‘Blog’

It’s been said that doing the right thing is its own reward. Whomever said that, however, didn’t pass the memo along to Iowa politicians that needed to shout their supposedly good procedural deeds from the Twitter rooftops Tuesday.

When Congress passed new consumer protections for credit card holders last May, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., successfully attached a not-at-all-related amendment allowing firearms in national parks, so long as gun carriers comply with laws of the state in which the park is located. That law is now scheduled to take effect on Feb. 22.

A great piece in The Washington Times Tuesday reveals a remarkable degree of hypocrisy from some GOP critics of last year’s $787 billion economic stimulus bill.

National Republican Congressional Committee unofficially endorses Jim Gibbons in 3rd District GOP primary.
Tougher water regulations get final approval.
House committee passes prevailing wage bill.
Former aide to U.S. Rep. Steve King running for state attorney general.
Legislature considering requiring employers to offer sick leave.
The so-called Democratic health care bill already contains six very Republican provisions.

An attempt by House Republicans to force a vote on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage failed Tuesday morning.

A procedural move to force a vote on same-sex marriage in the Iowa Senate failed Tuesday morning when Republicans were unable to convince a majority to sign on to their petition.

Iowa House Republicans plan to use a procedural move to force a vote on same-sex marriage Tuesday morning,
House Joint Resolution 6, sponsored by state Reps. Dwayne Alons, R-Hull, and Delores Mertz, D-Ottosen, would begin the process of amending the state’s constitution to declare marriage as only between one man and one woman.

The Iowa attorney general’s office has filed criminal charges against the former head of the Iowa Film Office alleging non-felonious misconduct in office. Two filmmakers involved with a 2008 movie that received state tax credits are also facing charges of felony theft.

With 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 [...]

“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