The Iowa Association of School Boards applauds President Obama and Governor Branstad for making expansion of broadband access, in both urban and rural areas, a priority. President Obama, speaking in Cedar Falls Wednesday, stated "Today high-speed broadband is not a luxury, it's a necessity." ...
The 2015 session of the Iowa Legislature began on Monday, January 12.State Senator Steve Sodders of State Center says his top priority is helping improve the incomes of working and middle class families by focusing on education and job training."The recovery from the Great Recession is uneven," ...
On November 4, 2014, voters in Colorado had the opportunity to vote on Prop 104. This Proposition passed with 70 percent approval. The proposition will require that all negotiations that school boards engage in fall under the open-meeting laws of the state. Basically it would finally allow ...
Last Wednesday, the world was shocked and appalled by the deplorable attacks at the Paris office of the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. Twelve men and women were murdered for expressing their freedom of speech. Sadly, it is not an isolated incident.In August, journalist James Foley was ...
We capped off 2014 with promising news on the economy. That means we can continue to make both fiscal responsibility and job creation top priorities in 2015.The latest review of state finances by the nonpartisan Revenue Estimating Conference points to steady economic growth for Iowa over the ...
As a parent, I believe most of us want our children to be successful throughout their lifetime. I have yet to meet a parent who says, "I want my child to fail in school and live a life of poverty."Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, family friends and students did you know that a recent ...
The United States may be "officially" out of the Great Recession, but the economy still faces serious structural problems. Most of these structural problems are a result of poor public policies that are placing an albatross over the economy. The problems of high unemployment, high national ...
As the holidays approached and you stocked up on candy canes or chocolate Santas, do you know if you paid sales tax on that candy to the state of Iowa? Here in Iowa, most food is exempt from sales tax, while candy is taxable. But the definition of what is "candy" may surprise you.According to ...
A recent Saturday Night Live skit tapped into a deep concern among Americans about the President's excessive use of executive authority. That concern is exacerbated with the reality now better understood that President Obama has largely kept the public from knowing the extent of his unilateral ...
Almost two years ago I announced I was not going to seek a sixth term in the United States Senate.That decision and announcement did not seem all that difficult or hard at that time. Two years was a long time off. And since then I have been busy working, having hearings, meeting constituents, ...