Week 7The focus of this week turned to debating bills on the floor of the House in an effort to clear as many of the bills that passed out of committee over the past few weeks. I also had the pleasure of hosting several visitors this week, including a visit from the South Tama School's ...
When legislators deal with criminal law issues, we often hear, "what about the victims?" This week the Senate approved SF 2109, solid evidence that we really do care about victims. For years, those who've suffered sexual abuse-often at the hands of trusted family members and friends-have been ...
Tax season is once again upon us and for many Iowans, the process of filing taxes is a daunting one. Iowans in need of assistance may be able to take advantage of free or reduced-price tax preparation services. Please keep reading to learn more.What are the advantages of the IRS Free File ...
Q: What is the status for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline project?A: After nearly six years of rigorous regulatory review, approval for the more than 1,700-mile Keystone XL oil pipeline remains in limbo. The TransCanada Corporation awaits a U.S. Presidential Permit to begin construction of ...
Week FiveThere are frequent pleasant surprises in the capitol. On Monday morning shortly after eight, with only four people in the chamber, we heard the sounds of a choir singing God Bless America wafting in. We followed it out to the Rotunda and found a high school choir singing from the floor ...
Have you ever called 911 for an emergency and wondered if someone would come? How long it would take for help to arrive? This is a real concern for residents living in small towns. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and firefighters are becoming increasingly hard to find. In small communities ...
Week FourWeek four was highlighted by the Condition of the Guard speech from Major General Orr, commander of the Iowa National Guard. General Orr's speech focused on how the Iowa National Guard has served this state for 175 years, originating in 1839 as protectors of fellow settlers before ...
In an effort to help more Iowa employers and workers recover from the national recession, we must increase access to high-quality Internet services across the state.Iowa ranks 11th out of 12 Midwestern states in the TechNet State Broadband Index, which ranks states based on how many households ...
Q: What is Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)?A: The Constitution vests authority in Congress to regulate commerce with foreign nations. And the President must take care that the laws are faithfully executed. As anyone who pays any attention to Washington knows, it's not easy to get 535 ...
Let's think about the 6th commandment. The theme which I have tried to develop in my past 5 editorials on the Ten Commandments has been this: The strength of any society or nation can be seen in whether a people are able to keep the commandments of God. The only true and living God has revealed ...