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D.C. Dispatch: Border business, Iowa visitors and California pork
This week, Iowa’s lawmakers focused on introducing bills on border policy. Former governor of Iowa and ambassador to China Terry Branstad also made an appearance on Capitol Hill, as did members of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Iowa lawmakers are calling for the Biden administration to take action to stop undocumented immigration at the U.S.-Mexico […]
D.C. Dispatch: Iowa lawmakers mark Small Business Week
Iowa’s lawmakers this week celebrated Small Business Week and focused on small business, crime prevention and foreign policy. Sen. Joni Ernst introduced three bills this week aimed at supporting small businesses in conjunction with the celebration of Small Business Week. Two of them seek to eliminate fraudulent certifications in government contracts for small businesses owned […]
D.C. Dispatch: Iowa lawmakers celebrate ethanol victories
Iowa’s congressional delegation this week won victories around ethanol and focused on national security and spending in their proposed bills. Iowa Reps. Randy Feenstra, Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn joined together this week to prevent fellow Republicans from cutting a biofuels tax credit as part of their proposal to prevent default on the […]
Faith & Freedom forum: 2024 Republicans say they’ll fight ‘gender ideology, ‘woke’ beliefs
Defending religious freedoms means taking on “radical gender ideology,” allowing churches to not accept gay marriages and supporting abortion restrictions, potential and announced Republican presidential candidates told Iowans Saturday. More than 1,200 people attended the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition spring kick-off event Saturday at the Horizon Event Center in Clive. The event was one […]
D.C. Dispatch: Iowa lawmakers focus on money, fuel and family
Iowa’s congressional delegation, back in Washington after a two-week recess, focused on the basics: money, fuel and family. But first, enjoy this tweet of Sen. Chuck Grassley’s prized vacuum: Beth it’s Easter u and I have to work hard to get this farm house ready for the grassley gathering Sunday pic.twitter.com/ffGCQP0kxM — Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) […]
GOP presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson says he’d ‘defer to science’ in abortion pill access
Amid multiple court rulings on access to medication abortions, Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson said “we should always be deferring to science and make the best decisions on health care based on professional judgments.” Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas, was campaigning in central Iowa Thursday. Federal judges in Texas and Washington last week gave […]
Branstad connects Iowa tax cuts to 1980s farm crisis
Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said Tuesday that current tax legislation wouldn’t have been possible without the economic restructuring that happened in Iowa after the farm crisis. “The state of Iowa is in the best financial position it’s ever been in history, I think over $3 billion surplus and they’ve already eliminated the tax on […]
D.C. Dispatch: Lawmakers bark at puppy mills, Biden energy policies
Iowa’s congressional delegation was doggedly pursuing legislation this week ranging from anti-animal cruelty proposals and restrictions on veterinary drugs to bills promoting fossil fuel production and ethanol. Rep. Zach Nunn joined with a bipartisan group of House members to support Goldie’s Act and the Puppy Protection Act, bills that aim to protect dogs from puppy […]
Asa Hutchinson calls for armed personnel in every school
In the aftermath of a school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, former Arkansas governor and potential presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson called Tuesday for armed officers in every school. Hutchinson, a Republican, made his comments during an event with Drake University students in Des Moines. “My belief is that every school should have armed personnel,” Hutchinson said. […]
D.C. Dispatch: Iowa lawmakers address TikTok and tech issues
Iowa’s legislators touched on tech and TikTok this week with hearings that highlighted a continued focus on China. Lawmakers also worked to block emissions tests for livestock production while promoting ethanol and advancing technology in health care and agriculture. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks participated in the House Energy and Commerce committee’s grilling of TikTok CEO Shou Zi […]
Pence calls for continued support for Ukraine
Former Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday in Des Moines that America should continue its support of Ukraine, despite growing reluctance from some members of the GOP. “I must tell you the war in Ukraine is not a territorial dispute. It is a Russian invasion,” Pence said. “And I believe the United States of America […]
Pence, in Iowa, characterizes potential Trump prosecution as ‘politically motivated’
Former Vice President Mike Pence, in Des Moines on Saturday, said “no one is above the law,” but he also characterized a potential indictment against former President Donald Trump as “politically motivated” and “troubling.” “Well, here we go again. Another politically charged prosecution of the former president of the United States,” Pence said. Pence spoke […]