Articles by: Bob Eschliman

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Cruz returning to Iowa this weekend

From Press Release   Friday, Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz will speak at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C. Saturday, he will be in Iowa to host the opening of his campaign office and speak at the Cornerstone Republican Gala in Winnebago County. Details of his Iowa […]

by · September 22, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Local, Politics
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Rubio back in Iowa on Thursday

From Press Release   Thursday, Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio will meet with Iowa voters at a town hall in Davenport to discuss his agenda for building a New American Century. Details of the event follow:   Thursday, Sept. 24 6:30 p.m. — The Champions Club, Modern Woodman […]

by · September 22, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Local, Politics
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Three Iowa Walker supporters switch to Cruz

From Press Release   Monday, the Cruz for President campaign announced the addition of several Iowa, Georgia, and Nevada leaders and activists formerly allied with Governor Scott Walker who will now help rally support for Cruz. In Iowa, Phyllis Gannon of Greene County, Barb Pape of Clayton County, and Dean […]

by · September 22, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Politics, State
Pile of pills on counter

Winter is Coming – Grassley may use patent law to dethrone Big Pharma

By S.C. Sherman Guest Contributor   Crony Capitalism and collusion, throw in a back room deal, seems to be all I write about any. Too bad there is so much material on the subject. I’ve discovered amongst the hardly noticed articles on the internet many things of great importance that […]

by · September 22, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Editorial
Ernst invokes story of Newton boy in support of 20-week abortion ban

Ernst invokes story of Newton boy in support of 20-week abortion ban

From Press Release   Monday evening, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) to to the floor of the United States Senate to call for support of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act – which would ban abortions after five months of pregnancy – and share the story of the Pickering family […]

by · September 22, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
UPDATE: Walker drops out to ‘make way for conservative alternative’ to Trump

UPDATE: Walker drops out to ‘make way for conservative alternative’ to Trump

By The Iowa Statesman   Republican presidential candidate Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker suspended his campaign Monday evening in downtown Madison. He made the following statement: “As a kid, I was drawn to Ronald Reagan because he was a Republican and a conservative. But most of all, I admired him because […]

by · September 21, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
UPDATE: Shulte comments on defund Planned Parenthood resolution

UPDATE: Shulte comments on defund Planned Parenthood resolution

Update 3: Loras Shulte, a member of the RPI State Central Committee, was said to have spen out strongly in support of the defund Planned Parenthood resolution. He explained why this morning.   By Bob Eschliman Editor   By a nearly unanimous vote, the Republican Party of Iowa’s State Central […]

by · September 21, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Politics, State
Grassley: Administration wants 10,000 more Syrian refugees

Grassley: Administration wants 10,000 more Syrian refugees

From Press Release   U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA 6) made the following statement after Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the United States would accept 10,000 additional Syrian refugees on top of the […]

by · September 21, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
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Fiorina returning to Iowa this weekend

By The Iowa Statesman   Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina, fresh off a successful debate performance last week at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA, will be back in Iowa later this week. Her itinerary follows. Friday, Sept. 25 9:45 a.m. — Quad Cities New Ideas Forum, […]

by · September 21, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Local, Politics
UPDATE: Santorum continues Iowa tour

UPDATE: Santorum continues Iowa tour

From Press Release   Following tonight’s speech at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Republican presidential candidate former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum will stick around Iowa for a couple days. He will stay in the first-in-the-nation caucus state through Wednesday. His itinerary follows. Monday, […]

by · September 21, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Local, Politics
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Huckabee takes a couple swings at Obama

By The Iowa Statesman   Republican presidential candidate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee threw in a couple of attacks on President Obama over the weekend. First, he released a statement critical of the president’s nomination of the first openly gay head of a U.S. military branch, then he responded to […]

by · September 21, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
Grassley questions legitimacy of DOJ internal investigation

Grassley questions legitimacy of DOJ internal investigation

From Press Release   Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is raising questions about a Justice Department office’s ability to be impartial in its investigation into grants practices.  His concern follows new allegations that the office in charge of the internal review not only approved the actions in question, but […]

by · September 21, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
Branstad to meet with U.S., Chinese governors

Branstad to meet with U.S., Chinese governors

From Press Release   Five U.S. governors, six Chinese governors and officials of both countries will meet at a forum on Tuesday afternoon in Seattle and will later meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss opportunities for collaboration on clean technology and economic development. Participants in the Third U.S.-China […]

by · September 21, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Politics, State
Grassley responds to expanding access to opioid addiction treatment

