Democrats worry bill would lead to Chinese steel in Iowa bridges

DES MOINES - The Iowa House voted along party lines to allow the Department of Transportation to exchange state road funds for federal dollars awarded to local governments as a way to reduce costly paperwork and compliance with the federal regulations.

Rep. Gary Worthan, R-Storm Lake, told lawmakers House File 203 would make the dollars go further because the DOT would assume the responsibilities that come with federal dollars. Local governments that might do one or two projects a year with federal funds don't have the same level of familiarity and expertise in complying with federal regulations as the DOT, which has people who deal with those issues on a regular basis, he said.

Democrats were skeptical of the savings, which the Legislative Services Agency said cannot be determined at this time.

They were more concerned that by swapping federal funds for state dollars, local governments would not be required to meet the Davis-Bacon wage requirements and the 'buy American” provisions attached to the federal dollars.

'I'm concerned with the use of Chinese steel,” Rep. Dave Jacoby, D-Coralville, said as Chinese students from Cornell College filed into the House gallery. 'There's no ‘buy American,' so there is a good chance we'll be having a lot of bridges in Iowa with Chinese steel.”

'If this is Iowa taxpayers' money, we darn well better be buying American products,” he said.

Retired union steelworker Rep. Jerry Kearns, D-Keokuk, voted against the bill for the same reason, explaining that he was 'kind of like Donald Trump” on the issue.

'We should buy American-made when we're doing it with American taxpayers' money,” Kearns said.

Worthan wished Democrats had 'looked over their shoulders when they were talking in derogatory terms about Chinese steel” as the Chinese students looked on.

That brought a protest from House Minority Leader Mark Smith, D-Marshalltown, who earlier asked whether the money swap would allow the funds to be used for heated bike trails.

'If we want to go to the absurd, yes it could, sir,” Worthan answered.

In the end, the House approved the bill 54-41. A similar bill, Senate File 184, has been approved by the Senate Transportation Committee.

l Comments: (319) 398-8375; james.lynch@thegazette.com