(Atlantic, Iowa) – Last month, two Senate Republicans called for felony charges against educators who provide books with passages they deem obscene, while the Majority Leader, who is also the top Republican in the Senate — expressed support for the governor’s plan for addressing parents’ concerns. Governor Reynolds has proposed requiring lists of school books be posted online and requiring school officials to respond within 30 days to parents’ complaints about any book. Parents would have a final appeal heard by the State Board of Education. Senate President Jake Chapman used the phrase “sinister agenda” and disguising sexually obscene material as desired subject matter and profess it as artistic and literary in value.”

During an electronic legislative coffee held Saturday, Republican Representative Tom Moore and Senator Tom Shipley,expressed their thoughts on Chapman’s position. Shipley said he’s seen evidence of the obscene material in question.

He said “a good number of us [in the legislature] were just a little put off by [Chapman’s statements about an agenda], and have expressed that [he] went a little too far.” He says he knows too many teachers, to think that they are pushing an agenda with regard to obscene material. Tom Moore agreed, but with a caveat…”

Moore said the material affects “just a few” in a certain school districts, not the 99-percent. Moore says he doesn’t support the banning of books, but he believes parents have the right to see what is being assigned, and in the libraries, and to make sure their child is protected from that if they so want it to be.

Other topics of discussion during the legislative coffee, include changing the can/bottle bill [for redeeming cans and bottles]. Senator Shipley said the issue has been the topic of discussion for years. A bill in Natural Resources may be coming to the full committee for action to get it fixed, but there’s too many players involved, in getting the situation resolved.

Moore echoed those comments, and acknowledged the redemption centers need more money.

Representative Moore says there are many less redemption centers now than there were 10-years ago, because they aren’t getting enough money to stay afloat. Other topics discussed, Saturday, included those pertaining to Eminent Domain, especially with regard to the CO2 pipelines, and, extending REAP fund in 2026 and beyond.