Grassley responds to expanding access to opioid addiction treatment

From Press Release   U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Caucus on International Narcotics Control, made the following comment on the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ announcement that it will expand doctors’ access to buprenorphine, a prescription drug used to treat opioid addiction.  Grassley and four […]

by · September 21, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
Ernst responds to USDA’s HPAI preparedness plan

Ernst responds to USDA’s HPAI preparedness plan

From Press Release   Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) released the following statement after the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s plan to address potential future outbreaks of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: “I lo forward to thoroughly reviewing the USDA’s proposed plan to ensure our farmers and […]

by · September 21, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Politics, State
Blum to host Women in Business Forum

Blum to host Women in Business Forum

From Press Release   Representative Rod Blum will be holding his first Women in Business Forum at the University of Northern Iowa. The forum is designed to encourage continued dialogue on the topic of women in business in Iowa, and identify and connect interested women to a network of service […]

by · September 21, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Local, Politics
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Grassley Q&A: Know Before You Owe

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) answered a couple of questions Friday about his newest legislation, the Know Before You Owe Student Loan Act. The bill requires lenders to provide loan counseling that shows the student what it will likely cost to pay off the loan, and how difficult it will […]

by · September 21, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Editorial
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Trump releases Second Amendment position paper

From Press Release   Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump released the following statement, along with a link to a position paper, Friday afternoon. The position paper deals with the Second Amendment and his plans to protect it, if elected President. The Second Amendment to our Constitution is clear.  The right […]

by · September 19, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
Who is Carly?

Who is Carly?

By Bob Eschliman Editor   Having been declared the winner of the “undercard debate” in Ohio last month and arguably the candidate who will likely see the biggest gains from the prime-time debate in California earlier this week, the focus has suddenly shifted to former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. Not […]

by · September 18, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
Ernst to hold Palo Alto County town hall, attend Clay County Fair

Ernst to hold Palo Alto County town hall, attend Clay County Fair

From Press Release   On Saturday, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) will attend the Clay County Fair before hosting a town meeting in Palo Alto County as part of her 99 county tour. Both the fair and town meeting are open to the public.   Saturday, Sept. 19 10:30 a.m. — […]

by · September 18, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Local, Politics
Grassley introduces ‘Know Before You Owe’ student loan bill

Grassley introduces ‘Know Before You Owe’ student loan bill

By Bob Eschliman Editor   Thursday, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the Know Before You Owe Student Loan Act, which would require student loan counseling annually before new student loans may be disbursed. It also adds several pieces of information the loan counseling must include. Grassley introduced the bill […]

by · September 18, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
Public meeting dates set for Governor’s Working Group on Justice Policy Reform

Public meeting dates set for Governor’s Working Group on Justice Policy Reform

From Press Release   Public meeting dates for the Governor’s Working Group on Justice Policy Reform today were announced after Gov. Terry Branstad announced the formation of the group at the Iowa Summit on Justice and Disparities on Aug. 28.  The summit was organized by the Iowa-Nebraska State Conference of […]

by · September 18, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Politics, State
Trump’s High School Reunion as told by …

Trump’s High School Reunion as told by …

Responding to a request from the senior government class at Urbandale High School, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has accepted an invitation to take part in the school’s Homecoming festivities this weekend. After speaking at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, […]

by · September 17, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Editorial
Branstad delivers testimony before the National Commission on the Future of the Army

Branstad delivers testimony before the National Commission on the Future of the Army

From Press Release   Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today ivered testimony before the National Commission on the Future of the Army in Arlington, Virginia. “I encourage you to consider the Army National Guard’s capabilities, value, and strategic importance for our states and the nation’s security.  As Iowa’s Commander-in-Chief, I want […]

by · September 17, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
Ernst continues call for permanent VA watchdog

Ernst continues call for permanent VA watchdog

From Press Release   In a letter to President Obama today, U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), John McCain (R-AZ), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Claire McCaskill (D-MO), renewed their call for him to immediately nominate an Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Today’s letter follows a July 25 letter […]

by · September 17, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
King: HR 3134 ‘not sufficient’ to defund Planned Parenthood

