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Mason City High School Concert Choir
traveled to Des Moines to perform for the Iowa
Association of School Boards Convention in Hy-Vee Hall
on November 19. They also visited the Statehouse for a
tour and to sing in the rotunda. Sen. Amanda Ragan and
Rep. Sharon Steckman attended the performances at
the both the convention and the state Capitol.
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Representative Sharon Steckman and Senator
Amanda Ragan recently presented Duane and Chris Blum a
certificate for their service to the community through flood
recovery efforts. The Blums have volunteered with the Cerro
Gordo/Franklin Long-Term Recovery Coalition and United Way
of North Central Iowa since November of 2008. Even before
November, the couple was traveling to Cedar Rapids, Waverly,
Parkersburg and other communities to assist in recovery
efforts.
The Blums and hundreds of other volunteers have played a big
role in Iowa’s recovery from the worst natural disaster in
Iowa’s history. |
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Governor Chet Culver’s Iowa Unlimited train
tour of the state stopped in Mason City recently. The
Governor took the opportunity to highlight the importance of
investment in rail and renewable energy. Pictured are Bill
Turner of the Union Pacific Railroad, Governor Culver, Mason
City Mayor Roger Bang and Senator Amanda Ragan. |
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I was honored to be recognized by the Iowa
Health Care Association and Iowa Center for Assisted Living
during their annual statewide convention on September 29.
IHCA and ICAL represent 559 nursing facilities and assisted
living programs across the state, and I'm committed to
helping them continue to provide top-notch long-term care to
Iowa's frail and elderly.
Pictured with me are ICAL Government Relations
representative Jen Kingland, ICAL Director Cindy Baddeloo
and ICAL Past President Jean Palmer, administrator at
Kentucky Ridge and Cornerstone Assisted Living in Mason
City. |
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I recently enjoyed a tour and environmental
update of Clear Lake with Iowa DNR Director Rich Leopold and
David Knolls, coordinator for the Clear Lake Enhancement and
Restoration (CLEAR) Project. |
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Ann MacGregor, executive Director of Wright
on the Park in Mason City, announced $2.2 million New Market
Tax Credits for renovation of the Historic Park Inn Hotel on
September 24. This is great news for revitalizing our
downtown area. Find out more about the project at
www.wrightonthepark.org. |
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On September 24, Representative Sharon
Steckman and I joined Lee Weber, president of the River City
Society for Historic Preservation, and others at the
groundbreaking for the Mason City Architectural Interpretive
Center. |
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On September 10, the Iowa Department of
Public Safety held an open house to celebrate the new
District 8 Headquarters in Mason City. District 8
Headquarters houses the Iowa State Patrol, offices for the
Division of Criminal Investigation, Division of Narcotics
Enforcement and the State Fire Marshal Division. District 8
includes Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Mitchell, Howard, Chickasaw,
Winnebago Hancock and Worth counties.
The facility has many cost saving features to
reduce energy consumption, which helps save taxpayer
dollars. For example, the offices have occupancy sensors on
the lighting so that lights automatically shut off if no one
is in the office. In fact, the facility received a $17,760
rebate incentive from Alliant Energy as a result of an
energy audit of the building design. |
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About 80 people came out for the dedication
of Colby Park in the Central Heights neighborhood of Mason
City. The park was constructed in memory of National Guard
soldier Dustin Colby and in honor of 1133rd Transportation
Company. |
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Iowa’s nurses are an essential part of our
health care system. Experts say there are good reasons to be
concerned about a shortage of nurses in our rural
communities.
On September 1, I visited the outstanding nursing program at
Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg to learn more
about what Iowa is doing to increase the number of nurses
while providing Iowans with good job opportunities. I talked
with nursing students and faculty about their desire to work
in a field where they really make a difference in the health
of Iowans.
At the state level, we are encouraging more Iowans to go
into nursing by improving and expanding student loan
forgiveness programs. You can learn more about state,
federal and private loan forgiveness programs for nurses at
www.iowacollegeaid.gov/commissioncentral/
loanforgiveness/nursing.html.
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In early August,
Representative Sharon Steckman and I presented Don Lee of
Mason City with a Certificate of Recognition. |
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Senator Amanda
Ragan donates an American Flag for the Muse Norris
Building and the United Way of North Central Iowa in
Mason City. Accepting the flag are Brandi Evers and Alex
Kuhn of the United Way.
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A year after the 2008
floods, Mason City saluted volunteers and those helping with
the ongoing recovery work with "River City Rises, Recovers
and Remembers" in Mason City's East Park. Pictured at the
June 7 event are Senator Amanda Ragan, General Ron Dardis,
head of the Rebuild Iowa Office and Representative Sharon
Steckman.
