The Family Leader group has endorsed candidates for the June 5 Republican primary.

The group endorsed the reelection bids of the following legislative incumbents:

Rep. Cecil Dolecheck of Mount Ayr: House District 24 (Challenger-Jane Jensen of Clarinda)
Rep. Joel Fry of Osceola: House District 27 (Challenger-James Demichelis Jr., of Chariton)
Rep. Kevin Koester of Ankeny: House District 38 (Challenger-Brett Nelson of Saylor Township)
Rep. Jarad Klein of Keota: House District 78 (Challenger-Priscilla Marlar of Wayland)
Rep. Tom Shaw of Laurens: House District 10 (Challenger-Maison Bleam of Rockwell City)

Spc. Leslie H. Sabo Jr.’s widow and his brother will be at the White House on Wednesday to accept the Medal of Honor, the military’s highest award for bravery, on Sabo’s behalf for his actions on one fateful May day in 1970.

It was May 10, 1970, in Se San, Cambodia. Spc. Leslie H. Sabo Jr. and his platoon were ambushed by a large enemy force. The 22-year-old rifleman from Ellwood City, Pa., charged the enemy position, killing several soldiers, and then attacked an enemy flanking force, drawing fire away from his comrades.

As the enemy retreated, a grenade landed near Sabo and a wounded American soldier. Sabo picked it up and threw it, while shielding his comrade with his own body. The grenade blast badly injured Sabo, but he continued to charge the bunker.

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Catholic university drops student health insurance, cites ObamaCare…

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Below is the end of session wrap up document prepared by the House Republican Research Staff

2012 End of Session Wrap Up

On Wednesday, the 2012 Legislative session came to an end. I am pleased with the progress we made and also disappointed that some issues went unresolved.

I will join Majority Leader Sen. Mike Gronstal on Iowa Press this week. You can tune in to IPTV at 7:30pm Friday or 12:00pm Sunday. You can also watch it online here http://www.iptv.org/iowapress/default.cfm

On the final day of session, each of the three leaders gives a speech to the House. Below is the text of my closing remarks.
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House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer (R-Garner) delivered closing remarks to the Iowa House of Representatives today. The following are her remarks, as prepared for delivery:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen of the House.
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Gov. Branstad today released the following statement following the close of the 2012 legislative session:

In January, the lieutenant governor and I brought forward a bold agenda focused on the dual goals of job creation and transformational education reform. I want to thank the General Assembly for considering our priorities and for adopting a significant number of them to help move our state forward. [See list below.]
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Today Rep. Steve Olson (R-DeWitt) was elected as the Speaker Pro Tem in the Iowa House. Olson replaces retiring representative, Jeff Kaufmann (R-Wilton) who resigned his post on Tuesday.

“It is an honor to serve as the Speaker Pro Tem and I look forward to the challenge,” said Olson. “I am committed to working on behalf of the hardworking taxpayers of Iowa and continuing to move the state forward.”

Olson, who was first elected to the House in 2002, previously served as a House Assistant Leader in 2005. He is a veteran and family farmer in Clinton County. He and his wife, Eunice, have two grown children and four grandchildren.

Today Reps. Jeff Smith (R-Okoboji) and Walt Rogers (R-Cedar Falls) were elected as House Assistant Majority Leaders.

As assistant leaders, Smith and Rogers will work with the leadership team to set the agenda for the House Republican caucus. Working directly with the Majority Leader and leadership team, the two will relay information to fellow representatives, while also serving as a point-person on key legislative issues

Both were first elected to the Iowa House in 2010.
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