Columns

I recently found myself plucking an interesting juxtaposition out of the waters of another famous Iowa lake. My family returned to roost in Clear Lake this past Fourth of July. From tourist traffic, to fireworks to zebra mussels, Clear Lake is very similar to the Lakes Area in this corner of the state. So, with all that in mind, it's possible I should have predicted said juxtaposition waiting for me in the waters of my former hometown...

Over the last two years, the legislature has passed bipartisan mental health reform and created the state's first ever children's mental health system. These bills have been consistently regarded by mental health advocates as the most significant steps forward Iowa has ever taken to increase access to mental health services statewide...

On Tuesday, July 9, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) issued a press release in which the state agency noted that unfavorable planting conditions this spring commonly delayed, and in some cases, prevented crop planting...

Consumers, farmers and businesses should watch out for fraud Whenever the public is confused about the law, the potential for fraud is high. That maxim applies to hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) products. The 2019 Iowa Hemp Act and recent changes in federal law have led to questions about what is legal and safe in Iowa. ...

The Legislative Services Agency issued their monthly revenue memo for June 2019, closing up a strong year for state revenue as collections grew 6.6%.  Through June's report, the state has taken in $7.7312 billion in net receipts in Fiscal Year 2019.  That is a $478.9 million increase over the same figure at the end of June 2018. ...

As the United States celebrated its 243rd birthday, I was reminded of moments in American history that distinguish our nation as the land of the free and home of the brave. These moments have shown how America's quest for independence paved the way for freedom from tyranny at home and abroad...

I'll tell you a story. Take it for what it's worth. I don't think it's any secret that some of my opinions aren't widely supported in this corner of the state, particularly on immigration. The issue almost always circles back to potential violence and crime among those crossing the border illegally, and my critics have asked me in the past how my opinion might change if my own child were harmed because of it. They're on the right track. We do need to consider the children...

The Okoboji Foundation is inviting everyone to participate in the $5,000 July Nonprofit Challenge at GiveOkoboji.com. The fund with the highest giving total over $5,000 in July receives an additional $5,000 from the Okoboji Foundation. Please consider giving to the Dickinson County Trails Endowment Fund during July to help the trails win. ...

The 2019 Kids Count report was released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation last week and it showed good news for Iowa. In this 30th anniversary report, Iowa was ranked 3rd in overall Child Well-Being Support, which is comprised of indicators in four separate domains: Economic Well-Being (Iowa ranked 2nd), Education (7th), Health (8th), and Family and Community (8th)...

Governor Reynolds vetoed House File 732, which would have altered Iowa's cannabidiol program. The veto leaves Iowa's current cannabidiol law in place. HF 732 would have made several changes to 2016 law. The largest of which would be removing the 3% THC cap and allowing a person with a medical cannabidiol card to receive up to 25 grams of THC in 90 days. Patients would be responsible for managing their dosage in those 90 days and would be prohibited from receiving more in that time...

  Throughout its history, Iowa has been a place where women break barriers. Time after time, Iowa women have shown if they set their minds to something, work hard and believe in themselves, they can accomplish anything. On July 2, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Iowans ratifying the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It granted women the right to vote...

Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth. May was another strong month for state revenue, as tax collections were 28.1 percent higher than what was collected in May 2018. The $145 million increase in monthly collections raised the year to date growth in state revenue to 7.8 percent in Fiscal Year 2019, putting the state well ahead of the Revenue Estimating Conference’s projection of 4.8 percent growth. ...

Starting July 1, Iowa Total Care will be joining the Iowa Medicaid program and UnitedHealthcare will be leaving the program. All Medicaid members that have UnitedHealthcare have been notified with their initial assignment to either Amerigroup Iowa or Iowa Total Care. Those Medicaid members will have until June 18 to switch to the other managed care organization to be effective July 1...

DCTB received two grant awards in May for trail development in the Iowa Great Lakes. The first is a Wellmark Large match grant in the amount of $100,000 for construction of the Jones Pasture Trail that will be completed this summer. Wellmark offers these grant opportunities to communities in Iowa and South Dakota for projects that can help individuals, families and communities achieve better health though built environment initiatives that encourage physical activity...

Senate File 86 is a bill (now law) that places an organ donation symbol on hunting, fishing, or fur harvester licenses, similar to what is done with Iowa driver licenses. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed this bill on May 6.  Under this new law, there is an option to request that a donor symbol is added to your hunting, fishing, or fur harvester license will be added to the application for license, and future hunter education courses will include information on being an organ, tissue, or eye donor...

People who open up their homes and their hearts to children in need are truly special. They provide a stability, comfort and safety to kids who otherwise wouldn't have it. They offer support, guidance and most of all, love. The time and effort they willingly give is not only a blessing to the children they care for, but also their communities...

