A bill offered yesterday in the Iowa House of Representatives may take Iowa out of the national heads for a while – for a good reason. House File 140, offered by state Rep. Dean Fisher (R-Garwin) and co-sponsored by Reps. Sandy Salmon (R-Janesville), Jarad Klein (R-Keota), Ralph Watts (R-A), Larry […]

In what is quickly becoming an almost daily occurrence, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today named Roxann Ryan the Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner. Ryan had been serving as acting commissioner of the department since Jan. 9, when she to over for the retiring Larry Noble. Her appointment is effective […]

An eastern Iowa legislator has offered a very short and simple bill that he hopes will provide an avenue to save several state-operated facilities and the jobs that come with them. Senate File 140, offered yesterday by state Sen. Rich Taylor (D-Mt. Pleasant), if signed into law, would add only […]

Iowa Senate Democrats have offered a number of pieces of legislation this session aimed at preventing at-risk students from becoming high school dropouts. The most recent offering of the Senate Committee on Education, chaired by state Sen. Herman Quirmbach (D-Ames), however, would require Iowans to remain in school until adulthood. […]

A bipartisan bill offered yesterday in the Iowa Senate would create a new tax credit for those who construct infrastructure to support vehicles powered by alternative fuels. Senate File 143, sponsored by state Sen. Matt McCoy (D-Des Moines) and Sen. Tim Kapucian (R-Keystone), would create a tax credit for anyone […]

Bob Eschliman Editor   Friday marks the first legislative dead of the session, when representatives and senators may no longer offer their own bills. As the House begins to debate bills its members have already offered, however, the pace of new bill creation has slowed down. In the Senate, despite […]

Gov. Terry E. Branstad today appointed Beth Townsend the director of Iowa Workforce Development.  Townsend has been serving as acting director of the department since Jan. 11, when former director Teresa Wahlert retired. Townsend previously served as director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. “As the Director of the Iowa […]

The story of the Great Spencer Fire is one of legend, and is often referenced as the reason why Iowa still prohibits the sale and use of consumer fireworks. While the link between the catastrophic blaze and the legality of fireworks is ambiguous, at best, it may soon become a […]

Everyone should, by now, have their W2s and 1099s in hand, procrastinating on their taxes until the last possible moment in April. And, while it’s too late to do much about it this year, a northwest Iowa legislator hopes to make Iowans at least a little less apprehensive about “tax […]

Iowans who lo at the happenings in Des Moines and wonder, “Where did my voice go?” may not have to wonder much longer. Senate File 114, offered last week by state Sen. Brad Zaun (R-Urbandale), would require all state agencies to include a citizen-feedback component to their rulemaking and regulatory […]

A number of bills have been offered in the Iowa General Assembly this session dealing with elections and voter registration. But a group of Republicans in the Iowa House of Representatives wants to undo some past changes. House File 138, offered yesterday by state Rep. Sandy Salmon (R-Janesville), would effectively […]

A Republican state senator has seemingly takes President Obama’s idea for free community college to the next level. Senate File 90, offered last week in the Iowa Senate, is sponsored by state Sen. Brad Zaun (R-Urbandale). It would direct the Iowa Board of Regents to instruct its universities to waive […]

A bill offered yesterday in the Iowa Senate would put state government back in business again – doing the work of private businesses. Senate Study Bill 1128, offered by the Senate Committee on State Government, which is chaired by Sen. Jeff Danielson (D-Waterloo), would allow any non-state government entity or […]

In the past, American courts – even a few in Iowa – have gone to great lengths to justify a legal position, sometimes loing beyond our nation’s borders. But, a bill offered in the Iowa House of Representatives yesterday is meant to rein that in. House File 135, offered by […]

From a Press Release   Gov. Terry E. Branstad today appointed Joe Cortese Iowa’s Workers’ Compensation Commissioner. Cortese will replace Michelle “Miki” McGovern, who had been serving as the acting Commissioner since September 2014. “With over thirty years of experience in workers’ compensation, I’m confident Joe Cortese will serve as […]

If a bill in the Iowa Senate finds its way to becoming law, it will completely change the way many public officials in the state are paid – or least how much they receive. Senate File 102, authored by Sen. Brad Zaun (R-Urbandale) aims to overhaul the manner in which […]

