cleaner alternative.
	On Feb. 20 Governor Chet Culver signed SF 572, which provides tax benefits to electric utilities that use soy-based transformer fluid. I worked hard during the 2007 session to successfully move this bill through the Senate. It finally passed the Iowa House last week and was quickly signed into law by the Governor. Soy-based transformer fluid is a fire-resistant, biodegradable coolant. Waverly Light & Power, in conjunction with the National Ag-Based Lubricants Center, helped pioneer the development of the product in the mid-1990s. The tax credit will make this environmentally friendly coolant an attractive option for electric utilities, while increasing Iowa's use of home-grown resources that reduce our dependence on petroleum. Pictured to my left are Lou Honary, director of the National Ag-Based Lubricant Center in Waverly, and Senator Bill Dotzler of Waterloo, who managed the bill when it passed the Senate last year.
	Turkey Valley JEL students talked with legislators about a statewide smoking ban when they visited the Capitol on Feb. 13. JEL, which stands for Just Eliminate Lies, is the State of Iowa's youth-run tobacco-control program.
	Students from Wartburg College in Waverly visited the Statehouse Feb. 20. During their visit, Senator Bill Heckroth, also of Waverly, spoke to them in the Senate chamber about issues the Senate is facing this legislative session. (Photo Credit: Senate Intern Christjahn Beck)
	Senator Bill Heckroth of Waverly met with representatives of local governments in his district in the Senate chamber on Wednesday, February 20th. They were at the Capitol to discuss the Tax Incremental Funding program. Pictured from left: Jim Moeller; Larry Farley, City Administrator of Denver, IA; Senator Heckroth; Dick Crayne, City Administrator of Waverly, IA; and Joel Wikner of Denver, IA.
	Senator Bill Heckroth of Waverly met with constituents from Lutheran Services of Iowa in the Senate Chamber Feb. 19. The group was at the Statehouse as part of Lutheran Day on the Hill to raise awareness of the work that Lutheran Services does throughout the state. From left: Waverly residents Carla Janssen, Kaye Englin, Gerald Vallem and Heckroth.
	Kyle Frette is a 23-year-old Iowan who is unable to purchase comprehensive health insurance due a pre-existing medical condition. Frette, who grew up in Story City, was at the Statehouse on Feb. 20 to take part in a news conference with Governor Chet Culver. Frette recently switched from a group insurance plan to an individual plan. Because he has a minor heart problem, Frette had difficulty finding health insurance at any cost. In the end, he accepted a plan that does not cover any medical problems related to his heart. I support reforms that would stop health insurers from refusing coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
	Senator Bill Heckroth met with constituent Joel Flug at the Statehouse on Feb.13. Flug is the store director at Hy-Vee in Waverly. Flug and Heckroth enjoyed pie and ice cream as part of Iowa Grocers Day on the Hill.
	Governor Chet Culver signed a bill increasing the state's contribution to local schools by 4 percent on Feb. 12. The appropriation, which passed the Legislature last week, provides our K12 schools with an additional $222 per student. The money is used for textbooks, heating bills, technology and other necessities that help make students, teachers and schools successful.
	Local legislators took questions for constituents at the Fayette County Library Association’s forum at Clermont Public Library on Feb. 2. From left: Sen. Bill Heckroth of Waverly, Rep. Roger Thomas of Elkader, Rep. Andrew Wenthe of Hawkeye, and Sen. Brian Schoenjahn of Arlington.
	A bipartisan effort to clean up Iowa’s rivers and lakes was launched Feb. 4 at the Iowa Statehouse. The Surface Water Protection Act is the product of a two-year planning effort by many groups that care about our environment and quality of life here in Iowa. Cleaning up our waterways will greatly expand recreational opportunities, including boating, fishing, swimming and canoeing. From left: Fox News reporter Cal Woods, Rep. Steve Olson, a Republican from DeWitt, Sen. Bill Heckroth, a Democrat from Waverly, and Sen. Rich Olive, a Democrat from Story City.
	State Senator Bill Heckroth of Waverly spoke Jan. 31 with someone likely to play a large role in transportation decisions impacting District 9. Mike Blouin of Dubuque, former director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development, has been appointed by Gov. Chet Culver to represent northeast Iowa on the powerful Iowa Transportation Commission. The two discussed the relationship between economic development and a strong transportation system.
	Northeast Iowa Community College students traveled to the Statehouse on Jan. 31 to meet with legislators. Iowa’s community colleges provide the training Iowans need to move up in life and the skilled workers the state’s economy needs to grow. Sen. Bill Heckroth of Waverly told the students that he will support increased funding for community colleges in order to keep tuition affordable. From left: Sen. Brian Schoenjahn of Arlington, Care Pott, Brandee Houston, Brittany Steveson, Chris Duggan and Heckroth.
