The Iowa Senate has 50 members, each representing a specific segment of state. Of those 50 members, eight are currently women. And, of those eight women, four are Republicans and ...
Spotlight
Brief shows economic costs of unintended pregnancy
A new brief by The Brookings Institution provides an in-depth look at ...
Video: Jon Stewart on Limbaugh
Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart provided his perspective on the most recent hysteria ...
Open letter to 600 WMT & Clear Channel
Dear powers-that-be at Cedar Rapids-based 600 WMT Radio and Clear Channel Communications, ...
Latest News
Poll: No GOP presidential candidate in positive territory
The news isn’t good for the four leading Republican presidential hopefuls. A Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich are viewed unfavorably by the American people. Romney is found either somewhat or strongly unfavorable by 45 percent of respondents (35 percent find him somewhat or strongly favorable [...]
Sunday Linkfest & Earworm
Imelda May singing Tainted Love: Now, take a deep breath because the stench of pay-to-play politics has been whipped with a little religion and fried up Iowa Fair style. Iowa’s own Steve Scheffler — an elected member of the Republican National Committee and leader of the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition (formerly Iowa Christian Alliance) [...]
Learning to live with a chronic illness
According to the family rumor mill, many people were fooled into believing that I was reading at age two. The reality is far more lovely and rare. My older sister, who patiently presented Horton and a wealth of other characters day after day and night after night, was a carrier of a disease I’ve yet [...]
Videos: Outrage over Limbaugh’s ‘slut’ accusation goes mainstream
Viewers tuned into morning news shows Friday learned about a controversy that has been raging among feminists for the past several days. Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh has turned his ire on Sandra Fluke, a third-year law student at Georgetown University who was banned from testifying at a U.S. House committee hearing chaired by California [...]
Grassley, Harkin combine forces on packer/livestock bill
U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin are supporting a newly introduced bill that would ban most meatpackers from owning livestock. The measure was introduced Wednesday by Iowa Republican Grassley and North Dakota Democrat Kent Conrad. Iowa Democrat Harkin and South Dakota Republican Tim Johnson were original co-sponsors. The bill does not impact packers too [...]
Women’s health attacked through Senate highway bill
On Wednesday, U.S. Senators filed to the floor in order to speak about an amendment offered by Missouri Republican Roy Blunt to a highway bill — although the offering has nothing to do with the many billions of dollars being debated for roadways. Blunt’s amendment hopes to give employers carte blanche refusal of payment or [...]
U.S. Reps declare ‘Women’s Health Wednesday’
If you’re tuned into C-SPAN’s coverage of the U.S. House this morning, you’ve already noticed that several Democratic lawmakers have chosen to use one minute floor speeches in support of women’s health. The speeches, which will take place every Wednesday this year that the House is in session, are the brain child of the Pro-Choice [...]
Iowa Legislature makes ag whistleblowing a crime
The passage of the so-called “ag gag” bill (Senate File 2172) has been approved by the Iowa House and Senate. And, yes, it was changed from the over-the-top House version that passed in that chamber during 2011, but the basic sentiment has remained. For a really good wrap-up of debate, comments and voting, click over [...]
Grassley’s opposition to VAWA doesn’t hold water
In July 2011, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican who serves as ranking member on the Judiciary Committee, recorded and posted the following video regarding the upcoming reauthorization of the 1994 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): At that time, at least based on this weekly address, Grassley was concerned about oversight and accountability in [...]
For ninth year, public says money given to public broadcasting is ‘well spent’
Can you remember the headlines from about a year ago? If so, you’ll remember how Congressional Republicans were once again taking public broadcasting to task. There were, of course, the typical reasons du jour for Republicans to pursue the defunding. Those ranged from a perceived conservative journalist Juan Williams being fired to a highly edited [...]
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Iowa lawmakers nod to Texas tricks, put all family planning at risk
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Good for goodness sake?
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Stuck at the intersection of church and state
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Grassley’s opposition to VAWA doesn’t hold water
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Open letter to 600 WMT & Clear Channel
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Election 2012: Women, especially Democrats, should gain Senate influence
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Iowa lawmakers nod to Texas tricks, put all family planning at risk
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Good for goodness sake?
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Brief shows economic costs of unintended pregnancy
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Poll: No GOP presidential candidate in positive territory
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Martin Patterson: You can certainly see your expertise in the painti...
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Tamil: REBEL BELLES UNITE!!!Kim Gandy to speak at Reprodu...
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Dong Cajucom: Wow, what a neat blog. I loved your narrating and ...
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IowaWomen: Rural health care clinics are ranked THIRD? WTF?!...
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DarcyM: You read about this stuff and you think "Oh well, ...
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