CLOSE UP. MANY NEW FACES AT THE IOWA LEGISLATURE HERE FROM FIRST TIME LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ON MAJOR BILLS PASSED THIS SESSION. AND RENEWABLE FUELS VERSUS ELECTRIC VEHICLES. WHY FORMER IOWA GOVERNOR TERRY BRANSTAD ARGUES TO CONGRESS THAT ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE NOT THE BEST SOLUTION TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE AND EXPANDING HEALTH CARE. THE LAW. GOVERNOR REYNOLDS SIGNED LAST WEEK. SHE SAYS, WE’LL GET MORE HEALTH CARE WORKERS TO RURAL IOWA THIS IS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. THIS IS KCCI EIGHT NEWS. CLOSE UP. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO CLOSE UP. I’M CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AMANDA ROOKER. REPUBLICAN HOUSE SPEAKER PAT GRASSLEY CREDITS A FLOOD OF NEW FACES AT THE STATE HOUSE FOR HELPING PASS SEVERAL MAJOR BILLS THAT HAVE STALLED IN THE LEGISLATURE IN YEARS PAST. I SAT DOWN ONE ON ONE WITH ONE OF THOSE FIRST YEAR LAWMAKERS REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE BILL GUST FROM DES MOINES SHARES HIS TAKE ON THIS YEAR’S LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WELL, YOU JUST WRAPPED UP YOUR FIRST LEGISLATIVE SESSION. CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING IT THROUGH. WELL, WE KNOW IT’S IT’S VERY BUSY. THERE’S A LOT TO LEARN AND GET ACCUSTOMED TO. QUICKLY. WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE AS A FIRST TIME LAWMAKER? WELL, I WENT IN WITH A LITTLE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I’VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE, A PART TIME LOBBYIST FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SO I THINK I KNEW A LITTLE BIT WHAT TO EXPECT. BUT IT WAS THIS IS A VERY ROBUST SESSION. A LOT OF HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY. WE PASSED A LOT OF BIG THINGS. SO IT’S ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE SESSIONS I CAN REMEMBER IN THE 16 YEARS OR SO THAT I’VE BEEN INVOLVED UP THERE. AND SO I LEARNED I LEARNED THAT I DIDN’T WHAT I DIDN’T KNOW, WHICH WAS I THOUGHT I KNEW A LOT MORE THAN I DID. AND IT WAS JUST HARD TO KEEP UP WITH IT ALL. SO THAT WAS GOOD. IT WAS VERY HARD TO KEEP UP. I’M A CITIZEN LEGISLATOR. I LIVE LOCALLY, SO I STILL GO HOME AND I’M A HUSBAND AND FATHER AND I STILL HAVE A LAW FIRM THAT I’M PART OF. SO I’M STILL ACTIVE HERE AND SO KEEPING UP WAS DIFFICULT, TACKLING BIG ISSUES AS THEY CAME UP. THERE’S JUST SO MUCH TO READ THERE THAT IT’S HARD TO KEEP UP WITH IT. BUT IT WAS GOOD. I APPRECIATED THE CREW WE HAD AND THE PEOPLE IN BOTH PARTIES, FRANKLY, TO PICK THEIR BRAINS ON THEIR PERSPECTIVES AND THEIR BACKGROUNDS. IT WAS VERY THAT WAS VERY BENEFICIAL. IS THERE ANY ONE THING THAT YOU WERE THE MOST SURPRISED BY OR A MOMENT THAT YOU THAT YOU’LL REMEMBER FROM THIS PAST SESSION? SO YOU ALWAYS GET EVERY YEAR YOU GET A LITTLE BIT OF THAT HOUSE AND SENATE DISPUTE. AND AND I HAVE FRIENDS IN BOTH CHAMBERS. SO I KIND OF TRIED TO STAY OUT OF THAT FRAY. BUT SO IT SURPRISED ME A LITTLE MORE THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD. I EXPECTED IT, BUT IT’S JUST PART OF THE DRAMA THAT HAPPENS UP THERE EVERY YEAR. AND IT’S PROBABLY A NECESSARY PART OF THE PROCESS TO SLOW SOME THINGS DOWN SOMETIMES. SO THAT WAS A LITTLE SURPRISING. I THOUGHT MAYBE I’D BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME MORE, FRANKLY, BIPARTISAN DISCUSSIONS AND THINGS. BUT IT’S HARD BECAUSE PEOPLE GET IN THEIR LANES AND SOMETIMES IT’S HARD TO GET EVERYBODY TO STOP TALKING THEIR TALKING POINTS. SO THAT WAS A LITTLE MORE FRUSTRATING THAN I THOUGHT, THAN I EXPECTED IT TO BE SURE. AND PART OF IT, TOO. YOU’RE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT YOU’RE GOING TO BRING UP TO THE STATE HOUSE. AND THERE’S A LOT OF LAWMAKERS THAT HAVE THINGS THEY WANT TO GET DONE. DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE ABLE TO HAVE AN IMPACT OR CONTRIBUTE SOME THINGS THAT YOU HAD BEEN HOPING TO BRING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE? YEAH, I DO. I THINK AS A FRESHMAN LEGISLATOR, I THINK I HAD A PRETTY GOOD YEAR. I INTRODUCED SEVERAL BILLS BECAUSE I’VE BEEN WORKING ON IDEAS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SOME OF THOSE MADE IT INTO LAW. FOR EXAMPLE, REMOTE SIGNING WAS WAS ONE THAT WAS HANDED TO ME. I WAS GOING TO JOIN THE 21ST CENTURY AND SOME OF OUR SURROUNDING STATES THAT ALLOW THAT. I GET THE GEEKY ATTORNEY STUFF. SO THEY DON’T MAKE HEADLINES. BUT ONE ONE THAT I GOT ENTRUSTED WITH AS A FRESHMAN WAS THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE TORT REFORM. AND SO THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THAT EARLIER THIS WEEK. AND I WAS PROUD TO BE THE FLOOR MANAGER OF THAT ONE. SO THAT WAS A BIG BILL. I WAS ENTRUSTED TO RUN THE UPDATES TO THE GUARDIANSHIP AND CONSERVATORSHIP LAW. THAT’S BEEN OH, IT’S BEEN A BATTLE GOING ON 5 OR 8 YEARS THERE. AND SO VERY DISPARATE PARTIES. WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO IT. IT JUST DIED IN SECOND FUNNEL. BUT I’M VERY OPTIMISTIC WE’LL GET THAT DONE NEXT YEAR. SO SOME OF THOSE BIG THINGS, THE EDUCATION ISSUES I’M ON, EDUCATION AND JUDICIARY, THOSE TWO COMMITTEES HAD TO THINK, AT LEAST IN THE FIRST HALF OF SESSION, THE MOST BILLS OF ANY COMMITTEE. SO WE’RE VERY BUSY. I WAS I WAS VERY PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO BRING THAT BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE THAT I’VE HAD IN LAW AND LOBBYING AND OTHER THINGS INTO PLAY THERE AND HELP, HELP OTHERS NAVIGATE THE TERRAIN. CERTAINLY A VERY, VERY BUSY SESSION. SOME OF THOSE TOPICS YOU MENTIONED MADE IT INTO BILL’S MORE MEDICAL MALPRACTICE. PRIVATE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS, REGULATION BANS ON BOOKS. THOSE WERE IDEAS THAT HAVE STALLED REGULARLY IN YEARS PAST IN THE STATE HOUSE. BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE THIS YEAR AND IT WAS HOUSE REPUBLICANS, NAMELY IN YEARS PAST, THAT HAD KIND OF NOT BEEN ABLE TO AGREE ON THOSE IDEAS. HOUSE LEADERSHIP HAS SAID THEY FEEL REDISTRICTING WAS CRUCIAL IN THE CHANGE. THIS YEAR. HOW LARGE OF A ROLE DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU AND OTHER NEW MEMBERS PLAYED IN GETTING THOSE CONTROVERSIAL BILLS ACTUALLY ACROSS THE FINISH LINE THIS YEAR? WELL, I DON’T WANT TO OVERSTATE OVERESTIMATE MY WORK ON IT, BUT I DO THINK I HELPED I’VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR SCHOOL CHOICE ISSUES AND PRO-LIFE ISSUES FOR A LONG TIME. SO I THINK THAT HELPED. IN FACT, I WAS PLEASED AT THE FIRST POLICY BILL. I GOT TO VOTE FOR IN MY LEGISLATIVE CAREER WAS A PARENTAL RIGHTS AND SCHOOL CHOICE BILL THAT I’VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SO I THINK I HELPED WITH THAT. AND I THINK THE REDISTRICTING MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE THERE. AND THERE WAS A BIG SENTIMENT IN THE FRESHMAN CLASS IN PARTICULAR, AND A LOT OF THE NON FRESHMEN THAT WANTED TO GET THESE THINGS DONE AND WE JUST BUCKLED DOWN AND GOT IT DONE. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN IT. I CAN THINK OF REPRESENTING WHO HAD SCHOOL BOARD EXPERIENCE REPRESENTED SCHUYLER WHEELER REPRESENTING BOWDOIN. I COULD GO ON AND NAME MANY OTHERS, BUT SO MANY PEOPLE HAD A ROLE IN GETTING THAT DONE AND BRINGING THEIR DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND PERSPECTIVES TO IT NOW THAT YOU’RE OUT OF SESSION. BUT THAT BILL IS KIND OF COMING TO FRUITION WITH THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. THERE’S BEEN SOME CONCERN ABOUT PRIVATE SCHOOLS RAISING TUITION WHEN YOU’RE OUT OF SESSION, HOW CLOSE OF AN EYE ARE YOU AND OTHER REPUBLICANS KEEPING ON HOW LAWS LIKE THAT ACTUALLY PLAY OUT? WELL, I EXPECT SOME OF THEM MIGHT RAISE THEIR TUITION. THAT’S FINE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE KEPT HEARING OVER AND OVER ON THE EDUCATION FUNDING, WHICH, BY THE WAY, OUR EDUCATION FUNDING WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST IN 13 YEARS. THE SSA WE DID. AND SO WE KEPT HEARING HOW TEACHERS ARE UNDERPAID AND I DON’T DISAGREE THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE PROBABLY UNDERPAID, BUT PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHERS EVEN MORE MORE WOEFULLY UNDERPAID. SO I DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM IF WE’RE HELPING THOSE TEACHERS GET A LITTLE MORE FOR THEIR WORK AS WELL. BUT SOME WILL RAISE THEIR TUITION, SOME WON’T. BUT THEY CAN’T EXCEED THE THE RSA ANYWAY. SO NOW TALKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY NEXT SESSION, IT FEELS LIKE IT’S A LONG WAYS AWAY. BUT NOW THAT YOU’VE WRAPPED UP THE FIRST ONE, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR? WHAT ARE THE BIG THINGS YOU’RE HOPING TO STILL ACCOMPLISH? SO MY GUARDIANSHIP AND CONSERVATORSHIP, I PROBABLY SPENT LITERALLY 50 HOURS ON THAT BILL THIS YEAR TRYING TO WORK WITH 16 DIFFERENT INTEREST GROUPS ACROS THE BOARD, GETTING SOME COMPROMISE DONE THERE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING THAT FORWARD. I KNOW CHAIRMAN OF JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND WE BOTH SHARE AN INTEREST IN SOME SHARED PARENTING THINGS. WE KEPT HEARING ABOUT THAT, BUT IT WAS JUST THE BANDWIDTH WASN’T THERE TO TAKE IT UP THIS YEAR AND PROPERTY TAX. I’M VERY PLEASED WITH THE PROPERTY TAX REFORM THAT WE PASSED THIS YEAR, BUT EVERYBODY WAS INCLUDING KEEP SAYING THAT’S STEP NUMBER ONE. SO I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING SOME MORE IN PROPERTY TAX REFORM COMING UP ON CLOSE UP, NEW FACES ON THE DEMOCRATS SIDE OF THE AISLE AS WELL. COMING UP, FIRST YEAR LAWMAKER SAMMIE SHEETS TAKE ON WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR AND HEAR WHY CONGRESS IS ALSO CONSULTING FORMER IOWA GOVERNOR TERRY BRANSTAD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE. TAKE LIKE ONE SCOOP BACK. YEAH. WOULD YOU MIND JUST COUNTING TO TEN ONE MORE TIME. ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN. AWESOME. WELL, WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE UP. IT HAS BEEN A BUSY FOUR MONTHS AT THE IOWA STATE HOUSE AND LOTS OF LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE I’LL HAVE NOW OFFICIALLY WRAPPED UP THEIR FIRST IOWA LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT INCLUDES DEMOCRAT FROM LINN COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE SAMMIE SHEETS, WHO JOINS US NOW. THANKS SO MUCH FOR FOR JOINING US TODAY. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. WELL, LIKE I MENTIONED, YOU JUST WRAPPED UP YOUR FIRST LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THERE WASN’T MUCH TIME FOR A LEARNING CURVE. IT WAS A NONSTOP SESSION. THE PACE WAS VERY FAST FROM THE BEGINNING. WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE FOR YOU AS A FIRST TIME LAWMAKER? IT WAS REALLY, REALLY INFORMATIVE. BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, IT WAS KIND OF TRIAL BY FIRE, RIGHT AWAY. WE HAD THE VOUCHER BILL, $1 BILLION SKI TO GIVE PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS AWAY TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE OF IOWA. WE’VE DEBATED THAT, I THINK WEEK 2 OR 3 IN THE LEGISLATURE. AND SO I THINK THE 39 FRESHMEN THAT CAME IN TO THE IOWA HOUSE THIS YEAR THAT WAS OUR KIND OF OUR FIRST BIG PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE’VE BEEN VOTED ON, SPOKE ON IN MY CASE, IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S CASE. AND SO THROUGHOUT THE SESSION, IT WAS REALLY JUST A WEEK BY WEEK KIND OF FIRE OF REALLY HARMFUL LEGISLATION FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN THIS STATE. I MEAN, WE HEARD REPUBLICANS FOR YEARS TALK ABOUT HOW HOW THEY WERE GOING TO FIGHT INFLATION AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IMMIGRATION AND BORDER POLICIES AND THEY DIDN’T DO ONE THING REGARDING TO INFLATION THIS SESSION. THEY THEY WERE HYPER FOCUSED ON BILLS THAT TARGET MARGINALIZED KIDS. THE BILLS THAT ATTACK WORKING PEOPLE IN CASE OF THE SNAP BILL. IT’S GOING TO KICK THOUSANDS OF IOWANS OFF OF THEIR SNAP BENEFITS AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE SEEING 40 YEAR HIGH INFLATION IN THE STATE OF IOWA AND IT’S GOING TO KICK 600 KIDS OFF OF THEIR HEALTH CARE, WHICH IS JUST REALLY, REALLY HARMFUL TO THE PEOPLE OF IOWA. SO WHILE IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY INTENSE AND SOME WOULD ARGUE THE MOST HARMFUL SESSION FOR WORKING AND MARGINALIZED PEOPLE IN THIS STATE IN OUR STATE’S HISTORY, AS A LEGISLATOR, TO KIND OF HAVE A FIRSTHAND VIEW, IT WAS JUST REALLY DETRIMENTAL AND SAD TO SEE WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DID TO THE LEGISLATURE DID TO WORKING PEOPLE THIS SESSION. AND YOU MENTIONED INFORMATIVE. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KIND OF YOUR EXPECTATIONS GOING INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I MEAN, WE SAW IT WAS A TOUGH CYCLE FOR FOR DEMOCRATS AND COMING INTO THE STATE HOUSE, DEMOCRATS CAME IN IN THE MINORITY. WHAT WAS YOUR EXPECTATION THAT SESSION WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND DID IT LIVE UP TO KIND OF WHAT YOU WERE YOU WERE HOPING FOR, AT LEAST IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL IMPACT? YEAH. SO MOST OF US HAD REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. WE’RE IN THE MINORITY. WE’RE NOT GOING TO GET A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE PASSED FOR THE PEOPLE OF IOWA. WE STILL DID A FANTASTIC JOB AS A CAUCUS OF PROPOSING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE CARE IN THIS STATE, THAT WOULD LOWER