February 2017
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Democrats’ 3rd District Field Developing For 2018
Despite his comfortable victory in 2016, Democrats are eager to take another shot at Republican Congressman David Young. The Des Moines, Council Bluffs and Southwest Iowa-based district was won by Donald Trump 48.5% to 45%, but the recent Iowa Poll showed Trump’s approval in the Des Moines area at a miserable 31%. Young faced a…
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Breakout Stars From Iowa’s 2017 Legislative Session
The 2017 Iowa legislative session has been disheartening for many Democrats, progressives and people who care about a fair, just Iowa. But there is one silver lining: tough people step up in tough times, and Democrats have had several leaders to rally behind in these fights. For a state party that has lacked a central, natural…
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The Dirty Dozen GOP Bills And How To Stop Them
Guest post from Senate Leader Rob Hogg Today, I am writing to ask you to help us stop a dozen bad bills from advancing out of committee this week. Friday marks the “first funnel” under legislative rules, which is a first procedural hurdle that will stop some legislative proposals for the year. If we can…
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Camp Wellstone Activist Training For 2017 Launches in Iowa
Guest post from Chelsea Lepley Progressives in Iowa and around the country have taken note of the energy and enthusiasm of citizen gatherings, the size of which has not been seen in the lifetimes of many of the people who have come together to march, protest and speak out for an America at risk. Iowans…
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Republicans Waging Quiet War On Iowa’s Universities This Session
Guest post from Eric Saylor Statehouse Republicans have mounted several high-profile legislative attacks on their political opponents this session, Planned Parenthood and public sector unions chief among them. However, Republicans are also pursuing their goals through much quieter channels, though no less devastating ones. In some cases, poisonous measures are nestled within the text of a bill.…
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Republicans Have Brought Authoritarian Rule To Iowa Statehouse
Guest post from former Senator Dennis Black I served 12 years in the Iowa House and 20 in the Iowa Senate, basically parts of Jasper and Polk Counties. I retired in 2015, with Senator Chaz Allen seeking and winning the seat. I thought I’d observed and experienced just about everything until watching the deliberations and…
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That Was The Weirdest Thing I’ve Seen In Iowa Politics
I’ve watched as Donald Trump buzzed his helicopter directly over Hillary Clinton at the Iowa State Fair, then come back for a second pass. I’ve attended a Ben Carson event that turned a downtown bridge into a lavishly expensive family fun concert complete with Disney princesses and a gigantic American flag. I’ve seen protesters rush…
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Republicans’ Toddler Militia Gun Bill Is Back
The Republican-controlled Legislature is on track to reward gun-fanatics with their dream agenda! Perhaps the most senseless piece of this legislation is the gun extremists’ goal of giving handguns to kids. This nutty and dangerous expansion would allow toddlers to use handguns with parental supervision. Current law allows children over age 14 to handle a…
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Todd Prichard Promises A Fight To Win Back Blue Collar Voters
A packed room of nearly 100 Democratic activists in Des Moines’ Beaverdale neighborhood gave Todd Prichard a positive reception Tuesday night as chatter increases over his likely run for the governor’s office. Prichard, a state representative from Charles City, previewed a very early version of a stump speech, focusing on several stories from his blue collar…
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Branstad Celebrates Behind Closed Doors With Koch Lobbyist
Governor Terry Branstad’s bill signing ceremony for the most anti-labor bill in recent Iowa history was reserved for a very special guest. Drew Klein, the state director and lobbyist for the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity (AFP) got an extraordinary front row seat at the private closed door signing. Branstad demanded a secret signing ceremony, shutting…
