Override of Governor’s Veto of Pipeline Bill Unlikely, But Other Hurdles Remain for Summit

Seventy members of the Iowa House have called for a special legislative session to override Governor Kim Reynolds veto of a bill that would have set new rules for carbon pipelines. Howver, Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver last week said a majority of Senate Republicans “would not be interested in any attempt to override Governor Reynolds’ veto.”

State Senator Sandy Salmon of Janesville is not in that majority.

Salmon is one of 13 senate Republicans who helped push the pipeline legislation forward before it was stopped by the Governor’s veto.

Still Salmon says Summit’s project isn’t a done deal yet, noting the company still needs a permit to build in South Dakota before they can build in Iowa.

Among the 70 signatures from House members for the veto override include north Iowa State Representatives Charley Thomson, Jane Bloomingdale and Christian Hermanson.

In a written statement, House Speaker Pat Grassley said the veto was “a major setback for Iowa landowners” and for efforts in the House “to safeguard property rights” and “ban the use of eminent domain for (the) private gain” of pipeline owners.