In the LegislatureAfter last's week legislative deadline for bills, week thirteen included more floor debate. We remain focused on our budget work while we continue to pass bills out of the Senate.While we are still in negotiations with the House and the governor on what the budget will look ...

Those who blame Iran for meddling in and destabilizing the Middle East apparently have not listened to General Wesley Clark's remarks from "A Time to Lead" speech he gave at the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco, CA, on October 3, 2007. Following is an abridged transcript of his ...

The day of the year.

April 15

In the LegislatureThis was the twelfth week of the 2019 legislative session and budget bills have started moving in both chambers. The first budget bill passed off the floor of the Senate this week. Senate Republicans have proposed a budget for the next fiscal year that is sustainable, ...

Newsletter for Thursday, April 4, 2019Friday, April 5, was the second funnel date where Senate bills must get approval from at least one House committee. This funnel does not apply to Appropriations or Ways and Means bills, and a few other bills that have companions in both chambers. We have ...

As the old Ben Franklin quote goes, Only two things are certain in life: death and taxes, and with Tax Day right around the corner, most of us are thinking about the latter. History has proved that nothing is immune to taxation it seems almost everything has been taxed at one point or ...

When I hear politicians talk about abolishing the Electoral College, it immediately makes me think about the impact on the state of Iowa. It would be devastating. The ripple effects would render Iowans' voices moot in the general election and bring an end to Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucus ...

In the LegislatureWeek eleven finished in the Iowa Senate this week, leaving just over a month left until the scheduled end of the legislative session. Floor debate on a number of bills has continued as we work on legislation to send to the House for their consideration.The Iowa Senate passed a ...

Newsletter for Thursday, March 28, 2019We continued with debate this week as the next funnel looms large in our minds as we press for our bills to come to the floor.PioneerLawmakersof IowaWednesday afternoon of this week we held a joint meeting of the House and Senate for the 2019 induction ...