King: HR 3134 ‘not sufficient’ to defund Planned Parenthood

From Press Release   U.S. Rep. Steve King (R-IA 4) released the following statement to express his concerns about H.R. 3134, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act: “We should not be sending any funds whatsoever to Planned Parenthood,” said King. “H.R. 3134 simply restates current law – the Hyde Amendment. This […]

by · September 17, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
TIS columnists break down CNN’s GOP presidential debates

TIS columnists break down CNN’s GOP presidential debates

The following conversation to place Wednesday night in a nondescript social media chat, somewhere in Central Iowa. The opinions expressed herein are those of the participants, not necessarily The Iowa Statesman. •  •  •   Bob Eschliman — Editor, The Iowa Statesman OK, so it’s been a few weeks since […]

by · September 16, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Editorial
Grassley: ATF whistleblowers allege sexual harassment, discrimination, intimidation by managers

Grassley: ATF whistleblowers allege sexual harassment, discrimination, intimidation by managers

From Press Release   Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is asking about the handling of multiple claims of sexual harassment, bullying, gender discrimination and witness intimidation by senior Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) managers dating back to 2012, including alleged attempts to prevent independent oversight by […]

by · September 16, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
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Cruz to make an extra stop after IFFC appearance

By The Iowa Statesman   Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz will speak at 5 p.m. at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition event to be held Saturday night at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. But, he also has an additional Iowa stop planned for the next morning. At 11:45 […]

by · September 16, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Local, Politics
Trump gets big endorsement

Trump gets big endorsement

From Press Release   Donald J. Trump was endorsed by Veterans for a Strong America, the leading organization of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with than 500,000 veterans nationwide. Mr. Trump was joined by VSA Chairman Joel Arends and than a thousand vets aboard the USS Iowa (BB 61) […]

by · September 16, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
Paul to run ad during tonight’s debate

Paul to run ad during tonight’s debate

By The Iowa Statesman   After Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Rand Paul goes on the attack tonight during tonight’s GOP primary debate on CNN, frontrunner Donald Trump at least won’t be able to say the former is lacking in intelligence in any way. In a campaign season that has […]

by · September 16, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
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Graham campaigning in Iowa this weekend

From Press Release   Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham will return to Iowa this weekend to campaign in the Des Moines metro area, Indianola, Winterset, Waukee, Boone, Iowa Falls and Ames. Graham will also attend the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition Annual Family Banquet and Presidential Forum on […]

by · September 16, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Local, Politics
Cruz ran ads during previews for ‘War Room’ on opening weekend

Cruz ran ads during previews for ‘War Room’ on opening weekend

From Press Release   Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’ campaign continued its break-the-rules style in its most recent ad buy, running movie theater advertisements of its 30-second “Blessing” ad during previews of the blockbuster film “War Room” in early primary states. “Blessing” earlier ran in early primary states […]

by · September 16, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
Grassley comments on nomination of Iowan to federal bench

Grassley comments on nomination of Iowan to federal bench

From Press Release   U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, made the following statement after the White House nominated Judge Rebecca Ebinger to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Grassley recommended Ebinger and Judge Leonard Strand to the […]

by · September 16, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Politics, State
Grassley: Immigration reforms could displace U.S. workers

Grassley: Immigration reforms could displace U.S. workers

From Press Release   U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is raising questions about a new policy memorandum issued by the Obama administration that may, according to the President, allow for hundreds of thousands of foreign workers being admitted to the United States, which could result […]

by · September 16, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
Branstad issues disaster proclamation for Guthrie, Hamilton counties

Branstad issues disaster proclamation for Guthrie, Hamilton counties

From Press Release   Tuesday, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for two counties in response to recent severe weather. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of severe storm systems that affected Guthrie and Hamilton […]

by · September 16, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Local, Politics
Branstad appoints Polk County prosecutor to District Judgeship

Branstad appoints Polk County prosecutor to District Judgeship

By The Iowa Statesman   Tuesday, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad appointed David M. Porter as judge to the District Court in the 5C Judicial District to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Richard G. Blane. Porter, 38, of Johnston, currently serves as an Assistant Polk County […]

by · September 16, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Politics, State
Grassley to Administration: Address currency manipulation

Grassley to Administration: Address currency manipulation

From Press Release   U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is part of a bipartisan group of senators urging United States Trade Representative Michael Froman and U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to aggressively address currency issues in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. In a letter to Froman and Lew, Grassley […]

by · September 16, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
Thompson: Heroes Dinner conjures memories I had tried not to remember