I'm going to go ahead and tell you. "Mental Health in the Heartland" has taken a good chunk of time and energy for every one of the authors in this series. It's a really complex subject, with a lot of background and a lot of faces in a lot of different fields. Just like everyone's least favorite Facebook relationship status — it's complicated...

On Monday, May 13, Iowa Gov. Reynolds signed Senate File 599, the Iowa Hemp Act, which starts the federal-state partnership to redevelop the industrial hemp industry. Governor Reynolds in her signing letter noted that this legislation will "… allow Iowa to begin the process of entering a new agricultural marketplace for hemp. ...

Word of Compass Pointe's closure last month was a stark reminder of the crisis rural America is facing in meeting the needs of those facing mental health and substance abuse issues. As awareness and openness regarding mental health conditions has increased in recent years, local, state and federal officials struggle to keep up with the demand for services, leaving those in need and their families struggling to find help...

A maroon Members Only jacket hangs in the back of my closet. It is neither warm, nor comfortable nor stylish. It simply exists as continued proof of a plethora of fashion choices society wishes it hadn't made. Of course, May is a month known for decisions being made by the young as they graduate — where they will go, what they will do, who they will become. It's a time when the community watches with great interest as the quasi-adults answer those questions for themselves...

Now that the 2019 session has ended, I thought it might be interesting to share a deeper dive into the state's budget.  At the end of session, supplemental appropriations for Fiscal Year 2019 totaled $168.6 million. This amount is driven by an $150.3 million increase for Medicaid and the $15 million one-time appropriation to help communities in western Iowa recover from this spring's flooding...

This past legislative session we worked hard to ensure high quality and affordable health care in the state of Iowa. The things we did to ensure that include $4.4 million for rural hospitals, $7.7 million for child care affordability, $2.8 million for additional mental health treatment, $5.9 million for additional Department of Human Services field employees, $400,000 for rural psychiatric residencies, and $3.1 million dollars for children’s mental health...

On Tuesday, April 23, the House passed Senate File 599 by a bi-partisan 95 "aye" to 3 "nay" vote. It had previously passed the Senate 49-1. SF 599 provides the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) with the primary role of implementing operating the Iowa Hemp program. I've received a lot of questions about this program...

During the 15th week of the legislative session, we continued our work toward adjournment for the year. We spent much of our time waiting for bills to come to us from the other chamber, waiting on amendments and debating some of the last proposals we will discuss this year. ...

As you read this message the 2019 session of the Iowa Legislature has ended. There were many things that were done this year to "move Iowa forward" and we were able to have a very successful session. This last session, we were able to put taxpayers first, ensure a world class education, ensure affordable and accessible health care, revitalize rural Iowa, enhance Iowa's workforce and economy and protect public safety...

Has the winter been rough on your car? Does it need repair caused by an accident on icy roads? Is it out of alignment or does it need new shocks due to all the potholes? Taking the time to find the right repair shop will save you money and future headaches...

As you prepare for finals and look ahead to summer jobs, don’t miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Have you ever considered working on Capitol Hill? My U.S. Senate office offers internship opportunities that will give you hands-on work experience in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment. Internships are open to all college-age students of any academic major...

Come Saturday, the spheres of pop-culture geekdom will come into alignment. The first Saturday in May is traditionally held as Free Comic Book Day across the country. It's a day in which comic retailers of all types open their doors and promote literacy through — you guessed it — free comic books. ...

I have talked about property tax reform a few times this year and Thursday morning at 3 a.m., the Iowa House passed a historic bill that simply requires communication on how property taxes are calculated and explained to the common taxpayer. The bill that was passed out of the House and sent to the governor has several main points to it that will protect and keep taxpayers informed. The bill deals with several topics including:...

Senate File 634 is a bill about property tax transparency. I have heard from many of you lately who were concerned about your property tax assessments. It was time to take action. You deserve to know what is going on with your taxes. It should be clear and not buried deep within the depths of a government...

Recently Dickinson County property taxpayers — along with Iowans across the state — were either shocked by the increase of their assessed property tax value or mildly pleased by their escape. Iowa law requires the city or county assessor to review all property in their jurisdiction in odd number years (2019) to be sure assessments are proper. In our case the assessor is the Dickinson County Assessor located at the Spirit Lake courthouse...

We are within a week or two of being done with our business at the Iowa State Capitol this year. We have had a successful legislative session and have begun the process of ending our actions for the year. Our official last day in Session is May 3. However, I don’t think we will be in Des Moines until then. We have agreed on a budget dollar amount which only spends 97.43 percent of the available dollars next fiscal year. This is not a cut in the state budget, rather a slowdown...

We are 14 weeks into the legislative session, leaving us with only two weeks until the scheduled end of session. This deadline prompted discussion on a number of substantive topics this week and many hours debating on the Senate floor. On Tuesday, April 16, the Senate passed a bill creating a children's behavioral health system in Iowa. ...

