Bill creating a contractor bond would help consumers recover money--------It's become a familiar story: A home improvement contractor takes money from several homeowners but leaves behind nothing but broken promises and unfinished projects. Even if lawsuits are filed and judgments ordered, ...
After the Iowa Legislature adjourns, Iowa's Community College Presidents and Trustees review the activity of the past session and look to the future to identify issues that impact the statewide system before they prepare for the upcoming session. The list of legislative priorities are ...
In the Legislature-This week we continued to run at a busy pace. While most of the week was consumed by subcommittee and committee work, a good portion of time was also spent meeting constituents and organizational representatives from our area.On Monday representatives from our Rural Water ...
In 2019, Iowans will hear the phrase "fake news" whenever a report sullies a political party or presidential hopeful. We may support or scorn candidates without knowing fact from factoid.This column explains what you can do about it.People typically do not differentiate between journalism and ...
Last week was a shortened week due to the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. Most of the week was spent working on subcommittee assignments. Subcommittees are the first step in the legislative process and gives the public and other interested parties an opportunity to support, ...
As a science teacher I understand that you are officially dead when your heart stops beating. As a human being why would you not be recognized as being alive when your heart starts beating?For 200 years this nation of men and women recognized this fact. In 1973, a vote of 7-2 legalized murder. ...
Newsletter for January 31, 2019In spite of the cold and nasty weather, the legislature met in session every day this week. I continue to commute to the capitol from home most days, but as the years go by I find myself staying overnight more often in order to avoid driving when the roads are ...
With Iowa's 2019 legislative session in full swing, many policymakers have sports betting on their minds. Since the Supreme Court struck down the failed federal ban in May 2018, seven new states created and implemented legal sports betting markets. In the coming months, Iowa could potentially ...
The ceremonies and speeches are done and the House has gotten down to business this week in spite of the cold and freezing rain. The emphasis now is on finishing up the research on bills, having them drafted and reviewed, filing them, assigning them to the pertinent committee and conducting ...
One of the biggest contrasts in public access to state and local governments in Iowa came into focus last week, and Iowans should be concerned by what occurred.A bit of context: Iowans have long had the right to sit in on almost every meeting of state government policy-making and governing ...