From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today ivered testimony before the Environmental Protection Agency in Kansas City, Kansas, in support of a robust Renewable Fuel Standard. The full text of the testimony is below or available to read here. “The EPA has a choice – protect the deep […]
From Press Release Gov. Terry Branstad today announced appointments to Iowa’s boards and commissions. The following individuals’ appointments are effective June 23, 2015, are unpaid, and are subject to Iowa Senate confirmation: County Finance Committee: David Farmer, Davenport Commission of Deaf Services: Nathaniel Garrels, Emmetsburg Plumbing and Mechanical Systems […]
From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for Davis, Humboldt, Monroe and Wright counties in response to recent severe weather. The proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of severe storms that significantly impacted […]
By The Iowa Statesman Rev. Mark Doland, pastor of Park Church of Christ in Oskaloosa, penned a letter of endorsement that was published today, lending his support for U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) for the Republican presidential nomination. The Paul campaign released the full text of the letter this […]
From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today signed the Connect Every Acre high-speed broadband bill into law. The bill, House File 655, encourages the expansion of high-speed broadband internet to all corners of the state helping to foster growth for modern agriculture, increase access for rural communities and […]
By The Iowa Statesman Members of the Iowa congressional egation have added their support for Gov. Terry Branstad’s request for a federal declaration of a major disaster for the state due to catastrophic losses because of the avian flu outbreak. “The Governor determined that this incident is of such […]
From Press Release Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee made the following statement in response to the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision yesterday, which struck down a state board of medicine rule that prohibited remote, internet-based abortions. “The Iowa Supreme Court refuses to protect Christians from outrageous […]
By The Iowa Statesman This evening, Personhood Iowa has released an official statement in response to the Iowa Supreme Court’s ruling that allows Planned Parenthood to resume telemedicine abortions in the state. Here is the complete statement: The Iowa Supreme Court’s opinion today shows a stunning lack of consideration […]
By The Iowa Statesman In a unanimous decision, the Iowa Supreme Court has ruled the Iowa Board of Medicine’s ban on telemedicine abortions is unconstitutional, reversing a district court decision in a lawsuit filed in 2013 by Planned Parenthood of Iowa. The opinion, written by Justice David Wiggins — […]
From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today requested a major disaster event declaration from United States President Barack Obama in response to the avian flu outbreak in Iowa. Over 33 million birds in Iowa have been affected by the deadly virus. The request is being made for Buena […]
From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today signed 11 bills into law. There are 20 bills remaining on his desk, which he has until July 6 to act upon. All of the remaining bills were from the final days of the legislative session, which ended June 5. The […]
From Press Release On Monday, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed a disaster emergency proclamation for 18 Iowa counties adversely affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which would assist with disposal and clean-up efforts on affects sites. The disaster proclamation can be viewed here. The state of disaster emergency […]
By Bob Eschliman Editor Earlier this year, during a moment of feel-good bipartisanship, the Iowa General Assembly voted unanimously to encourage adoption of a key component of President Obama’s trade agenda. While it isn’t clear whether or not legislators knew precisely what they were voting on, the fact still […]
From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced the launch of the Healthiest State Initiative’s new free assessment tool that allows Iowa businesses, schools and communities to measure and study their overall well-being. The tool assesses factors beyond physical activity and nutrition by […]
From Press Release U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) announced Friday that fall internships for college-age Iowans are available, and applications are due July 15. Internships are available in Grassley’s Washington, D.C., office as well as his offices in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City and Waterloo. […]
By The Iowa Statesman Following a telephone conference call this morning, the Republican Party of Iowa’s State Central Committee voted today to cancel the 2015 Iowa Straw Poll, previously planned for Aug. 8 at the Central Iowa Expo east of Boone. The final vote was 17-0 with national committeewoman […]
From Press Release Following Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst’s request, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry today announced it will hold a hearing on July 7th entitled “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: The Impact of the U.S. Poultry Sector and Protecting U.S. Poultry Flocks.” The announcement follows a letter […]
From Press Release U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) announced Wednesday the new location of her U.S. Senate office in Washington D.C. The following is updated contact information and the location of Senator Ernst’s new office: Washington, D.C. Office 111 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 202-224-3254 Fax: […]
From Press Release Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today announced the retirement of Iowa Division of Banking superintendent James (Jim) M. Schipper. Schipper notified the governor of his intention to retire on Friday, June 5, 2015. He plans to serve as superintendent until October 8, 2015. He has served as […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 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 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 […]
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 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, […]
© 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 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 U.S. Rep. David Young kicks off the formal opening of the three Constituent Service Offices in southwest and central Iowa. “These offices belong to the people of Iowa’s Third Congressional District,” he said. “While they have been open for months, I wanted to formally invite Iowans […]
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 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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 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 […]
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