September 2019
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Ernst: Need To “Sit Down Behind Closed Doors” For Social Security Fix
Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst said at a recent town hall meeting in Emmet County that politicians should “sit down behind closed doors” as a way to avoid public scrutiny when discussing was to fix Social Security policy. A video clip of Ernst this past Saturday at a school in Estherville shows the Republican senator responding…
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Following My Grandmother’s Activism Led Me To Julián Castro
Letter to the editor from Eliseo Flores of Des Moines, a recent graduate from Grandview University and summer intern for Julián Castro. Photo of Flores and his grandmother. “There is no substitute for hard work.” I remember these words ringing in my head throughout my childhood. As I grew up seeing these words in action,…
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I Support John Delaney Because He Shows Up
A letter to the editor from Susan Wulf Osvald of Exira, Iowa. No other person running for president has spent as much time in Iowa as John Delaney. He made his second visit to Audubon County, one of Iowa’s smallest in population, when he came to Exira, my hometown, for a picnic and policy discussion…
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Fairfield’s Phil Miller Running Again For Key Iowa House Seat
Former state Rep. Phil Miller launched his candidacy Wednesday morning for a second chance to represent southeast Iowa’s House District 82. Miller, a veterinarian and small business owner from Fairfield, was ousted in 2018 after serving less than a full term. In a surprise victory, which included a recount requested by Miller, Republican Jeff Shipley…
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In Congress, Finkenauer Works To Undo Iowa GOP’s Actions
Abby Finkenauer took her public service career to Washington, D.C., with her election to Congress in 2018, but she hasn’t forgotten her roots in the Iowa Legislature. Her second term in the Iowa House saw the 2017 and 2018 legislation sessions entirely guided by a Republican agenda, as lawmakers of the opposite party controlled the…
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Steve Bullock’s Long Crusade Against Dark Money
In a primary contest focused on broad issues like health care, women’s rights and economic reform, it’s no wonder corruption has gotten a spotlight, too. Over Labor Day weekend in Iowa, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock made his case that dark money is the root of the nation’s social and economic woes. It’s the central theme…
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Iowans Push To Make September “Union Appreciation Month”
The Polk County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday morning to designate the month of September as “Labor Union Appreciation Month.” “Whereas, hard working men and women across the state of Iowa prove that our community is filled with the most creative, dynamic, and talented workers in the world,” part of the proclamation read. “During this…
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By Enlisting Every American, Iowa Can Lead The Way On Climate
A guest op-ed from Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Over Labor Day, I heard from Iowans in Cedar Rapids who’d been impacted by devastating floods, and connected the dots to our bigger climate crisis. As State Senator Rob Hogg put it: “Could we have had a flood like this without climate change? Sure. But climate change is…
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What To Watch In The Post-Labor Day Sprint To The Caucus
As the old Iowa Caucus saying goes, once the Pumpkin Spice Lattes go on sale, it’s decision time for Iowans. Or, wait, is the traditional dividing line Labor Day? Well, anyway, the point is that we’ve clearly moved into a new, more serious phase of the presidential race. We’re well past the “early” stage, voters…
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EP110: Iowa Starting Line Podcast is Coming Back
Iowa Starting Line will be bringing the podcast back this week. Pat Rynard sits down for a quick few minutes to talk about where we’ll be taking the podcast, when it will come out and what you can expect from week to week. There will be recaps, interviews, story dives, analysis and more.
