2017
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Bolkcom: Reynolds, Stand Up For Iowa’s Healthcare Exchange
An open letter to the governor from State Senator Joe Bolkcom Dear Governor Reynolds: [Last week], you will have had an opportunity to speak one-on-one with President Trump in Cedar Rapids. I support your announced plan to raise the issue of Iowa’s failing individual insurance market. However, that issue is only one part of Iowa’s…
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Iowa Democrats Unveil Iowa Public Option Healthcare Plan
This week State Senator Matt McCoy, Representative John Forbes and former Senator Jack Hatch presented a “Public Option” to replace Iowa’s Obamacare Exchange. Earlier this year, the three major insurance carriers that sell coverage on the Iowa Exchange – Wellmark, Medica and Aetna – announced they wouldn’t participate in 2018. The withdrawal of these three…
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Tax Cuts Popular; The Consequences Aren’t
Iowa has had a peek at our future, but too few people have noticed. And that’s unfortunate. In case you missed the headlines last week, moderate Republicans in the Kansas Legislature finally became fed up with the fiscal mess created by Gov. Sam Brownback’s massive tax cuts. They joined with Democrats and reversed course in…
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All These “Moral Victories” Sure Are Demoralizing
Another night, another round of Democratic losses. Two this time, with Jon Ossoff and Archie Parnell’s defeats. Democrats are getting awfully good at losing. We lose special elections. We lose regular elections. We lose nail-biters. We lose landslides. More optimistic Democrats than myself point to Democratic over-performance in these contests versus past races, arguing it predicts…
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These 15 GOP Legislators Weren’t On Kim Reynolds’ Endorsement List
In advance of Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett’s announcement for governor today, Kim Reynolds’ campaign looked to flex their organizational muscle by releasing a list of 1,050 county chairs. Yes, 1,050 for a state with 99 counties. I’ve seen a lot of county leader endorsement lists in my time during past caucus campaigns, but that…
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EMILY’s List Endorses Abby Finkenauer In 1st District
State Representative Abby Finkenauer got a big boost in her quest to take on Republican Rod Blum in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District today. EMILY’s List, the major political advocacy group that helps elect pro-choice women, endorsed Finknauer today. “Abby’s record stands in stark contrast with a Trump ‘yes man’ like Rep. Rod Blum, who supported…
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Iowa Democrats Working On Solutions To Iowa Healthcare Disaster
Effective January 1st, 2018, 72,000 Iowans will lose their insurance coverage through the Iowa Insurance Exchange (Obamacare). Thousands of Iowans are facing an imminent emergency with the pullout of the three primary insurance carriers-Wellmark, Aetna and Medica. It will be a catastrophic blow to those Iowa families participating in the Iowa Obamacare Exchange. Several Iowa…
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State Representative Curt Hanson Passes Away
State Representative Curt Hanson of Fairfield has passed away, House Democrats confirmed this morning. The Democratic lawmaker and retired teacher had represented House District 82 in Southern Iowa since 2009. Hanson was a very well-liked and respected member of the Legislature, known for his kind personality and dedication to his work. “Iowa lost an exceptional…
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Governor, This Isn’t How You Get A Fresh Start
It’s too early to know, three weeks into her tenure as Iowa’s chief executive, whether Gov. Kim Reynolds will be much different from Gov. Terry Branstad. It’s too early to know whether she will approach issues from a different perspective. It’s too early to know whether she will adjust the course Branstad had set for…
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What Candidate Profile Will Voters Want In 2018?
What will general election voters be looking for in 2018? And will Democratic primary voters consider that? If you look at the political situation in Iowa and nationally right now and are positive that you have the answer, you’re probably fooling yourself. A week in politics is a lifetime, and we’ve got 73 more of…
