Lombard, Ill. State Senator Jeff Edler (R-State Center) was among 39 select lawmakers to complete a leadership training program that identifies and assists emerging state and provincial leaders in the Midwest.

Senator Edler met with fellow lawmakers from Iowa, 10 other Midwestern states and three Canadian provinces on August 11-15, in Minneapolis, for The Council of State Governments’ 23rd annual Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD).

“The Bowhay Institute is one of the premier leadership training programs in the nation,” says Iowa Rep. Rob Taylor, who serves as co-chair of the institute’s steering committee. “The legislatures in the region have benefited greatly from the skills their members have gained through this unique educational experience. Many of the graduates now hold leadership positions in their state.”

Legislators from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan were chosen to participate through a competitive, nonpartisan selection process.

BILLD was founded in 1995 to help new legislators meet the demands of federal devolution and, in many states, term limits. These two emerging forces have highlighted the shortage of training available for legislators, a void that BILLD aims to fill.

The program is funded through grants from foundations, organizations and corporate sponsors and an in-kind contribution provided by The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Office.

Hubbell knocks Apple deal

Fred Hubbell, candidate for the Democrat nomination for Iowa Gpvernor in 2018, provided the following statement on the incentive package for the proposed Apple data center:

“Iowa has a serious budget mess – a mess created by politicians that have a habit of prioritizing wasteful corporate giveaways over healthcare, education, and raising incomes around the state.

“When I led the Iowa Department of Economic Development, my top priority was to hold corporations’ feet to the fire and make sure Iowa’s taxpayers got a good deal, but in this case it appears that taxpayers are paying $400,000 per job. Take it from me: this is a better deal for Apple than it is for Iowa’s taxpayers. Iowa’s taxpayers deserve better than this from their Governor.”

In favor of Apple deal

Following a joint announcement from Apple CEO Tim Cook, Gov. Kim Reynolds, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg and Waukee Mayor Bill Peard on Thursday that the company will make a significant data center investment in Waukee, many are saying the center is a big win for the state:

CNBC: In Iowa, Apple CEO Tim Cook touts its new data center jobs as the ‘future’ of America

“Apple is going to continue to invest in that future, for Waukee, for Iowa and for America,” Cook said.

CNET: Apple’s next data center will be in Iowa: In addition to building the data center, Apple is giving up to $100 million to a public improvement fund that will support community projects and infrastructure needs in Waukee.

PC Mag: Apple commits $1.3B for Iowa data center: “Across Iowa, businesses, schools, developers and government are coming together to build a new home for innovation in America’s heartland,” Cook said. “We see that commitment in Iowa’s education system and in the value that you place on creativity, adaptability and new ways of thinking.we admire what you guys have accomplished, and we want to be a part of it.”