Joe Bolkcom

From dKosopedia

Categories: Iowa Democrats | Iowa State Senators | 2006 Iowa upper house candidates (D)

Joe Bolkcom is a Democratic State Senator from Iowa City, Iowa. He represents Senate District 39, which includes Iowa City. He previously served for six years on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors.

Senator Bolkcom is an Assistant Democratic Leader and he serves on the Appropriations, Commerce, Human Resources and the Natural Resources & Environment Committees. He is Co-Chair of the Ways and Means Committee and also serves on the Health and Human Services Budget Subcommittee.

Before becoming a County Supervisor, he worked for three years at the County Public Health Department helping address the county’s leading heath issues, including youth access to tobacco products and environmental health concerns.

Prior to that and for nearly a decade, Senator Bolkcom helped found and direct two senior citizen advocacy organizations fighting for lower health care cost for seniors in Iowa and Illinois. He has also been active in state and local environmental protection efforts.

Joe graduated from Saint Ambrose University and earned a masters degree in Public Affairs from University of Iowa.

Recent Issues

Commenting about legislation to protect nurse whistle-blowers, Bolkcom commented that it was "a common sense step." Source: Mike Glover. "Legislature Urged to Give 'Whistleblower' Protection to Nurses." The Associated Press State & Local Wire. October 18, 2005.

Commenting about efforts to respond effectively to immigration to the state, Bolkcom has said that, "The Iowa communities affected by new Iowans thus far are clearly telling us that the first thing the state needs to do is expand efforts to help people learn English." Mike Glover. "Panel Seeks Human Trafficking Law, More English Teaching." The Associated Press State & Local Wire. November 21, 2005.

External Links

Joe Bolkcom's website