Opinion

Why is anyone obsessed with whether President Trump changed the FBI plans to build a new FBI headquarters in downtown Washington? If President Trump did anything illegal I am sure the 93% of Democratic federal workers in Washington and the national news media would immediately let us know. The national news media (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, PBS, AP, WP, and NYT) have made 93% of their news stories negative about President Trump...

I was 16-year-old senior in high school in 1941. Franklin Roosevelt was president. I took a government class that year — I took it seriously. I learned that Roosevelt has started the Social Security program, which is still a good thing. He was also responsible fore the WPA, the CCCs and other programs that made bums out of people. And, I believed he helped manipulate us into World War II...

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...

Week nine in the Iowa Senate included some of the first major debate of the year. Just this week, we passed over 30 bills out of the Senate chamber. One of the bills the Senate passed this week was Senate File 274, protecting the freedom of speech on college campuses in Iowa. ...

When I travel across house district 1, I’m often asked what the most pressing issue is facing the state. That is such a difficult question because, as you might have guessed, everyone has a different opinion. However, the one thing I hear from voters, legislators and community leaders is the issue of rural development in our state...

Week eight in the legislature was the first funnel week of the year. This deadline requires policy bills to be out of their originating chamber’s committee in order to be considered for the rest of this year. Imposing this deadline forces legislators to focus on priority bills and bills with enough support to pass the chamber. The days went by quickly with a majority of our time being in subcommittees and committees to make final decisions on bills...