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Follow us on TwitterWith unemployment tickling 10 percent (and likely to rise), Democrats in the U.S. Senate this week are hoping to push through a series of bills designed to encourage job creation. It’s as much a test of the Republicans’ commitment to bipartisanship as it is a gauge of the Democrats’ power to pass legislation in the wake of Scott Brown’s surprise Senate win in Massachusetts last month. Continue reading »
GOP congressional hopefuls brandish conservative credentials
'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' the only fissure evident at issues forum
CEDAR RAPIDS — The three candidates vying to be the GOP’s nominee to face U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Mount Vernon, in November made it clear that they all believe government would be best served if it would simply get out of the way of its citizens.
Iowa News Feed:
Readings on the Right
2/8/10 6:06 PM John Deeth BlogCriminal charges filed in Iowa film tax-credit scandal
2/8/10 5:00 PM Des Moines RegisterGood news for Iowa water quality (for once)
2/8/10 4:39 PM Bleeding HeartlandCentral Iowa lawyer Findley announces A.G. campaign
2/8/10 3:43 PM Des Moines RegisterEd Kilgore: Palin’s Saturday Night Live
2/8/10 3:23 PM Huffington PostCindy Handler: Bipartisanship and Other Urban Legends
2/8/10 3:22 PM Huffington PostTop Steve King staffer running for attorney general
2/8/10 2:34 PM Bleeding HeartlandIowa Senate OKs tougher traffic law
2/8/10 2:25 PM Quad City TimesEconomic Anxiety Is Bipartisan
2/8/10 10:55 AM Marc AmbinderTea Party Finds Support in Iowa
2/8/10 10:44 AM Political WireRI County Democratic powerbroker dies
2/8/10 10:35 AM Quad City TimesNew poll: Iowans think gay marriage not worth legislature’s time
2/8/10 10:30 AM Bleeding HeartlandEconomic Anxiety Is Bipartisan
2/8/10 10:07 AM The AtlanticRoxane Conlin and the Netroots
2/8/10 8:52 AM John Deeth BlogReplay today’s: Which bills should advance in Iowa Legislature?
2/8/10 8:44 AM Des Moines Register
The American Independent News Network:
- Gates Remembers Murtha
- Murtha’s Passing Sets Up Special Election Battle
- Obama on Murtha
- Georgia Republicans: State Can’t Afford Health Care Reform
- Tea Partiers of the Caribbean: Keyes leads merry band to the Virgin Islands
- Tea Party Convention marks coming out for a movement
- Profitable Pinnacol workers comp resists lawmaker efforts to increase public input
- Swalm leads defense of men at health insurance hearing
- Granholm on Asian Carp meeting at White House: ‘We have a disagreement’
- Mich. guv hopeful Rick Snyder embraces ‘the nerd discussion’
- Sam Riddle’s public corruption trial nears end in Detroit
- Panel recommends emergency financial manager for Benton Harbor
- GOP’s Anderson brings ‘birther’ message, anti-Islam beliefs to state Senate race
- Banker, Texas money behind Coleman’s new conservative think tank
- Bachmann: America ‘cursed’ by God ‘if we reject Israel’
- As Pawlenty heads to North Carolina, Minnesota Family Council announces Huckabee dinner
Top stories:
Tea Party convention marks coming out for a movement
The paranoid, mysterious Judson Phillips in the weeks leading up to the National Tea Party Convention gave way to the real, jovial Phillips this weekend.
Religious education at statehouse an example of what the public doesn’t know
One perk enjoyed by state lawmakers is the ability to reserve private meeting rooms in the Capitol for personal use. The privilege is a long-held legislative tradition. But despite the fact that the space is taxpayer funded and public servants are often in attendance, there is little to no transparency or public oversight surrounding who is using the rooms and for what.
Vander Plaats draws sharp contrast with chief rival
AMES — State government has been expanded by “governor after governor after governor,” Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats said Wednesday, adding “you do the math about how many governors that is.”
Immigrants seek education, citizenship with proposed bill
The Iowa House is considering legislation that would grant in-state college tuition to immigrant students in the country illegally. Advocates say states that have passed similar laws, like Illinois, Texas, Nebraska, Kansas and Wisconsin, have reaped huge benefits. But one Republican lawmaker admits election year politics will likely kill the bill’s chances.
Groundwater testing begins at coal ash dump used by universities
After nearly a year of publicly expressing confidence in their coal ash disposal methods, the state’s three largest public universities will begin testing groundwater at their shared dump site this week.
Bill supporting military families stirs up partisan differences
Although a bill that would ease unemployment restrictions for military spouses who leave their jobs due to military reassignment passed in the Iowa House last week, the process may have deepened the partisan gap on both sides of the aisle.
Psychiatric drug changes pass state Senate
Mental health advocates haven’t gotten everything they’ve wanted in relation to new state policies governing psychiatric medications for individuals receiving state assistance. But they scored a big win Monday night when the Iowa Senate approved language that ensures existing patients’ medications won’t be automatically switched in order to save the state money.
