By Bob Eschliman Editor A bill proposed by the Iowa House Judiciary Committee, chaired by state Rep. Chip Balti (R-Boone), would allow the families of military members whose funerals are disrupted by protesters to sue for damages. House Study Bill 157 makes those lawsuits a matter of civil action […]
By The Iowa Statesman President Obama is using executive actions to impose gun control on the nation, targeting the top-selling rifle in the country, the AR-15 style semi-automatic, with a ban on one of the most-used AR bullets by sportsmen and target shooters. According to The Washington Examiner, the […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor A bill introduced in the Iowa House this week would authorize local school districts to raise taxes on their patrons. House File 359, offered by state Rep. Dave Heaton (R-Mount Pleasant) would authorize any public school district to enact a voter-approved “transportation cost supplemental levy.” […]
By The Iowa Statesman According to a report from The Washington Times, a group of conservatives is planning to stage a protest “walk-out” when former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush takes the stage later today at the Conservative Political Action Conference. William Temple, a member of the Golden Isle Tea […]
By The Iowa Statesman During a recent town-hall meeting about immigration in Miami, President Obama challenged Republicans in Congress to go ahead with a bill to declare his actions illegal. While taking questions from the audience, some of whom were illegal entrants, the president threw down a gauntlet to […]
By The Iowa Statesman In his famous song, “It’s Not Easy Being Green,” Kermit the Frog, voiced by legendary Muppeteer Jim Henson, was conveying the message that it’s not easy being different. And now, a certain group is quickly learning that applies to academics, as well. According to the […]
By The Iowa Statesman Perhaps the third time will be the charm for FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler with today’s 3-2 decision to implement “Net Neutrality.” The rules have not yet been made public, but Wheeler has pledged they will be published “as soon as possible” on the FCC’s website. […]
By The Iowa Statesman After than eight hours of debate, the Wisconsin Senate passed an historic right-to-work bill, 17-15, and moved the bill on to the Assembly, where Republicans hold a much larger majority. Gov. Scott Walker has said he will sign the bill, if it comes to […]
By The Iowa Statesman The Federal Communications Commission is set to meet at 9:30 a.m. this morning for its regular monthly meeting. The agenda includes two action/discussion items: Community Broadband: The Commission will consider a Memorandum Opinion and Order addressing petitions filed by two municipal broadband providers asking that […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. lawmakers got a slap of reality in their faces yesterday when a Navy admiral told them China is surpassing the U.S. in terms of the number of a very lethal naval weapon it has at its disposal. He also told them China is deploying […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley recognizes the outstanding military service of returning Iowa veterans and the challenges they can face after leaving military service. Senator Grassley wants to offer an opportunity that taps into their civic-minded call to duty and helps veterans transition into their next chapter […]
By The Iowa Statesman The hosts at MSNBC are fairly notorious for their outrageous commentary, and for the far-left skew they apply to nearly everything they report upon. But what one MSNBC head recently had to say may go too far, even by her network’s loose standards. In a […]
By The Iowa Statesman The U.S. Senate voted today 98-2 to go forward with debate of a “clean” Department of Homeland Security funding bill this afternoon. The Senate bill will be at odds with a bill approved by the House, which frequently happened when Republicans and Democrats split control […]
By The Iowa Statesman Editor’s note: this article has been updated as new information has become available. We may now know what caused two northwest Iowa legislators to change their votes and turn their backs on their constituents regarding the bill that, among other things, contained a 10-cent […]
By The Iowa Statesman The end of open, unrestricted Internet access and content is about to end. Tomorrow, the Federal Communications Commission is about to assume broad authority over the Internet in the U.S., treating it as a regulated utility, in what proponents call “Net Neutrality.” The proposal is […]
By The Iowa Statesman Illegal immigrants who are able to obtain Social Security Numbers and work permits as a result of President Obama’s “executive amnesty” could reap huge financial windfalls, at taxpayer expense. According to Caro May of Breitbart.com, a recent Congressional Research Service report backs up the Internal […]
Bob Eschliman Editor Legislators in the Iowa Senate and Iowa House of Representatives have now offered than 1,000 bills this session. This week alone, 184 bills – 83 in the Senate and 101 in the House – were added to the Bill Bo. To read individual bills, click […]
By The Iowa Statesman We think you’ve had enough Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot for the day, just with the shenanigans in Des Moines. So, for tonight’s entry, we decided to give you something to laugh — or at the very least smile — about. According to the Associated Press, a Massachusetts man […]
By The Iowa Statesman After spending than an hour in caucus, the Iowa Senate immediately to up SF 257, the gas tax increase bill. You can watch the action live by clicking here.
