Sen. Mike Zimmer clarifies issues around eminent domain and the future of the Iowa pipeline

Sen. Mike Zimmer was at the legislative coffee in DeWitt, and after the Q&A, I asked him about why he voted against the use of eminent domain for the pipeline. Sen. Zimmer started by offering clarification on what the topic and issue was about as he saw it.

This was the issue at hand as he saw it with the bill around eminent domain. After offering the insight to his view, he went on to say that he is not against the pipeline at all. In fact, he sees the need for it and the benefit it would bring Iowans. He wants to see it built by Iowans without having to sacrifice private land to eminent domain for the construction.

According to Sen. Zimmer, if a bill was proposed that would not use eminent domain, and would use Iowa’s workforce to lead the construction, his vote would be for the bill. Until land rights are properly addressed in his eyes though, or absolutely no other option is available, he will not support eminent domain.