Articles Tagged: Iowa Legislature

On this week’s edition of the On Iowa Politics Podcast, each of the hosts reviews their top-5 Iowa politics stories from 2021.

Art Staed currently represents House 66, which covers northeast Cedar Rapids. The new district will encompass more than half the same territory as well as Hiawatha and Robins.

On this week’s edition of the On Iowa Politics Podcast: Iowa school boards banning books, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley's naughty list, Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand blinks, and Iowa Sen. Roby Smith runs for state treasurer.

State Sen. Roby Smith says he will run for state treasurer in 2022 rather than seek re-election to the Iowa Legislature.

The books that have come under fire vary, but they typically feature characters or authors who are lesbian, gay, transgender or queer, and typically the person demanding the book be removed takes issue with passages that describe sexual acts.

Jack Whitver, the Republican Senate majority leader, announced he is running for re-election, but he will do so in a new legislative district.

While some lawmakers have resisted the prohibition on the grounds it’s a personal freedom issue, Stephan Bayens, commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, said public safety benefits trump the individual rights concern.

Depending on who’s telling the story, it may have happened during a blizzard in Washington or a national legislative conference in Atlanta. There’s agreement on the important points – there was drinking involved and the plan was sketched out on cocktail napkins during a discussion that spanned more than one bar and continued in the backseat of a taxi cab.

Just in time for your eggnog this holiday season, apps are coming to Iowa to make good on a law passed over the summer legalizing third-party delivery of alcohol.

Over nearly a quarter of a century, Sen. Joe Bolkcom has found that representing Iowa City to be the best job in Iowa politics because his constituents have given him the freedom and support to tackle issues other legislators haven’t been able to address because “they come from districts where it's harder to be outspoken.”

Lawmaker believes “Iowans deserve clean water, great public education, and an affordable, high quality of living.”

More than half of states, including Iowa, do not regulate nonpowder guns — but the Marine’s family and Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness have said they are in favor of regulating air rifles and other similar guns as firearms.

Though total enrollment across Iowa’s public universities has been sliding for the last five years — including big drops from COVID since 2019 — the University of Iowa is predicting a 4-percent one-year jump next fall and 6-percent bump by 2026, according to new data UI provided to lawmakers.

On this week’s edition of the On Iowa Politics Podcast: 1st District developments, redistricting sends lawmakers on the move, and infrastructure bill impact.

After more than a quarter of a century representing Iowa City, Rep. Mary Mascher has announced she will not seek re-election in 2022.