House Speaker Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) issued the following statement in response to Governor Terry Branstad’s Condition of the State Address:
“I appreciate the governor getting the Legislature his budget plan so early. As we begin the process of reviewing his budget, I am confident there are several areas, including education reform and property tax relief, where we will be able work together to move Iowa forward.
“House Republicans look forward to passing a plan to reduce all Iowans’ property taxes, creating jobs, savings and certainty for those across the state.”
Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum had a close battle for the Iowa Republican caucuses Tuesday, shortly after 1:30 a.m. Gov. Romney was declared the winner by eight votes. Romney won 30,015 votes, compared with a 30,007 total for Santorum.
House Republicans unveiled the new Iowa House video streaming project today. Beginning in January 2012 in time for the next legislative session, video cameras will begin streaming debate live from the floor of the Iowa House.
Iowans will be able to access the live stream when the House is in session on the General Assembly website, providing a unique opportunity to Iowa citizens to have direct access to live coverage of House debate.
“We have added another layer of transparency and openness to government,” said House Speaker Kraig Paulsen. “We want to allow Iowans easier and more convenient access to their Legislature.”
Highlights of the video streaming project include:
Six high-definition video cameras in the House chamber to capture debate
Push to talk camera activation using current microphone controls
Split screen video for viewing of multiple representatives debating one another
Linked information including bills being debated and speaking representative’s name
The initial cost of the hardware and services is approximately $130,000, however the Iowa House received an award of $100,000 from IowAccess towards the implementation. The remaining costs were paid for from House expenditure reductions in other areas. Additionally, no extra staff are required for the maintenance and support of the system.
This Sunday The Des Moines Register ran an editorial which omitted facts relevant to the argument the Register presented. Republicans in the Iowa House have voted on at least five occasions to have all state employees, including legislators, contribute at least $100 a month towards their own health insurance.
Those votes took place on H-1735 in 2009 and on HF 45, H-1097, SF 209 and HF 697 in 2011. Republicans also voted to reduce their own pay in 2009 on H-1734. The Register conveniently left these facts out of the editorial. Click here to see the full article.
Below are the page numbers to votes in the journal:
Lincoln is considered by many to be the greatest American President. He was elected on a strongly anti-slavery platform. With his election, the Southern States seceded from the Union. Lincoln fought the Civil War to retain the integrity of the Union.
To read more about the history of Abe Lincoln, please click on the following link: Lincoln
The University of Minnesota’s Smart Politics blog posted the first article in a series of upcoming articles taking a look at statehouse races for this upcoming election. Their first article takes a look at the tough fight Iowa Democrats have to look forward to in November.
Two particular paragraphs tell the story pretty well.
A Smart Politics analysis of over 2,000 elections to the Iowa State House since 1970 finds the state’s Democratic Party has set a record in 2010 for the largest number of districts in which a major political party has failed to field a House candidate since the lower chamber became a 100-seat body 40 years ago.
But while Democrats are struggling mightily, Iowa Republicans are boasting their strongest lineup in 30 years this November – fielding candidates in 92 House districts. This marks the GOP’s best showing since the Reagan Revolution of 1980, when Iowa Republicans ran candidates in 97 House races.
A policy study put out by the Public Interest Institute this month called “How to Return to Normalcy in America: Following the Examples of Warren G. Harding” takes a look at the election of and the economic policies implemented by President Harding.
One particular note of interest in the study is found on page 16:
Federal spending was cut from $6.3 billion on 1920 to $5 billion 1921 and $3.2 billion in 1922. Federal taxes fell from $6.6 billion in 1920 to $5.5 billion in 1921 and $4 billion in 1922.
These cuts in spending were in response to the depression of 1920-1921, virtually forgotten because of being overshadowed by the Great Depression of the 30s.
Thank you to all the men and women who serve and have served in this nation’s armed forces, fighting for the freedoms we enjoy every day. The sacrifice of those who have died to preserve this great nation will be in our thoughts and prayers today.
GOP legislators propose 1 percent hike in state spending; Democrats 3 percent increase: “We have to send a signal to employers that we have our act together. We think this budget does that,” Paulsen says. “They are not going to have to be concerned about a looming tax increase or, worse still, what’s happened in Illinois.”
Events, Miscellaneous | JillJ | January 10, 2012 | 
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The University of Minnesota’s Smart Politics blog posted the first article in a series of upcoming articles taking a look at statehouse races for this upcoming election. Their first article takes a look at the tough fight Iowa Democrats have to look forward to in November.
A policy study put out by the Public Interest Institute this month called “How to Return to Normalcy in America: Following the Examples of Warren G. Harding” takes a look at the election of and the economic policies implemented by President Harding.
