Campbell, Guth among nine Senators calling for votes on pipeline bills

Two north-central Iowa senators were among nine Republicans who delivered speeches on the Iowa Senate floor on Tuesday, each calling on GOP leaders to allow the debate on bills that would preserve the private property rights of Iowans who do not want Summit Carbon Solutions to place their proposed pipeline on their land.

Republican Doug Campbell of Mason City says it’s one of the main issues he ran on back in November. “I ran on this issue. I knocked 15,500 doors. Half of the money I spent was my own. I got 20,000 votes compared to my — I have a Freudian block on that guy’s name, sorry — he only got 15,000, I got 20,000. These people spoke, 5,000 more voters in Senate District 30, that this is what they want, and they will get it, and they have persevered.”

Republican Dennis Guth of Klemme says individual rights should be protected when dealing with the possibility of eminent domain.  “I want to join with all of those who have spoken already that it’s time for this body to take action to protect the rights of individuals to remember that individuals are who government is for, not corporations and that sort of thing. It’s important that we do what is right, and it’s time to do it now.”

The end of the legislative session is scheduled for Friday and Senate GOP leaders have not said whether such a bill will be debated prior to adjournment.