Thompson: Heroes Dinner conjures memories I had tried not to remember

By John Thompson State Central Committee Member Republican Party of Iowa   I attended the Greene County Elk’s annual “Heroes Dinner” on September 11th.  It was a good event.  It also got me thinking about things that for the last few years I have tried not to think about. The […]

by · September 16, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Editorial
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Special election announced to replace Soderberg in HD 5

By Bob Eschliman Editor   With the resignation of state Rep. Chuck Soderberg (R-Le Mars) to take over as executive vice president of the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad announced Tuesday a special election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3, in House District 5. House District […]

by · September 16, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Local, Politics
Rubio plays some political football in new video

Rubio plays some political football in new video

By The Iowa Statesman   The NFL football season kicked off last weekend, which means political football season can’t be too far behind. Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio — himself a college football player — to the opportunity to release a new video titled “Catching Footballs, Fielding Questions.” […]

by · September 15, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
Walker releases new campaign video

Walker releases new campaign video

By The Iowa Statesman   Ahead of his town hall event in Nevada where he revealed his plans to address labor issues nationally, as he did in Wisconsin, Republican presidential candidate Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker released a new video titled “Real Reform.” Building on his “Recall the Recall” message, the […]

by · September 15, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
Huckabee to campaign in Iowa this weekend

Huckabee to campaign in Iowa this weekend

By The Iowa Statesman   Republican presidential candidate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will be campaigning in Iowa again this weekend with stops planned in Atlantic, Greenfield, Des Moines, and Marshalltown. The first “The Huck Stops Here” event will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Family Table Restaurant, located […]

by · September 15, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Local, Politics
Project Veritas releases third video showing Hillary staffers violating election laws

Project Veritas releases third video showing Hillary staffers violating election laws

By Bob Eschliman Editor   In a new investigative hidden-cameras video, Project Veritas journalists have caught Hillary Clinton campaign staff in Nevada not only skirting election law but mocking it. In the video, released last Friday, Las Vegas attorney Christina Gupana, a Hillary for America staffer, advised campaign workers to […]

by · September 15, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
CMP releases another ‘Human Capital’ video about Planned Parenthood

CMP releases another ‘Human Capital’ video about Planned Parenthood

By Bob Eschliman Editor   Ever since the first video from the Center for Medical Progress saw the light of day, Planned Parenthood has insisted that it had done nothing wrong and the videos were heavily edited. Based on by several top-level Planned Parenthood officials in the fourth episode […]

by · September 15, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
The Presidential Pensieve for September 14, 2015

The Presidential Pensieve for September 14, 2015

Current polling data, surprisingly, continues to match what we see on the ground in Iowa. As a result, we continue to feel confident there has been little change in the field — other than Rick Perry’s announced departure — headed into Wednesday’s second debate. We currently continue to project 140,000 […]

by · September 14, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Politics, State
Reynolds highlights apprenticeship growth in Iowa

Reynolds highlights apprenticeship growth in Iowa

From Press Release   Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today was joined at the administration’s weekly press conference by Jason Shanks of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33 and Duane Boswell of TMC Transportation to highlight the growth and importance of apprenticeships to their respective organizations.  U.S. Department of Labor data […]

by · September 14, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Politics, State
Rubio rebuts Obama’s education talk

Rubio rebuts Obama’s education talk

From Press Release   In today’s Des Moines Register and in a new video, Marco Rubio is detailing his plans to overhaul higher education in America. The video and op-ed come as President Obama visits Des Moines today to discuss the growing costs of higher education in America. Scroll down to see […]

by · September 14, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
Paul campaign announces 300 ‘Students For Rand’ chapters

Paul campaign announces 300 ‘Students For Rand’ chapters

From Press Release   Last month, Rand Paul for President launched a student organization effort across the nation with the goal of establishing 300 new college chapters within 30 days. During an address last Friday evening at Iowa State University, Sen. Rand Paul announced that he has surpassed the set […]

by · September 14, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · National, Politics
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Walker announces leadership in all 99 counties

From Press Release   Gov. Scott Walker today announced campaign leaders in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties, a show of strong and widespread support for his candidacy in the first-in-the-nation caucus state. With the backing of this county leadership team, Walker’s already robust, active organization grows as he campaigns […]

by · September 14, 2015 · Comments are Disabled · Politics, State