After weeks of contention in the Senate, we have found bipartisanship as we passed SF 1 and SF 180 though the Senate, both with a 50-0 vote.SF 1- Jobs Impact Statements for Administrative RulesAt the beginning of this session, we set out a number of priorities for the coming months. One of ...
The Toledo Chronicle Editor asked me to write down the ideas I had, saying he thought I was on the right track and furthermore the current crop of ideas aren't "thinking big enough.".Well, be careful what you ask for so here goes: One of the things I found startling about Tama County was its ...
The late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was an intellectual giant and a revered defender of the Constitution and the limited role of the judiciary in our Republic. His contributions to the court and to broader judicial philosophy will endure for years. Now, we'll keep our word to the ...
Iowa Valley Continuing Education is on a mission to prepare individuals for college and fulfilling careers through English language learning and high school equivalency classes. We offer these important services at five satellite locations: downtown Marshalltown, Eldora, Grinnell, Iowa Falls, ...
The last two weeks have been the most contentious in my 17 years in the Legislature.In just 10 days, Republican lawmakers and Governor Branstad unraveled Iowa's successful, bipartisan collective bargaining law. After watching the events unfold the last week and a half, what we've learned is ...
On Thursday the Iowa Legislature passed collective bargaining reforms for public sector employees. This legislation will update the existing Chapter 20 laws for Iowa public sector employees.The original goal of the legislation outlined was to provide flexibility for our local officials to meet ...
DES MOINES - In response to the passing of Republican-sponsored, SF213 and HF291, bills that gut a Chapter 20 law that has worked well for forty years to the benefit of working men and women in Iowa, Iowa Democratic Party Chair, Derek Eadon issued the following statement:"This assault on ...
Week 6 was marked by considerable debate time with debate into the late evening Tuesday and Wednesday nights on House File 291, Collective Bargaining Reform. On Thursday, with roughly four amendments completed and eighty more amendments still to go the speaker called for a "time certain" ...
Since the November, 2016, General Election, it's been said: the rural areas have spoken - the heartland has felt left out - the cities and big counties have dictated too much policy.Let's hope in Iowa the Legislators in Des Moines listen to and hear this message from all areas-It's time for ...
In the Senate:We are already in week five and busy with committee work. We are coming up on our first funnel week. This means all bills need to be through committee in order to be considered for the rest of the legislative session. The only exceptions to the funnel are oversight, appropriations ...