From Press Release U.S. Rep. Steve King released the following statement after introducing his New IDEA Act, the Illegal Deduction Elimination Act: “I believe we must shut off the job magnets that encourage illegal immigrants to come to the United States. I have authored New IDEA, the Illegal Deduction […]
From Press Release Gov. Terry Branstad, First Lady Chris Branstad, and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today rallied with than 100 Iowa students at the Iowa State Capitol to call for passage of the Bully Free Iowa Act of 2015. The students and Sioux City School District Superintendent Dr. […]
By The Iowa Statesman The Iowa Senate is scheduled to begin debate on education funding at 11:30 a.m. today. You may watch the debate live by clicking here. State Sen. Tod Bowman (D-Maqueta) will lead the series of debates on all six education funding-related bills. Senators will debate the […]
By The Iowa Statesman According to Bill Gertz of The Washington Free Beacon, war hawks in the Chinese military are pushing to arm one secessionist movement in the U.S. in retaliation for U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and recently threatened to challenge American sovereignty by making legal claims to […]
From Press Release FROM: RNC Communications Director Sean Spicer TO: Interested Parties RE: Hillary’s Hiding We’ve noticed it. You’ve noticed it: Hillary Clinton is hiding. Potential Republican presidential candidates are out in public, speaking to voters, and sharing their ideas. But Hillary Clinton is nowhere to be found. Well, we do […]
By The Iowa Statesman Late last month, President Barack Obama to part in a “VOX Conversation” in which he fielded a number of softball questions from apologists Ezra Klein and Matthew Yglesias. The first part of the interview focused on domestic issues, while the second focused on foreign policy. […]
By Charles Grassley United States Senator The problems plaguing our bren immigration system are no secret to many Americans, but most people probably have never heard of one particular immigration program that may be a legal gateway into America for foreign criminals, spies and terrorists. The program, known as […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor For Iowa Republicans, 2014 was certainly a year of highs and lows. It started with egate stacking and a retaking of the reins of party leadership by the Gov. Terry Branstad-led establishment, and it ended with a thorough trouncing of Democrats in many statewide races. […]
By The Iowa Statesman A British bicyclist found a motorist recently who would have been guilty of distracted driving in just about any jurisdiction in the United States. Check out the article here at The Telegraph to find out just how “distracted” this driver was.
By The Iowa Statesman Update: We had a late-breaking addition that just had to be included. Scroll to the end to see it. Ever since NBC and its VOG had to back-pedal on his 2003 claim of having been in a helicopter forced down by enemy fire over Iraq, […]
By The Iowa Statesman In an interview with The Washington Post, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said he “wouldn’t bet” on him seeking a seventh term in office. In the report posted to WaPo’s website today, Branstad said he’s continuing to groom Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds to be his successor. […]
By The Iowa Statesman It’s no secret Iowans For Tax Relief is adamantly opposed to the proposed 10-cent increase in Iowa’s motor fuel taxes. The group recently released a document that offers some alternatives to gas tax increases. “The high-pressure push for a 10-cents per gallon gas tax increase […]
From Press Release At least four potential and likely presidential candidates have confirmed their participation in the Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators’ eighth annual “Homeschool Day at the Capitol” on Thursday, April 9. “We’ve invited a number of Christian conservatives to hear from Iowa’s home educators about issues […]
By The Iowa Statesman Former U.S. Senate and Treasurer of Iowa candidate Dr. Sam Clovis announced this afternoon that former Texas Gov. Rick Perry is coming to Morningside College next week for the first of what may become a series of “town hall” meetings with probable 2016 presidential candidates. […]
By The Iowa Statesman A unit of the Iowa National Guard will be drilling tomorrow in Des Moines. According to public affairs director Col. Greg Hapgood, the unit will be conducting a training exercise in coordination with local police and fire professionals. The 71st Civil Support Team (WMD), a […]
By The Iowa Statesman Another potential 2016 presidential contender is coming to Iowa later this week, according to published reports, which have been confirmed by the candidate-to-be’s staff. No, it won’t be another Republican, but it will be someone with high name recognition. Vice President Joe Biden will be […]
By The Iowa Statesman Those who have been predicting a 5-4 “Roe v Wade” decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on the issue of homosexual “marriage” this summer may be in for even greater heartbreak than they currently imagine. The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision, has decided […]
By Joel Kurtinitis Correspondent Nobody thought that former US Representative Ron Paul would show up in Iowa this week to stump with his son, Kentucky Senator and likely 2016 presidential candidate Rand Paul; but when Rand to the stage to iver the keynote at an “Audit the Fed” rally […]
By The Iowa Statesman Since the stories of child abductions began to become common in 1980s, American parents have been keen to teach their kids about “stranger danger.” But a Missouri family has taken it just a bit too far for their 6-year-old son. According to local news […]
By The Iowa Statesman When the popular ride-share business Uber moved into Des Moines last fall, it created quite a bit of controversy, because it does not employ licensed taxi-cab drivers, as is currently required by city regulations. A bill offered yesterday in the Iowa House of Representatives is […]
By The Iowa Statesman A bill offered yesterday in the General Assembly would completely scrap the way certain businesses are licensed and regulated by the State of Iowa. Senate File 168, offered by state Sen. Matt McCoy (D-Des Moines), seeks to regulate all businesses that “possess or control” non-agricultural […]
A bill now being considered in the Iowa Senate would create a new breed of police officer in the state. These won’t be you typical “rent-a-cop” types, either. Senate File 163, submitted Thursday by state Sen. Matt McCoy (D-Des Moines), would allow the governing board of any hospital to commission […]
