Stories

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 [...]

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.

Lawmakers are set to discuss controversial legislation that would set minimum pay and benefit standards for workers of some public projects Monday afternoon.

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 [...]

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,” [...]

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, [...]

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.

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 [...]

A national veterans group has launched a television ad campaign attacking U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s position on a bill capping carbon emissions.
The legislation was passed by the U.S. House last year and is currently being considered by the Senate. VoteVets.org, a national advocacy group, will begin airing a television ad Friday in Cedar Rapids and [...]

U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, is challenging the president to look at his plan to tackle growing unemployment, which more or less comes down to going after undocumented immigrants.