District 78 State Representative Jarad Klein (R) of Keota wants better protection for law enforcement in situations of “civil unrest.”

Governor Kim Reynolds is proposing “Back the Blue” legislation, which calls for tougher penalties on those who harm law enforcement or cause chaos in their community. Public Safety Committee Chair Klein says he supports the yet-to-be-filed legislation, “When we talk ‘back the blue’ we’re talking things like you can’t block roadways in rioting, you can’t shine a laser in the eyes that might cause blindness, when in fact we did have a couple of officers who were blinded, so we’re pushing those things through as support for our law enforcement community.” 

The proposed legislation also includes the possibility of withholding state funding to local governments that reduce police budgets.

Klein says he’s also supporting additional public safety legislation to back emergency medical service as a voluntary essential service at the county level. He says they made strides last year to move the legislation forward and hopes they can get it finished this legislative session. You can hear more from Klein during today’s “In Touch with Southeast Iowa” on air and at KCIIradio.com.