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Track Legislation
In the Chambers
Contact your Legislator
covering the SWICO area
State
Representatives
Richard Anderson
Clel Baudler
Cecil Dolecheck
Jack Drake
Greg Forristall
Mike Reasoner
Paul Shomshor
Dave Tjepkes
Matt Windschitl
State
Senators
Nancy Boettger
Michael Gronstal
Hubert Houser
Kim Reynolds
James Seymour
Federal
Senators
Tom Harkin
Charles Grassley
Federal
Representative
Steve King
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After your review of the pending regulatory changes for food safety that will affect our local lockers you may by April 19th (public comment period will close after this date):
- E-mail Senator Harkin, Senator Grassley and Representative King – click on each and cut and paste your comment
- E-mail (there is not time for regular mail) comment to Email comments: DraftValidationGuideComments@fsis.usda.gov
- Sample Comment Letter HERE from which you can cut and paste
- Specific Concerns with the Draft Guidance-HACCP System Validation (food safety) HERE
- More discussion about this issue will take place at the SWICO member meeting Thursday, April 15th
BRIEFLY:
On March 19, 2010 USDA/FSIS published the Draft Guidance-HACCP System Validation that addresses the validation of HACCP (food safety) plans in officially inspected meat and poultry plants.These validation guidelines are re-interpreting a regulation that has been in place for over 10 years. HACCP plans have been a regulatory requirement in officially inspected plants since 2000. Validation of HACCP plans has been accomplished by supporting decisions with scientific documentation, ongoing testing and ten years of documentation. During this same time in-plant HACCP Systems have been routinely reviewed by on-site inspection staff and subject to periodic extensive review through Food Safety Assessments. This currently provides significant oversight of a plant’s HACCP system. This new interpretation tremendously increases the number of microbial tests that must be conducted. This will not produce safer food. It is a scientific fact that you can not test safety into food products.
Thank you to all members who took the time to contact legisltors on behalf of the Clarinda Mental Health Institute. CMHI it seems has escaped the legislative budget ax for this session. However, the Department of Health has been charged with researching how the delivery of mental health services can be moved to becoming community based. What does that look like? How can the state's established institutions that are doing such a good job and become economic engines where they are located be a part of a transition? These are questions yet to be answered. Including representatives from the MHI's in the deliberations with with department heads and policy makers would seem a prudent way to ensure quality is maintained, resources are best used and negative economic impacts to local economies are minimized.
Stay tuned!
PowerPoint Here Facts about the CMHI and its value. You can also view this in Acrobat Reader Here
A letter to the task force charged with reviewing the state's mental health institutions from SWICO cited the facility's strengths in serving its patients and as a diversified economic engine for the region. You may Read SWICO Support Letter Here
State Government Reorganization Subcommittee members assigned to HSB 565,
Division 34 (which includes the MHI legislation) are:
Rep. Mary Mascher mary.mascher@legis.state.ia.us
Rep. John Beard john.beard@legis.state.ia.us
Rep. Renee Schulte renee.schulte@legis.state.ia.us
Other State Government Reorganization Committee members assigned to HSB 565 are:
Rep. Mary Gaskill mary.gaskill@legis.state.ia.us
Rep. Todd Taylor todd.taylor@legis.state.ia.us
Rep. Doug Struyk doug.struyk@legis.state.ia.us
Rep. Jeff Kaufmann jeff.kaufmann@legis.state.ia.us
Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee members are:
Senator Jack Hatch jack.hatch@legis.state.ia.us
Senator Amanda Ragan amanda.ragan@legis.state.ia.us
Senator David Johnson david.johnson@legis.state.ia.us
Senator David Hartsuch david.hartsuch@legis.state.ia.us
Senator Becky Schmitz becky.schmitz@legis.state.ia.us
Rep. Lisa Heddens lisa.heddens@legis.state.ia.us
Rep. Phyllis Thede phyllis.thede@legis.state.ia.us
Rep. David Heaton david.heaton@legis.state.ia.us
Rep. Linda Miller linda.miller@legis.state.ia.us
Rep. Henry Rahons henry.rahons@legis.state.ia.us
Rep. Renee Schulte renee.schulte@legis.state.ia.us
Rep. Paul Shomshor paul.shomshor@legis.state.ia.us
Rep. Mark Smith mark.smith@legis.state.ia.us
Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell beth.wessel-kroeschell@legis.state.ia.us
Governor Culver’s e-mail is: chet.culver@iowa.gov
2010 Legislative Agenda of Priorities
The agenda is in its final draft stage and being sent via e-mail to the members for vote. Non members can submit suggestions to the board prior to November 16th for consideration. Dowload a copy by clicking on the link to the right of this column. |
A synopsis of Governor Chet Culver's 2009 condition of the state address and rebuild Iowa proposals for legislation are available by clicking on the downloadable files below.