As government intrusion in our daily life continues to grow by leaps and bounds, a bill offered last week in the Iowa Senate is a breath of fresh air for many small business owners. Senate File 118, offered by state Sens. Brad Zaun (R-Urbandale), David Johnson (R-Ocheyedan), Bill Anderson (R-Pierson), […]

A bill offered last week in the Iowa Senate would direct the state to sell off or lease out a key piece of its infrastructure as a means to save money on the cost of its operation. Senate File 119 was offered by state Sens. Brad Zaun (R-Urbandale), Bill Anderson […]

Republicans in the Iowa Senate have offered a couple of bills meant to flex Iowa’s constitutional muscle with regard to federal government interaction and enforcement. Both bills – Senate Concurrent Resolution 3 and Senate Joint Resolution 4 – were offered last week. Both were sponsored by Sen. Brad Zaun (R-Urbandale). […]

A bill offered last week in the Iowa House of Representatives would alter how residents of Iowa can respond to the appearance of cougars – also called mountain lions – in their neighborhoods. House File 117 is offered by state Rep. Dave Deyoe (R-Nevada) and would prohibit anyone in the […]

A group of Iowa House Republicans last week launched their attack on Obamacare, starting with components that fall under the purview of the Iowa General Assembly. House File 94 was offered in the House last week and forwarded to the House Ways and Means Committee. It is sponsored by state […]

State Sens. Jake Chapman (R-A) and Bill Anderson (R-Pierson) have decided to take on the state’s big spenders in a way that will have them seeing a lot less red in the years to come – if their bill becomes law. Senate File 95, offered last week and referred to […]

A group of Iowa Senators have offered a bill to demand that Congress take immediate action that would benefit future generations of Americans. Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 was offered last week by seven state senators. The sponsors are Sen. Brad Zaun (R-Urbandale), Sen. Jack Whitver (R-Ankeny), Sen. Amy Sinclair (R-Allerton), […]

For years, low-income Iowans have been protected from utility disconnections in the cold of winter, if they meet certain criteria. Now, those same people may be protected in the heat of summer, as well. House File 114, sponsored by state Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad (D-Des Moines), would apply the same financial […]

If a bill proposed last week in the Iowa Senate is passed, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission will have a lot less work to do in the years to come. Senate File 98, offered by state Sens. Brad Zaun (R-Urbandale) and Randy Feenstra (R-Hull), would place a moratorium on […]

An amendment to the Iowa Constitution offered in the Iowa Senate last week will likely give local school districts across the state something they have wanted for a long time. Senate Joint Resolution 3, sponsored by Sen. Brad Zaun (R-Urbandale), must first be approved by both chambers of the Iowa […]

A bill offered last week in the Iowa Senate aims to get all tobacco products out of Iowa schools, but in the process, it’s likely to anger a lot of adults. Senate Study Bill 1109, proposed by the Senate Education Committee chaired by Sen. Herman Quirmbach (D-Ames), has been titled […]

Bad weather couldn’t stop a large number of Iowa conservatives from gathering Saturday afternoon. And what they discussed could have a wide-reaching impact on Iowa politics. Representatives from a wide array of tea party, property rights, government accountability, convention of states, state nullification, education reform, and Christian ministry groups gathered […]

It’s clear the authors of a new piece of legislation in the Iowa General Assembly are opposed to the practice of abortion. But, how they’re going about restricting it – thereby regulating it – has raised a few eyebrows across the state. Senate File 91, offered this week by state […]

Gov. Terry Branstad today appointed an eastern Iowan to one of the key positions in his administration. The appointment is temporary — for now — and goes into effect tomorrow. Jerry Bartruff, the Deputy Director of Operations for the Eastern Region of the Iowa Department of Corrections, was announced today […]

By The Iowa Statesman   In a move that would have impressed even Dikembe Mutombo, Senate Democrats dissed their Republican counterparts today. In response, Senate Minority Leader Bill Dix (R-Shell Rock) issued the following press release:   Senate Republican Leader Dix proposed a bi-partisan solution today in the Senate Rules […]

Bob Eschliman Editor   The past week has seen a number of very important bills offered in both the Iowa House of Representatives and the Iowa Senate. Click on the links below to read the bills that were offered:   House Study Bill 62 – an act to establish a […]