COSTS FOR IOWANS. BECAUSE I MENTIONED WE’RE AT A PERIOD WHEN WE’RE FACING 40 YEAR HIGH PRICES IN THE STATE OF IOWA. SO TO HELP WORKING PEOPLE, TO HELP WITH REPRODUCTIVE CARE, AS I MENTIONED, A LOT OF THOSE PROPOSALS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, WE JUST CANNOT GET THOSE DONE GIVEN THE CURRENT REALITY. SO WHAT OUR JOB IS, IS TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR MARGINALIZED PEOPLE BACK HOME IN OUR DISTRICTS AND FOR PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE. AND THAT MEANS WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION TO TALK TO LEGISLATORS ACROSS THE AISLE TO, IN SOME CASES, MAKE REALLY BAD LEGISLATION A LITTLE BIT BETTER. AND THE CHILD LABOR BILL IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT, WHERE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE AND TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE MOST CATASTROPHIC AND HARMFUL PIECES OF THAT BILL. AND SO WHILE IT WAS STILL A TERRIBLE BILL OVERALL, THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW WE WERE ABLE TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION TO IMPROVE LEGISLATION. AND THAT’S REALLY THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN DO IN THE MINORITY. BUT WHAT THIS SESSION REMIND ME OF, AMANDA, IS JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR MY PARTY TO TAKE BACK POWER IN THE STATE. WORKING PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT REPUBLICANS ARE LEADING IN THIS STATE. THEY’VE DESTROYED OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM. LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE’RE GOING TO BE GIVING $1 BILLION OF OUR TAX DOLLARS AWAY TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS. AND WE’VE SEEN THAT PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE ALREADY RAISING RATES AND JUST TRANSFERRING THAT PUBLIC MONEY TO THESE WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS. AND WEALTHY PRIVATE SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE OF IOWA. SO WHILE BEING IN THE MINORITY IS IT IS A REALITY ADJUSTMENT AND ESPECIALLY THIS SESSION WHEN WE SAW SO MUCH TERRIBLE LEGISLATION, IT WAS VERY EYE OPENING FOR ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY THE FRESHMEN, TO SEE HOW THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WORKS. THERE ARE CERTAIN CASES OF REAL BIPARTISANSHIP THAT IMPROVED LEGISLATION AND MADE SOME BAD LEGISLATION MARGINALLY LESS BAD LOOKING TO THE FUTURE COMING OUT OF THIS SESSION, WHAT ARE YOU HOPEFUL ABOUT NEXT SESSION ON WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ACCOMPLISHED NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION? THERE ARE A HOST OF THINGS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE ACCOMPLISHED NEXT SESSION. UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, AND I THINK THAT WORKING IOWANS REALLY NEED RIGHT NOW JUST ISN’T GOING TO PASS AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL REALITIES WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. BUT ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I WORKED ON AND THAT I SPONSORED WITH 20 REPUBLICANS THIS PAST SESSION WAS A SCHOOL LUNCH BILL THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO GIVE. 23,000 KIDS IN THE STATE OF IOWA ACCESS TO FREE SCHOOL LUNCH AGAIN, AT A TIME WHEN WE’RE FACING 40 YEAR HIGHS, WHEN SCHOOL