The Waukon Standard

Luster Heights, Bottle Bill, Right to Work lead Listening Post in Lansing

Iowa State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm and Iowa State Representative John Beard held a "listening post" Saturday, February 21 at Milty's in Lansing. The primary topics discussed included the possible closing of the Luster Heights correctional facility, the Bottle Bill and Iowa's "right to work law."

With regard to the Luster Heights facility, Beard said he and Wilhelm are working to keep the facility open. "On our side are statistics that show that those in minimum security facilities do better in society after incarceration than those in maximum security facilities," he said. "The Governor has resisted budget cuts for corrections, so that's in our favor, too. We will work with our colleagues that hold the purse strings and convince them of the value of Luster Heights."

"We need facts and figures to present to decision makers to prove the viability and usefulness of Luster Heights to our area and to society - that inmates fare better in the community after incarceration at Luster Heights," Wilhelm said. "It would also help to increase the inmate population closer to capacity. We will keep on promoting it, and have a good chance of preserving the facility."

Of the Bottle Bill, which is in committee now, Beard said, "We need to start with a clean slate and make it work for grocers, distributors and consumers. Right now the process is too labor intensive. It should include plastic bottles as well as cans, as they take up about 25% of garbage in landfills. We need to make recycling programs profitable for free-standing redemption centers."

Wilhelm noted that the current legislative session may be over before the Bottle Bill is considered, but said "we will continue to work on some things during the summer."

With regard to Iowa's "right to work law," Wilhelm said that there is a problem with misinformation. She explained that there are four different bills under consideration on similar issues. The so-called "Fair Share" bill, she said, hasn't come out of committee yet and will not affect Iowa's "right to work law," which protects workers' rights to join or not join a union. "I will never vote against Iowa's right to work law," she said.

Beard explained that workers are not required to join a union, but if a company becomes a union shop the unions have to represent all employees. The "Fair Share" bill, he said, addresses union concerns that they be fairly compensated for that representation.

Wilhelm and Beard reiterated their desire to hear from their constituents regarding important issues and will continue to conduct similar "listening post" meetings.

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