By Bob Eschliman Editor Although no one is officially talking about two bomb threats made against U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst’s inaugural “Roast and Ride” event held Saturday at the Central Iowa Expo east of Boone, the Iowa State Patrol confirms an investigation is now underway. In response to a […]
From Press Release Today, during his weekly press conference, Gov. Terry E. Branstad announced that the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is bringing driver’s license services to customers in places where they are already doing business. Twenty four locations including libraries, Hy-Vee stores, and a Kum & Go around […]
From Press Release A community deployment recognition ceremony for an Iowa Army National Guard unit based in Boone will be held at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, June 13, at the Boone High School gymnasium, 500 7th St., Boone. Civilian officials and Iowa National Guard leadership will participate and the public […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor And in a flurry of activity Friday morning and afternoon, the Iowa General Assembly concluded its 2015 session after five weeks of “unpaid overtime.” The House of Representatives adjourned at 3:38 p.m., and the Senate followed suit 10 minutes later, at 3:48 p.m. The House […]
By The Iowa Statesman With the 2015 legislative session now in the bos, Iowa Firearms Coalition president Barry Snell commented on the failure of the General Assembly to pass the omnibus gun bill. In his , he laid blame solely on the shoulders of Senate Democratic leadership. “Everything was […]
From Press Release This afternoon, Carly posted a statement to in reaction to the news that Chinese hackers had breached a federal government employee database: “The latest data breach, executed from China and exposing millions of American citizens’ personal information, illustrates two fundamental truths which will confront the next […]
From Press Release Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee issued the following statement in response to reports that sensitive personal information of than four million federal employees has been hacked by the Chinese. The breach constitutes the largest theft of government data in American history. […]
From Press Release Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee issued the following comment in response to the ongoing secrecy surrounding the Trans Pacific Partnership Pacific Rim trade deal: “ObamaTrade is a secret deal that most members of Congress who support it admit they haven’t been to […]
By The Iowa Statesman In addition to announcing her intention to attend Scandinavian Days in Story City and U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst’s Roast and Ride event at the Central Iowa Expo east of Boone, Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina also announced her first endorsement of the Iowa Caucus campaign. […]
By The Iowa Statesman The word in the Iowa Statehouse going into the legislative workday on Thursday was “this was it,” the last day of the 2015 legislative session. But as the hands on the clock inched around and around, it was clear that while progress was being made, […]
From Press Release In a letter sent Thursday, U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst urged Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Chairman Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) to hold a hearing on the federal government’s response to the ongoing outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza. Senators Grassley and Ernst stressed […]
From Press Release Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy have introduced legislation to reauthorize and reform the EB-5 Regional Center program. The Immigrant Investor Program, or EB-5, provides visas for foreign nationals who invest a certain amount of capital in the U.S. economy and […]
From Press Release Thursday, U.S. Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced legislation to help lower health care costs and prevent chronic diseases by addressing America’s growing obesity crisis. The Treat and Reduce Obesity […]
From Press Release Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley vowed Thursday to continue his investigation into countless claims of misconduct by U.S. Marshals Service officials, while working with independent agency watchdogs on a separate examination of the claims. A review of previous investigations by the Justice Department’s Office of […]
By The Iowa Statesman During a recent review of county governments in the state, IowaTransparency.org — an arm of the Public Interest Institute — reported nearly three-fourths of all counties failed a transparency audit. “Each month Public Interest Institute focuses on an issue pertaining to transparency and specifically tries […]
By The Iowa Statesman This morning, The Family Leader issued a statement regarding the abortion prerequisites language that has been negotiated by the leadership of both chambers of the Iowa General Assembly. The language included in the bill requires women be “given the opportunity to view an ultrasound image […]
By The Iowa Statesman After two late-evening adjournments in a row, expect a third today for the Iowa General Assembly as the House of Representatives and Senate continue to hammer out the final details of a budget for the coming year. The House, which adjourned for the day at […]
From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today signed Senate File 500, an act relating to family support programs and provisions including those relating to child support and establishment of paternity. The bill passed the Iowa Senate 50-0 on May 5. It passed 91-4 in the Iowa House on […]
By The Iowa Statesman Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will return to Iowa this weekend for a new round of campaign stops. He will land in Mason City Friday afternoon and has planned a media availability there. Saturday, he has planned three appearances in eastern […]
By The Iowa Statesman The Iowa General Assembly had a long work day Tuesday as both the House of Representatives and the Senate considered bills that are part of a likely final budget agreement hammered out by Republicans and Democrats over the past month. The official end of the […]
From Press Release U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) yesterday raised questions during a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing entitled “The IRS Data Breach: Steps to Protect Americans’ Personal Information”. The Senator discussed current cybersecurity threats and proposed methods to improve and secure systems with Symantec Corporation Director Jeffrey E. Greene, University of Michigan Associate Professor Dr. […]
By The Iowa Statesman Co-sponsors of the PATENT Act released their managers’ amendment prior to consideration Thursday of the bill in the U.S. Senate. A key conservative group, however, has derided the bill as one that erodes property rights. The Judiciary Committee is expected to consider the bill on […]
From Press Release Leading members of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees introduced legislation Tuesday to extend an antitrust exemption that allows certain colleges and universities to collaborate on issues of need-based financial aid. The Need-Based Educational Aid Act of 2015 allows colleges and universities that admit students on […]
By The Iowa Statesman Two new problems, one involving the Internal Revenue Service and the other the Federal Bureau of Investigation, have prompted tough questions from U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He has asked the FBI to provide details on its largely secretive […]