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State Senators Amanda
Ragan of Mason City, Mary Jo Wilhelm of Cresco and Pam
Jochum of Dubuque listen to debate early on the morning of
April 25 before casting a vote at 3 a.m. The Iowa House and
Senate worked long days and made tough choices to balance
the state budget without raising taxes during a national
economic recession. Legislators ended the 2009 session by
approving a major bonding bill that will help restart the
Iowa economy, recover from last year’s natural disasters,
and keep commitments to education, health care and
increasing Iowa-grown renewable energy. |
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On April 23, Governor
Chet Culver signed two bills designed to expand Iowa’s wind
energy industry. Senate File 456 utilizes unused tax credits
to promote small wind energy projects across the state.
House File 817 provides economic incentives for wind
component manufacturers who are looking at building or
expanding in Iowa.
Iowa currently ranks second in wind energy production,
according to the American Wind Energy Association. The state
is home to five major wind energy component manufacturers
and has seen 2,300 green-collar wind energy jobs created in
recent years. |
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Governor Chet Culver
signed House File 311 at the Statehouse on April 24. This
new law will help Iowans with disabilities by making sure
insurance covers their prosthetics. In recent years,
insurance coverage of prosthetics has declined, leaving many
Iowans to pay substantial costs entirely out of pocket. This
legislation will reverse that trend, and ensure prosthetic
coverage for all Iowans who need it. On hand for the bill
signing were, from left: Governor Chet Culver; Senator Pat
Ward; Rod Cheney of American Prosthetics & Orthotics;
Senator Bill Dotzler; Drew Wall, a 12 year old from Cedar
Rapids who lost his leg last year due to cancer; Gary Cheney
of American Prosthetics & Orthotics; Representative Bob
Kressig; Representative Janet Peterson; Representative Dave
Jacoby; Senator Steve Warnstadt; Senator Bill Heckroth; and
Senator Amanda Ragan. |
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Fourth-grade students from
Harding Elementary School in Mason City visited the Statehouse
on April 22. The students toured the building and met with
legislators, including Senator Amanda Ragan and Representative
Sharon Steckman. |
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Pastor Jim Magelssen, of
Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City, provided the opening
prayer in the Iowa House and Senate on April 20. Pictured are
Representative Sharon Steckman, Pastor Jim Magelssen and Senator
Amanda Ragan. |
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NIACC college student
Trella Warburton of Britt met with legislators April 13 at the
Iowa Statehouse. Warburton told Senator Amanda Ragan (left) and
Representative Mark Kuhn (right) how North Iowa Community Action
is helping her family succeed. Warburton graduates from NIACC in
May with a degree in Business & Administration. |
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April 8 was Capitol Youth
Day 2009 at the Iowa Statehouse. Secretary of State Michael
Mauro hosted hundreds of middle school students from across the
state, including students from Newman Catholic High School in
Mason City. Capitol Youth Day brings students to their State
Capitol to promote civic engagement and help them gain a better
understanding of the governing process. Pictured here are Newman
Middle School students with Senator Amanda Ragan. |
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Discussing Iowa's Human
Resources priorities with former State Senator Maggie Tinsman of
Bettendorf, a tireless advocate for Iowans in need. |
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April 1 was Advocating
Change Day at the Statehouse. Iowans with disabilities and their
families spent the day at the Capitol talking with their state
legislators and other elected officials. Senator Amanda Ragan
and Representative Sharon Steckman met with a group from the
North Iowa Vocational Center in Mason City to discuss what the
Legislature can do to help Iowans with disabilities. NIVC
provides training to individuals with disabilities to help them
better reach their work-related goals. |
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The Girl Scouts of Greater
Iowa were at the Statehouse March 26 to meet their legislators,
tour the building, and learn how the Legislature works.
First picture: Senator Amanda Ragan and Representative Sharon
Steckman with Girl Scouts from Mason City.
