May 2017
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Starting Line Doing Great – Help Keep Us Going
I wanted to take a brief moment to update Starting Line readers on how we’re doing: we’re doing great! Thanks to your help in sharing our articles, Starting Line has seen very high traffic in the past several weeks. As you may have noticed, I’ve also been on the road a lot recently for the various…
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Iowa Students Suffering At Expense Of GOP Tax Giveaways
Education reviews of the Republicans’ mismanagement of the Iowa state budget has focused on the inadequate funding of K-12 schools. They actually brag about increasing K-12 funding by 1.1% or $40 million even though most independent analysis suggest 4-6% is needed to keep pace. In addition, they cut state funding of Iowa’s public universities for…
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The Early Messages From Democrats’ Gubernatorial Candidates
The Democratic gubernatorial primary campaign kicked off in Indianola, Iowa this past week when six of the candidates made their pitch to Democrats at Summerset Winery. Well, that’s what Representative Scott Ourth, who hosted them at his fundraiser, wanted his event to be known as, anyway. It was a nice evening put on by Ourth,…
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Nate Boulton Nabs Early Endorsements From 10 Labor Unions
Nate Boulton’s lead role in defending workers’ rights and wages at the Statehouse this session has not been forgotten: ten Iowa labor unions endorsed the Des Moines state senator this morning. Speaking at the Steelworkers Local 310 hall with over 50 union members in attendance, Boulton welcomed their support. “You guys are on the front…
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Over 70,000 Iowans Face Healthcare Crisis And Republicans Own It
Over 70,000 Iowans will lose their access to health care on January 1st, 2018. For all these thousands of Iowans this is an urgent emergency. It is a catastrophic blow to these Iowa families’ ability to have access to quality healthcare. Lacking the opportunity to buy health insurance coverage for themselves and their families puts…
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Iowa Republicans Flipping Out After Being Told “No” For Once
Iowa Republicans are mad. Like, really mad. Specifically, they’re mad at Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller. It’s been over a week since Miller issued his decision that Kim Reynolds could not appoint her own lt. governor once she takes over after Terry Branstad leaves, but the GOP is still on a warpath against him. One…
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After Rod Blum’s Forum, My Mixed Feelings On The Anger And Lies
There was a moment about halfway through last night’s town hall in Cedar Rapids when a guy everyone seems to know, Dale Todd, approached our congressman with his teen son Adam. Into the mic, he said he was going to bring the discussion back to health care–maybe the third or fourth question on the topic…
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Father Confronts Rod Blum On Medicaid Cuts That May Harm His Son
Iowa Republican Congressman Rod Blum had to look directly into the face of one of his constituents who might get hurt the most by the recent AHCA vote at his Cedar Rapids forum last night. Dale Todd, a well-known local businessman and political advocate, brought his son Adam, who has Lennox-Gastaut epilepsy and autism, up to…
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Iowa Democrats Failing To Address Trade Issues For Rural Iowa
Trump’s campaign made anti-trade a key part of his political messaging. During the campaign he talked about unfair trade and outsourcing of American jobs. However, Iowa agriculture and manufacturing have benefited from trade by increased exports. Now Trump’s anti-trade tirades are threatening Iowa exports and the rural economy. Iowa Democrats have been nearly silent about…
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Fred Hubbell Announces He’s Exploring A Gubernatorial Run
The Democratic field for Iowa Governor grew ever larger today with the introduction of a very well-known name: Fred Hubbell. The 66-year-old Des Moines businessman announced in a press release that he is officially exploring a statewide run, confirming rumors that have circulated Iowa politics for the past several weeks. “The current Governor and Lt. Governor…
