Water quality concerns in Iowa must be addressed during the next legislative session. That’s according to Independent State Senator David Johnson of Ocheyedan. Governor Terry Branstad wants to use part of the tax on school infrastructure to fund water quality efforts, but Johnson doesn’t think that will provide enough money.

He says environmental pressures will keep increasing until the water quality problems are solved, evidenced by the recent lawsuit filed by Des Moines Water Works. Johnson says he’d rather see the problem solved at the local level than by the courts or federal bureaucrats.

Johnson says the water issues can’t be solved without raising taxes.

Johnson says the only way for state lawmakers to have a successful legislative session in 2017 is to make environmental concerns their top priority.