DES MOINES, Iowa — It’s been just over 24 hours since Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced she was vetoing a bill that would add restrictions around building pipelines in the state; but the gloves are already off for some elected lawmakers in the party.

“It’s a betrayal of the Republican party platform, it’s a betrayal of those landowners who fought for four years and she didn’t even speak with them until recently,” said State Representative Steve Holt (R) District 12 from Denison, when discussing if Reynolds had talked with his constituents. “So it was very, very unfortunate. Puts us in a very bad position and it, I think, it will forever tarnish her legacy.”

House Republicans won’t mince words with how they feel with the news about the veto. Rep. Holt said that he talked with Governor Reynolds after the session ended, urging her to sign the legislation, promising a bill to tighten language she thought was a concern.

The author of the bill shared his colleague’s concerns about the reason why the governor did not sign the legislation.

“To let Iowans down the way she has, it just, it kind of breaks your heart to see that,” said State Representative Charley Thomson (R) District 58 from Charles City when responding to Reynolds’ concerns about insurance and voluntary easements. “It’s not credible for her to say that. And we all kind of get it, wink, wink, nod, nod, it’s not about insurance, it’s about sum.”

Thomson outlined to WHO 13 News why he believes there needs to be insurance liabilities on a pipeline company, and protections for landowners. He compared it to an Iowan not being able to drive legally on the road without auto insurance.

The pair do not have high hopes for a special session to be called, but they won’t completely rule it out.

Two gubernatorial candidates both say that this decision from Governor Reynolds was something they were disappointed in, but not surprised.

“I was not surprised by this. I had predicted that this would happen. And quite honestly, I’m deeply disappointed. I think this is a, it’s a slap in the face at our property owners, who their only gripe, if you will, is that they just don’t want to sell their property to someone for that other person’s financial gain,” said State Representative Eddie Andrews, (R) District 43, candidate for governor.

“I was not surprised. Um, the timing is always a little bit of a surprise because you never know when it’s going to happen. But I had a conversation with Governor Reynolds back in the early part of ’23 when I first got to the statehouse. And, you know, some of the language in her statement was pretty similar to what, what her response was back then,” said Brad Sherman, a former state representative and candidate for governor.

Both Sherman and Andrews told WHO 13 News that if they are elected they will sign a bill that bans the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines outright.

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