From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has been named a member of the Advisory Council of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, joining other members of Congress and child welfare advocates to advise the institute on policy efforts to help children. “I’m glad to work with an […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today encouraged state treasurers to explain the merits of the Section 529 college savings plans that are so popular nationwide. State treasurers generally administer the plans. Grassley has a pending bipartisan bill that would add flexibility to these college spending plans. […]
Bob Eschliman Editor While only eight new bills were offered during the past week, the Iowa General Assembly has been at work in committees and floor debate. With the recent release of a new state revenue estimate, work will soon begin in earnest on the new biennial budget. There […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is a long-time watchdog of Defense Department spending, including fi the bren accounting system within the agency. He released a report on the accounting problems in November 2013. When he met with now-confirmed Defense Secretary Ashton Carter as a nominee, Grassley […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor The Iowa House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill to provide for the regulation of “transportation network companies,” such as Uber, during morning debate Tuesday. House File 394’s floor manager, state Rep. Chris Hagenow (R-Windsor Heights), said the proposed legislation was meant to provide “one […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) made the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposed changes to the “actively engaged” provision of the 2014 Farm Bill. “The rule proposed by USDA today regarding who can qualify as ‘actively engaged’ in farming to make them eligible […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor Following a rigorous, but civil, debate over proposed legislation aimed at preventing people younger than 18 from using tanning beds, the Iowa Senate passed the bill on a party- vote. Senate File 232 was adopted Tuesday, 26-23, following 28 minutes of debate, most of which […]
From Press Release U.S. Rep. David Young (R-IA 3) announced this afternoon that he has been named to the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. Young remains the only member of the Iowa egation, House and Senate, on the powerful committee which is responsible for […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) filed an amendment Tuesday to the budget legislation under consideration by the full Senate that would disallow the Earned Income Tax Credit for those made newly eligible for past benefits under the President’s executive actions on immigration. The amendment tracks Grassley’s […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor The fight that brewed in the Iowa House of Representatives on Tuesday over a bill to amend the state’s official school start date wasn’t over what most observers might have expected. The debate over Senate File 227, the substitute bill for House File 307, focused […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor A group of eight Republicans in the Iowa Senate introduced a bill last Thursday that would redefine “person” in the context of the crime of murder. This new “personhood bill” would have the effect of making abortion a crime in Iowa. The new definition of […]
From Press Release This week, Congressman Rod Blum (R-IA) led a bipartisan letter to the House Committee on Appropriations requesting a prohibition on funding for the EPA’s proposed Waters of the United States regulations. The bipartisan letter garnered signatures from 104 Members of Congress and if implemented would prevent […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor Outside observers often see legislative articles that talk about the “spirited debates” Republicans and Democrats have over important issues, but in reality, most bills are quickly and quietly adopted in both chambers of the Iowa General Assembly. Monday’s floor debate in the Iowa Senate was […]
By The Iowa Statesman Monday, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced her first piece of legislation, the Prioritizing Veterans’ Access to Mental Health Care Act, which prioritizes veterans’ mental health care first and provides a back-stop to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs mental health care treatment, and prioritizes incentives […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor A bill currently being considered in an Iowa Senate subcommittee would create a pilot program to explore school-based mental health services provided by area education agencies. Senate File 430, which is a successor to Senate File 281 proposed by state Sen. Rob Hogg (D-Cedar Rapids), […]
From Press Release Sioux City’s Rev. Cary Gordon may have just published a bo, but that hasn’t stopped the executive pastor of Cornerstone World Outreach, in Northwestern Iowa’s conservative stronghold, from rushing to make the bo’s message free to the public in a series of professionally-developed animated videos. The […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) officially announced he is running for the Republican nomination for President of the United States at an event today at Liberty University. The event was televised. To see the video of the event, scroll down.
From Press Release The Iowa Air National Guard’s 132nd Wing will host the opening of their new storefront recruiting office, or Recruiting Operations Center, at 1 p.m. Tuesday. The ROC, located at 7205 Vista Drive, West Des Moines, is the first off-base recruiting office within the Iowa Air National […]
By The Iowa Statesman While the heads over the weekend focused on a U.S. Senator from Texas who is expected to announce his formal candidacy for President of the United States later today, another official candidate has already been working over the state, growing support in a key demographic. […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor The announcement of the March Revenue Estimating Conference’s estimated General Fund revenues typically signals the in-earnest beginning of the final budget-setting process in Iowa. But, in reality, the setting of budgets is a never-ending year-round process. With the use of the REC’s estimate, appropriations requests […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor Despite revenues that significantly lagged last year’s March estimate, the Revenue Estimating Conference revised its revenue estimates for fiscal years 2015 and 2016. Those estimates will significantly impact the biennial budget the General Assembly will spend much of the remaining session formulating. But, as last […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor The Iowa Senate approved a bill Thursday to allow Iowans to register to vote electronically. Senate File 331, offers an on electronic voter registration option to Iowa voters in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Office of Secretary of State. Floor manager […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor The Iowa House of Representatives voted on a resolution Thursday that applies to Congress to call for a “convention of states” outd in Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The purpose of that convention would be to propose amendments to the Constitution to impose fiscal […]
From Press Release Iowa Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds today met with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy and shared Iowa’s efforts in implementing the science-based Nutrient Reduction Strategy and urged the EPA to maintain a strong and robust Renewable Fuel Standard. The meeting to place while the lt. governor […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor Tuesday, the Iowa Department of Transportation issued evaluations of automated traffic enforcement cameras in six Iowa cities. As part of those evaluations, it directed those cities to move, or remove entirely, some of their cameras. IDOT has posted those evaluation reports, as well as the […]