	Senator Bill Heckroth of Waverly talked with constituent Loren Ridge, an EMS worker from Sumner. He was at the Statehouse on Jan. 31 on behalf of the Iowa Emergency Medical Services Association to talk with legislators about the needs of Iowa’s Emergency Medical Services workers. Iowa’s professional and volunteer EMS workers provide essential services to thousands of Iowans each year.
	The proven benefits of doing more with less energy was a hot topic this week at the Iowa Statehouse. I talked with Bill McAnally, chair of Industrial Technology at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, and Simon Lindner, a 2007 graduate of his carpentry program. The two were in Des Moines to testify before a Senate committee about how modern building techniques result in new homes that use 65% less energy than older homes. We discussed how saving energy is creating jobs and improving the budgets of businesses and families across Iowa. To learn more, contact Bill at McAnally@iowacentral.edu. Pictured from left: Lindner, McAnally, and I.
	Senators Bill Heckroth of Waverly and Brian Schoenjahn of Arlington meet with Future Farmers of America (FFA) members from Wapsie Valley Schools on Jan. 28. While at the Statehouse, the students got a tour of the Senate Chambers and talked with legislators about the leading role Iowa agriculture is playing in the world-wide renewable fuels boom. Pictured from left to right are: Ellen Doese, Geoffrey Stout, Jamie Leistikow, Heckroth, Hanna Wiersma, Schoenjahn, Sarah Doese, and Brent Doese.
	Senator Bill Heckroth of Waverly and Representative Andrew Wenthe of Hawkeye spoke with Bremer County Deputy Terry Dehmlow, who was at the Statehouse Jan. 23 on behalf of the Iowa Association of Chiefs of Police and Peace Officers. They talked about the unique challenges law enforcement officers face on the job every day and what the Legislature can do to help them keep the rest of us safe.
	Senator Bill Heckroth of Waverly talked with several local veterans who were at the Statehouse January 16, including Ralph Juhl and Jim Beam of Waverly and Jake Blitch, an American Legion member from Oelwein. They were among hundreds of Iowa veterans at the Capitol for Veterans Day on the Hill, an annual event that gives our vets a chance to discuss their legislative priorities with elected officials. Pictured, from left Juhl, Heckroth and Beam. (Photo Credit: Christjahn Beck)
	Senator Bill Heckroth of Waverly met with Judge Chris Foy and his wife, Mary, when they visited the State Capitol January 16 for the State of the Judiciary address. Foy, who lives in Waverly, is a newly appointed judge for Judicial District 2A. (Credit, Hans Erickson)
	State Senator Bill Heckroth (Waverly) and State Representative Andrew Wenthe (Hawkeye) talk prior to Governor Chet Culver's Condition of the State address Jan. 15. Heckroth said the Governor outlined a bold agenda to improve the quality of life for all Iowans by building on last year’s successes in education, health care and jobs.
	State Senator Bill Heckroth of Waverly and his clerk, Colleen Jones of Altoona, prepare for next week's start of the 2008 legislative session in the near empty Iowa Senate chamber. Heckroth returns to Des Moines with a list of some 75 specific issues mentioned by his constituents in Northeast Iowa. Both Heckroth and Jones will start their second session in Senate Monday, January 14. Pictured, from left: Jones and Heckroth. (1/10/08 Credit: Senate Intern Hans Erickson.)
	State Senators Brian Schoenjahn of Arlington and Bill Heckroth of Waverly met with Governor Chet Culver at the Iowa Statehouse on Monday to discuss the best ways to stand up for middle-class families and to continue responsible, prudent budget-making. Schoenjahn and Heckroth were at the Capitol to discuss priorities for the 2008 session, which convenes January 14. Last year’s budget left the state in better financial condition than the year before, and legislators pledged to repeat that accomplishment. Pictured, from left: Culver, Schoenjahn and Heckroth. (12/3/2007)
State Senator Bill Heckroth of Waverly met Oct. 29 with Robert Shireman, a national expert on college student debt. Shireman was at the Iowa Statehouse to speak with the Legislative Oversight Committee about the high debt loan that Iowa college students have. Shireman, president of the Institute for College Access and Success in California, told Heckroth and other legislators that high student debt in Iowa is primarily caused by insufficient grants for low income students at Iowa’s public universities and high tuition at community colleges. Shireman said high levels of student debt discourage students from making their home in Iowa and from entering teaching, law enforcement and other occupations. Shireman discusses his findings in a three-minute video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoB7FjNtE9g. A transcript of Shireman’s testimony before the Government Oversight Committee is available at www.legis.state.ia.us/lsadocs/SC_MaterialsDist/2008/SDMAT011.PDF. Further information for students and their parents can be found at www.projectonstudentdebt.org.