Iowa Politics and Caucus Insider

Iowa voters like Hillary Clinton over Marco Rubio, polls shows

In an early test of who Iowa registered voters are interested in as their next president, Democrat Hillary Clinton tops Republicans Marco Rubio and Rand Paul, a new poll shows. But Democrat Joe Biden fares worse in hypothetical match-ups with the two Republicans, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today Clinton, a former U.S. [...]

Bruce Braley? Majority of Iowa voters have little clue who he is

Most Iowa voters are totally unfamiliar with the passel of possible replacements for retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, a Quinnipiac Poll shows. The lone Democrat seeking the U.S. Senate seat in 2014 is Congressman Bruce Braley of Waterloo. Fully 57 percent of registered voters don’t know enough about him to form an opinion, the poll [...]

Scott Walker tells caucus-focused Iowa Republicans his vision for the nation

Battle-tested Republican Scott Walker of Wisconsin, who last summer became the first governor in the nation to survive a recall election meant to oust him from office, told Iowans Thursday night there are three ingredients for success for the GOP. “We need to be more optimistic, we need to speak in terms that are more [...]

Former Des Moines lawmaker, longtime lobbyist, Drake Law School professor dies at 73

Lawrence Edgar Pope, a former Des Moines Republican state representative, Drake University Law School professor and lobbyist remembered for his moderate positions and genteel manner, died Wednesday. The family said the cause of death was renal cancer. He was 73. Pope represented Des Moines in the Iowa General Assembly from 1979 to 1983, serving as [...]

Iowa House takes final action on health care for 150,000 low-income Iowans

The Iowa House took final action Thursday on a bill to assure health care for about 150,000 low-income Iowans, resolving a political controversy that had eluded resolution until the final days of the 2013 session. The House voted 80-17 to pass Senate File 446, which was part of a massive $1.7 billion health and human [...]

At conclusion of Iowa’s legislative session, lawmakers tout big, bipartisan accomplishments

The Iowa House’s adjournment on Thursday morning ended a legislative session in which Democrats and Republicans came together to pass several pieces of high-profile and long-sought public policy. An expansion of health care for low income Iowans. A vast tax break for workers and property owners. An overhaul of the teaching profession aimed at improving student [...]

With House passage, property tax reform decades in the making is headed to Gov. Branstad

It took about 12 hours longer than expected, but the property tax reform lawmakers have promised for the past three years finally became a reality on Thursday morning. The Iowa House voted 84-13 to approve a massive package of tax credits, rollbacks and reductions that includes benefits for residential and commercial property owners, state income-tax [...]

Iowa lawmakers OK repayment of $116 million in state bonds

About $116 million in outstanding state revenue bonds will be paid off under legislation that received final approval Thursday from state lawmakers. The bonds targeted for early repayment will include school infrastructure bonds, I-JOBS 2010 series bonds, 2002 prison construction bonds, and Honey Creek Premier Destination Park bonds. The legislation, House File 648, also contains [...]

Iowa Legislature: Morning briefing, May 23, 2013

What’s happening: The Iowa Senate adjourned its 2013 session just a few minutes before midnight Wednesday, and the Iowa House is poised to do the same today. However, the House still has several major bills to pass

Poll shows Iowa is uncertain about a sixth term for Gov. Terry Branstad

Just under half of Iowa’s registered voters approve of the job Republican Terry Branstad is doing as governor, but by a single percentage point

Iowa House fails to adjourn, will return Thursday for final votes on 4 bills

The Iowa Senate finished its work for the 2013 legislative session late Wednesday night, but the House didn’t. After a nearly 16-hour session in which it appeared as though the whole Legislature could adjourn for the year, the lower chamber gaveled out at 11:58 p.m. with four bills still on the schedule for final votes. [...]

Iowa Senate approves property tax reform but House does not, setting up further debate on Thursday

The property tax reforms that Iowa lawmakers promised for the last three years remains on hold today after appearing its approval was a foregone conclusion. The Senate approved a massive package of tax credits, rollbacks and reductions that includes benefits for residential and commercial property owners, state income-tax payers and low-income workers. But roadblocks on [...]

