[Tall-Corn] FW: HS 126

[tpoldberg at gmail.com]

-----Original Message-----
From: Zabner, Adam [LEGIS] <Adam.Zabner at legis.iowa.gov> 
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2023 2:17 PM
To: tpoldberg at gmail.com
Subject: Re: HS 126

Dear Terry,


Thank you for reaching out about the proposed changes to the appointment
process for the director of the Iowa Department of the Blind. Having
participated in the subcommittee meetings on House Study Bill 126 I share
your concerns about this section (Division 13) of the bill.

I am very grateful to all the members of Iowa's blind community who've
attended our meetings over the last week to share their testimony on how
this proposed change could affect their quality of life or, like you,
reached out via email. It was very moving to hear numerous examples of how
the Iowa Department of Blind has positively impacted the lives of many
Iowans and is a national model that every resident of Iowa should be proud
of. Furthermore, I'm very aware that members of the blind community bring a
unique perspective to the appointment process, and I agree that this input
needs to continue in the future.

Last Thursday (2/23) I had the opportunity to ask the Governor's
representative about the thinking behind the change to the appointment
process for the director. I was very disappointed that, in their response,
they were unable to provide my colleagues and me with an adequate answer
beyond giving more power to the Governor. I also asked the Governor's
representative how many blind Iowans they had engaged with during the
process of developing the new appointment policy for the director of the
Department of the Blind. Again, I was very upset by their inability to name
a single blind Iowan with whom they had consulted before proposing this
significant change.

I ran for office because I believe our state government should work for all
Iowans. It is clear to me that, as currently written, Division 13 of HSB126
will not work for blind Iowans if it becomes law. For that reason, I will be
opposing Division 13 and the rest of this bill at every stage of the
legislative process.

Thank you so much again for reaching out and sharing your concerns with me,

Adam

Rep. Adam Zabner
HD-90
Iowa House of Representatives
________________________________
From: tpoldberg at gmail.com <tpoldberg at gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2023 4:12 PM
To: Zabner, Adam [LEGIS] <Adam.Zabner at legis.iowa.gov>
Subject: HS 126


Greetings Representative Zabner:



I am writing to urge you to oppose Division 13 of this bill pertaining to
the appointment of the Iowa Department for the Blind director.  It is
imperative that the appointment of the director of the Iowa Department for
the Blind should be made by the commission board and not by the governor.
Should the appointment of the director be made by the governor and not by
the commission board, services could be negatively affected.  The governor
could appoint someone who has no real understanding of blindness or the
needs of the blind.  On the other hand, a director appointed by the board
would have more of an understanding of the needs of the blind.  The Iowa
Department for the Blind has existed since 1925 and over the years has
provided exemplary services to blind Iowans working under the current
structure.



Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.



Cordially,



Terry Poldberg