U.S. Rep. David Young Iowa’s Third Congressional District When I leave my home in the morning and when I return home to Van Meter in the evening, I drive down Veterans Memorial Drive – right by the Iowa Veterans Cemetery. Seeing the American flag waving on top of the […]
From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today signed the following four bills into law: • House File 504: an act relating to insurance, including electronic ivery and posting of insurance notices and documents and to certain duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of insurance producers. • House File 626: an […]
From Press Release Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy of Vermont are calling for a detailed accounting of the amount of taxpayer dollars spent on lawsuits that stem from information wrongly withheld under the Freedom of Information Act. The Senators requested the […]
From Press Release Gov. Terry Branstad has ordered all flags in Iowa be flown at half-staff Tuesday, May 26, 2015, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in honor of Omaha, Neb., Police Officer Kerrie Orozco, 29, who was a Walnut, Iowa, native and resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Orozco […]
By The Iowa Statesman State Rep. Sandy Salmon (R-Janesville) has released her weekly Capitol Corner legislative update. She discussed continued work on the state budget, as well as passage of the tax incentives for first-time home buyers in the House. Capitol Corner may be read in its entirety by […]
From Press Release On Thursday, May 28, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) will bring his message of liberty and individual freedom to eastern Iowa. He will hold meet-and-greets in Clinton, Davenport, and Muscatine. Event details can be found below. TIME: […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to to the floor of the Senate Thursday to out Trade Promotion Authority’s benefits to Iowans. In the speech, he said those who didn’t believe free trade was beneficial to our nation’s future prosperity was “in denial.” The following is […]
From Press Release The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today announced an order to cancel all live bird exhibitions at county fairs, the Iowa State Fair, and other gatherings of birds due to avian influenza. The Department’s order begins immediately, is effective through the end of 2015, […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Rep. Rod Blum (R-IA 1) has appeared with Rep. Gwen Graham (D-FL 2) to discuss their proposed ban on congressional first-class travel with KGAN-TV in Cedar Rapids. Scroll down to watch video of the entire discussion.
From Press Release Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa is asking how much the Department of Homeland Security knew about a camp counselor who allegedly was granted deferred deportation action under the President’s immigration executive order, and who is now charged with four felonies, including child molestation […]
From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today released the following statements on the death of Omaha, Neb., Police Officer Kerrie Orozco, 29, who was a Walnut, Iowa, native and resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Orozco was killed in the of duty yesterday, […]
From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today announced that he will sign Senate File 501 at 9:45 a.m. Friday in the Governor’s Formal Office at the State Capitol. SF 501 is an act relating to interstate student tuition reciprocity agreements involving certain postsecondary educational institutions, creating a tuition […]
From Press Release Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the Presidential Allowance Modernization Act of 2015, legislation to reform the system for providing former U.S. presidents certain benefits and perks. Original co-sponsors of the bill include Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL). This is the companion […]
By The Iowa Statesman The standing appropriations bill — often referred to as “the standings bill,” or sometimes jingly as “the Christmas tree bill” (for all of the “goodies” lobbyists will find in it) — is usually the last piece of legislation tackled before the end of the legislative […]
From Press Release In an op-ed published today, 2016 presidential candidate and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee announced his decision to forego the Iowa Straw Poll and invest his resources into running a well-funded and well-organized campaign for the Iowa caucuses. “It’s clear that pitting conservative candidates with limited […]
From Press Release Sen. Chuck Grassley is pressing the Justice Department and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to describe any action they are taking to prevent fraud in federal payments to Medicare Advantage plans. Grassley’s action comes amid findings that the federal government has overpaid the plans […]
From Press Release Last Friday, U.S. Congressman David Young introduced legislation that would respect the rule of law and hardworking taxpayers by protecting the earned income tax credit (EITC) from exploitation from a tax bonus loophole created by President Obama’s recent executive amnesty actions. “The earned income tax credit […]
By The Iowa Statesman The Iowa House of Representatives passed, largely along party s, a bill that would make consumer fireworks legal in Iowa for the first time in 85 years late Wednesday evening. House File 614 now goes to the Senate for consideration, but to get an up […]
From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad today announced that he has appointed Kristin Johnson as the executive director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission. Johnson replaces former executive director Beth Townsend who is now the director of Iowa Workforce Development. Don Grove had been serving as acting […]
From Press Release Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Wednesday introduced bipartisan legislation to encourage and reward the use of patented technology to address humanitarian needs. The bipartisan introduction comes as the Judiciary Committee is poised to consider broader legislation to improve the patent system and […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley to part Wednesday in a Judiciary Committee hearing titled, “Taking Sexual Assault Seriously: The Rape Kit Backlog and Human Rights.” The following are his prepared remarks at the onset of the hearing. • • • Today, the Judiciary Committee will hear […]
From Press Release In mid-April Iowa Congressman David Young had a memorable exchange with Assistant Secretary Sarah Saldaña, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), when she was before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. At that congressional hearing, Congressman Young brought up accounts of ICE officials and Border […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), as promised, is begun filibustering renewal of the Patriot Act. Click here to watch live video of the speech.
