February 20 saw the passage of the first legislative funnel. This is a deadline lawmakers set to winnow down bills eligible for consideration for the remainder of the session. It doesn’t apply to spending bills, but does a good job of narrowing what lawmakers will focus on around the midpoint ...
When you see a freight train chugging along the tracks, we rarely think about what that train is carrying. But a freight train is an integral piece of our transportation infrastructure, especially here in Iowa. From grain and fertilizer to ethanol and machinery, reliable rail service supports ...
As we wrap up Week 6, I wanted to give some insights into what happened at the Capitol this week, especially because it was Funnel Week. What is Funnel Week? For those who are unfamiliar, Iowa lawmakers have self-imposed deadlines that help to keep bills moving through the legislative ...
The coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a special and unique place in northernmost Alaska that supports calving caribou, denning polar bears, migratory birds that visit every state in the U.S., and is a sacred place of the Gwich’in people. However, it is also thought to ...
A recently released U.S. House farm bill proposal underinvests in proven solutions farmers rely on to cut fertilizer waste, protect drinking water and reduce climate pollution, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). With mounting financial pressures on farmers, lawmakers should ...
That damn socialist mayor out in New York threatened to hike property taxes by 9.5% unless he can ram through a wealth tax. Wait a New York minute: Property taxes on our humble metal shed along Railroad Street shot up more than 70% this year. Potholes pock the streets and we can barely afford ...
I started my career in rural Iowa in 1974 as an English, speech and reading teacher. Our students were top performers and the state’s education system was the gold standard. Educators and public schools in general were revered and respected by their communities. We didn’t have a lot of ...
Lent began as a way for professing Catholics to remind themselves of the value of repentance. Many people believe that giving something up or fasting for Lent is a way to attain God’s blessing and grace. But the Bible teaches that grace cannot be earned; grace is, by definition, a gift. Also, ...
As we wrap up Week 5 of Session, let me share what has been happening this week. Agriculture Committee Pushes Important Bills Ahead of Funnel The House Agriculture Committee was active this week, advancing legislation on a range of issues including thoroughbred and quarter horse racing, ...
They say that who you are is a product of the books you read and the people you spend time with. They also say that kids are sponges, that the brain reaches 90% of its adult size by age 7, and that these early years lay the foundation of learning and personality that will last the rest of their ...