As week four of the session comes to a close, the discussion on the governor’s bill to restructure the Area Education Agencies (AEA) appears to be coming to a resolution, at least for now. This week, Iowa House Republicans held a subcommittee on the Governor’s amended AEA proposal. In ...
Crop insurance provides a safety net for farmers, protecting their operations from loss due to natural perils such as drought, frost, excess moisture, pest infestations, or disease. While essential for many farmers, the rules regulating crop insurance have often been at odds with conservation ...
In Governor Kim Reynolds 2022 campaign ad, it ends with the words “Here in Iowa…America Still Works.” Does it? What version of American is Kim Reynolds envisioning? Her vision appears increasingly to be one where people at the bottom of the economic totem pole are stiffed while the top ...
At the start of the year, it is good to reflect on the past year. While there were many environmental challenges during 2023, there were also some successes. Most notable were the outcomes from the COP23 climate summit. For the first time, the countries called for a transition away from fossil ...
One of the things that happens when one retires should be sorting things out and getting rid of most of the boxes & drawers of accumulated "treasures". The dent I have made in my “savings” so far has been slower than I would like, but I’m not giving up! This reflection includes ...
Week two of the session is done, this is the week when we begin our work on bills in earnest. I’ve chaired a few subcommittee’s this week for bill’s assigned to me by the Public Safety Committee chair, and served as a member of several others. I’m also working on writing and filing ...
Last week, Sports Illustrated laid off most of its staff according to various reports. While it is not surprising, considering the state of Sports Illustrated, it is sad. Growing up, there was a time when I looked forward to getting this magazine each Thursday. I did not read it all, but I ...
Our children’s education is one of the most important and most sacred responsibilities of parents. Parents have the largest impact on their child’s education and parent involvement is one of the most significant indicators of a child’s success in school (Mapp, Carver, & Lander, 2017). ...
Iowa lawmakers are gathering once again in Des Moines for another year of debating and passing legislation. The democratic process is something America prides itself on and one that requires input from citizens to thrive. As new bills are being introduced and debated, lawmakers need to hear ...
As Iowa’s 2024 legislative session kicked off last week, I want to take a moment to say hello and thanks for your engagement in Iowa’s future. This year, I’m committed to living our Iowa values and offering A Better Deal for Iowans. To do that, we need passionate Iowans like you to stay ...