Iowa: 'An attack on public land'

Iowans flooded the Capitol Monday to oppose a pair of bills aimed at limiting the ability of governments and private organizations to purchase new land for conservation and public use. A bill in the Iowa House would stop state and local governments from purchasing new public lands under most circumstances, eliminate a tax credit for the donation of land to the government and require county conservation boards to refuse to accept donated land unless the donation included enough money to maintain the land for 10 years.Hundreds of people came to the Capitol for a subcommittee meeting on the bill, packing the meeting room and overflowing into the halls. More than a dozen people, including representatives from conservation groups, farmers, landowners and bicycling enthusiasts, spoke against the bill, saying it would harm water quality, hurt flood mitigation efforts and encourage Iowans to leave the state.