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February 1, 2013

The Sinclair Report

Sen. Amy Sinclair Journal-Express The Zope Gazette Fri Feb 01, 2013, 11:42 AM CST

Des Moines —

Education is an important priority to me. As your State Senator, I will advocate for strong local control of schools; improved teacher, student and parent accountability; and renewed pre-eminence for Iowa’s education system.

In the coming weeks you will be hearing a lot about increased teacher pay. However, there are so many other facets to education reform that will help our students to succeed in our global economy such as online learning opportunities, college preparedness, standard teacher evaluations and tuition reimbursement to recruit for hard-to-serve areas.

I have also had numerous visitors from District 14 visit me recently at the Statehouse and attended my first legislative forums in Leon, Osceola, Corydon, Chariton and Newton. It is through these visits in Des Moines and in your communities I am being educated on issues important to you.

Through these personal contacts in the past couple weeks, I have learned local control is important to many of my constituents. Serving two terms as a Wayne County Supervisor and now as your State Senator, I have and will prove that I am a person who truly represents my district’s interests and get results.

I filed my first bill this week, which delves into the heart of local control. This bill calls for disposing of legal firearms and ammunition seized by local law enforcement agencies. Current law requires all abandoned or seized firearms to be transferred to the Iowa Department of Public Safety for use in law enforcement or sold at public auction. I am proposing the forfeited firearms or ammunition be maintained by the seizing agency such as our county sheriff’s departments and local police departments rather than transferred to the state.

I believe that government closer to those it serves is more responsive and more efficient. This bill would go straight to the heart of enhanced efficiencies.

I always look forward to hearing from you. Please feel free to contact me at amy.sinclair@legis.iowa.gov. You can also join me for a local forum in your county.

Upcoming Forums:

February 16 - 7:30 a.m. Jasper County Farm Bureau, Newton

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