PANTRY OR WHEN FOOD PANTRIES ACROSS THE STATE OF IOWA ARE AT THEIR LIMITS FOR $1 MILLION A YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL LUNCH FOR 23,000 IOWA KIDS. AND I WAS REALLY PROUD TO HAVE 20 REPUBLICAN CO-SPONSORS. AND THAT WAS REALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT LEARNING PROCESS, IT WAS EYE OPENING FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO GO TO COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE AND SAY, HERE’S AN IDEA THAT I HAVE. IS THIS SOMETHING YOU’D BE OPEN TO? AND THANKFULLY, 20 REPUBLICAN SAID THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT AND THEY PUT THEIR NAME ON IT. AND IF IT WOULD HAVE HAD A VOTE, IT WOULD HAVE HAD 56 PEOPLE SUPPORTING IT AND WOULD HAVE PASSED THE IOWA HOUSE. SO THE SCHOOL LUNCH BILL, SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, HOPEFULLY A REPUBLICAN IN, CAN TAKE IT UP NEXT SESSION AND CHAMPION IT SO THAT IT ACTUALLY GETS A REAL VOTE AND REAL CONSIDERATION FROM THE BODY. BUT THERE ARE HOST OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO SEE THAT IOWANS NEED TO SEE EVERY DAY THAT THEY’RE UNFORTUNATELY NOT GOING TO GET WITH REPUBLICANS IN POWER AT THE STATE HOUSE. WE WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT SESSION AND WHAT HAPPENS OVER THE SUMMER TO PREPARE FOR NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS WELL. REPRESENTATIVE SHEETS, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. AND STILL TO COME ON CLOSE UP, WHY FORMER IOWA GOVERNOR TERRY BRANSTAD TOLD CONGRESS SWITCHING TO ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES WILL CAUSE PROBLEMS. AND THE NEW LAW NOW IN EFFECT, WILL BRING MORE HEALTH CARE WORKERS TO RURAL IOWA. WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE UP WEDNES DAY, THE US SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE HELD A HEARING ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ONE OF THE SPEAKERS INVITED TO THE HEARING BY RANKING MEMBER CHUCK GRASSLEY WAS FORMER IOWA GOVERNOR AND AMBASSADOR TO CHINA TERRY BRANSTAD, WHO TOLD THE COMMITTEE THAT RENEWABLE FUELS, NOT ELECTRIC VEHICLES, SHOULD BE AMERICA’S FOCUS WHEN IT COMES TO GREEN TRANSPORTATION. GOVERNOR, THE EPA HAS ANNOUNCED ITS PLAN TO MANDATE TWO THIRDS OF ALL NEW VEHICLES BY ELECTRIC. BY 2032. POLLS SHOW THAT MOST AMERICANS DON’T WANT TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE OF THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY HAS A MONOPOLY ON CRITICAL MINERAL MINING AND REFINING REQUIRED BY MOST EV BATTERIES AND IS FORCING THE UYGHURS INTO SLAVERY TO BOLSTER THEIR SUPPLY CHAIN. WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING AS LAWMAKERS TO BETTER COMPETE WITH CHINA AND TO PROMOTE DOMESTIC ENERGY SECURITY IN THE WORLD? WI THE LAST THING IN THE WORLD WE OUGHT TO DO IS BECOME DEPENDENT ON CHINA FOR THE RARE EARTH MINERALS AND THE BATTERIES WE HAVE RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCED IN THE HEARTLAND OF AMERICA AND WITH THE SEQUESTRATION OF CO TWO, IT BECOMES LESS POLLUTING THAN ELECTRIC VEHICLES. SO WE OUGHT TO BE IN INVESTING IN THAT. THAT’S WHAT WE’RE DOING IN IOWA. I THINK A LOT OF IN FACT, WE’RE PARTNERING WITH SEVERAL OTHER STATES IN THE MIDWEST TO DO THAT. SEQUESTRATION, WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT PROJECTS INVOLVED IN THAT. THEY WILL BE COMPLETE BY THE. YEAR 2025, AND THAT WILL