Senate passes health-care compromise, sends it to House for debate today

After arguing for months over how to provide health care to poor Iowa adults, the Iowa Senate approved a compromise plan late Wednesday and sent it to the House. The proposal was expected to be considered today by the House, whose Republican leaders have endorsed it. Gov. Terry Branstad also supports it. The new Iowa [...]

Iowa Senate OKs health, human services bill before adjourning

The Iowa Senate approved a $1.7 billion health and human services funding bill Wednesday night intended to help some of the state’s neediest people. The measure, which includes an expansion of health care for low-income Iowans, was the final bill approved by the Senate before its adjournment of the 2013 legislative session. The bill now [...]

Iowa Legislature pushes towards late-night adjournment of 2013 session

The Iowa House and Senate were both working late Wednesday night in a push for for an adjournment of the 2013 legislative session, 129 days after convening in January. Both chambers had approved education reform plans on Wednesday, sending the legislation to Gov. Terry Branstad for his signature. In additon, the Senate passed a major property [...]

Budget bill with $2.65B for school funding passes Legislature

Register video analysis: End of session deals The Iowa Legislature on Wednesday approved its standing appropriations budget, a $2.99 billion spending bill that funds a huge chunk of K-12 education in the state and a grab bag of other programs, services and functions. The measure passed on a 26-24 vote in the Senate and a [...]

Breaking: Iowa Legislature OKs high-priority education reform; package headed to Gov. Branstad

Video: Legislators talk about session accomplishments Updated at 4:45 p.m. The Iowa Legislature has passed an education reform package aimed at improving student achievement and making the teaching profession more appealing and rewarding. The measure passed on a 91-0 vote in the House, followed by a 40-10 vote in the Senate. It now goes to [...]

Iowa House-Senate reach tentative accord on health care for low-income Iowans

Register video analysis: End of session deals The Iowa House and Senate have reached a tentative agreement on providing health care for about 150,000 low-income Iowans, Iowa Senate President Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, said Wednesday. About 89,000 people who have incomes below 100 percent of the federal poverty level would have the same health care benefits [...]

Breaking: Iowa Senate passes long-awaited property tax reform; House vote up next

By Jason Noble and William Petroski The Iowa Senate has approved a massive tax reform package, overcoming opposition within the Democratic majority to pass legislation that has been a top priority for lawmakers and Gov. Terry Branstad for the past three years. The 43-6 vote in the Senate sends the bill to the House, which [...]

Iowa Legislature: Morning briefing, Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Iowa Legislature: Morning briefing, Wednesday, May 22, 2013 What’s happening: Today could be the final day of the 2013 legislative session, or at least one of the last days. House Speaker Kraig Paulsen and Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal both spoke optimistically on Tuesday about their push for adjournment, saying they were making progress on [...]

Iowa chainsaw team bound for tornado cleanup in Oklahoma

With chainsaws, skid loaders and safety helmets in tow, a team from a West Des Moines church are heading to Oklahoma to clean downed trees from the tornado zone. Between 10 and 15 members of the evangelical free Valley Church leave early Wednesday morning bound for the city of Moore, where a ferocious tornado knocked [...]

Tips for surviving a tornado

Practice a tornado drill in your home at least once a year so everyone in your household knows where you and your pets should take shelter. Have a pre-determined place to meet after a disaster. Store protective coverings such as a mattress, sleeping bags or thick blankets in or next to your shelter space to [...]

Iowa disaster medical assistance team is on call this month

An Iowa rapid-response medical team is on standby to go to Oklahoma to aid tornado victims, but they won’t be sent unless they’re requested. The IA-1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team is on call during the month of May, along with a dozen or so teams across the nation. “Our bags are always packed,” Tom Boeckmann, [...]

Breaking News: Iowa Legislature could adjourn 2013 session Wednesday; progress made on key issues

Legislative leaders are making progress on resolving differences over education reform, health care for uninsured Iowans and other key issues and adjournment of the 2013 session could come on Wednesday, Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen said Tuesday. “There is a very real possibility that we are done tomorrow,” Paulsen told reporters after a Statehouse meeting [...]

If Oklahoma needs help from states, Iowa will be first phone call

If Oklahoma officials need emergency aid from other states, the first place they’ll call is Iowa. Iowa is the national coordinating state for the emergency management assistance compact, said Lucinda Robertson, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Homeland Security. “Any request is going to come through us,” Robertson told The Des Moines Register this [...]