By The Iowa Statesman Iowa’s U.S. Senators split yesterday on the vote to restore some provisions of the Patriot Act through the USA Freedom Act. Chuck Grassley, while concerned with some provisions of the Freedom Act — and working to amend it — ultimately voted for the measure. Joni […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is pressing the National Science Foundation inspector general to account for any response to what appears to be clear violations of laws prohibiting funding of lobbying by an agency grantee. Grassley cited significant lobbying expenses by the National Ecological Observatory Network […]
From Press Release The Justice Department recently acknowledged that it relies on publicly available material and “voluntary compliance” with records requests when determining whether representatives of foreign entities are required to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The Justice Department said it lacks the authority to compel […]
From Press Release Congressman Rod Blum (R-IA), along with his colleague Congressman Peter Visclosky (D-IN), today formally announced the formation of the Congressional Slovak Caucus. “I am happy to join my colleague Rep. Visclosky in reconstituting the Congressional Slovak Caucus,” said Rep. Blum. “With the National Czech and Slovak […]
From Press Release Liberty Iowa has announced the first of many “Liberty on the Rocks” events scheduled to take place Friday June 5 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Embassy Suites in downtown Des Moines. The gathering is a casual social event for Liberty Iowa members and guests to […]
From Press Release This morning, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, alongside representatives of the Des Moines Symphony, the Food Bank of Iowa, Bank of the West, Casey’s General Stores, Hy-Vee, Inc., the Polk Co. Board of Supervisors and KCCI, announced the official start of the seventh annual Yankee Doodle Drive […]
By The Iowa Statesman Businessman and likely Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has scheduled an announcement “as to whether or not he will run” for president for 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 16, at Trump Tower in New York City. All indications — including recent staff hires — point to […]
From Press Release Governor Terry Branstad today announced appointments to Iowa’s boards and commissions. The following appointment is effective May 28, is unpaid, and is subject to Iowa Senate confirmation: State Board of Educational Examiners: Kathy Behrens, Carroll The following individuals’ appointments are effective May 28, are unpaid, […]
From Press Release U.S. Senator Joni Ernst today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its proposed biofuel volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2014 through 2016. “I am disappointed by the EPA’s proposal for biofuel volume mandates under the RFS that do […]
By The Iowa Statesman U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, commented this afternoon on the announced settlement between the Federal Trade Commission and Cephalon Inc. in a seven-year-old antitrust suit against the pharmaceutical company for illegally blocking generic competition to the drug Provigil. Teva […]
From Press Release Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the long-awaited Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume requirements for 2014, 2015, and 2016. Iowa Congressman David Young made this comment regarding the RFS requirements. “The EPA’s new RFS requirements fall short of the law and shortchanges what is needed. […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today made the following comment on the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement of the proposed Renewable Fuel Standard volume requirements for 2014, 2015 and 2016. “It’s Christmas in May for Big Oil. President Obama’s EPA continues to buy into Big Oil’s argument […]
From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today announced that he is extending the State of Disaster Emergency in response to the avian flu outbreak until July 1, 2015. The governor’s original disaster declaration was set to expire Sunday, May 31, 2015. The proclamation can be read here. As […]
From Press Release Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today released statements upon learning of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard volume levels proposal for 2014, 2015 and 2016. The proposal states the, “EPA is proposing volumes which, while below the volumes originally set by Congress, […]
From Press Release Today marks National 529 College Savings Day to increase awareness of 529 plans. In January, H.R. 529, a bill to expand and strengthen these plans, quickly passed the House with a sweeping bipartisan vote of 401-20. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has introduced companion legislation in […]
From Press Release Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee issued the following statement in response to the Obama Administration’s on the security situation in Iraq. “Today, ISIS terrorists wave black flags and decapitate innocent civilians in cities where American soldiers courageously and selflessly shed blood. […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today asked the IRS to account for computer security weaknesses that allowed the theft of personal financial information for reportedly 104,000 taxpayers. “It is important to learn what can be done to prevent these breaches of IRS computer systems and protect […]
From Press Release The office of U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) released photos Thursday from the Senate egation visit to Vietnam and Singapore. The Senate egation visited Hoan Kiem Lake and Hoa Lo Prison, where Senator John McCain (R-AZ) was held as a prisoner of war. The visit to […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is pressing the Securities and Exchange Commission on whether its securities filing system is allowing market manipulation from fake firms at the expense of everyday investors. Grassley’s inquiry comes after two incidents of possibly fake corporate takeover bids using the agency’s […]
By The Iowa Statesman A video is circulating this week from a Cedar Falls City Council meeting during which a councilman called a citizen an unflattering name. During the May 18 council meeting, there was discussion about a plan to reconstruct University Avenue to include roundabouts. A citizen who […]
From Press Release Foster youth face many challenges when they’re part of the foster care system, and most face complex issues even before entering care. Being removed from their home and family and placed in an unfamiliar environment, on top of the trauma they may have already endured, can […]
By The Iowa Statesman Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a final rule on the Waters of the United States. Both of Iowa’s senators responded to the new rule. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, an outspen critic of the EPA’s rulemaking in this […]
© The Iowa Statesman By Bob Eschliman Editor A state legislator, with support from a number of colleagues in both the Iowa House of Representatives and Iowa Senate, is loing into claims that material covered during the Governor’s Conference on LGBTQ Youth wasn’t age appropriate. This year’s conference […]
From the Iowa Statesman As-yet unannounced Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum has announced he is planning to head to Iowa immediately following his “major announcement” this week near his boyhood home in Pennsylvania. The 2012 Iowa Caucus winner also gave a sneak-peek at his campaign […]
From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for Clarke County in response to recent severe weather. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of a severe storm system that significantly impacted the […]
From Press Release Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee composed an editorial published today in the Orlando Sentinel calling for federal reforms that would allow individuals, seniors and pharmacies to re-import pharmaceutical drugs from Canada. “As a country, we spend almost $375 billion filling prescriptions annually,” he wrote. […]
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