The Iowa Supreme Court has set December 1, 2021 as the deadline for Iowa lawmakers to approve new boundaries for Iowa congressional and legislative districts. The Legislative Services Agency will release new maps Thursday, part of the once every 10 years process of redrawing congressional and … [Read more...]
October 5th special legislative session set to consider redistricting maps
Governor Reynolds has signed a proclamation to convene a special legislative session on October 5th to consider newly drawn maps for Iowa congressional and legislative districts. The Legislative Services Agency will release the maps with redrawn district boundaries this Thursday. The Temporary … [Read more...]
Ethics complaints over GOP votes for mask mandate ban dismissed
An Iowa Senate committee has dismissed complaints against Republican senators who voted to ban schools from requiring masks. Six Iowans accused GOP senators of violating Senate ethics rules by backing a ban that could put medically vulnerable students, staff and families at greater risk of … [Read more...]
Feenstra a no on ag-related elements of House Democrats’ infrastructure bill
Fourth District Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull has joined his Republican colleagues on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee in voting "no" on ag-related elements of the infrastructure package House Democrats are proposing. "We have real issues that we need to deal with. We have … [Read more...]
Feenstra pushes NASA to explore biojet fuel
Congressman Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, says NASA research on what's called "sustainable aviation fuel" should examine the use of biofuels for airplanes and spacecraft. "When I questioned Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in our committee meeting in May, she told me directly that she … [Read more...]
State launches ‘This Is Iowa’ ad campaign
YouTube and Facebook users have started seeing a new ad touting Iowa as a destination for tourists and for workers. The "This Is Iowa" ad that debuted this week on social media platforms will soon be running on Midwest television stations and five national cable networks. A spokeswoman for the … [Read more...]
Axne says Democrat infrastructure bill reserves $1 billion for biofuels
Congresswoman Cindy Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, says the initial draft of the Democrats' infrastructure plan in the U.S. House now reserves $1 billion to promote the use of ethanol and biodiesel over the next eight years. "To issue grants directly to fuel retailers so that they can … [Read more...]
Reynolds says Biden’s vaccine rules will worsen workforce shortage
Governor Kim Reynolds says the president's new Covid vaccine rules for federal workers, health care staff, and employees in large businesses are "dangerous and unprecedented." President Biden says Americans who are vaccinated are growing "frustrated" with the 80 million who are not and the … [Read more...]
Iowa redistricting plan to be released next Thursday
The Legislative Services Agency has announced that the first proposed plan for reconfiguring legislative and congressional districts will be delivered to lawmakers at 10 a.m. next Thursday. The boundaries for congressional districts and for Iowa House and Senate districts are being redrawn to … [Read more...]
Reynolds commits $100 million in pandemic relief to housing
Governor Kim Reynolds is directing $100 million in federal pandemic relief money be spent on housing projects. Reynolds calls it a "transformative investment" that will lead to creation of approximately 36,450 new housing units. Sixty-five million from this latest allotment will go toward tax … [Read more...]