Stories

There is no need for legislators to get involved in the investigation into allegations of misconduct surrounding the state’s film tax credit program, Democratic leaders in the state House and Senate said Wednesday.

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bob Vander Plaats has renewed his promise to end same-sex marriage with an executive order, even if it means facing impeachment.

Appearing on the show of controversial Christian radio host Steve Deace, Vander Plaats once again said if elected governor in 2010 he would issue an executive order stopping same-sex marriage until the [...]

“We do have to face the voters, but we also have to face ourselves every morning,” said Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal. “We have to be able to look ourselves in the mirror every day. And by the way, we didn’t do this for the GLBT community. We did this for everybody.”

Drama unfolded at the Iowa Capitol this morning, as hundreds of anti-gay marriage activists swarmed the House gallery after an 8:30 a.m. prayer rally on the steps outside.

A leader in the Iowa legislature tells Des Moines’ resident gossip columnist, Civic Skinny, that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has been making none-too-subtle moves indicating he isn’t interested in running for re-election in 2010.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, and House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, praised the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision today legalizing same-sex marriage, saying the only lasting question is “why it took us so long.”
“It is a tough question to answer because treating everyone fairly is really a matter of Iowa common sense and Iowa [...]

The boisterous crowd, a large majority of which opposed the proposed changes to Iowa’s tax code, gave each of the speakers who voiced support for the proposal the same treatment – boos and hisses. Those who opposed it, such as Iowans for Tax Relief President Ed Failor Jr., received energetic applause.

Tuesday night’s hearing on changing Iowa’s tax code and ending federal deductibility was brought to a halt after House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, ordered the public removed from the chamber.

Officials from three Iowa banks that received money from the U.S. Treasury as part of the federal bailout passed in September will be questioned by the state legislature’s Government Oversight Committee today.

A day after Gov. Chet Culver voiced his opposition to any tax increases to help solve Iowa’s budget problems, Democratic legislative leaders said they have not given up on the idea of increasing the state’s gasoline tax.