(Photos by Randy M. Cauthron) U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) made a stop in Spencer Thursday morning, kicking off a day of tour stops throughout his home state's northwest corner. Harkin discussed a wide variety of topics -- including the Farm Bill, energy issues, and the current presidential race - with those gathered at Family Table to greet him.

Daily Reporter Staff

Large infrastructure projects and energy cost concerns were part of the discussion as U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin held a "Moving Iowa Forward" café stop Thursday morning at the Family Table Restaurant in Spencer.

Along with local concerns, he also talked about national politics as the national nominating conventions approach for the major parties.

Spencer leaders, including city council members, Spencer City Manager Bob Fagen and Mayor Reynold Peterson, asked Harkin for federal help as the city tries to eliminate its combined sewer system.

The systems were designed to transport all wastewater from streets and houses to a sewage treatment plant, where it can be treated, then discharged, into a water body. The Environmental Protection Agency wants to phase out combined sewer systems because heavy rainfall or snowmelt can overwhelm the system or exceed the capacity of the water treatment plant. When that happens, excess wastewater is discharged directly into streams, rivers or lakes.

Fagen said the city could face a $30 million price tag to meet EPA standards to separate storm and sewer water. The EPA would like combined sewer overflow systems eliminated in the next 10-12 years.

That's not enough time, according to Fagen, who thinks the project will take 20-30 years. Harkin told city leaders other cities, including Ottumwa, are facing the same concerns.

"Quite frankly, communities just don't have the wherewithal to do that," he said. "The expense is great, plus just doing it takes time. So what we're looking at right now is stretching out the time a little bit, but the real thing is: The federal government has got to step in and help provide some of the federal funds for it."

Outdated wastewater systems aren't just a local problem, Harkin said.

"To my way of thinking, this is a great public works project that puts people to work, infuses money into the local economy, cleans up our environment and makes for healthier communities," Harkin said. "It seems to me the federal government ought to be putting more money into this than putting $12 billion a month into Iraq. I'd rather be putting billions per month into building these sewer and water systems all over the state and all over the country."

U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin welcomes Becky Fear and Denise Hicks, both with the Spencer Chamber of Commerce to his morning stop at Spencer's Family Table.

Harkin also updated residents about his approach to the nation's energy crunch. The tax incentive package for building wind energy components will likely come together in September, according to the senator. The current tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year.

Area leaders are watching wind energy issues closely -- Iowa Lakes Community College has the state's only wind energy and turbine technology program. City and county leaders also have tried to recruit wind-energy related manufacturers to the Spencer area.

As for that other energy source: "I'm not opposed to drilling for oil," Harkin said.

"But I don't want to go chasing that last barrel of oil, no matter how expensive it is," Harkin said. "When you drill in that outer continental shelf, that's expensive oil. I've seen anything from maybe $120 to maybe up to $200 a barrel by the time we get it out because it is just so expensive to do that. Aside from the environmental risks -- forget about that -- just think about the economy. And that doesn't replace oil coming into this country."

Harkin also suspects countries in the Middle East will match the prices of the more expensive oil from the outer continental shelf.

"That will be the same price, so we'll be sending more money out of our country for imported oil," he said.

"President Bush said we're addicted to oil. Well, it's time to break the addiction. Don't go chasing that last barrel of oil. Let's make a clean break. Let's start doing renewable energy systems in this country. Let's start thinking differently about how we use energy."

Harkin spent part of his swing through western Iowa appearing at fundraisers on behalf of Rob Hubler. The former Presbyterian minister from Council Bluffs received the nomination to run against U.S. Rep. Steve King in western Iowa. Harkin said he's known Hubler for about 30 years.

"When I come out and support a candidate like that, I'm not going at or against somebody," Harkin said. "I'm just here to support Rob Hubler as I think he'd make a fine congressman. I think there's great opportunities this year. I think people are looking for change. They're looking for the Congress to do different things and not just be there talking and blocking and sort of raising cain about things."

The senator also noticed a change in the tenor of the presidential campaign.

"I was hoping that the presidential race would be conducted on a higher level than some of the one's we've seen in the past," Harkin said. "I admit I'm a little dismayed at the last ad McCain came out with -- Britney Spears and Paris Hilton."

Harkin is referring to John McCain's "celebrity" ad. Using imagery, the ad compares Barack Obama's popularity with that of Hilton and Spears and calls Obama "the biggest celebrity in the world." Then an announcer poses the question "But, is he ready to lead?"

"This is almost getting ridiculous," Harkin said. "It kind of drags the whole campaign down. I hope they get back up -- they've got good issues out there -- and talk about those issues. McCain, he's got some positions that are viable that he can talk about. I think there's a difference between them on health care, a difference between them on energy, on our involvement in Iraq -- start talking about that."

Talk of vice presidential candidates is heating up as the national political conventions approach. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley encouraged both candidates to select running mates from outside of Washington, D.C. Harkin takes a different approach. He'd like to see running mates with connections on Capitol Hill who would be capable of forwarding the president's legislative agenda.

"Sometimes it takes somebody who knows how to get stuff through the congress to get it done," Harkin said. "We build our relationships. We know each other. I've seen too often in the past where the president and the congress are just clashing all of the time."

Harkin was scheduled to make stops in Storm Lake and Primghar following his appearance in Spencer.