A 163-year-old description of the Iowa seal that refers to a citizen soldier “with a plow in his rear” will remain on the books for at least another year.
House State Government Committee members today decided not to move forward with the proposal to change the wording [...]
Groups that work to draft a political candidate in Iowa would have to follow state campaign finance requirements under a bill approved Tuesday by the House State Government Committee.
Groups such as one active last year to encourage former Gov. Terry Branstad to run again would have to follow campaign requirements [...]
Newton Independent
The Newton Clinic announced today that its has completed a renovation of its Web site, www.newtonclinic.com
"We are very enthusiastic about our new site," said clinic administrator Mark Thayer. "Newton Clinic is a significant entity in this community and we needed an online presence to" [...]
When Congress passed new consumer protections for credit card holders last May, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., successfully attached a not-at-all-related amendment allowing firearms in national parks, so long as gun carriers comply with laws of the state in which the park is located. That law is now scheduled to take [...]
Calling All Iowans! Corporations are Not People! - PUBLIC PROTEST By PETER HUSSMANN
A federal judge in Des Moines on Monday gave lawyers until March 5 to file closing documents in regard to the settlement agreement announced Monday by Iowa Telecom over class action lawsuits filed in regard to Windstream's takeover of the Newton-based company.
U.S. District Judge John Jarvey ordered that [...]
The Terry Branstad gubernatorial campaign today has released a video today, a 200-second summation of his key talking points in the quest to lead Iowa to a “comeback.” Branstad used some of his field-leading campaign finance pot to make the well-done video as he seeks to win the June Republican [...]
Secretary of State Michael Mauro announced a partnership today with The American Legion of Iowa to help Iowa soldiers gain access to overseas voting information before they are deployed.
Mauro’s office will supply materials that will be included in American Legion deployment packets for more than 4,000 soldiers and their [...]
Newton Independent
The free H1N1 vaccine clinic previously scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. today has been canceled due to the weather.
The next clinic will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, in the lower level of the Ross Medical Arts Building, 300 N. 4th Ave. E.
The [...]
To the Newton Independent:
A friend once affectionately called me a cantankerous old cuss. My wife said, "doesn't that make you mad?" I said, "Heck no, I kind of like that moniker. He didn't say I was a dumb old cuss." And dumb is what I write about today.
Right there on [...]
By PETER HUSSMANN
Jasper County residents will put a new supervisor into office this year after Rick Tiedje indicated he will not seek a second term in office.
Dennis Parrott, county auditor and commissioner of elections, said candidates vying for open county seats have until March 31 to submit petitions containing the [...]
Amendments to a major government reorganization bill has chopped nearly $11 million away from the potential savings as compared to what was approved by the Senate on Feb. 1.
The estimate, released moments ago by the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency, shows changes to Senate File 2088 made by the House State [...]
The head of the state-run Woodward Resource Center, a facility for Iowans with mental disabilities, is leaving to take a job in Tennesee.
Superintendent Jim Finch is stepping down on Feb. 19 and Assistant Superintendent Marsha Edgington-Bott began taking over day-to-day operations today, Finch said.
Finch, who has a southern accent from [...]
A great piece in The Washington Times Tuesday reveals a remarkable degree of hypocrisy from some GOP critics of last year’s $787 billion economic stimulus bill.
More than a dozen Republican lawmakers, while denouncing the stimulus to the media and their constituents, privately sent letters to just one of [...]
A plan to encourage some state workers to retire early will be signed into law Wednesday.
Iowa Gov. Chet Culver said he will sign the early retirement bill, Senate File 2062, at 10 a.m. in the first floor rotunda of the Iowa Capitol.
Offering retirement incentives was one of the key recommendations [...]
Three Iowa politicians have won a national award for their government service.
Gov. Chet Culver, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin and U.S. Rep. Dave Loeback were named as 2009 honorees by the advocacy group Voices for National Service, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
Culver’s staff said in the news [...]
Could fishing with live bait be banned in Iowa?
That’s how two Republican state lawmakers read a bill proposed by the Department of Natural Resources.
The bill would effectively prohibit fishing with worms, minnows or other “natural food materials,” both on public lakes and private ponds, said Senate Minority Whip Sen. Steve [...]
National Republican Congressional Committee unofficially endorses Jim Gibbons in 3rd District GOP primary.
Tougher water regulations get final approval.
House committee passes prevailing wage bill.
Former aide to U.S. Rep. Steve King running for state attorney general.
Legislature considering requiring employers to offer sick leave.
The so-called Democratic health care [...]
The Young Guns program [...]