A group of Iowa House Republicans offered a bill today that will no doubt have One Iowa furious. House File 101 was offered Tuesday by Reps. Greg Heartsill (R-Melcher-Dallas), Steven Holt (R-Denison), Sandy Salmon (R-Janesville), Tedd Gassman (R-Scarville), Dean Fisher (R-Garwin), Larry Sheets (R-Moulton), John Kooiker (R-Boyden), and Ralph Watts […]

Governor’s Office spesman Jimmy Centers has released the following update on Gov. Branstad’s condition following a medical scare during a stop at the DuPont Pioneer facility in Johnston: At approximately 12 p.m., Gov. Branstad was transported from DuPont Pioneer in Johnston, Iowa, to Iowa Methodist Medical Center via an ambulance. […]

Under a bill offered today in the Iowa House of Representatives, school districts would be allowed to ask the voters for new ta authority to pay for their transportation costs. House File 84, sponsored by five Republicans and a Democrat, would create the Transportation Cost Supplement Program in which school […]

Update: According to Governor’s Office spesman Jimmy Centers, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has been admitted to Iowa Methodist Medical Center and will remain under observation overnight “out of an abundance of precaution” following a health scare during a visit to an agricultural facility north of Des Moines. “Gov. Branstad is […]

One of the candidates for U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst’s former seat in the Iowa Senate who wasn’t selected at the Republican Party’s special nominating convention last month is very likely going to the Statehouse anyway. David Sieck, 57, of rural Glenwood won a GOP special nominating convention Friday to be […]

A group of DREAMer protestors attempted to shout down former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during his speech at the Iowa Freedom Summit today. Perry shouted over the top of them, without interruption, while members of the audience also cheered loudly to attempt to drown […]

In a bill that would no doubt make Sammy Hagar proud, a northwest Iowa senator has proposed increasing the default speed limit on all hard-surfaced roadways in Iowa. Senate File 43, offered this week by state Sen. Bill Anderson (R-Pierson) would make the default speed limit, which is currently 55 […]

Under a bill proposed in the Iowa Senate this week, keeping an animal confined in a hot or cold vehicle could be grounds for an animal neglect charge. Senate File 51, authored by Sen. Matt McCoy (D-Des Moines) establishes that a person commits animal neglect by confining an animal alone […]

“Do to others what you want them to do to you.” As pointed out by state Reps. Larry Sheets (R-Moulton) and Tedd Gassman (R-Scarville) in House File 67, which they co-sponsored this week in the Iowa House of Representatives, the Golden Rule can be found in many different forms across […]

An eastern Iowa Republican has authored a bill that would “establish a right in a lawful occupation free from substantial burdens imposed by occupational regulations.” House File 46, offered by state Rep. Dawn Pettengill (R-Mount Auburn) this week, declares that Iowans have a right to engage in lawful enterprise, free […]

A bill proposed by the Iowa House Judiciary Committee would effectively authorize strip searches of anyone accused of committing a crime – without any probable cause. House Study Bill 33 specifies that, in general, any person housed in the general population of a jail or municipal holding facility may be […]

A group of House Democrats offered a bill this week to substantially increase the state minimum wage in Iowa, and to increase it annually based on inflation. House File 71, which is sponsored by state Rep. Bruce Hunter (D-Des Moines) and 16 of his House colleagues, proposes to incrementally increase […]

In the first two weeks of the 2015 legislative session, House Democrats have been busy crafting legislation that would both abolish existing state law that names English as the state’s official language, and that would offer in-state tuition to illegal entrants at Iowa’s Regents universities and community colleges. House File […]

Earlier this week, state Sen. Rick Bertrand (R-Sioux City) announced his plan to introduce a “Stand Your Ground” bill in the General Assembly. The proposed legislation would apply only to concealed weapon permit holders who find themselves in self-defense situations. It would eliminate current requirements that a person retreat before […]

Last week, Gov. Terry Branstad announced the special election to fill the now-vacant District 23 seat in the Iowa House of Representatives will be held Tuesday, Feb. 10. Republican Party of Iowa chairman Rep. Jeff Kaufmann subsequently established the special nominating convention will be held at 7 p.m. tonight at […]