Des Moines, IA—The Republican Party of Iowa State Central Committee voted to fill the Chair vacancy created earlier this month with the resignation of Matt Strawn. A.J. Spiker was elected to fill the remainder of the term that expires in January, 2013. Spiker, a former Story County GOP Chairman, and 4th Congressional District State Central […]
(DES MOINES) – Reading by the end of third grade is an essential milestone. Yet an alarming number of Iowa youngsters are promoted to fourth grade without having mastered this basic skill. That’s why the Branstad-Reynolds Administration blueprint for world-class schools includes an initiative modeled after Florida’s successful literacy program, and why they are pleased […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The sound of a gas pump might mean more than just filling up your gas tank, it could also be filling the tank of the state’s highway fund. There is now a bill working its way to committee; just out of subcommittee. If the bill were to be passed by both houses, […]
Des Moines, Iowa – The Status of Fiscal Year 14 Allowable Growth There was movement this week on Allowable Growth for Fiscal Year 14; however there are two vastly different proposals. The Senate passed SF 2114 setting allowable growth at 4% for FY14 (the 2013/2014 school year). The House’s bill, HF 2245, doesn’t set growth […]
This year, the state budget must help Iowa workers and businesses recovering from the national recession. That means doing all we can to encourage new jobs. The plan we’re working on in the Senate balances the state budget without raising taxes. It includes: A commercial property tax cut that is especially helpful to Iowa’s small […]
Des Moines, Iowa – Committees are not always known by the average political watcher, but in order for a bill to make it to the floor of either the house or the senate, it must first make it out of committee. The transportation committee passed SSB#3115, which pushed the bill to the floor of the […]
(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry Branstad and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today commended the United States Department of Labor after learning that the department has begun to reconsider onerous regulations on youth working on farms. In November of 2011, Gov. Branstad and Sec. Bill Northey sent a letter to Sec. Solis voicing their […]
Des Moines, Iowa, Feb 3 – Iowa Congressman Tom Latham released the following statement Friday in response to the Air Force recommendation to remove the F-16 fighter jet mission from the Des Moines Air National Guard base in Fiscal Year 2013. “I have deep concern with the initial recommendations for the future mission of the […]
(DES MOINES)- Gov. Terry E. Branstad today signed the following legislation into law: Senate File 2018: An Act relating to financial assistance for the purposes of the Battleship Iowa, BB-61, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions. The bill is as follows: Moneys in the BB-61 fund are appropriated to the department of cultural affairs […]
Washington, DC, Feb 1 – Iowa Congressman Tom Latham on Wednesday cautioned the White House to abandon any plans to close the Iowa Air National Guard’s 132nd F-16 Fighter Wing based in Des Moines. Latham sent the letter following increased speculation that the 132nd Fighter Wing could be included in a base realignment and closure […]
