Kim Reynolds Isn’t Serious Enough About Sexual Harassment?

Shane Vander Hart: I’m perplexed at how anyone could insinuate that Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is not serious about addressing sexual harassment, but Kathie Obradovich at The Des Moines Register found a way.

Education Savings Accounts Receive New Life in the Iowa Senate

Education savings accounts were reintroduced in the Iowa Senate’s version of the Iowa Student Opportunities Act (SSB 3206) by State Senator Charles Schneider (R-West Des Moines) as an appropriations bill and passed through an appropriations subcommittee.

New Role, Same Goal

Jack Whitver: As a father of three young children, I have only one agenda. It is not a Republican agenda or a Democrat agenda. It is an Iowa agenda. It is one that ensures our kids and our grandkids have more opportunities than we have had.

Five Reasons Iowa Democrats Hope for a Blue Wave in 2018

Iowa Democrats hope for a historic blue wave in 2018 due to President Trump’s unpopularity, a competitive gubernatorial race, a good turnout for the mid-term Iowa Caucuses, the potential to flip Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, and the number of Republican state legislators retiring.

The Fetal Heartbeat Abortion Ban Receives New Life in Iowa House

Kelvey Vander Hart: Approaching the funnel deadline on Friday, the fetal heartbeat abortion ban received new life with new language and a new strategy to pass it through the Iowa House.

Ed Failor Leaves Iowa Senate Republican Staff

The Iowa Senate Republican Caucus announced that Ed Failor, who served as a senior aide to former Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix (R-Shell Rock), has resigned. He worked for Iowa Senate Republicans since 2012.

Who Should Be The Next Iowa Senate Majority Leader?

Iowa Senate Republicans will caucus on Wednesday to decide who will replace former Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix (R-Shell Rock) who resigned on Monday. Who should they choose to replace him? Shane Vander Hart has an idea.

Bill Before Iowa Senate Would Move Bond and Local Option Tax Elections to November

A bill before the Iowa Senate requires elections for bond propositions for cities, townships, counties, or school districts, as well as, propositions for a local option sales tax to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix Resigns from the Iowa Senate

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix (R-Shell Rock) resigned from his leadership role and his Senate seat effective Monday afternoon. His resignation occurred just two hours after Iowa Starting Line, a liberal blog, posted a video that showed Dix kissing a woman, identified only as a lobbyist at a bar in Des Moines.

Two Important Bills Are in a Holding Pattern in the Iowa Legislature

The fetal heartbeat abortion ban bill has been assigned to the Iowa House Human Resources Committee and has yet to be assigned a subcommittee. Similarly, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) is still waiting for a floor vote in the Iowa Senate and needs to pass a House committee before March 16th.

Iowa Needs Tax Reform Now: Delay Will Result in Tax Increases on Iowans

John Hendrickson: High tax rates are harmful to economic growth. In addition to reducing rates, the final tax reform and relief measure should be comprehensive, use revenue triggers or phase-ins, reduce and reform the use of tax credits, and modernize the sales and use tax to bring fairness to Iowa’s small businesses. 

Iowa Senate Passes Fetal Heartbeat Abortion Ban

The Iowa Senate voted to pass SF 2281, a bill that would ban abortions of pre-born babies when a heartbeat is detected, by a 30 to 20 vote late Wednesday afternoon.

Iowa Senate Republicans Release the “Iowa Working Families Tax Relief Act”

Iowa Senate Republicans released the Iowa Working Families Tax Relief Act on Wednesday, putting forward a policy aimed at rewarding work, encouraging investment, and giving job creators the confidence to create career opportunities for Iowans.

Religious Freedom Restoration Act Advances in Iowa Senate

Iowa’s version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) survived the first funnel week of the 2018 legislative session. SSB 3171, sponsored by State Senator Julian Garrett (R-Indianola) was passed out of the Iowa Senate Local Government Committee by a 7 to 4 vote.

The Ongoing Abortion Debate in Iowa

Jason Schultz: The ongoing debate over abortion has little middle ground. Supporters and opponents of abortion have one thing in common: the intensity of emotions and devotion to the cause.

Fetal Heartbeat Bill Advances in Iowa Senate

A bill, SSB 3143, that would ban abortions of pre-born babies when a heartbeat is detected passed through its subcommittee in the Iowa Senate on a 2 to 1 vote.