In less than a week's time, the public in northwest Iowa went from being surprised by the sudden closing of addiction treatment center Compass Pointe, to wondering what society will do with the hundreds of clients who were suddenly dumped, to a twinge of relief as Seasons Center for Behavioral Health took steps to pick up the slack. ...

Every parent wants the best for their child. But not every parent has the resources or support network most of us may take for granted. New parents face many stressors as they welcome a child into their lives – lack of sleep, additional expenses and balancing other responsibilities with the needs of a newborn. Without the support of family and friends, all of these things become even more difficult...

This week, the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed House File 227. This bill doubles the income limitation for the Iowa child and dependent care tax credit. This is a credit that supports working Iowa families who spend large portions of their paychecks on childcare...

After last week's legislative deadline for bills, week 13 included more floor debate. We remain focused on our budget work, while we continue to pass bills out of the Senate. While we have no agreement yet with the House or the governor on what the budget will look like for the next fiscal year, we continue to move forward with our budget bills. We do this because we believe we have a budget that is responsible and sustainable...

Despite my strong desire to address the ludicrous nature of supposed cancer-causing sound waves emanating from wind turbines, I can't get the situation surrounding former Vice President Joe Biden out of my mind. It's not simply because he's now been labeled "Creepy Uncle Joe." Rather, it's because I believe our response to the accusations surrounding the last administration's VP will have some wide-spread implications for political discourse moving forward...

Last week, Governor Reynolds and the Department of Human Services announced that negotiations with United Healthcare have ceased. Governor Reynolds cited UnitedHealthcare's demand for more money for less accountability as the reason for the breakdown...

The Voluntary Action Center and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program's Angela Kofoot and Patricia Donovan are lucky women. Because of the work they do in helping to shape and support individual and corporate volunteer programs, they get to see inspiring stories that underscore the power of volunteering...

Governor's bill on contraceptives creates a statewide standing order with the medical director of the Iowa Department of Public Health and allows pharmacists to dispense initially three months of an oral contraceptive, hormonal vaginal ring or hormonal contraceptive patch, and then subsequent year supplies. This bill only applies to patients 18 years and older...

It's not every day an Iowan has the opportunity to wake up and ask top executives of seven major pharmaceutical companies the question that's on the minds of most Americans: Why do prescription drug prices keep rising in America? That’s exactly what I did when I chaired a congressional hearing of the Senate Finance Committee. It's the second in a series of hearings I have called to examine drug pricing in the United States...

Week 11 of the legislative session is in the books. The bulk of my newsletters go heavy and deep on particular policy issues we're considering in the legislature. This week I wanted to try something different to give you a peek behind the curtain and a more personal flavor of life in the week of a legislator...

If the lines at the hardware stores were any indication, this most recent batch of rainy weather hit us all pretty equally. Each of us tried our best to keep the rain at bay as it fell on frozen ground before winding its way down the path of least resistance — ending in the basement for many of us. ...

DCTB has two new trail segments planned for this summer. First is the Jones Pasture Trail, which will extend the Spine Trail one mile north along the east side of Big Spirit Lake. This project has been a development priority for several years and DCTB has now secured $250,000 from the Region 3 Transportation Alternatives Program. The grant provides the additional funding needed along with $50,000 from the Okoboji Foundation and $50,000 from REAP grant funding to move forward with construction...

Floor debate took up most of our time as we finished week 10 of the 2019 legislative session. We are already over halfway through the session and while we've been busy, there is still much we hope to accomplish in the next few weeks. As we continue to consider major issues like the budget and property tax reform, I welcome your questions, comments, and concerns...

The House Labor Committee passed HF 666 requiring the State Government Efficiency Committee to review every occupational license in the state over a six year period of time and send a report to the General Assembly on which it must vote. This bill also requires licensing boards to inform individuals with a criminal record whether or not they would be eligible for an a license...

When I hear politicians talk about abolishing the Electoral College, it immediately makes me think about the impact on the state of Iowa. It would be devastating. The ripple effects would render Iowans' voices moot in the general election and bring an end to Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucus status...

March is National Social Work Month. It's a time to recognize and celebrate the workers who have dedicated their lives to lifting up Iowa families with nowhere else to turn. They work long hours. They see children and parents at the most difficult moments in their lives. But they get up every day, committed to strengthening Iowa families...

Last week was "funnel week." This is where the legislature's focus is narrowed to bills that have passed out of at least one committee in one chamber and are eligible to be debated on the floor and signed into law. If a bill fails to advance through a committee, it is considered "dead" for the session and is tabled. Oftentimes, a bill is not moved forward because it lacks support or needs improvement over the interim. The funnel does not apply to Appropriations or Ways & Means bills...