In December, the state collected $30,707,971 in casino gaming taxes. This is an increase of $2.3 million from what the state collected in December 2022. December is the first month in Fiscal Year 2024 when casino gaming tax revenue outpaced the previous year. Even with December’s growth, gaming tax collections continue to lag behind FY 2023’s receipts. For the first half of Fiscal Year 2024, the state has received $162.8 million in casino gaming taxes. This is a decline of $4.2 million over the same time period in Fiscal Year 2023. more

The Iowa Legislature had a busy second week of the session. This week was the deadline for senators and representatives to request individual bills and joint resolution drafts from the Legislative Services Agency. The LSA also provided the Overview of Budget Recommendations for the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, which I chair. more

We are all very focused on common-sense policies to help move our state forward and looking at more income tax cuts to help Iowa working families and small businesses. more

I’m writing to share why I have endorsed Nikki Haley in the Republican presidential primary, why I committed to serve as her statewide co-chair, and why I will be caucusing for her on Jan. 15. more

We are so blessed in Iowa to have the first in the nation caucus.  All the world will be watching Iowa on the evening of Monday, Jan. 15, 2024!  The person who wins the Iowa caucus gets a huge boost going into the New Hampshire primary.  The people in Scott County have an opportunity to influence what goes on in the world with their vote on caucus night. more

I’m looking forward to Iowa’s Jan. 15 caucus and not just for the temporary reprieve from negative political ads. Due to the presidential preference card changes, Democrats will be getting back to basics and expanding opportunities to participate in candidate selection. more

The 2022 session of the Iowa Legislature began Jan. 10, much as lawmakers have convened for most of the past 175 years: with speeches and ceremony, the reuniting of friends and the renewal of partisan enmity. more

2023 will be in the top 15 for driest years according to the state’s 151 years of records. Despite ongoing record drought – we’ll end the year with 182 consecutive weeks of at least moderate (D1) drought somewhere in the state - Iowa farmers harvested yet another strong, better-than-expected crop. It’s a testament to timely rains throughout the growing season and constant innovation in genetics, traits, technology, practices, and much more. more

City leaders in Davenport seem to have forgotten that city government there belongs to the people. It does not belong to the folks who were elected to city offices. more

ESG stands for environmental, social, governance. Large corporate directors and business investors, with indirect input from the federal government, designate these scores based on how well the person or small business or company adheres to a number of policies, such as green, climate change-inspired policies, opposition to the use of fossil fuels, opposition to production agriculture, opposition to gun manufacture, beliefs about racial equity informed by Critical Race Theory (CRT), including anti-racism, white privilege, etc., support for abortion on demand and/or adherence to LGBT ideology. more

A consistent goal of mine in the Iowa Senate has been to increase Iowa’s competitiveness and make our state the best in the United States to live, work and raise a family. Recent surveys put Iowa at 40th for property taxes, making us one of the worst states in the country. more

I believe American families are strong, resilient and extraordinary. But that doesn’t mean they can’t use some help. After all, raising a family is not always easy. more

It was years ago that I heard about a woman who spent 6 or 7 days a week driving around the Quad City area collecting soon-to-be expired food from grocery stores. Of course being a history buff, and a person who has spent a career trying to find and share inspirational stories, I had to know more. more

A federal judge’s recent ruling places responsibility on Congress to end 37 years of intransigence and pass immigration legislation that could be the first step in serving the best interests of this nation. Immigrants are vital to the functioning of our economy. More importantly, they are deserving of the dignity that all of us, as children of God, are entitled to. more

The river means something different to everyone. For many, it is a spiritual place for meditation and retreat. Others think of recreation and family outings (for me, it’s one of my favorite places to walk my new puppy, Bailey). At times, the river is a source of anxiety as flooding becomes a more regular concern. more