2019
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From CAFOs To Fireworks, Iowa Republicans Dismantle Local Control
Republicans have long preached that the best government is the one closest to the people. Based on this basic conservative principle, one might expect that they would promote the autonomy of local governments from the overreach of federal or state rules and regulations. Historically, the GOP has been an advocate for local control and has…
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Ep81: New Legislators, School Funding, And Pete Buttigieg Interview
The Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard is joined by State Representative Lindsay James to talk about presidential drop-ins at the Statehouse, what it’s like being a new legislator, and what the Republican school funding bill means. And we interview Mayor Pete Buttigieg during his first trip to Iowa since announcing his presidential run.
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Jeff Danielson Resigns From Iowa Senate, Opens Up Swing District
Democratic State Senator Jeff Danielson is resigning effective immediately from both the Iowa Senate and the Cedar Falls Fire Department, Starting Line has learned. That will trigger a special election for Danielson’s Cedar Falls-based Senate District 30 in the middle of this year’s legislative session and Iowa Caucus campaigning. “I would not be leaving the…
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Key GOP Lawmaker Sounds Favorable On OTC Birth Control
Republican State Representative Shannon Lundgren of Dubuque County described Governor Kim Reynolds’ over-the-counter birth control proposal as a “good concept” this afternoon. Lundgren made a number of seemingly favorable comments on the legislation during a taping of ABC 5’s This Week In Iowa political show. “Republicans in the House and the Senate, we certainly want…
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Soup, Spaghetti, And Lots Of Democrats
Iowa Democrats get their first taste of some multi-candidate caucus events during the next two weeks, served up with sides of soup and spaghetti. Three Democratic county parties will host at least two to three presidential candidates at their local fundraisers in Central and Southern Iowa. The Monroe County Democrats will hear from Amy Klobuchar,…
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State Help Shouldn’t Overlook Our Small Towns
Community leaders always prefer to see the glass as half full instead of dwelling on trends and policies beyond their control that could easily produce anxiety — or ulcers. I had a friend for many years who fit that description. I would call him an optimistic realist. I’m sure he had opportunities to follow a…
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GOP Court Scheme Is “Largest Judicial Power Grab Ever Attempted”
Republican legislators have introduced bills in the Iowa House (HSB 110) and the Iowa Senate (SSB 1101) that are a direct attack on Iowa’s merit-based judicial selection process. The Iowa group Justice Not Politics describes the proposed changes as the largest judicial power grab ever attempted in Iowa. Iowa’s current merit-based judicial selection process significantly…
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How Iowa’s Caucus Reform Will Change Campaign Strategies
The Iowa Democratic Party unveiled their long-discussed plan to reform the Iowa Caucus process yesterday, laying out what would be the most significant changes to the caucus since its creation. They included a new virtual caucus option, an important tweak to viability procedures, a new reporting system for the raw vote, and a recount option.…
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Ep80: Caucus Changes, Midwest Field, And Cory Booker Interview
The Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard is joined by former Lt. Governor Patty Judge to talk about proposed changes to the Iowa Caucus, the recent candidates visits, and how the field of Midwest candidates is shaping up. And we interview Senator Cory Booker during his first trip to Iowa.
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Why This Iowan Is Caucusing For John Delaney
A guest post from Paula Meyer of St. Ansgar, Iowa. She’s one of John Delaney’s Iowa campaign co-chairs. I first heard John Delaney speak in Washington, D.C. in 2013 about his ideas to create and fund an infrastructure bank that would pay for over $1 trillion of infrastructure without raising taxes. I came home and…
