Stories

Interest groups spent $235,828 for functions designed to lobby legislators during the 2009 session, according to reports made public Thursday by the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, or IECDB.

On a 96-0 vote, the Iowa House gave final approval to a bill that would prohibit candidates from paying themselves or their immediate family members using their official campaign accounts.
Senate File 50, which was unanimously passed in the Senate Feb. 4, closes what became known as the “Fallon Loophole.” In 2006, former State Rep. Ed [...]

A bill that would limit the amount individuals and groups can contribute to political candidates has passed the Senate State Government Committee on a 10 to 5 vote Wednesday afternoon.

Campaign contributions to individual political candidates would be limited under a bill before the Senate State Government Committee.

This afternoon, an Iowa House subcommittee is set to discuss a proposal that would prohibit candidates from paying themselves or their immediate family members using their official campaign accounts.
House Study Bill 11 would effectively close what became known among some legislators last year as the “Fallon loophole,” referring to former State Representative Ed Fallon, who [...]

A ban on smoking in casinos, an expansion electronic campaign finance filings and subpoena power for the Iowa Civil Rights Commission are among prefiled bills approved by their sponsors for release to the public.
Rep. Mark Smith, D-Marshalltown, is proposing a bill that would expand the statewide smoking ban passed last session and end the law’s [...]

Two of Iowa’s largest and most influential 527s have been hard at work lately, using loopholes in the law to help spread their messages and advance their political agendas, though most voters may not even know the groups exist.

A network of Iowa Republicans is playing a leading role in a secretive group advocating nationally on behalf of “conservative and free market ideals” in congressional races around the country. Among the group’s leaders are two media consultants who played key roles in the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads in 2004 and the Willie Horton ad in 1988, both of which helped defeat Democratic presidential candidates.

Sen. Chuck Grassley may be expected to play a big role in fundraising for Republican senate candidates, if you follow Markos Mulitsas’s logic.

Chuck Grassley may be expected to play a big role in fundraising for Republican senate candidates, if you follow Kos’s logic.