Payday lenders use loopholes to continue high-interest loans
As Iowa lawmakers consider legislation curbing payday loans — thought by many to be a predatory form of lending — states where tougher laws have already been enacted are watching as lenders continue the practice unabated, sometimes with higher rates and fees than ever before.
Questions linger about full payments to Goldman Sachs
“This ‘legally obligated’ stuff is a lot of nonsense,” said an expert on the Wall Street bailout. “[Fed officials] are only as legally obligated as they want to be.”
Psychiatric drug policy shift stemmed from governor’s report
DHS officials say the change will save money without undermining overall care. Mental health advocates claim it could lead to increased homelessness and incarceration.
Conservatives see long-term ‘gift’ in Obama spending freeze
Freeze in spending is a good start but must be paired with “cutting things or just turning back the TARP money,” U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said.
The new ‘taint of incumbency’
Though Democrats, because they control both Congress and the White House, have absorbed the brunt of the nation’s discontent, for Republican to interpret that as partisan anger would be a mistake.
King, Bachmann launch ‘Declaration of Health Care Independence’
At a mid-day press conference in the nation’s capital, U.S. Reps. Steve King, R-Iowa, and Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., launched their “Declaration of Health Care Independence” — a statement of principles that they hoped Democrats and voters would sign onto, but not one that would be backed by legislation or one that could be posted at their Web sites.
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A week to test the GOP’s commitment to bipartisanship
PoliTweets
“No legislation taking away liberties passed by Congress in last 36 hours. Snow froze activity in DC. Our State Secy of Ag mtgs continue.”
~ Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey
“In public hearing- testimony about not closing Clarinda, not moving empowerment. Room is overflowing.”
~ Iowa Rep.Renee Schulte, R-Cedar Rapids
Continue reading »
GOP lawmakers want to exclude gay students from anti-bullying bill
A pair of Republican state legislators has introduced a bill that would remove protections for gay, lesbian and transgender students from an anti-bullying law passed in 2007.
State Reps. Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, and Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, sponsored the legislation to remove sexual orientation and gender identity as definitions used for purposes of protecting students in public and nonpublic schools from harassment and bullying. Continue reading »
Lunchtime Links
It’s funnel week for the Iowa legislature.
Roxanne Conlin becoming darling of the netroots.
Federal appeals court upholds Romona Cunningham’s sentence regarding CIETC scandal.
Nate Silver: Sarah Palin needs help.
Chuck Grassley needs a lesson in intellectual honesty.
City of Des Moines plans nearly $10 million in budget cuts.
Committee vote on prevailing wage scheduled for Monday afternoon
Lawmakers are set to discuss controversial legislation that would set minimum pay and benefit standards for workers of some public projects Monday afternoon. Continue reading »
Iowa Poll: 62 percent say gay marriage shouldn’t be an issue this year
More than 60 percent of Iowans surveyed in the latest Des Moines Register Iowa Poll say lawmakers have more important things to worry about than same-sex marriage.
The poll, with a margin of error of 3.5 percent, found Iowans are more interested in a ban on text messaging while driving than on overturning the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision last April legalizing gay marriage. Continue reading »
Poll shows strength of tea party in Iowa
The Des Moines Register released its latest Iowa Poll Sunday, and though it clearly shows the growing influence of the tea party movement in the Hawkeye State, it is still unclear what sort of impact it will have in 2010.
Thirty-three percent of those polled said they consider themselves “a supporter of the tea party movement,” with 49 percent of supporters defining themselves as independents, 34 percent Republicans and 17 percent Democrats. Continue reading »
Candidate forum could become Tea Party, GOP showdown
The growing rift within the Republican Party of Iowa could take centerstage next Friday, as two Republicans vying for the Iowa House District 8 seat will face off for the first time.
Tom Shaw, a former chair of the Pocahontas County Republican Party, announced last year he was leaving the party to run as an independent, saying the GOP had walked away from its values. Shaw has become a darling of the Tea Party movement and earned the formal endorsement of Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bob Vander Plaats. Continue reading »
VIDEO: Vander Plaats says states need to re-establish their sovereignty
AMES — Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats pointed to national education policy and the debate surrounding health care reform as signs that states, including Iowa, need to recognize the need to re-establish their sovereignty over the federal government. Continue reading »
Lunchtime Links
The good news continues for organized labor: Fair share bill introduced in Iowa House.
Republican blogger feeds Chris Cillizza’s desire to speculate on Boswell retirement.
State senate minority leader points to online survey as evidence of Republican resurgence.
Georgia congressman to visit Iowa later this month.
Gronstal: “The ‘party of no’ seems to think that’s the best approach to play politics with the legislative session… “
King, Iowans for Tax Relief team up for robocall
Taxes aren’t the only thing Iowans for Tax Relief and U.S. Rep. Steve King want to know about on a new automated call. They also want to gauge opinion on abortion and same-sex marriage.
King, a Kiron Republican who represents Iowa’s 5th District, is the voice on the call, which is reportedly being made on behalf of Iowans for Tax Relief, a conservative group led by Ed Failor Jr. Recipients said the call begins with a brief introductory monologue by King that is followed by a keypad response question on federal deductibility, which includes jabs at state Democrats and Gov. Chet Culver. Continue reading »
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