2018
-
Hubbell Points Out Big Hypocrisy In Latest Reynolds Ad
Governor Kim Reynolds is desperately trying to use distorted and negative ads to damage Fred Hubbell. Reynolds’ latest charge is that Hubbell, while head of the Iowa Power Fund, wasted taxpayer money and didn’t create any jobs. Yet, Reynolds is on record praising the very investments made by the Power Fund under Hubbell’s leadership. Reynolds’…
-
Ep56: The Life Of A Down-Ballot Candidate With Rob Sand
Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard interviews Rob Sand, Democratic candidate for State Auditor, about what it’s like campaigning as a down-ballot candidate this year.
-
Follow The Money On Reynolds, Wellmark And Pre-Existing Health Conditions
After years of state and national progress on healthcare access, Governor Kim Reynolds brought back one of the worst features of pre-ACA healthcare: denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. And the company that was chosen to offer up the new plans just so happens to have been a major contributor to the Brandstad/Reynolds ticket for years.…
-
Nike Takes A Knee For Equality And Justice
It’s rare for a national company selling consumer products to take a stand on a controversial political issue. Generally, they would remain neutral, fearing that taking a political position would hurt sales with the consumers that support the opposing position. Nike boldly ignored that conventional advertising rule by making the former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick…
-
A Democratic Iowa House Majority (Part 4): Blue-Collar Districts
For Starting Line’s fourth piece about important swing districts in the battle for the Iowa House, we look at three blue-collar seats spread around the state. Democrats are mostly on defense here, and they really can’t afford to lose much in their effort to pick up a net of 10 seats for the majority. Blue-Collar…
-
Cory Booker To Headline Major Iowa Democratic Party Event
Senator Cory Booker will headline the Iowa Democratic Party’s biggest event of the year in early October, the party announced this afternoon. He’s the featured guest for this year’s Fall Gala (formerly known as the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner), which will be held on Saturday, October 6. It’s the New Jersey senator’s first trip to Iowa this…
-
A Democratic Iowa House Majority (Part 3): Rural Exurb Districts
In the third in our series of looks at competitive Iowa House seats that could decide the majority, we focus on three districts that wrap around metro areas in Eastern Iowa. A variety of circumstances in each could provide Democrats chances to fill the final piece in their 51-seat majority. Rural Exurb Districts: 3 Pick-Up…
-
The Frightening Way I Relate To Donald Trump
For some time my spouse has attempted to convince me that the President’s crazy positions, comments, tweets and other irrational behaviors are, in large part, based upon a form of dementia. A little context is needed as to why I believe her. In 2014, a Mayo Clinic Neurologist in Rochester Minnesota, diagnosed me with Vascular…
-
Time To Focus On The Real Issues In The Governor’s Race
Distraction appears to be a main focus so far in the race for Iowa governor. Election Day is two months away. The decision Iowans make on Nov. 6 will be an important factor in where our state is headed. But instead of having a full and frank debate over important issues and ideas that will…
-
Federal Funding For Cedar Rapids Flood Wall Is Not As Advertised
The $117 million in federal funding for the Cedar Rapids flood wall is not as was originally publicly promised, Starting Line has confirmed from multiple sources. Last month, city leaders were informed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that $41 million of the federal funding that was announced in July will instead be a…
