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Marek reflects on first session
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Larry Marek says his first session as a state representative was a learning experience. Though Marek says he knew fairly well how state government worked through his involvement with the Iowa Soybean Association, he was still surprised at how many people are actually involved in the law-making process - from ordinary citizens to business representatives and professionals supporting their own various fields.
He was also surprised about the number of contacts he receives from constituents. On hot-button issues like same-sex marriage, Marek said, he was getting up to 15 e-mails a minute and in one night such Internet communications topped 4,000. In all, Marek says, he received 17,000 e-mails over the session.
Answering each one is a challenge and Marek said he is still trying to complete his replies.
Not all those who write expect a reply, and he also weeds out the mass e-mailings that originate from around the country.
Marek said same-sex marriage is a highly emotional issue on both sides of the debate. The best way he says he can represent all of his constitutions is to see that the issue goes before the citizens of Iowa on a ballot.
"There are a lot of tough decisions to be made," Marek noted, "and emotional feelings involved. I try to do what's best for the area, with some people happy and some unhappy."
It doesn't help that Marek became a state representative since what he describes as the toughest year since the Great Depression.
Though there has been criticism of the federal incentive efforts, Marek said there many positive aspects to the funds being aimed at stimulating the economy. One in the works is the creation of a passenger rail system from Chicago to Iowa City and possibly on to Des Moines.
The stimulus funds have also been used to restore much of the shortfall to education and health care.
The state can also use the funds to leverage more dollars for other state infrastructure needs since the state's Triple-A credit rating means a low interest rate. This includes expanding the electrical grid system needed to promote the expansion of wind energy.
Marek said Gov. Chet Culver plans to leverage the bond money with federal dollars, in some cases as much as a four to one match.
"The funds from these bonds will go to infrastructure needs that need to be addressed within the next four to five years," he said, "and the ability to secure these bonds when interest is low. The plan for repayment is to use about 25 percent of the annual gaming revenue for the duration of those bonds.
Marek served on the agriculture committee as vice-chair where he sponsored two of six bills that came forward.
"These were the grain indemnity update bill as well as a bill relating to the Corn and Soybean Associations," he said. "We were also successful with two manure application bills and also spent some time working with a biodiesel B5 mandate that ended up in committee. I also served on the Transportation, Economic Growth, Natural Resources, and as vice-chairman of the Agriculture and Natural Resources appropriations sub-committee."
He listed some of the more important legislation that included renewable energy credits, historic tax credits, child labor laws, a consumer fraud protection act and various bills to help veterans - one which would make it harder to foreclose on a veteran's home.
He predicted the federal tax deductibility issue would be again brought up in the next session.
Despite the flood of e-mails he received during the past legislative session, Marek said he still looks forward to hearing from area residents. He can be reached at larry.marek@legis.state.ia.us . Marek's State Capitol phone number is 515-281-3221 - and his home phone is 319-648-3653.
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©The Lone Tree Reporter 2009
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