(Radio Iowa) – Twelve Republicans in the Iowa Senate say they will not vote for any state spending bill until they get a chance to vote on a bill limiting carbon pipeline developers ability to seize land from unwilling property owners. It means the Senate’s G-O-P leaders do not have enough Republican votes to pass their state spending plans. Republican Senator Kevin Alons of Salix says curbing the use of eminent domain authority is the group’s top priority in the 2025 legislative session.

“This is important,” Alons said. “It’s our number one priority and the budget is the must do and it’s what we’re going to use to get a vote on the topic of eminent domain.” Alons and other G-O-P senators engaged in the issue have given speeches on the Senate floor over the past week. Senator David Sires of Cedar Falls says it’s time to pass meaningful protections for landowners.

“We are witnessing the dangerous misuse of public power for private gain,” Sires said. “…It’s time to stand with our constituents, not corporations. I call on this body to reject the abuse of eminent domain and pass meaningful protections for Iowa landowners. Let us be the voice for those who feel ignored, let us check on government overreach and let us restore the principal that, in Iowa, private property still means something.”

Senate G-O-P Leader Jack Whitver says a number of Republican Senators are working on policy surrounding eminent domain and pipeline issues and he’s optimistic the group will find a legislative solution. The House has repeatedly passes pipeline restrictions over the past three years, but the senate has never voted on any of them.

The 12 senators who’ve joined to block budget action in hopes of getting a pipeline bill vote, include: Kevin Alons, Rocky DeWitt, Lynn Evans, Dennis Guth, Mark Lofgren, Mike Pike, Dave Rowley, Sandy Salmon, Dave Sires, Jeff Taylor, Cherilynn Westrich.