Sheets Snaphot – January 19, 2017
Rep. Larry Sheets (R) (photo by Don Hubbard)
My fifth year of service to you has begun. I am glad the election is over and all those yellow signs are out of sight. I am very honored that you have again placed your faith in me. I have a new clerk, Moriah Wright, who has an aunt in Centerville. She helps keep me and my desk orderly as I wade through the Bills. I’ve changed where I have been staying. The last four years, I’ve stayed at a house in Des Moines during the week. This Session, I stay at my daughter’s house in Ames. I have 3 other children in Ames, so it is nice to still be among family.
Session started with the usual pomp and circumstance. The Governor and the Supreme Court justice came and spoke over the condition of the state. We are just now getting into the swing of things. I have had to make a few adjustments. My committee assignments changed twice. I am still the Vice Chair of Labor. I am also in the Local Government and Public Safety Committees and a member of the Administration and Regulation Subcommittee.
We have a different ballgame this session. The Governor, Senate, and House majority caucus are all of the same party. Now we are working on this year’s low revenue problems. However, I’m afraid that this is going to be an acrimonious year. Tough issues such as Labor, Life, 2nd Amendment, and Education issues will be addressed in the House with a good chance of passage in the Senate. We’re working toward addressing that legislation next week.
We have also made some small adjustments at the Sheets residence. The empty nest syndrome has visited my home, so we’re hosting 2 foreign exchange students. Ramon is from Mexico and has been staying with us since the start of the school year. Maddie is from Germany and joined our crew several months later. My wife Carol continues in her ministry to women suffering from post-abortion symptoms. So life is very busy for my better half who is without help from me for most of the week. I couldn’t do this without her. Also, I am proud to say that I became a grandfather this year with the birth of two grandsons, Braydon and Jamison.