By The Iowa Statesman In all the hub-bub that followed yesterday’s National Prayer Breakfast, something very important was missed. And it shouldn’t have. Keynote speaker Darrell Waltrip, a NASCAR legend, spe about his racing career and personal life, and how turning his life to Christ turned it all around […]
By The Iowa Statesman In an ongoing sign of the times for the retail industry, RadioShack has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and announced yesterday that it will be selling off or closing all of its stores in the U.S. The New York Stock Exchange stopped trading RadioShack […]
By The Iowa Statesman Perhaps it was done for the Greybies. Or, maybe the folks at Target are really just that naive. Either way, the placement of “Fifty Shades of Grey”-themed “adult novelties” found their way to a Target store end cap recently, parked right next to children’s dental […]
By The Iowa Statesman Today state Rep. Dean Fisher (R-Garwin) and Secretary of State Paul Pate held a press conference to announce the Safe At Home Act, which will provide address confidentiality, via the Secretary of State’s Office, for victims of domestic abuse and others who are concerned for […]
From Press Release Gov. Terry E. Branstad has ordered all flags in Iowa be flown at half-staff from 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, until 8 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9, in honor of Centerville Assistant Fire Chief Michael Cooper, who was killed in the of duty serving in the […]
By The Iowa Statesman That the United States have been negotiating directly with Iran over its nuclear program has been troubling to many, but the latest news coming from Tehran may be even concerning. In fact, it just might fuel conservative concerns that President Obama’s foreign policy is […]
By The Iowa Statesman A number of House Republicans have decided to offer a new proposal to meet the state’s road construction, maintenance, and supervision needs. House Joint Resolution 5, offered yesterday by state Rep. Walt Rogers (R-Cedar Falls), aims to amend the Constitution of Iowa to provide […]
By The Iowa Statesman A key component of Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s staff has announced she is departing state employment tomorrow. Brenna (Findley) Bird, who has served as the legal counsel for Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds since they to office in 2011, is taking a job in […]
By Joel Kurtinitis Correspondent Nearly two weeks ago, just prior to his appearance at Steve King’s Iowa Freedom Summit, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz carved out some time to meet with leading liberty activists from around Iowa. The low-key meeting, held in Des Moines, was many activists’ first time to […]
By The Iowa Statesman First, he made a “namaste” gesture — effectively bowing — to the Dalai Lama. Then, President Obama decided to throw Christians under the bus as he spe about religious extremism connected to violence and terrorism. The president made his about Christianity, linking it as […]
By The Iowa Statesman Most legislators take their oaths of office seriously. And it is the Oath of Office of one member of the Iowa General Assembly that resulted in a new piece of legislation yesterday that is making national heads. Senate File 148, also known as the Fourth […]
By The Iowa Statesman New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s quest for the Republican presidential nomination may already be sinking — fast. Having sho off “Bridgegate” last year, the governor now faces a federal criminal investigation over allegations he and his staff quashed grand jury indictments of his supporters. The […]
By The Iowa Statesman Who won’t Speaker of the House John Boehner invite to speak to joint sessions of Congress? That’s question we’re left to ponder after the latest news from Capitol Hill today. This morning, FOX News bre the story that Pope Francis will speak to a joint […]
By The Iowa Statesman Maj. Gen. Timothy Orr, Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard, spe today before a joint session of the Iowa General Assembly to present his Condition of the Iowa National Guard speech. The full text of that speech follows: Good morning Ladies and gentlemen […]
By The Iowa Statesman It’s no secret the Iowa Democratic Party is married to organized labor in the state. And, while Democrats often propose legislation that would be beneficial to unions, a pair of bills offered yesterday in the General Assembly were surprising. House File 164, offered by Todd […]
By The Iowa Statesman An Iowa House Democrat has proposed a new bill that would require most food producers to add a new label to their products sold in Iowa. House File 147, offered by state Rep. Mary Mascher (D-Iowa City), requires food items to be labeled with information […]
By The Iowa Statesman We’ve all heard about “stolen valor” stories where people pretend to be military veterans, or they embellish their military record in an effort to gain something (e.g. respect, veteran discounts, a free adult beverage). But what one member of the media has done just […]
Via Press Release Senate Democrats denied a second attempt by Senate Republicans to work in a bipartisan manner to bring common ground legislation to the floor for debate. Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix (R-Shell Rock) proposed the bipartisan solution last week in the Senate Rules Committee which would allow […]
If you read enough of the Iowa Code, particularly those sections that apply directly to the criminal code, you will notice the word “person” is used a lot. A new bill offered last week in the Iowa House of Representatives aims to define that phrase in a very specific way. […]
As promised, the Republicans in the Iowa House last week announced they were planning to unveil a bipartisan gas tax hike bill. While that bill has not yet materialized, another House Republican has put up a plan for a phased-in, six-cent increase in Iowa’s motor fuel taxes. House File 144, […]
By The Iowa Statesman FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, in an op-ed for Wired, has announced his vision for Net Neutrality in the U.S. Click here to read the entire article. “This week, I will circulate to the members of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed new rules to preserve […]
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 […]
The Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee is currently holding a legislative hearing on the Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 1772), a bill introduced by Rep. Lamar Smith last Congress and approved by the House Judiciary Committee on June 26, 2013 by a vote of 22-9. Click here to watch live.
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 […]
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