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller urged the adoption of an independent financial consumer protection agency as part of federal financial industry reform, a point on which a measure in the U.S. Senate has been stuck.
“There are two sides here. There’s the public side, protecting the public. And then there are [...]
Last week Mary Selby posted a great review of the movie “To Save a Life,” addressing the terrible tragedy of teen suicide. Shortly after reading her article, I learned of a young woman in Massachusetts who had taken her own life. Though we may [...]
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack stood alongside first lady Michelle Obama at the White House today as President Barack Obama signed a memorandum calling for the elimination of childhood obesity within a generation.
Afterward, Vilsack, the former governor of Iowa, stood before a CNN camera and thoughtfully explained it was [...]
An attempt by House Republicans to force a vote on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage failed Tuesday morning.
Forty-four Republicans were joined by Democratic state Rep. Delores Mertz of Ottosen in attempting to invoke House Rule 60, a procedural move that allows a majority vote on the floor of [...]
Grab a bag of popcorn because this is going to be a lot of fun.
Yesterday, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller filed charges against three moviemaker and Tom Wheeler, the former head of the Iowa Film Office. Miller’s singling out of Wheeler isn’t going over well with [...]
A procedural move to force a vote on same-sex marriage in the Iowa Senate failed Tuesday morning when Republicans were unable to convince a majority to sign on to their petition.
Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, R-Chariton, spoke on the Senate floor Tuesday urging lawmakers to sign a petition that [...]
Efforts by the Senate to move ahead with a resolution to amend the Iowa constitution and prevent equal marriage rights for same-sex couples were unsuccessful this morning.
Here’s the press release from Senate Republican Leader Paul McKinley, of Chariton.
DES MOINES, IA – Senate Republican Leader Paul McKinley (R-Chariton) today released the [...]
Iowa House Republicans plan to use a procedural move to force a vote on same-sex marriage Tuesday morning,
House Joint Resolution 6, sponsored by state Reps. Dwayne Alons, R-Hull, and Delores Mertz, D-Ottosen, would begin the process of amending the state’s constitution to declare marriage as only between one [...]
The snowstorms that are paralyzing Washington have made it unlikely that Congress will act quickly to revive the tax credit that subsidizes the biodiesel industry, says Sen. Charles Grassley. He is working to have an extension of the credit included in a jobs bill that Democrats want to get through [...]
by Brad QuinnBoth the House and the Senate this morning rejected efforts led by Republicans to push a resolution that would prevent equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.
Today’s actions were procedural and not directly upon the issue of marriage.
What Republicans wanted was the right to pull House Joint Resolution 6 out of [...]
House Republicans are expected to use a procedural rule today that would let them advance a bill that would allow the people of Iowa to vote on an amendment to the state’s constitution that would define marriage as the union between one man and one woman.
Rule 60 [...]
The Iowa attorney general’s office has filed criminal charges against the former head of the Iowa Film Office alleging non-felonious misconduct in office. Two filmmakers involved with a 2008 movie that received state tax credits are also facing charges of felony theft.
Allegations of misconduct surrounding the state’s film tax [...]
There really are some out there who believe that equality for women will result in some lower social standing for men. Samantha Bee of The Daily Show has more...
The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10cMale Inequalitywww.thedailyshow.comDaily Show
Tara and I often visit a Chinese restaurant which features a place mat that identifies that I was born during the "Year Of Dragon" and she was born during the "Year Of The Dog." It then lists each person's compatibility with each "animal." My entry says "avoid" [...] By D. Huggins
A government should be operated in an efficient manner.
If the personnel cannot manage efficiently and effectively, it will be impossible to demand efficiency.
The division of labor allows the most efficient operation of any entity (private or public), allowing the people with the interest and skills to function in [...]
"The purpose of placing numerous holds was to get the White House's attention on two issues that are critical to our national" [...]
All area school districts are closed today due to the weather.
Classes have been cancelled for Iowa City, Regina, Clear Creek Amana, Solon, Lone Tree and Washington.
For the rest of the day we'll see additional snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches, with areas of blowing snow in the afternoon. High' [...]
By Emily Geiger
So much to talk about, so little time. Let’s get started
Tebow Ad
In short, a missed opportunity. The tackling version was stupid (and no, not because it incites violence, which only stupid people would believe). The other version was okay, but could have been a little [...]
Health
Care Reform Update: Republican Voucher Plan for Medicare
Now that we are in the midst of another session of the Iowa legislature, the labor unions are once again trying to advance their agenda. Just a year ago, all four legislative priorities of the unions were defeated by the Democrat controlled legislature. That would make a [...]
