Remember Iowa’s lax regulations in November

Which incident best exemplifies Iowa’s inadequate regulatory oversight and fines? How about inadequate care of vulnerable adults in care centers? Or eliminating hotel inspections because the Dept. of Inspections and Appeals lack investigators?

Although Iowa’s puppy mills rank among the worst in the country, annual inspections of commercial dog breeders were voted down by the legislature’s majority party. The lack of regulatory oversight and meaningful fines allowed the Marengo CO6 Company to disregard compliance with state regulations prior to its disastrous chemical fire that injured workers, evacuated a community and contaminated land.

What about the chemical spill in southwest Iowa that contaminated a branch of the NIshnabotna River for 50 miles? Problems with ag chemicals and manure management abound, including in NE Iowa where contaminated private wells are believed to be related to ag pollution. The Iowa Capital Dispatch recently reported a swine operation in southern Iowa that has improperly held 7 million gallons of manure for 10 years without proper disposal.

The lack of regulation is deplorable and the fines for these assaults on Iowa’s water and land resources are laughable. Iowans care about vulnerable elders, animal rights, public health, water quality and our soil. When election season approaches, ask questions of the candidates. Hold those candidates responsible who have voted to weaken Iowa’s regulatory environment. Remember in November.

Carolyn Stephenson

Cedar Rapids