By Bob Eschliman Editor State Rep. Dan Kelley (D-Newton) has never been shy about his concern for the environment. Now, with two new bills offered last week in the Iowa House, he’s taking action on those concerns. First, in House File 309, he proposes to require a school district […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor It’s not often that the text of a legislative bill is shorter than its own explanatory statement. But such is the case for a bill offered by a group of House Republicans last week. House File 312, offered last Tuesday by state Reps. Sandy Salmon […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor A group of Iowa senators is concerned about the well-being of kids in Iowa, and he wants several departments of state government to get together to discuss the matter. Senate Study Bill 1208, offered by the Senate Committee on Human Resources, chaired by state Sen. […]
By The Iowa Statesman The nation’s governors may not have any plan to deal with the fallout of a Supreme Court ruling that strikes the ObamaCare subsidies, but U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch says he’s got that covered. According to the Associated Press, the Senate Finance Committee chairman, who is […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor A pair of bills offered last week in the Iowa Senate would reclassify marijuana and THC if approved and signed into law. Senate File 282, offered Thursday by state Sen. Joe Bolkcom (D-Iowa City), would reclassify marijuana and THC from a Schedule I controlled substance […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor Under a bill proposed by an Iowa House of Representatives committee last week, the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of police officers and their immediate relatives would be considered confidential information that could not be disclosed to the public. House Study Bill 162 was offered […]
By The Iowa Statesman Ever the per player when it comes to what he will or won’t do with pending legislation, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is now leaning toward offering an alternative to the House-approved Department of Homeland Security funding bill that would pulled out the […]
By The Iowa Statesman The U.S. government asked a federal judge Monday to lift a temporary hold on President Obama’s executive action to protect millions of immigrants from deportation, Fox News has confirmed. According to FOX News contributor Judge Andrew Napolitano, Justice Department lawyers requested a “stay” to ay […]
By The Iowa Statesman Parents always want their kids to follow in their footsteps, but should that necessarily include their sexual proclivities? One political analyst who has appeared on both CNN and MSNBC recently said, “Yes.” In a guest opinion in the Washington Post, political commentator Sally Kohn, who […]
From Press Release Iowa Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds announced today that she is embarking upon a statewide tour to celebrate “National Women’s History Month” in March. The Lt. Governor will be traveling to several communities to meet with female leaders and highlight how women are positively impacting Iowa with […]
By The Iowa Statesman Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today they would continue their annual 99-county tour of Iowa beginning Friday. The schedule for this week’s tour stops include: 8:30 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds visit Shelby County, tour STEM Acceleration […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor Under a bill proposed last week in the Iowa Senate, anyone 65 years of age or older would become tax-exempt. Senate File 261, offered Thursday by state Sen. Mark Chelgren (R-Ottumwa), would exempt anyone 65 years old or older from the Iowa individual income tax. […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor Two Iowa senators have requested a legislative council study of the impact eliminating Iowa’s income taxes would have on the state. Senate Minority Whip Jack Whitver (R-Ankeny) and Sen. Mark Chelgren (R-Ottumwa) offered Senate Resolution 11 last Tuesday, requesting the Legislative Council establish an interim […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor A group of Republican senators has filed a resolution requesting that a Convention of States be called to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Senate Joint Resolution 7 was offered last week by state Sens. Dennis Guth (R-Klemme), Brad Zaun (R-Urbandale), Jason Schultz (R-Schleswig), Mark […]
By The Iowa Statesman Millions of people could lose health insurance subsidies in the coming months if the Supreme Court sides with opponents of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. And one thing was clear this weekend as the nation’s governors gathered in Washington: Many of the states that […]
