To the editor:

I have been reading with great interest the articles about the Summit pipeline in your paper. Although I moved away some time ago, I am still very concerned about the Webster City community.

Out of curiosity a couple of years ago I attended an informational meeting concerning the Navigator pipeline. I heard many shocking things that day about the dangers from these. The representatives from the company said no need to worry, if there was a leak they would know within 10 minutes! A well-respected and well-known official in Polk County came into the room about halfway through the meeting. The chairwoman of the Iowa Utilities Board was conducting the meeting, must have considered him an ally, and invited him to speak. Much to her surprise he dressed down the Navigator representatives, calling them greedy, and urged all the landowners not to sign any documents. Fortunately for my area that pipeline project was abandoned by Navigator.

Iowa Republican State Senator Mike Bousselot killed a bill to protect landowners from having their land taken by eminent domain by refusing to advance it from his committee. Not coincidentally his former employer owns Summit. Also, Bousselot formerly worked for former Governor Terry Branstad, who is an advisor to Summit. A Senate panel voted to table an ethics complaint against Bousselot for these complaints.

Since I live only 15 minutes from the Iowa State Capitol I do visit when there is pending legislation of interest. Once I sat in on a meeting with family farmers who wanted to discuss their issues. A Democratic senator had just finished speaking with the group and was leaving when the next scheduled senator, Republican Ken Rozenboom, arrived. He was unhappy about the other senator and rudely said to the group “I shouldn’t even be speaking to you.” None of our group had said anything to him before this. That is no way to treat Iowans.

This is not the year to be partisan in voting for candidates for the Legislature. Republicans such as Jack Whitver boasted about this year’s session saying, “another tremendous success for Senate Republicans as we kept our promises to Iowans.” A majority of Iowans did not want Education Savings Accounts (vouchers) and cuts to the AEAs, but they were ignored as the Republican majority did as they pleased. Take the opportunity to vote them out to get their attention to pay heed to their constituents.

Linda Warren

Des Moines