Condition of the State
Rebuild Iowa Infastructure Bill
Rebuild Iowa Investment Bonds
13 Campaigns, including the US congressional candidates,
were on site in Creston to visit with more than 50 members of SWICO and general public for the 2008 Candidate's Forum.
State and Federal candidates running for house and senate seats within the 16-county SWICO membership area were invited to the annual legislative forum. SWICO hosts a regional legislative forum each year for its members and the general public.
Thank you to all the candidates and incumbents who were able to attend on September 30th. Most all were able to come early and enjoy a casual meal prior to the forum. The forum is informal with legislators able to openly address attendees and then a moderated question and answer session follows. There was a wonderful showing of both legislators and attendees this year.
Thank you to Union County for hosting the site and members, Bill Henderson and Adam Snodgrass, for assisting with coordination and publicity. |
For printable photos of the evening, click on the photo of your choice - others are available through the office. |
Photo Gallery: Taste of Southwest Iowa
Printable images can be opened by clicking the link below and then printed or saved.
On Thursday, March 20th, the member counties of the Southwest Iowa Coalition hosted capitol guests, visitors and legislators by dishing out tasty samples of agricultural products from the region and introducing them through festive displays to local community assets and attractions at A Taste of Southwest Iowa. The annual event since 2000 delightfully surprises unsuspecting visitors and has established quite a reputation among Capitol regulars and staff as a ‘don't miss event' in the rotunda area.
More than 350 guests were served samples at many of the locally-manned county tables, and many more wandered and browsed materials and displays on opportunities for tourism, living and working in southwest Iowa . Weary legislators from a long night and early morning of debating bills came down from the chambers to visit Coalition members as they have now for 8 years. And, all the while, Fremont County 's own, Marty Mincer, filled the air with rag-time tunes on his electronic piano.
The Taste of Southwest Iowa event was started by Coalition members as a way for local agricultural producers to market their products to a broader market and to focus policy-makers on the critical role agriculture plays in our rural economies. SWICO board members meet throughout the day with the house and senate leadership and key policy-makers to discuss its annual Legislative Agenda of Priorities developed by the membership.
Member counties represented this year through local leadership included: Adair, Adams, Cass, Fremont , Montgomery , Page, Shelby and Taylor Counties. Bon's Bake House, Greenfield , Iowa , was serving up its delicious homemade peach cobbler across from Naturally Iowa's organic Falk's Ice Cream made in Clarinda. You could chose catsup or mustard on your Maidrites brought in from Atlantic, which originated in Iowa, or sample the world prize chili winner's recipe from the Farmers Kitchen. Moving around the rotunda, one could sample Zeb's Smokehouse venison from Bedford, smother a brat grilled by the Adams County Cattlemen with sour kraut, taste the popular Windy Hills Orchard jams and jelly collection or meet Miss Shenandoah. And for a little innovation, the Southwest Iowa Farm to Food Initiative hosted a table featuring edibles from aronia berries that included meatballs in aronia berry barbeque sauce and aronia berry salsa.
The event is generally held in March and any local organization or group is invited to host a table for a county that is a SWICO member. If your county would like to participate in the Taste of Southwest Iowa in 2009, you can contact the office by phone or e-mail.
click here to download Taste participation details. |
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Reserve
the August date for 2008
August 26th at the Red Oak Country Club
The
member golf outing, which has become a custom, will become
an annual tournament event. Thank you to member, Jason Reynolds
in Taylor County, for making the 2006 1st official Annual
Golf Tournament such a success!
It has
become a custom through the last few years for members to
enjoy golf prior to the regular board and member meetings
in August at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club. The goal
for next August will be 15 teams of 4 for golf, so be planning
your county teams now.
The
candidates forum has been blended with the golf and cookout
and has worked well. The board has decided to host a legislative
forum in August each year following the golf tournament.
During the election cycles, SWICO will invite candidates
for a moderated forum, and on non-election years, legislators
representing the membership area will be invited for an
informal panel discussion. The Coalition will use this opportunity
to submit a platform from the membership on issues targeted
for impact during the upcoming legislative session.
Farm
Bill Forums
Senator
Tom Harkin met with SWICO representatives in an effort to
gather grassroots input for development needs that might
be addressed within the new Farm Bill legislation.
Focus groups throughout the state were scheduled. The Coalition
thanks Senator Harkin for the special invitation to participate
in the process. Members from SWICO traveled to Harlan to
share their challenges and resource needs in all areas of
rural development with special emphasis on rural agricultural
initiatives that can build sustainable economies. Special
appreciation goes to the Senator's representative, Ellen
Huntoon for making the arrangements.
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capitol map here
2010 Legislative Agenda of Priorities
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