Vilsack to Iowa leaders: ‘Think big’ on water quality
A small group went to meet U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack while visiting Washington D.C. during the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s annual trip. The group wanted to talk to the former Iowa governor about the prospect of using U.S. Department of Agriculture funds to aid the work of local watershed authorities, now that the Iowa Legislature has adjourned again without approving a major initiative to improve Iowa’s water quality.
Vilsack told the group he is more than a little angry that the Iowa lawmakers failed to act. He had endorsed a controversial plan from Gov. Terry Branstad to use money from an extended sales tax originally intended for school infrastructure to pay for water quality projects.
There were other proposals – including the standing idea of raising the sales tax to fill a special state conservation and recreation fund approved by voters – but they went nowhere.
When Vilsack addressed the nearly 200 business and civic leaders on the Partnership trip, he could barely hide his frustration that Iowa – his adopted home state, and a place where Vilsack recorded one of the strongest records on water quality of any governor – has failed to take landmark action on water quality as Minnesota and Wisconsin passed regulations to force action. Vilsack prefers the voluntary approach farmers endorse, but even that will take much bolder action than he sees now, Vilsack said.
“The state of Iowa needs to get serious about water quality,” Vilsack told the group. “There is just no question about it. A failure of the state to get serious about water quality will lead ultimately to someone other than someone in the state of Iowa deciding what to do with industries and businesses that are central and important to the future of Iowa.”
“I can’t tell you how irritating is it is for me in my office to showcase a Minnesota placard on their water quality initiative,” Vilsack said.
Continue reading to see more of Vilsack’s pointed comments to Iowa’s leaders.Full Insider story >>>
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