2019
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Warren’s New Plan To Help Small Business Owners Of Color
Elizabeth Warren unveiled today her plan to create a Small Business Equity Fund, which would work to even the playing field for entrepreneurs of color who are trying to start their own businesses. According to an outline of Warren’s plan, on average Black, Latinx, Native American and other minority households have less wealth and therefore…
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How I Know John Delaney Is The “Real Deal”
Guest post from Connie Klug, an Adel business developer manager and co-chair of Delaney’s Iowa campaign. I have lived on 15A west of Des Moines for nearly 20 years, and I am a proud life-long Iowan. I am a widow with two children, both married with kids of their own – one family lives in…
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How 2020 Candidates Voted On Trump Appointee Opposed By AFL-CIO
The job doesn’t stop just because a candidate is on the campaign trail. For those in the Senate, that means participating in votes and weighing in on the confirmation of Trump judicial appointees. On Monday, the Senate voted to confirm Rossie Alston, Jr., a former judge on the Virginia Court of Appeals, to serve on…
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Why Some Candidates Are Surging, Stalling In Iowa
After this past week’s jam-packed Iowa Caucus weekend, we’re starting to get a new sense of where things stand in the lead-off state. Campaigns demonstrated their organizing strength outside the Hall of Fame event, a new Des Moines Register poll got the chattering class chattering, and candidates tested their message in front of their largest…
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What Medicaid Expansion Accomplished, Who’s Running On Its Success
The health care advocacy group Protect Our Care recently released a report with nationwide, aggregate data showing increases in enrolled coverage and health care outcomes across the country. “It’s undeniable that Medicaid expansion has enabled more Americans to receive coverage and improved access to vital health care services in communities across the country,” said Brad…
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Ep105: Kamala Harris Campaign Manager Interview, Busy Weekend Review
Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard talks with Juan Rodriguez, the campaign manager for Kamala Harris, about the mechanics of running a national campaign, their strategy to turn out new voters, and where Iowa falls in their plans.
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Lisa Heddens Named Supervisor, Iowa House Seat To Open
State Representative Lisa Heddens was appointed to a Story County supervisor vacancy tonight, edging out four other finalists. Legislators cannot hold two elected positions at the same time, so she’ll have to step down from her seat in the Iowa House, which should cause a special election later this summer. Heddens served in the Iowa House…
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There’s Judicial Activism You Like – And Dislike
One of the most contentious issues in the Iowa Legislature this year involved the way the state’s judges are chosen. That process was established 57 years ago when voters amended the Iowa Constitution. It’s worth noting that Republicans held solid majorities then in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate. In the years that followed –…
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Cory Booker’s plan to protect reproductive rights
In response to states across the country passing laws that restrict access to abortion, women’s reproductive rights have become a key part of presidential candidates’ platforms this year. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker recently released a comprehensive list of actions he would take as president to ensure women have the ability to access and control…
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Abby Finkenauer Presses State On Worker Safety Issues
Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer has taken a concern about Iowa workers’ safety directly to Gov. Kim Reynolds with a letter outlining recent assaults at state facilities and Reynolds’ administration’s effort to reduce the number of public sector jobs. Finkenauer said in a June 7 letter to the governor, “The gutting of collective bargaining rights — most…