By The Iowa Statesman According to Donald Trump’s speswoman, Hope Hicks, he will be conducting a second Iowa tele-town hall from 6:05 to 7 p.m. tonight. His first event garnered than 60,000 participants. During the tele-town hall, Trump will take questions from prospective voters and discuss his “Make […]
From Press Release Sen. Chuck Grassley is asking the IRS commissioner to explain how and why the agency uses discretion to avoid terminating employees for willful violations of tax law. “Willful violation of tax law is a serious offense and the presumption is an employee guilty of the offense […]
By The Iowa Statesman This morning, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to to the Senate floor to respond to an editorial in the Wall Street Journal last week that he said “smears biofuels.” The op-ed was written by the the leaders of the National Chicken Council and the National […]
From Press Release Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Tuesday that she will continue her “Stories of Women’s Lives” tour through the rest of 2015. Reynolds posted a video to her YouTube account expanding upon the announcement. In March, Reynolds announced her “Stories of Women’s Lives” tour to highlight Iowa […]
By Iowans for Tax Relief There was substantial hope that the Legislative session would adjourn last week. As we reported in the previous Watchdog, there were rumors of an education funding compromise and it appeared Legislators might be able to finish what was left of the budget work and […]
From Press Release Congressman Rod Blum will be hosting three constituent “Coffee with your Congressman” events this coming Saturday as part of his 20 County Listening Tour. These events are designed to give constituents throughout the First District who may not have access to one of our district offices […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley made the following comment on an audit released Tuesday that shows a number of Pentagon employees used their government charge cards at casinos and strip clubs. The audit came about because of Grassley’s bill enacted in 2012 requiring federal agencies to beef […]
By Chuck Grassley United States Senator Legislation to expand international trade is moving forward in the Senate. I voted in favor of debating a bill to restore Trade Promotion Authority for the executive branch. This authority is seen as critical to wrapping up the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement under […]
By The Iowa Statesman Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) joined Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), and small business owners from Ohio, Wisconsin and Kentucky to discuss the need for Trade Promotion Authority and its importance to small businesses and industries across the country. […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley made the following statement Tuesday at a Judiciary Committee hearing titled “Body Cameras: Can Technology Increase Protection for Law Enforcement Officers and the Public?” The hearing was conducted by the Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism. • • • Mr. Chairman, thank […]
From Press Release Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley made the following comment after the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act passed the House of Representatives. The Senate cleared the bill on April 22, by a vote of 99 to 0. As Chairman, Grassley shepherded the bill through the […]
From Press Release Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley made the following statement at the opening of a hearing titled “No Place to Grow Up: How to Safely Reduce Reliance on Foster Care Group Homes” held before the Senate Finance Committee. • • • Today, the Senate Finance Committee will […]
From The Iowa Statesman At 1o a.m. Iowa time, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst will take part in a press conference with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) during which they will be discussing trade, the importance of exports to American small businesses, and […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley released this brief question-and-answer summary to update Iowans about the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N2 outbreak that has resulted in the loss of millions of poultry in the state. • • • Q: How is the avian influenza affecting Iowa’s poultry […]
From Press Release Rep. Rod Blum (R-IA), along with Reps. Gwen Graham (D-FL), and Paul Gosar (R-AZ) offered an amendment to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act which would prohibit funds from being used to pay for first class travel for Members of the House of Representatives. Rep. Blum will […]
By The Iowa Statesman During their weekly press conference this morning, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the launch of a new website aimed at making it easier for citizens to comment on proposed state administrative rules. The purpose of the site, Rules.Iowa.gov, which was […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) has announced she will host town meetings in Osceola, Lyon, and Sioux counties Saturday, May 23, to discuss the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N2 outbreak, in addition to other topics. These town meetings are open to the public. 9:30 a.m. Osceola […]
By U.S. Rep. David Young Iowa’s Third Congressional District A few weeks ago, a man from Ankeny wrote to my office about the controversial rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers redefining the Waters of the United States. Like many of us, […]
From Press Release Gov. Terry E. Branstad today signed the following ten bills into law: House File 229: an act relating to the regulation of free offers and buying club memberships. House File 630: an act appropriating federal funds made available from federal block grants and other nonstate sources, […]
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Iowa Statesman. By Krusty Konservative Dictator of the Iowa Blogosphere To the “” who’s pretending to be me, outraged that I’m pretending to be him – as if we’re supposed to […]
From Press Release Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will launch his “Hope to Higher Ground” tour through Iowa May 18 and 19. The tour includes stops in Cedar Falls, Marshalltown, Story City and Johnston. The following are details of his Iowa stops: Monday, May 18 5:30 p.m.: Gov. Huckabee ivers […]
From Press Release U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) released the following statement after the Senate Armed Services Committee completed markup of the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill will head to the Senate floor where it awaits further action. “This year’s National Defense Authorization Act prioritizes […]
From Press Release U.S. Rep. Steve King (R-IA 4) released the following video statement after voting in favor of H.R. 1191, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015. Scroll down to see the entire video.
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has released his weekly video address, in which he discusses how Trade Promotion Authority is the key to expanding U.S. trade. “Trade Promotion Authority can give U.S. negotiators the backing they need to finalize the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” he said. “And […]
From Press Release This week, U.S. Rep. Rod Blum (R-IA 1) joined a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives to pass H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. If enacted, this legislation would prohibit abortions after 20 weeks – the time after which babies can feel pain […]
By The Iowa Statesman Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), winner of the 2012 Iowa Caucus, has notified national media he plans to make a “major announcement” Wednesday, May 27, near his boyhood home. The announcement fuels speculation that he will announce his intention to again seek the GOP […]
From Press Release U.S. Rep. Steve King (R-IA 4) will be joining potential Republican presidential candidate Governor Bobby Jindal this Saturday, May 16 in Ames, Iowa for a special breakfast at 10:00 a.m. with the Story County GOP at the Oakwood Road Church located at 2400 Oakwood Road in […]
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