A GOP proposal on the legislature's agenda this month would change who selects half the members of the commission that sends the governor nominees for vacant judgeships. Vanderbilt University professor Brian Fitzpatrick spoke recently at a Des Moines event organized by the Iowa Lawyers Chapter of … [Read more...]
Whitaker stays in Department of Justice as senior counselor
Iowa native Matt Whitaker has been named a senior counselor in the U.S. Department of Justice. Ankeny attorney Matt Whitaker served as the department's chief of staff when Jeff Sessions was attorney general. President Trump named Whitaker acting attorney general when Sessions resigned. The U.S. … [Read more...]
Family lobbying for ‘Logan’s Law’ to promote organ donation
A Charles City family is urging legislators to honor their son's memory by promoting organ donation. They call it "Logan's Law" and it would let people sign up as organ donors on Iowa hunting and fishing licenses. Wendy Luft's 15-year-old son Logan died in an ATV accident on July 4th, 2017. "What … [Read more...]
State housing fund tapped to pay $4.1 million IFA settlements
State officials are dipping into a loan fund for multi-family housing to cover the settlements to two female employees who say the Iowa Finance Authority's former director sexually harassed them. There's $9 million in the fund for loans to developers building rental housing and $4.1 million is … [Read more...]
Republican Senator promoting ‘workfare’ concept in Iowa
New requirements for welfare recipients in Iowa are being considered -- and some are being shelved -- in the Iowa Senate. Senator Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig, has sponsored four bills on the subject. "I hear constantly from constituents who are frustrated," Schultz told statehouse … [Read more...]
Democrat from Cedar Falls resigned from Iowa Senate today
A long-time legislator from Cedar Falls resigned abruptly this afternoon. Democrat Jeff Danielson had been a state senator since January of 2005. He's a Navy veteran and for the past 25 years he's worked as a Cedar Falls firefighter. He resigned from that job tody, too. Danielson told the Iowa … [Read more...]
Former Iowa Finance Authority Director working at ISU sportings events
The fired director of the Iowa Finance Authority has been working at Iowa State University events. ISU spokesman, John McCarroll issued a statement saying David Jamison is not an employee of the university. McCarroll says the university has a contract with Contemporary Services Corporation (CSC) … [Read more...]
Traffic cam approaches on potential collision course at Iowa capitol
A state senator who's tried for years to ban traffic enforcement cameras in Iowa is making another run at it in 2019. "This is about what I've said many times being able to face your accuser, that you are presumed innocent until proven guilty," Senator Brad Zaun, a Republican from Urbandale, … [Read more...]
Senators seek third-party to handle state Medicaid appeals
Two key Democrats in the Iowa Senate are proposing adjustments to how private companies manage Iowa's Medicaid program. Senator Amanda Ragan of Mason City says firing the private companies is not an option since Republicans remain in control of the legislature and the governor's office. "Governor … [Read more...]
Bill would extend sales tax for Iowa schools
The education committees in the Iowa House and Senate have approved a bill that would ensure school districts have tens of millions of dollars in sales taxes to pay for improvements to school property for decades to come. Margaret Buckton, a lobbyist for Rural School Advocates of Iowa, says this is … [Read more...]