"In the next few days, topics like Trump’s connection to the Epstein case, Trump’s low approval ratings, rising prices, inflation, and ICE abuses will probably get less attention as the country focuses on Trump’s actions toward Iran. Once again, the tail is wagging the dog ..." more

"I am seething with rage at the Republican majority in Congress for the mess we’re in. What a despicable, appalling, contemptible, shameful, disgraceful bunch of cowards ..." more

"Bills SF2067 and HF2104 allow eminent domain to be sought for hazardous liquid pipelines.  Contract law allows me to confidentially contract with whomever, provided it adheres to ordinances.  Eminent domain and condemnation for a public use projects are not confidential ..." more

I hopped out to Dixon on Friday. Partly to grab some photos for the Legion supper, but also the recovering Catholic in me still can’t resist fried fish on a Lenten Friday. more

The soil can rest easy for a few months. There will be no zoning variance for a power plant hoping to site on farmland east of Maysville after a decisive vote from the Scott County Board of Supervisors. more

Feb. 24, 2021: The North Scott YMCA took a big step towards becoming a reality, as work began to demolish a building on the Petersen property along LeClaire Road. The building once housed a farming implement dealership but had lately been used for storage by the city. The school board planned to livestream the bid opening for construction of the new building.  more

As we wrap up Week 6 of the Iowa House Legislature, we mark a significant milestone with the conclusion of the first funnel. This critical period required all bills to pass through the committee process to remain eligible for debate in the upcoming session, set to begin next week. Additionally, we will begin reviewing Senate files for potential House approval. As Chair of the Public Safety Committee, I’m pleased to report that we’ve managed over 30 pieces of legislation through our committee in just six weeks. This busy first funnel has involved addressing a wide range of issues crucial to the safety and well-being of our communities. The dedication of my fellow committee members has been instrumental in navigating this challenging workload. more

The Constitution does not guarantee a right to an education and the 10th Amendment clarifies that powers not explicitly stated become the responsibility of the states. When Iowa became a State on Dec. 28, 1846, education was provided when groups of families pooled their resources to hire a teacher and build one-room schoolhouses. Eighteen years later, the 1864 Iowa legislature created a new governance board (precursor to the Iowa Department of Education) and created what we now call local school boards and defined what authority they would have. more

Iowa continues long-term efforts to improve water quality through conservation and land management programs, including the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS). more

"People who record events, including journalists, can be targeted even when they follow the law and comply with ICE orders. WITNESS, a nonprofit that uses video to fight human rights abuses, says that video documentation can reveal abuses, demand accountability, and challenge ICE’s version of events ..." more

Like many students at our local high school, I had one specific dream job growing up. more

Take exit 292 off I-80 westbound and you will find the cheapest gas around. That’s the sort of thing you learn when you drive an old pick-up truck that jolts along at 15 miles to the gallon. A few weeks after a visit to New York this fall, I sent a picture of the price of gasoline to a friend who commutes to Connecticut. I was paying $2.24 a gallon. more

Feb. 21, 2001: Area firefighters fought a losing battle during a blaze at the River City Business Park, formerly the Caterpillar plant, in Mount Joy. One of the buildings was destroyed, and water was in short supply. A water tower on site was quickly drained, and waterlines feeding the fire hydrants were too narrow to deliver water as fast as needed. Meanwhile, smoke could reportedly be seen as far away as Moline. more

Among the many misguided and dangerous GOP proposals to make it through House subcommittee approval this session, HF2171 is by far the most reckless. But of course, the session is not yet over. HF2171 proposes to eliminate immunization requirements for children entering childcare centers as well as elementary and secondary schools. This includes vaccines against preventable diseases, such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles and varicella. Not just foolish, deadly. Moreover, this proposal would remove the reporting requirements now in place. So, parents will no longer have access to reliable information about the level and nature of disease exposure their children will encounter when they answer the morning bell. more

This week, as chair of the Public Safety Committee, I focused on advancing key pieces of legislation aimed at making Iowa safer and stronger. I firmly believe public safety must always come first. That’s why I moved House Study Bill 641 forward. It is a practical, common-sense step toward safer communities and a bail system that Iowa families can trust to keep repeat offenders off the streets. more

This week marked the fifth week of the legislative session, and the Capitol rotunda remained busy with visitors and advocates. With our first legislative deadline approaching next week, much of our time continues to be focused on subcommittee and committee meetings as we work through proposals for the year. more

This week at the Capitol, the House continued work on budget discussions, tax policy, and legislation impacting Iowa families and businesses. Below is an update on several issues that moved forward this week. more

Recently, my colleague, Senator Catelin Drey, rose on the Senate floor to announce she had been diagnosed with uterine cancer. Catelin is an otherwise healthy woman in her 30s. Her predecessor, Senator Rocky De Witt, passed away in 2025 after a lengthy fight against pancreatic cancer. He was just 66. more

Cancer touches nearly every family in Iowa. More than one in 20 Iowans has received a cancer diagnosis, and our state has one of the highest rates of new cancer cases in the nation. Those numbers are not abstractions. They are neighbors, coworkers, parents, and children. As chair of the Iowa Senate Health and Human Services Committee, I believe we owe Iowans not only honesty about these facts, but a clear plan to act on them. more

"I started to think about how the Iowa I moved to in 1984 was different than the Iowa I live in now. I don't know that I would choose Iowa right now if I didn't already live here ..." more