Bob Eschliman Editor The Iowa General Assembly is now producing far fewer bills as it devotes time to floor debate and preparations to consider the biennial state budget. There have been 16 enrolled bills – those adopted by both chambers and sent to Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad for […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor The Iowa Senate was quickly and quietly moving through a slate of than a dozen bills Wednesday when state Sen. Herman Quirmbach (D-Ames) offered up a bill to add new subjects to the Iowa Core Curriculum. Senate File 431 is an act to add […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor The Iowa House of Representatives began debate on a bill that amends collective bargaining laws for public school districts and area education agencies at 4:44 p.m. Tuesday. Nineteen hours and 38 minutes later, it finally voted on the proposed legislation. House File 549 would amend […]
By The Iowa Statesman Although Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee isn’t officially a candidate for president, he’s acting and like a contender each day. Tomorrow, he will be making stops in Le Mars and Orange City in northwest Iowa. His first stop will be at 8:30 a.m. […]
By The Iowa Statesman According to the Associated Press, Liz Mair, the aide to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s political action committee who was critical of Iowa, has resigned. She told AP reporters Tuesday she was leaving Walker’s team just a day after she had been tapped to lead his […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor The Iowa Senate passed a bill Tuesday that prohibits mental health professionals from engaging in “conversion therapy” with patients younger than 18. Senate File 334, which passed on a 26-24 party vote, provides that a mental health provider who engages in sexual orientation change […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor After a short debate over whether or not “the hammer” was too big or too small, the Iowa House of Representatives voted Tuesday to adopt a bill that significantly toughens state laws with regard to synthetic drugs, like K2, a synthetic form of marijuana also […]
From Press Release Today, Donald Trump, the globally renowned business mogul, announced he is forming an exploratory committee to determine whether he will run for the office of the President of the United States of America. Trump stated, “I have a great for our country, but it is […]
By Drew Jones Correspondent Newspaper readers in a number of Iowa communities had raised eyebrows during the past month by an ad campaign called “Let’s Stop HIV Together” that has featured photos and stories of non-traditional relationships. One ad features former Olympian Greg Louganis and reads: “I am a […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor As the old saying goes, the devil is in the details. And it couldn’t be true for Iowa House leadership regarding a resolution offered by the Democrat minority this week. On its title, House Resolution 18 – authored by state Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D-Ames) […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor Despite the fact the first legislative “funnel” dead has passed, legislators in the General Assembly are still proposing new bills in both the Iowa House of Representatives and the Iowa Senate. In the House, a pair of bills focus on the creation of a new […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor A bill that would requires that any citation issued as a result of a traffic enforcement camera include a breakdown of what entities receive a portion of the fines or fees is on the Iowa House of Representatives debate calendar. House File 597, a successor […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor A bill offered by state Sen. Joe Bolkcom (D-Iowa City) would amend Iowa Code as it relates to the process by which contraband and “proceeds or instrumentalities related to criminal activity” may be seized by the state and later sold. Critics call criminal asset forfeiture […]
By The Iowa Statesman The first full week of daily bill debate in the Iowa General Assembly was fairly spectacular. And the second week has the los of even impending fireworks, in both chambers. In the House, several new bills have been added to the tentative debate calendar. […]
By The Iowa Statesman Parliamentary elections have been underway since the wee hours of this morning, Iowa time, and will conclude when polls close at approximately 2 p.m. You can follow the happenings via the live blog hosted by Haaretz by clicking here. The Jerusalem Post is also providing […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor The Senate Ways and Means Committee, chaired by state Sen. Joe Bolkcom (D-Iowa City), has introduced a bill that would amend the deduction from the individual income tax, corporate income tax, and franchise tax of wages paid relating to the employment of an individual with […]
By Jacob Hall Contributor Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has a funny way of trying to entice Iowa Caucus voters to consider supporting his presidential candidacy. His latest hire will likely throw those on the fence about his candidacy back to the side of undecided. According to CNN Monday morning, […]
From Press Release On Saturday, March 7, the Iowa Air National Guard’s 132nd Fighter Wing formally recognized the unit’s new designation as the 132nd Wing and the Wing’s new Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group. The 132nd Wing, which has served as an aerial reconnaissance and combat fighter unit for […]
By The Iowa Statesman According to ABC News, House Speaker John Boehner is expected to announce this week a new investigation into Hillary Clinton’s e practices as Secretary of State, including her admission that than 31,000 es were destroyed because she determined them to be personal, top House […]
By The Iowa Statesman According to The Times of Israel, an annual report ivered recently to the US Senate by James Clapper, the director of National Intelligence, removed Iran and Hezbollah from its list of terrorism threats, after years in which they featured in similar reports. The unclassified version of […]
By The Iowa Statesman If you thought the Democrats were down and out after the beating they to in 2014, think again. The Hill is reporting that Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and the House Democratic Caucus are making big plans for 2016. According to the report, Pelosi says a […]
By The Iowa Statesman Three of Iowa’s NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams qualified for this year’s national tournament, and all of them received upper-division seeds in their respective regions. And, for the first time ever, Iowans won’t have to dream up an imaginary national championship for any of […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor Christian conservatives who advocate for personhood often decry bills that fall short of abolishing abortion as “and then you get to kill the baby” bills. For nearly five hours Thursday, the Iowa House of Representatives debated a bill that made that figurative statement far […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor If you’re currently watching Spring Training, trying to get a clue as to who you should pick next month in your fantasy baseball draft, don’t worry. Your activities may soon, finally, be legal in Iowa. Not that there was ever a threat of police breaking […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor Thursday, the Iowa House of Representatives considered a bill to add only seven s to existing child labor laws, and proceeded to debate the proposed legislation for than 30 minutes. House File 397 defined the term “occasional work” as it applies to children. […]
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