Author Archive: Eric Goranson
Eric Goranson is a native of Lake Mills, Iowa. After moving to Austin, Texas and Southern California (attending 9 public schools in the process), he returned to Iowa where he graduated from Des Moines Christian School and earned his Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees at William Penn University. Eric is the owner of Goranson Consulting in Des Moines, specializing in Government Relations and Nonprofit Consulting.
Eric has more than fifteen years’ experience in state government and nonprofit organizations including the roles of Development Director at Iowa Christian Academy and Des Moines radio station Q99.5 KZZQ/Pulse 99.5. Eric has also worked in Governor Terry Branstad’s office during his fourth term and in the Division of Criminal Investigation. Eric ran for Iowa State House in 2004. He is a thinker, hunter, hiker, backpacker, movie watcher, traveler, soccer-lover/player, and music fanatic with a predilection for theatre and art; especially photography. His two children keep him and his wife very busy and very grateful.
Eric also has a personal blog, can be found on Facebook, and on Twitter.
Iowa Right to Life Legislative Wrap-up
By Eric Goranson & Norm Pawlewski The Iowa House Republicans were unable to convince Democrats in the Senate to support the Sweeney Amendment. This amendment would have ended taxpayer funded abortions in Iowa and prioritized family planning funds to ensure comprehensive health care providers were funded to the fullest extent possible. Iowa Right to Life [...]
Backward Sovereignty
If you were to ask most Americans what the highest level of government is, they would probably tell you the Federal Government. What’s the next highest level of government? They’d more than likely mention State governments and so-on “down” the list of governing entities until they began listing their city council or school board. This [...]
Rick Santorum and the Palmetto Freedom Forum
As the Iowa Director of the American Principles Project, I’m very proud that our organization is hosting the Palmetto Freedom Forum Debate on Labor Day, Monday, September 5. It will be broadcast on Townhall.com and CNN at 2:00 PM (CST)/3:00 PM (EST). Since announcing the lineup of candidates attending, however, supporters of Rick Santorum and [...]
Christians In Politics
Few would dispute that power corrupts. The kind of power wielded by elected and appointed officials, activists, special interests, and bureaucrats often results in a special kind of corruption called “politics.” In America, the People are empowered by our founding documents in a way unique in history. Our power as citizens can corrupt us as [...]
Terry Branstad’s Education Summit: A Good Start, Now Let The Hard Work Begin
During Iowa Governor Terry Branstad’s Education Summit, I was struck by the relatively balanced list of speakers, the diversity of ideas, and the civil tone of those in attendance as they listened to everyone’s points of view. I was also fascinated by the backchannel discussions on Twitter using the hashtag #iaedsummit. The two speakers who [...]
The FAMiLY Leader’s Flip-Flop On Late-Term Abortion
I have had the privilege of working with a number of pro-life organizations over the last seven or more months. Iowa Right to Life, the Iowa Catholic Conference, Dubuque County Right to Life, Concerned Women for America (Iowa), Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition, American Principles in Action, Iowans for Life, and others have worked tirelessly [...]
The Great State Acquiescence In Education?
Over the last number of years, there has been an under-the-radar effort to develop a national set of educational standards. The public is only now becoming aware of this effort due to its explosion onto the scene through the Obama Administration’s Race To The Top Initiative. More than forty states have adopted them in their [...]
Support School Tuition Organization Tax Credits in Iowa
On May 3, the Iowa Senate passed the "standings" appropriations bill that included an increase for the School Tuition Organization (STO) tax credits from $7.5 million to $10 million starting in calendar year 2012. This was tied to an “allowance growth” increase for public schools. (Click here to act now.) The Iowa House, however, has [...]
Time To Help U.S. Businesses expand?
A friend of mine is woking on an issue I find fascinating. It’s illegal for a U.S. corporation to bribe a “foreign official.” If you want to do business in Uganda and, on a trip there, buy someone dinner only to find out later they are an appointed official in the Ugandan Govt., are you [...]
Support Iowa House File 167–Independent Accreditation for Iowa’s Private Schools
The Iowa Association of Christian Schools introduced HF 167 with the help of Representative Jason Schultz (R-Schleswig) and Representative Cecil Dolecheck (R-Mount Ayr). This legislation passed out of House subcommittee and will now go to the full House Education Committee for consideration! A special thank you to Representatives Dolecheck and Josh Byrnes (R-Osage) for signing [...]