By The Iowa Statesman Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker backed a surprise move Friday by Republican legislators to quickly vote on making Wisconsin a right-to-work state, an action the likely 2016 presidential candidate initially said should be ayed to avoid re-igniting massive pro-union protests. According to an Associated Press report, […]
By The Iowa Statesman Democrats are struggling to answer a simple question — “What’s a Democrat?” — and must do a better job of explaining their core values to voters, according to a task force formed after the party’s dismal showing in the 2014 election. “I am here to […]
By The Iowa Statesman Somali terrorists urged Muslims in a video Saturday to attack shopping malls in the U.S., and other countries, specifically naming the Mall of America in Minnesota. U.S. Homeland Security officials, however, don’t seem to be taking the threat seriously. According to the Associated Press, the […]
By The Iowa Statesman When House File 214, which seeks to repeal independent private instruction in Iowa, was filed, The Iowa Statesman sought an explanation from the group of House Democrats who sponsored the bill. Over the weekend, one of those legislators responded. State Rep. Marti Anderson (D-Des Moines) […]
By The Iowa Statesman Senate Democrats are likely to filibuster a Republican bill to fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The vote, which is expected to come late this afternoon, will likely leave Senate Majority Leader with “messy options,” according to a report over the weekend by Politico. […]
By The Iowa Statesman If you don’t believe the “settled science” of man-made climate change/global warming, prepare to endure the wrath of the liberal-socialist-progressive-statist intelligentsia. That’s the message The New York Times reinforced Saturday when it smeared astrophysicist Willie Soon. In its report, The Times suggested Soon’s skepticism was […]
By The Iowa Statesman First, President Obama “telegraphs” his shot. Now, those asked to implement the pre-announced battle plan with Islamic State terrorists say they’re not ready for a fight. According to the Associated Press, with the military operation to retake Iraq’s second largest city from Islamic State militants […]
By Iowans for Tax Relief Special interests demanding higher Iowa gas taxes used shocking tactics this week to get the 10 cents gas tax increase moved to the floors of the Iowa House and Senate Senate Majority Leader Gronstal had said he would not allow floor debate unless a […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor Iowa has than 112,000 road miles and nearly 25,000 bridges, ranking our state 10th and fourth, respectively, in those categories. And, with the intersection of two of the nation’s busiest Interstate highways, I-35 and I-80, we see a large volume of traffic, about 31.5 […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor When there are dozens of bills filed on a daily basis – there have been than 1,000 offered already this session – it can be difficult to keep up with every one of them. So, many reporters who cover the Iowa Statehouse focus their […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor A bill offered last week, and which has advanced out of subcommittee to the House Committee on Human Resources, would create the practice of “telehealth” – healthcare provided remotely – in Iowa. House File 218, authored by state Rep. Dave Heaton (R-Mount Pleasant), would allow […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor State Rep. Mary Mascher is on a roll. The Iowa City Democrat has gone after homeschoolers, non-registered in-home daycares, and now she’s picked on a new target: motorcyclists. House File 267, which she offered yesterday, would require the use of safety helmets by operators and […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor An Iowa House Democrat is going after in-home daycares that are not registered, nor are they required to, by the state. State Rep. Mary Mascher (D-Iowa City) offered two bills in the House this week intended to increase the pressure on small in-home daycares. House […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor Penalties handed down by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or by its affiliated conferences, are rarely the subject of legislative scrutiny, but a bill offered in the Iowa House of Representatives may change that. House File 220, authored last week by state Rep. Megan Jones […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor If an applicant for a certain public position has been convicted of a felony in the past, should the officials considering hiring him or her know about the circumstances surrounding that conviction? A group of House Democrats thinks maybe you shouldn’t. House File 301, offered […]
By The Iowa Statesman Can someone sue themselves for damages caused by their own negligence? Apparently, in one U.S. state, you can. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, the Utah Court of Appeals has given Barbara Bagley the go-ahead to proceed with a wrongful-death lawsuit against herself for alleged […]
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