A growing number of governors, including many Republicans, are choosing to expand Medicaid in their states, taking advantage of the extremely generous terms in the Affordable Care Act. Under the Affordable Care Act, if states expand Medicaid to everyone up to 133 percent of the federal poverty ...
Q. What does “too big to jail” mean? A. “Too big to jail” refers to the federal government’s recent philosophy to decline to pursue criminal prosecution of Wall Street megabanks for financial fraud and other wrongdoing. The Obama administration has not sought aggressively to ...
We’re keeping the focus on expanding Iowa’s middle class as we develop the next state budget. At the same time, we’re committed to a balanced, stable and sustainable budget. With that goal in mind, we are on track to do the right things to improve the economy, education and health care. ...
Several local groups visited with me this week, including students from Tama and BCLUW. Representatives of ABATE Iowa from Marshall County spoke with me about helmet laws and motorcycle rider education. I always enjoy talking to folks from the district I represent, so if you’re at the ...
On February 5th, our country marked the 20th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) – a groundbreaking law that provides American workers with 12 weeks of protected — albeit unpaid — leave to recover from a serious illness or care for a new child or seriously ill family ...
This week, the Iowa Senate Education Committee heard about an intensive community approach in Marshalltown centered on strong schools that help kids learn, grow and succeed. Marshalltown is one of only 17 “Promise Neighborhood” projects nationwide. These neighborhoods received help from ...
Q: What exactly is sequestration? A: Sequestration is a process of automatic, largely across-the-board permanent spending reductions. The process was created in 1985 in the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act. More recently, Congress included sequestration as an enforcement tool in the Budget ...
We are past the first few weeks of the 2013 session. I want to thank all who have called or e-mailed me with their well wishes. It’s been a busy time. In addition to Monday through Thursday at the Statehouse in Des Moines, I’m trying to figure out my Sheriff Office schedule, my listening ...
session The 2013 session of the Iowa Legislature gaveled in on Monday. It was an honor to sign my name in the official register after being re-elected in November to serve as state senator for the people of Marshall and Tama counties, as well as La Porte City and southern parts of Black Hawk ...
As President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner continue negotiations on the so-called ‘fiscal cliff,’ I have one simple message: hands off Medicaid! Federal health programs that millions of Americans rely on should not be on the bargaining table. Slowing the growth of healthcare ...