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Iowa Senate makes another push for increased child care staffing ratios
Senate Republicans again passed a bill to increase child-to-staff ratios and to allow 16-year-olds to supervise children independently at Iowa child care centers. The Iowa House passed House File 2198 in early March. That initial version of the bill allowed 16-year-old employees to independently supervise school-age children at child care centers. The Senate amended the […]
D.C. Dispatch: Iowa Republicans blast Biden for inflation
Iowa’s D.C. delegation was home this week, as both the House and Senate were adjourned. Rep. Cindy Axne appeared alongside President Joe Biden at an event in Menlo, Iowa, and several Republican members attended the Iowa Prayer Breakfast with Gov. Kim Reynolds. Great to see Senator @joniernst, Governor @KimReynoldsIA, and so many friends at the […]
Abby Finkenauer will appear on the Democratic primary ballot, Supreme Court rules
U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer is eligible to appear on the Democratic primary ballot, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday. The Supreme Court overturned a district court decision to bar Finkenauer from the ballot due to three undated or incorrectly dated signatures. In the court’s majority opinion, the justices argued Iowa law sets out a […]
Iowa Republicans to lead presidential calendar with 2024 caucuses
Iowa Republicans will hold the first-in-the-nation caucuses in 2024, GOP leaders announced Thursday, despite a recent move by the Democratic National Committee that may prevent Iowa Democrats from leading their party’s nominating calendar. “The Republican National Committee unanimously decided to leave our process alone, which means Iowa will remain first in the nation,” Republican Party […]
Ernst, Miller meet with sexual assault survivor advocates on Violence Against Women Act reauthorization
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller met with advocates for survivors of sexual assault Thursday to celebrate the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and to discuss the next steps for abuse prevention in Iowa. “We are thankful for the work that is being done and the programs that are […]
Reynolds says she’s ‘never gonna give up’ on private school scholarships
Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday she’s “never gonna give up” on state-funded private school scholarships for Iowa students, a proposal that has been a major sticking point in end-of-session negotiations at the Iowa Capitol. “If we don’t do that, I’m going to come back next year,” Reynolds said. “I believe so strongly in giving every […]
Supreme Court hears arguments in Finkenauer ballot case
Abby Finkenauer’s campaign made a final plea Wednesday to appear on the Democratic primary ballot, arguing in front of the Iowa Supreme Court that three undated or incorrectly dated signatures on her nomination petition should be eligible under Iowa law. “We are confident that the Iowa Supreme Court will follow the letter of the law […]
Biden: Biofuels ‘have a role to play’ in easing gas prices
MENLO, Ia. — In response to rising gas prices, President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that fuel stations may sell cheaper, higher-ethanol blend fuels through the summer. “I’m here today because home-grown biofuels have a role to play right now… as we work to get prices under control and reduce the costs for families,” Biden told […]
Advocates for child sex abuse survivors push to remove deadline for civil cases
Sen. Janet Petersen and childhood sexual assault victim advocates are making a final push to eliminate the civil statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse before the legislative session ends. “Until the civil statute of limitations is fixed, our survivors of child sex abuse just don’t have access to justice, and I believe that that […]
Finkenauer appeals ballot disqualification to Iowa Supreme Court
U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer is appealing to the Iowa Supreme Court after a district judge found her campaign lacked enough signatures to qualify for the Democratic primary ballot. “The Court takes no joy in this conclusion,” Polk County District Court Judge Scott Beattie wrote in his decision, released late Sunday. “This Court should not […]
President Joe Biden plans Iowa visit
This story has been updated to include additional information released by the White House. Iowa’s political leaders are preparing for an upcoming visit from President Joe Biden, the state political parties announced Friday. Biden will visit Menlo, a Guthrie County town of 375, on Tuesday, according to the White House. He plans to promote his […]
D.C. Dispatch: House delegation teams up on bill to improve National Weather Service
Following a fatal string of tornadoes in early March, Iowa’s four representatives in the U.S. House cosponsored legislation this week to improve the outdated National Weather Service communications system. Iowa’s delegation also voted on the appointment of a new Supreme Court justice, called for further aid to Ukraine and criticized President Joe Biden’s decision to […]