A Rare Apology
...and an exclusive on possible US senate candidate
How often do you hear a politician apologize? Make excuses, flip flop, blame someone else? Sure, seems to happen frequently. But when do you actually hear an elected official apologize? I did this week. And it stuck with me days later as I thought about how rarely this happens.
(Image courtesy: Iowa Senate Republicans.)
The Senator
Dennis Guth — a 70-year-old Republican state senator who represents the district around his 400-person town of Klemme — has been in office since flipping a Democratic seat in 2012.
He is part of a group of about 40 Republican legislators pushing to stop Summit Carbon Solutions, a private company owned by prominent Republican businessman and donor Bruce Rastetter, from using eminent domain to force landowners to allow access on their property for an underground pipeline that would carry hazardous liquified carbon from biofuels plants. Rastetter could make billions from the five-state project if he can get the necessary regulatory support for the venture to go forward.
Guth has watched Republican colleagues in the house agree on numerous proposals to protect property owners, but Republican senate leadership has refused to follow suit.
The Background
State Senator Tony Bisignano, a Democrat from Des Moines, sponsored an amendment last week that essentially said that if at least 26 members of the 50-member senate agree, they can force leadership to allow a bill to be brought up on the floor for debate. That means that legislation banning the use of eminent domain for private company’s pipeline projects could find a way to the senate floor if enough lawmakers agree to pass the amendment.
Guth, even though he supports an eminent domain ban for pipelines, joined most of his Republican caucus and opposed the amendment. That decision could have stopped what could be the best chance this year to get the senate to vote on banning eminent domain for this pipeline project.
To his credit, Guth answered Laura Belin’s question about why he did that during a news conference about the pipeline. Guth said that he knew there would not be enough votes to pass the amendment, and he was also hoping to keep good faith discussions going among his Republican colleagues in the senate on some type of eminent domain legislation this year.
Then came the apology. “I apologize to those that are disappointed because I think if I had to do it over again, I would change my vote.”
You don’t hear that often from a politician, do you?
State Senator to U.S. Senator?
The political path from the Iowa Statehouse to Washington, D.C. is a familiar one. In fact, all four of Iowa’s U.S. house members and both U.S. senators previously served as state legislators.
One of those senators, Republican Joni Ernst, has already said that she will seek a third term in the 2026 election. Ernst has worked to overcome the MAGA fury for not immediately agreeing to confirm Pete Hegseth for U.S. Secretary of Defense after allegations surfaced about inappropriate sexual behavior and excessive drinking.
Her loyalty to the Trump administration may now mean that Elon Musk’s money could help fund her re-election campaign rather than a Republican challenger for her seat.
State Senator Zach Wahls, a Democrat from Coralville, confirmed to me that he is looking at running against Ernst next year.
Put Down the Phone
Why did it take so long for Iowa lawmakers to agree on a bill to make it illegal for drivers to hold their phone while they use it? In other words… requiring “hands-free” use.
The Iowa Writers Collaborative’s latest “Iowa Down Ballot” podcast has an idea.
Fry Guy
I grew up in the St. Louis area and became a fan of Steak n Shake’s skinny fries. We don’t eat a lot of fast food these days, but my kids are big fans of the new Freddy’s that opened in Waukee. I will agree: their fries are especially good.
I believe there is a new Steak n Shake scheduled to open near the Freddy’s. That could make for an interesting family fry challenge for us!
I write this column as part of the Iowa Writers Collaborative, a diverse group of writers specializing in a variety of issues. Former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack recently joined the group and offered this column about attending the funeral of former president Jimmy Carter.
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