2017
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An Iowa Politics Primer Guide For Students
School has been back in session across Iowa for college and high school students for a few weeks now. While Donald Trump is certainly a constant topic of discussion, important Iowa campaigns are well underway for governor, Congress, the Iowa Legislature and other statewide offices. Starting Line thought it’d be helpful to put together a…
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Progressives Get Look At Future Leaders, Medicare-For-All Pitch At Corn Feed
Under a hot September sun, progressive activists, Democrats and issue advocates gathered this weekend for the third annual Progress Iowa Corn Feed. Three prominent out-of-state leaders keynoted the event: Center For American Progress president Neera Tanden, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley. Merkley and Buttigieg’s profiles have been on the rise…
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How The Steak Fry Made Its Comeback
Former Senator Harkin’s annual Steak Fry was a Democratic political institution in Iowa for nearly 40 years. It had a national appeal as it drew presidential candidates to Iowa for Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses. More importantly, it was the glue that held Iowa Democrats together. Iowa Democrats saw their party election fortunes rise and fall through…
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Did DMACC Get Too Involved In Trustee Board Race?
What’s the proper role for a school administration in public elections for their governing board, whether it be for a community college board of trustees or a school board? For publicly funded institutions, the law is pretty clear: neutrality. You wouldn’t think to see the superintendent of the Des Moines Public Schools out campaigning for…
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O’Malley Backs Boulton; Will Other 2020 Hopefuls Endorse?
Frequent Iowa traveler Martin O’Malley lent Nate Boulton a hand this week in his gubernatorial bid, endorsing the senator on Tuesday and holding a fundraiser for him in Des Moines on Friday tonight. It was an expected move for the 2016 presidential candidate, who was supported by Boulton during his Iowa Caucus bid. But will…
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“Not One Penny” Campaign Targets Young And Blum On Trump Tax Cuts
A number of progressive groups have partnered with the new “Not One Penny” campaign. The focus will be to block Trump and the Republicans’ promised tax cuts. Following the success in stopping the repeal of Obamacare, these liberal organizations are moving to stop the second Trump initiative to cut taxes. The group’s pledge and theme…
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They’re Back: Chances To See Potential 2020ers This Week
What does the future leaders of the Democratic Party and issue advocacy look like? Iowans will get several chances in the coming weeks to get a glimpse of a few possibilities. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigeg will headline Progress Iowa’s annual Corn Feed fundraiser this Saturday, along with…
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Kim Reynolds’ Solution To Iowa’s Polluted Water: Just Hide The Facts!
There is a growing number of dangerously polluted waters in Iowa. More than half (750) of Iowa’s surface waters (lakes, streams and rivers) are designated as impaired. Much of the impairment results from the elevated fecal bacteria in Iowa waters as a result of the 10,000 Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Iowa CAFOs produce 22…
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Iowa Reaction To DACA: The Good, The Bad And The Cowardly
President Donald Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for children of immigrants roiled the national and Iowa political scene Tuesday. Children brought to the country by their parents who have lived most of their lives in America worried what their futures held, with a final decision on how DACA may…
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The Forces Behind Each Major Democratic Primary Candidate
Back in the old days of Iowa Democratic politics (when the party won a lot more often), political power was typically concentrated among a few statewide elected officials. Party chairs were usually hand-picked by Tom Vilsack, Chet Culver or Tom Harkin, and the type of sprawling primary fields we have for 2018 were very uncommon.…
