The Iowa Senate approved allocating $2 million in general fund dollars to help low income Iowans heat their homes this winter. With rising home energy costs and the high cost of propane in the Midwest, this bill would allocate money to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and assist those who have signed […]
First Pieces of Home Base Iowa Pass House Committee The first pieces of the governor’s larger Home Base Iowa initiative are starting to see action. Last week House Study Bill 512 passed the House Veteran Affairs Committee unanimously. The bill allows private sector employers to grant a preference in both hiring and promotion to veterans […]
Subcommittee and committee meetings have filled the Iowa Senate calendars for the past three weeks. On Tuesday, the Senate held its first debate of the 2014 Legislative session. Senate Democrats asked for a 6 percent increase in PK-12 Education supplemental state aid, formerly known as allowable growth. Last year, the Iowa Legislature approved a 4 […]
As your employee and Representative here in the State House, I report back some of the major events and happenings that go on in your Iowa Legislature. The last week in January, Centerville’s own Simon Estes sang “God Bless America” as the opening prayer. That week focused on committee meetings and Bill assignments. On Feb. […]
Senate Republicans are working with Governor Branstad to try to find a solution to the sudden increase in propane prices. Propane prices more than tripled this month, skyrocketing from $1.30 per gallon to more than $4.30 over a 10-day span. The soaring propane prices have many concerned as this issue impacts our entire state. The […]
Appointment comes following resignation of Tom Rielly (DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry Branstad today appointed Congressman Leonard Boswell to the Iowa Department of Transportation Commission. The appointment comes after Tom Rielly resigned from the commission due to a business-related conflict of interest. “I’m pleased today to appoint Leonard to the Iowa Transportation Commission,” said Branstad. […]
Greetings From Under The Golden Dome At the beginning of each Legislative session we spend a lot of time meeting with different groups, associations and individuals to listen to their recommendations and desires for the current session. That doesn’t end at 4:30 or 5:00 in the afternoon. Many associations, which represent people, host receptions in […]
by Ken Rozenboom State budget work began this Wednesday in the Iowa Senate. As this process gets underway, Senate Republicans are united in protecting Iowa taxpayers. Last year I joined my fellow Senate Republicans in voting against every budget proposal offered by our counterparts in the Senate majority. I did that for a fundamental reason: […]
by Rep. Larry Sheets We are completing the second week of this Session and getting down to the business of Bill preparation. The first week was filled with pomp and circumstance. The representatives all settled in on the first day, renewed friendships, and got their desks back in order. Tuesday the House hosted the Senators […]
By Helen Hotchkin, Grinnell Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far. When Teddy Roosevelt paraphrased that West African proverb in a speech in 1903 he might have been talking about the Iowa Democratic Caucus procedure. The Iowa caucus is a long time tradition that is the first step in the long […]
