A dark money group has increased its efforts to support a bill (SF583) that would let utility companies impose new fees on homeowners and businesses that install solar panels. The REAL Coalition of Iowa was incorporated as a nonprofit on Jan. 23, apparently to support the House and Senate versions of the bill. A dark money group is a nonprofit that engages in political activity but does not disclose its funders.
Iowa Legislature
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Iowa legislature passes new ‘ag gag’ law
Two months after a federal judge struck down Iowa’s “ag gag” law as unconstitutional, the Iowa legislature passed a new, similar law on Tuesday. The Agricultural Facility Trespass Act makes it a crime for a person to use “deception” to gain access to an agriculture production facility, or apply for a job at one, “with […]
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Poll: Iowans evenly split on marijuana legalization
Iowans are evenly split on legalizing recreational marijuana, according to a new poll published by the Des Moines Register. The Iowa Poll found 48 percent of respondents favored legalization, 48 percent opposed it and 4 percent were unsure. This is a significant change from the results of the last Iowa Poll on the topic. In […]
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Republicans cut Iowa AG Tom Miller’s budget because he opposes Trump policies
An indignant Rep. Gary Worthan took the floor of the Iowa House of Representatives on Thursday night to deny Republicans are cutting the attorney general’s budget for partisan reasons, just before explaining that Republicans are cutting the attorney general’s budget for partisan reasons. But the Storm Lake Republican who chairs the Justice Systems Appropriate Subcommittee, […]
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Last chance to expand Iowa’s medical marijuana program likely dead in the state legislature
A final attempt to expand Iowa’s medical marijuana program appears to be dead in the Iowa legislature, after Speaker of the House Linda Upmeyer said she and the rest of the Republican caucus that controls the House are opposed to changing the current law. The Senate Ways and Means Committee passed a bill on Monday […]
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Iowa Senate aide who recently completed mandatory training on sexual harassment fired for sexual harassment
An Iowa Senate aide was fired last week for sexual harassment. Jake Dagel, a legislative clerk for Republican Senator Waylon Brown of St. Ansgar, recently completed the new, mandatory course on sexual harassment.
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Bill aimed at punishing Iowa City over immigration passes Iowa House
A bill that would strip so-called “sanctuary cities” of state funds was approved the Iowa House of Representatives on Tuesday, even though several Democrats speaking in opposition to the bill pointed out that no city in Iowa meets the U.S. Justice Department’s definition of a sanctuary city.
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‘No silver bullet’ to prevent school violence, according to Iowa House Republican newsletter
The Iowa House Republicans official online weekly news update addressed violence in schools in a strange and tasteless way last week, concluding “Clearly there is no so-called ‘silver bullet’ for the school bullying and violence situations.”
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Iowa House kills attempt to reduce the penalty for first-time marijuana possession
On Wednesday, a committee in the Iowa House of Representatives killed a proposal to make first-time possession of small amounts of marijuana a simple misdemeanor.
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New Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver has an unimpressive record of getting bills passed
On Wednesday, the Republican caucus in the Iowa State Senate elected Senate President Jack Whitver to replace Bill Dix as majority leader.
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‘A San Francisco right here in Iowa’: Iowa House committee approves bill to punish Iowa City over immigration
A bill that would strip so-called “sanctuary cities” of state funds passed the Iowa House Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, and will now receive a floor vote in the Iowa House of Representatives.
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Bill to punish cities for not fully enforcing federal immigration laws advances in state legislature
Supporters of the bill say it is aimed at forcing so-called “sanctuary cities” to comply with federal law, even though there are no sanctuary cities in Iowa. Some cities in the state, such as Iowa City, have decided not to have their police departments assist federal immigration officers in the performance of their duties, except in cases involving public safety.
