The Iowa Democratic Party has a new chairman. It's Ross Wilburn, a former Iowa City mayor who currently lives in Ames and was just elected to a second term in the Iowa House. "I'm honored by the responsibility and I've got faith in our party," Wilburn said. The party's governing board elected … [Read more...]
House Democratic leader says GOP lawmaker should lose committee assignments
The top Democrat in the Iowa House is calling for a GOP lawmaker to be removed from his committee assignments. The top House Republican calls it an attempt to stifle free speech. House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard said Republican Representative Dean Fisher of Montour has failed to publicly … [Read more...]
Labor unions file OSHA complaint, allege Iowa Capitol unsafe
Democrats say Covid protocols in the legislature are falling short and endangering the health of employees and the general public. Representative Brian Meyer, a Democrat from Des Moines, said online testimony should be allowed at public hearings. "They don't feel like it's safe to come here -- I … [Read more...]
Miller-Meeks files request for House rejection of Hart challenge
Today is the day Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks is officially asking the U.S. House to reject the challenge of her six-vote victory in the second district race. The Des Moines Register reports that an attorney for Miller-Meeks is filing paperwork with the House Administration … [Read more...]
Feenstra only member of Iowa delegation not at Biden’s inauguration
All but one member of Iowa's congressional delegation are attending today's inauguration. Congressman Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, is still in Iowa and, according to a spokesman, Feenstra will attend "senior night" for his daughter's basketball team at Dordt University. Feenstra will … [Read more...]
GOP-led Iowa House Rules Committee rejects mask mandate
Republicans on an Iowa House Committee have approved 82 rules for how the House operates, but they've rejected a rule requiring face masks be worn during the pandemic. Representative Brian Meyers, a Democrat from Des Moines, said wearing masks inside the Capitol is common sense. "This should … [Read more...]
GOP advancing proposed gun rights amendment to Iowa constitution
A proposal to add a gun rights amendment to the state constitution is retracing its path through the Iowa legislature. The proposal has been approved twice before, but a paperwork error in the secretary of state's office is forcing Republican legislators to pass it a third time before it can be … [Read more...]
Iowa House subcommittee advances proposed anti-abortion amendment
Republicans in the legislature are prioritizing a process that would override an Iowa Supreme Court ruling that Iowa women have a right to abortion. A proposed amendment to Iowa's constitution cleared its first hurdle in the House early this morning. Iowans for Life executive director Maggie … [Read more...]
Hinson named to U.S. House Appropriations Committee
First term Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson has been appointed to the Appropriations Committee in the U.S. House. "I feel very excited to have been chosen for this post," Hinson says. "Most importantly to me, though, it means that Iowans will have a seat at the table during our government … [Read more...]
Congresswoman Axne favors Biden pandemic relief plan, Hinson not ruling out a ‘yes’
Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines, the only Democrat in Iowa's congressional delegation, says she'll "absolutely" vote for the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan President-elect Joe Biden unveiled last night. "The American public needs this more than ever," Axne said this morning, "and … [Read more...]