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Capitol Notebook: Gov. Kim Reynolds appoints judge she helped oust from Iowa Legislature
Also, Iowa AG Bird joins lawsuit over investment companies’ climate policies
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DES MOINES — Dustin Hite was appointed as a district court judge Friday by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who in 2022 helped a fellow Republican defeat Hite, then an incumbent state legislator, in that year’s primary election.
Reynolds appointed Hite as a district court judge in Judicial District 8A in Southeast Iowa. The district includes Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Monroe, Poweshiek, Van Buren, Wapello and Washington counties.
Hite is the mayor of New Sharon and a partner at Heslinga Law Firm, according to the governor’s office. He received his undergraduate degree from Central College and his law degree from the University of Iowa.
Hite served a pair of two-year terms in the Iowa House from 2019 to 2022, and was chair of the House’s Education Committee.
In the 2022 elections, Hite was defeated in the Republican primary by Helena Hays, who received Reynolds’ endorsement after Hite had voted against legislation establishing state funding for private school tuition assistance — a priority project for Reynolds.
Hite’s judicial appointment fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gregory G. Milani.
Bird joins lawsuit challenging companies’ climate goals
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced her office has joined a multistate lawsuit against three large investment companies — BlackRock, State Street and Vanguard — alleging the companies have caused electricity costs to rise because of their focus on climate protections.
The lawsuit argues the companies used their influence in the market to artificially suppress coal generation, which it argues has led to an increase in energy costs. In a news release, Bird alleged the companies’ policies, including net-zero requirements, will hurt farmers, drive up food costs and increase food insecurity.
“While Woke Wall Street lines its own pockets, families and farmers are forced to pay the price,” Bird said in a statement. “What ‘net-zero’ really means is no beef cattle or dairy cows, no fertilizer to grow crops, and no family farms. Families are saddled with high bills for electricity and groceries. I will not stop fighting until we take down every cog of the woke machine and protect hardworking families and farmers.”
The lawsuit is led by Texas and includes all states with Republican attorneys general: Iowa, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau
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