Photos

	Sen. Bob Dvorsky of Coralville, Lt Gov. Patty Judge and Sen. Staci Appel of Ackworth visit at the Iowa State Fair about flood damage and repair plans for Cedar Rapids.
	Legislators met with Kristie Fisher and Nicole Hill in the Senate Chamber on April 17. They were representing Kirkwood Community College women's basketball team, which was honored with Senate Resolution 153 for winning the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Tournament. Pictured, from left: Sen. Wally Horn of Cedar Rapids, Sen. Bob Dvorsky of Coralville, Hill, Fisher, Sen. Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids and Sen. Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City.
	On April 15, Governor Chet Culver signed Iowa's Smoke-free Air Act into law. This statewide ban on smoking in public places will reduce exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke, which kills more than 400 Iowans annually and makes thousands ill. The initiative should also reduce the $300 million in taxpayer money that goes to treat smoking-related illnesses each year. The ban will apply to most workplaces, public places and certain outdoor areas. At the event were Sen. Joe Bolkcom; Eileen Fisher, president of Cafe Iowa (Clean Air for Everyone); Ross Wilburn, Iowa City City Council; Sen. Bob Dvorsky; Dr. Christopher Squire, board member of Cafe Iowa.
	On April 1, Gov. Chet Culver signed Senate File 2347 into law, providing $4.6 million to create a statewide system of optical scan voting machines before the November elections. This new law will give Iowans a verified paper record of the ballot they cast and will guarantee that voters with disabilities have the same opportunity to use a protected voting system.
	Johnson County Auditor Tom Slockett joined elected officials at the Statehouse for the bill-signing ceremony. From left: Sen. Bob Dvorsky, Slockett, Culver and Rep. Dave Jacoby.
	Senator Bob Dvorsky watches debate on the Senate floor Feb. 27 when a statewide ban on smoking in public places passed on a bipartisan 29-21 vote.
	On Feb. 20, I talked with local government officials from Coralville and North Liberty about infrastructure issues and the need for improved road and bridge funding. From left: Coralville Mayor Jim Fausett, City Administrator Ryan Heiar, Coleen Chipman of the North Liberty City Council, I, and Terry Donahue of the North Liberty City Council.
	I met with University of Iowa President Sally Mason during a luncheon at the Statehouse on Feb. 20. Mason was at the Capitol for Corridor Day on the Hill.
	Rep. Ro Foege of Mount Vernon and I met with members of the United Way on January 30. They visited the Statehouse to thank the Legislature and Governor Culver for supporting last year’s “2-1-1” initiative. 2-1-1 is a free 24-hour referral helpline that allows callers to speak with trained professionals about available a wide variety of health and human services. The service is available in all of Iowa’s 99 counties and receives more than 20,000 calls a month. Iowans can also access information by going to www.211iowa.org. The support that 2-1-1 received from the Legislature last year is enabling the United Way to better serve Iowans by developing a single database of organizations and services. The program is nationally recognized for its effectiveness during disasters and crisis recovery efforts. Pictured, front row, from left: me, Foege, Lois Buntz, Dave Markward, and Chris Jewett. Back row, from left: Sarah Olson, Kristine Chiafos, Jenna Carson, and Kay Fisk.
	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 talked about 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. From left: Lindner, McAnally, and I.
	Helping Iowa children learn to read was much discussed at the Iowa Statehouse on Jan. 24. I met with Sue Fett, reading recovery teacher leader with the Iowa City Community School District and the Grant Wood AEA. The Reading Recovery program involves short-term one-to-one tutoring for low-achieving first graders. Reading Recovery focuses on developing a student's vocabulary and comprehension. Left to right: State Representative Vickie Lensing of Iowa City, Sue Fett, and Senator Bob Dvorsky of Coralville.
	Senators Bob Dvorsky of Coralville and Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City talked with Aaron Schlumbohm Jan. 16th in the Statehouse rotunda. Schlumbohm, a member of University of Iowa Veterans Association, was at the Capitol for Veterans Day on the Hill. He was among hundreds of Iowa veterans visiting Des Moines to discuss their legislative priorities. Pictured, from left: Dvorsky, Schlumbohm, and Bolkcom. (Photo Credit: Christjahn Beck)