Second picture: Senator Ragan and Representative Mark Kuhn with
Girl Scouts from Nora Springs. |
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Senator Ragan speaks with
Mike Runnells, a member of the board of the Iowa Natural
Heritage Foundation, recently at the Statehouse. The foundation
is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a member-supported,
nonprofit group. During that time, it has helped protect more
than 100,000 acres of Iowa's prairies, wetlands, woodlands,
greenways, trails and river corridors. |
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On March 25, Governor Chet
Culver signed Senate File 197, making Iowa the first state in
the nation to enact new federal guidelines modernizing our
unemployment insurance system. As a result of this legislation,
Iowa’s Unemployment Insurance Fund stands to receive $71 million
in federal aid to make these changes. Iowa is the first state in
the nation to fully comply with the law. The bill provides for
more unemployed Iowans to claim benefits in the quarter they
first become unemployed; provides for an additional 26 weeks of
benefits for workers who enroll in high-demand or high-tech
training programs; and makes it easier to rehire returning
veterans. Senate File 197 passed House and Senate with broad
bipartisan support. |
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State Representative Mark
Kuhn and State Senator Amanda Ragan welcomed Bridget Moe and Deb
Roberts to the state capitol on March 25, 2009. Moe serves with
Floyd County Emergency Management and Roberts is the Floyd
County Recorder. The group is pictured in the state House of
Representatives Chambers. |
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On Tuesday, March 24,
Timothy Orr was unanimously confirmed by the Iowa Senate as the
new Adjutant General of the State of Iowa. |
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Senator Amanda Ragan and
Representative Sharon Steckman met with members of the Mason
City Board of Realtors at the Statehouse on Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday was the Iowa Association of Realtor's annual Day on the
Hill. |
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The Reidel family of Mason
City visited with Senator Amanda Ragan in the Senate chamber on
Tuesday, March 24, during their spring break. Along with
visiting with Senator Ragan, they toured the Statehouse and
received an inside look at Iowa government. L to R: Julie
Reidel, Claire Reidel, Lucas Reidel, Dennis Reidel, and Senator
Ragan |
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The Iowa Biotechnology
Association held a legislative breakfast at the Statehouse
earlier this week. The IBA was formed in 1994 and works to
improve Iowa's human, environmental and economic well-being
through the development and application of biotechnology. I had
the opportunity to meet with Michael Ott, the Associate Director
of the Iowa Biotechnology Association, and Kate Kulesher, Board
Member of the Iowa Biotechnology Association, during the
breakfast. |
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On March 19, the Senate
approved legislation that will strengthen Iowa’s leadership role
in the national effort to improve health care. Senator Amanda
Ragan observes the passage of Senate File 389, another big step
toward extending health insurance to 30,000 Iowa kids who are
currently uninsured, helping low-income adults looking for
affordable insurance, and a host of other health care reforms. |
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Senator Amanda Ragan
talked with Cedar Rapids Senator Rob Hogg about this week's
legislation to reform Iowa's home foreclosure laws. Senator Hogg
floor managed the legislation, which requires creditors to
inform homeowners facing foreclosure about alternatives,
including mediation and mortgage counseling services. It was
approved unanimously. |
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Annette Hussey-Barsness,
formerly of Mason City, visited with Senator Amanda Ragan this
week about health care reform issues. This week, the Senate took
another big step toward addressing our chronic health care
problems by extending health insurance to 30,000 Iowa kids
who are currently uninsured. This will give Iowa the highest
percentage of insured children in the nation. |
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Representatives of the
American Cancer Society were at the Statehouse March 18. State
Senator Amanda Ragan met with Andrea Goedderz and Sue Ollman of
Mason City. They discussed healthcare reform, funding for cancer
research and a variety of health care issues. |
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Students from Iowa's three state universities
were at the Statehouse on Monday, March 9 with the Iowa Regent
Universities program, "Research in the Capitol." The students
choose a topic to research that relates to their major, and then
have the opportunity to present it to lawmakers and staff. State
Senator Amanda Ragan had the opportunity to meet with Osage
resident and University of Northern Iowa student Justin Sprung.
He studied the relationship between alcohol consumption and
employment among college students. |
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Senator Amanda Ragan attended the bill signing
for Senate File 101 on March 5. The bill establishes a shaken
baby syndrome prevention program through the Iowa Department of
Public Health. Senator Ragan was the floor manager of the bill
when it was debated in the Senate, where it passed unanimously.
L to R: Senator Ragan, Senator Merlin Bartz, Jacob Appel,
(Senator Appel's son), Senator Becky Schmitz, Governor Culver,
Representative Sharon Steckman, Representative Mark Smith, and
Senator Staci Appel |
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Senator Amanda Ragan and
Representative Sharon Steckman met with Mary Cooley, of Mason
City, while she visited the Capitol on Wednesday, March 11. |
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On March 5, Senator Amanda Ragan met with Jackie
Wipperman at the Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services'
legislative breakfast. The IVRS mission is to work for and with
individuals with disabilities to achieve their employment,
independence and economic goals. |
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The Multiple Sclerosis Society hosted a
legislative breakfast at the Statehouse on March 4th as part of
National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. Blaine Rourick,
formerly of St. Ansgar, was there to lobby on behalf of the
4,500 Iowans affected by Multiple Sclerosis. L to R: Amanda
Kimber (Senator Ragan's Clerk), Blaine Rourick, and Senator
Ragan |
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John Henry, of Mason City, spoke with Senator
Amanda Ragan on behalf of Metalcraft at the Statehouse on March
3rd. The Institute for Physical Research and Technology
(IPRT) held a legislative event to highlight the assistance they
give to companies in Iowa. Metalcraft is one such
company helped by IPRT's scientific and technical staff. |