GIVE US AN ADVANTAGE. WE DON’T NEED TO BE STUPID LIKE CALIFORNIA, AND THEY DON’T EVEN HAVE THE ABILITY TO GENERATE THE ELECTRIC CITY. IF YOU GO TO ALL ALL, ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND FRANKLY, THERE’S A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THAT. THE DISPOSAL OF THE BATTERIES, WE COULD GO ON AND ON. BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS BEING DEPENDENT ON CHINA, WHO IS OUR BIGGEST COMPETITOR IN THE WORLD, AND THEY ARE COMMITTED TO BEING THE WORLD LEADER AND DISPLACING THE UNITED STATES. AND NOW A WORLD LEADER IN PUTTING SEO INTO THE AIR. MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS CONSISTENTLY PEDDLE THE ALARMIST IDEA THAT CLIMATE CHANGE WILL CAUSE ECONOMIC SHOCK TO THE WORLD’S MARKET MAKER. ARGUMENTS THAT REGRESSIVE TAX HIKES AND COSTLY FEDERAL REGULATION ARE THE ONLY ANSWER TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE IS THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE? EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE. WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS INVESTING IN RENEWABLES AND ENCOURAGE YOUNG FARMERS TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO INNOVATIVE THINGS SUCH AS NO TAIL AND COVER CROPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT HAVE MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE. AND NOW, OF COURSE, WE’RE WORKING ON SEQUA CASTRATION OF CARBON. SO THAT WE’LL BE MORE COMPETITIVE AND EMITTING LESS THAN ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND NOT HAVE ALL THE PROBLEMS OF BEING DEPENDENT ON CHINA FOR THE RARE EARTH MINERALS AND FOR THE BATTERIES AND THEN THE DISPOSAL OF THE BATTERIES. THEY HAVEN’T THOUGHT THIS WHOLE THING THROUGH. WE HAVE A SOLUTION AND WE’RE WELL ALONG IN IMPLEMENTING IT AND MANY OTHER STATES IN THE MIDWEST ARE WORKING WITH US ON IT NOW. OTHER SPEAKERS LIKE FORMER AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER MALCOLM TURNBULL SAY SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS ABOUT ELECTRIC CARS COULD BE ELIMINATED IF THE WEST RAMP UP ITS OWN PRODUCTION OF BATTERIES AND SOLAR PANELS. WE SHOULD BE CRITICIZING OURSELVES FOR NOT DOING MORE TO BE COMPETITIVE. SO I TOTALLY WELCOME WHAT YOU’RE DOING IN TERMS OF RARE EARTHS AND MINERALS. WE’VE GOT A LOT OF THEM IN AUSTRALIA. WE’VE GOT TO BRING THESE THESE SUPPLY CHAINS BACK WITH OUR FRIENDS. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL AND STILL TO COME ON CLOSE UP THE NEW LAW THAT SUPPORTERS SAY WILL GET MORE HEALTH CARE WORKERS TO RURAL IOWA. WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE UP. WEDNESDAY, GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS TRAVELED TO WASHINGTON COUNTY TO SIGN A BILL INTO LAW THAT SHE SAYS WILL HELP EASE THE SHORTAGE OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN RURAL IOWA. THE LAW DROPS THE REQUIREMENT THAT PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS MUST WORK UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A DOCTOR INSTEAD, HEALTH CLINICS AND STATE LICENSING BOARDS WOULD BE RESPONSIVE FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT OVERSIGHT. GOVERNOR REYNOLDS WAS ASKED HOW THIS WILL HELP RURAL HOSPITALS AND CLINICS DEAL WITH THE SHORTAGE OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS. SO WHAT IT DOES IS IT ELIMINATES THE SUPERVISORY AGREEMENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE. AND WHAT WE FOUND OUT IS THAT’S A NATIONAL TREND THAT’S HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND THEN YOU COUPLE THAT WITH THE FACT THAT ONLY 40% OF OUR PAS WERE STAYING IN THE STATE OF IOWA. THE MAJORITY OF YOU ARE GOING TO OTHER STATES WHERE THEY HAD MORE FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES. AND HEALTH CARE IS JUST NOT A VERY TENABLE POSITION RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY AFTER COVID. AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE QUALITY HEALTH CARE TO IOWANS, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL IOWA. WE’RE ACCESS TENDS TO BE MORE OF AN ISSUE. ORIGINALLY, THERE WAS SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE NOT HAVING SOME SUPERVISORY CAPACITY, AND SO THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS MADE THAT BEFORE THEY COULD GO ON THEIR OWN OR WITHOUT THE AGREEMENT, THEY HAD TO HAVE TWO YEARS UNDER THEIR BELT WITH SOME SUPERVISORY COMPONENT TO IT. AND THAT WITH THAT IN PLACE, THERE WAS NO OPPOSITION AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT THROUGH BOTH CHAMBERS AND TO BE ABLE TO SIGN IN TODAY. AND AS YOU CAN TELL BY THOSE THAT SPOKE, THIS IS A GAME CHANGER FOR RURAL HOSPITALS AND IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT ACCESS TO TO. I ALSO NEED IT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAINTAIN HEALTH CARE IN THE IOWA. SO THAT WAS A BIG FOCUS OF YOUR CONDITION OF THE STATE RESCUING. TALK ABOUT HOW THIS BILL FITS INTO MAYBE OTHER PIECES OF LEGISLATION SEEKING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF EXPANDING ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE IN RURAL. YEAH, WELL, WE’RE TRYING TO DO LOAN FORGIVENESS. WE’RE LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN DO FELLOWSHIPS SO THAT WE CAN DRIVE MATERNAL HEALTH. WE HAVE CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE THAT WE’VE STOOD UP. WE’RE GOING TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO CONTINUE TO TO BUILD THAT OUT IN RURAL IOWA, THE TORT REFORM THAT WE PASSED, THE NED MOUTH, TORT REFORM WAS HUGE. THAT REALLY PROVIDED THAT WAS DRIVING PHYSICIAN TO JUST HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS OUT OF THE STATE AS WELL. WE WERE AN OUTLIER AND SO THAT WILL HELP US RETAIN AND ATTRACT IT. I’VE HAD PHYSICIANS COME UP TO ME AT DIFFERENT AREAS AND JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE IT, ESPECIALLY FOR OBGYN. WE ARE DEAD LAST IN ON A PER CAPITA BASIS ON OB GYNS IN THE STATE OF IOWA. AND SO THAT’S ANOTHER ACCESS ISSUE. AND WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE’RE YOU KNOW, WE ATTRACT AND RETAINING OUR QUALITY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS SO THAT THERE WERE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO THAT THAT WE DID THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT ALLOWS US TO DRAW DOWN MORE FEDERAL DOLLARS, WHICH AGAIN, WILL HELP A LOT OF OUR HOSPITALS ARE EXPERIENCING SOME LOSSES AND SO THAT WILL HELP KIND OF BRIDGE THAT GAP UNTIL THEY CAN START TO GET THINGS KIND OF KIND OF BACK ON TRACK AND AGAIN, TRY TO WORK OURSELVES OUT OF COVID. IT’S JUST IT JUST TAKES A WHILE. AND THAT’S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR KCCI EIGHT NEWS, CLOSE UP. WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT SUNDAY. HAVE A GREAT DAY.