Lawmakers talk about tourism at final forum

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By Doug Schorpp | Saturday, May 24, 2008 12:57 AM CDT | () comments

Tourism, passenger rail service and bipartisan efforts were the top subjects discussed Friday during the final legislative luncheon involving Iowa Quad-City lawmakers. The series was hosted by the DavenportOne, and the Bettendorf and Eldridge-North Scott chambers of commerce.

Of the lawmakers attending the luncheon, several talked of how pleased they were at how both parties worked together in terms of supporting Quad-City issues.

“I thought we did very well as a county,” Rep. Linda Miller, R-Bettendorf, said, referring to efforts by fellow local lawmakers.

Sen. Frank Wood, D-Eldridge, agreed, and encouraged more Quad-Citians to go to Des Moines to lobby. “We do work well together,” he said. “When you come to the Statehouse and lobby, more people listen.”

Bringing concerns to Des Moines also was addressed in terms of promoting tourism around the state. In fact, Sen. Joe Seng, D-Davenport, said tourism will be among his top priorities during the 2009 legislative session.

“We have a lot of good events,” Sen. David Hartsuch, R-Bettendorf, said. “We need to be promoting them outside this community.”

Some legislators encouraged the chambers to host a Quad-City Night in Des Moines. Nicole Christian, the senior vice president of DavenportOne’s chamber, said they did bring a delegation for Quad-City Day. But legislators said hosting a nighttime gathering is key to promoting the attractions and needs of the community.

Former Iowa Sen. Maggie Tinsman was among those attending the luncheon. She pointed out that Dubuque community leaders often host an evening party in Des Moines to promote all the positives that city has to offer. And she noted that the Quad-Cities has more to offer than Dubuque.

“Nighttime is social,” she said. “Dubuque people, they come and talk about their issues during the day, but they don’t talk about their issues at night. They keep it social.”

That is a good way to network with other legislators from across Iowa and to sell your community statewide.

Christian also addressed the lawmakers, encouraging them to continue to support a proposal to bring passenger rail service from Chicago to the Quad-Cities, and hopefully, eventually, through Iowa City, Des Moines and onto Omaha.

Just this week, backers of an Amtrak connection to the Quad-Cities celebrated the first anniversary of the Quad-City Passenger Rail Coalition formed to help bring passenger service back to the area after a 30-year absence.

Legislators agreed to continue supporting the concept.

“It’s been shown that the need is there,” Wood said. “With gasoline going up to $5 a gallon, people will be looking at alternative ways for travel. I’m all in favor of it.”

Doug Schorpp can be contacted at (563) 383-2292 or dschorpp@qctimes.com.