Today’s installment from the latest Iowa Poll that The Des Moines Register commissioned asked Iowans polled what issues should the Iowa Legislature consider this year. For those of you who live outside of Iowa may not be aware, this year’s General Assembly has a shortened session this year [...]
Since we tried to have a show with Jonathan Narcisse a couple of weeks ago and had a “technology fail”, the former Des Moines School Board member and possible candidate for Governor of Iowa will join us again! We will spend two hours talking [...]
The mainstream media has gone nuts over notes that Governor Palin had written on her palm.
Her response? Look closely at this picture taken at a rally she did yesterday with Texas Governor Rick Perry.
Nice. By the way in case [...]
More *errors* (intentional omission? Manipulated data?) have been found in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.
From the UK Telegraph (Where is this story in the American Press?): "The United Nations panel on climate change is facing fresh criticism today as The Sunday Telegraph reveals new" [...]
Say whatever you want about Fareed Zakaria, the man can generally lay pretense to being well informed. Then he writes something like this:
True, the Republican Party has decided to be utterly uncooperative (although on health care Obama never really reached out to them with serious compromises).
Great job paying attention, [...]
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA) introduced legislation that will help fight childhood obesity. The Healthy Food for Healthy Schools Act will help ensure that school meals, and foods purchased by USDA and provided to schools, are of the highest nutritional quality.
“The Healthy Foods for Healthy Schools Act [...]
Tom Wheeler, who stepped down in September as manager of the office, faces a charge of non-felonious misconduct in office. Wheeler, 41, is accused of failing to verify the eligibility' [...]
There was a lot of pre-Super Bowl controversy over the Tim Tebow ad to be aired, with so-called 'pro-choice' people demonstrating they truthfully should be called pro-abortion. Pro-abortion groups didn't want the Tebow ad to run and petitioned CBS not to air it.
The pro-abortion folks had nothing to be afraid of' [...]
Republicans Target Iowa's Second District With Fake CensusBy Representative Kraig Paulsen
This week in the House, the State Government committee worked on the reorganization bill (SF 2088). The bill in its current form saves a little over $70 million.
In order for the Governor’s budget to balance, he needs a minimum $391 million [...]
Representative Jeff Kaufmann
We had a lively discussion at the Hill of Beans Bistro in Durant last Saturday. A full room of interested constituents, great food, and lots of questions and comments….it doesn’t get any better than that. I look forward to seeing more of you at [...]
But this is essential reading for any person who likes the Tea Party rhetoric who isn’t just a party-line Republican:
So please, for your own sake, for your family’s sake and the sake of your children, stop. Stop demanding that problems not get fixed. Stop demanding that you keep [...]
By Daniel Thayer
This is a exercise machine worth the money. Retailing at about $500.00, it may take awhile to put together out of the box, but it gives you a great workout! Fluid exercises available on the machine include the following: Chest press, lat pull down, ab [...]
Prosecutors have filed criminal charges against the former manager of the Iowa Film Office and two film-makers involved with a 2008 movie that received state tax credits, the Iowa Attorney General’s office said today.
Tom Wheeler, who was fired in September as manager of the office, faces a charge of non-felonious [...]
By PETER HUSSMANN
Iowa Telecom late this afternoon announced that it reached a tentative settlement in the six class-action lawsuits filed by shareholders over the Newton-based company's proposed merger with Windstream Corporation.
Shareholders in both federal and Iowa district court filed lawsuits claiming the board of directors of Iowa Telecom breached their' [...]
New York Gov. David A. Paterson has appointed Brig. Gen. Patrick Murphy, a native of Dike, Ia., as adjutant general of the New York National Guard, the state’s top uniformed officer’s post.
Murphy, 52, is a 1982 Iowa State University graduate. He joined the Iowa Army National Guard as an enlisted [...]
A new version of a controversial union labor proposal that failed last year was approved today by the House Labor Committee, paving the way for the idea to advance to full House for further consideration.
House Study Bill 699 is known as “prevailing wage.” It sets a rate private companies would [...]
Murtha, the right hand man of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, died today after suffering complications from gallbadder surgery.
In 1974 he became the first Vietnam War combat Veteran elected to Congress. The Pennsylvania Democrat rattled Washington in recent years with his earmark spending and opposition to the [...]
With unemployment tickling 10 percent (and likely to rise), Democrats in the U.S. Senate this week are hoping to push through a series of bills designed to encourage job creation. It’s as much a test of the Republicans’ commitment to bipartisanship as it is a gauge of the [...]
Tomorrow, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller will participate in a national press call as part of a push to create an independent federal consumer financial protection agency. Once he’s done with the call with the attorney generals of Illinois and Connecticut, Miller might devote [...]
