Politics
-
VA shifts explanation as agency dismisses over 1,000 employees; Iowa cuts unclear
The US Department of Veterans Affairs has dismissed more than 1,000 probationary employees just weeks after assuring stakeholders that a federal hiring freeze would not impact operations, raising questions about consistency in the agency’s messaging. Iowa has two major VA health systems in Des Moines and Iowa City. The Veterans Affairs department claimed in January…
-
Guest post: Congress needs to stop the handouts to the rich
Paula A. Martinez: Iowans work hard and deserve a government that works for them, not one that rigs the system in favor of the rich and powerful.
-
Guest post: Don’t give Bayer a free pass when Iowa has high rate of cancer
When the state of Iowa has the second-highest cancer incidence rate and fastest growing rate of new cancer, we have no business handing agrichemical corporations a “get out of jail free” card for the dangerous products they put on the market.
-
Iowa House Republicans reject amendment to condemn antisemitic groups in the US
Iowa House Republicans found themselves in an awkward position last week. While pushing forward a resolution opposing international antisemitism, they rejected an amendment that would have condemned antisemitism from extremist domestic groups right here at home. Iowa House Republicans last week passed a bill to unconditionally support Israel’s war in Gaza and unconditionally denounce antisemitism…
-
Iowa Republicans advance public school Bible study bill
Iowa Republicans want public schools to offer elective coursework teaching the Christian Bible. Supporters say teaching the Bible as literature is essential to an education. Schools can already offer these classes, but Republicans say that’s not enough. In the beginning, Democratic State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott of West Des Moines asked a question: does Iowa…
-
Iowa House passes 2.25% increase for schools, less than Democrats’ 5%
The Iowa House passed a bill Thursday with a 2.25% per-pupil funding increase alongside other funding changes for Iowa’s public K-12 schools.
-
Lutherans decry Reynolds’ ‘failure to defend’ Lutheran Services of Iowa
Gov. Kim Reynolds was asked about an unevidenced, Elon Musk-backed conspiracy calling Lutheran Services of Iowa a “money laundering operation.” She declined to defend the organization. Lutheran bishops and pastors in Iowa are standing up. Lutheran leaders are asking Gov. Kim Reynolds to stand up for the church and against conspiracy theories. While praising billionaire…
-
Iowa Senate Democrats’ plan would lower childcare costs, raise childcare worker wages
Iowa Senate Democrats release a slate of bills aimed at solving Iowa’s childcare crisis. It aims to tackle the rising cost of child care across Iowa while addressing the accessibility issues facing families. Gov. Kim Reynolds lauded the state for adding 27,000 child care slots in the past four years during her January Condition of…
-
Iowa Republicans advance law that could expose drag performances to obscenity lawsuits
Republicans are pushing to open obscenity laws in hopes of making it easier to sue drag performers.
-
Reynolds admits to gutting Sand’s auditing ability at DC oversight hearing
In a hearing about government oversight, Gov. Kim Reynolds admits to restricting the Iowa auditor’s oversight of state government. Gov. Kim Reynolds was in Washington D.C. today, appearing before a US House committee meeting on government oversight to brag about her work in Iowa and further praise Donald Trump’s presidency. But while she may have…
