(VIDEO) Gronstal, Paulsen discuss the 2012 session on Iowa Press

May 14, 2012

Senator Mike Gronstal reviews the 2012 legislative session on an edition of Iowa Press along with Speaker of the House Kraig Paulsen.

Apply for state boards, commissions

May 4, 2012

Local Iowans are encouraged to apply for a position on one of Iowa’s boards and commissions. These panels advise the Legislature and Governor on a variety of issues of statewide importance. Citizen participation is what makes our democracy strong. Those who volunteer their time, knowledge and skills in this important capacity help to build a [...]

Travelers recycle at Iowa rest areas

May 3, 2012

The Iowa Recycles on the Road pilot project, started at eight central Iowa interstate rest areas, has already collected more than 38,000 pounds of bottles, cans and other drink containers. At a recycling facility in Des Moines, they’re processed and shipped to factories, where the materials can be used to manufacture new beverage containers and [...]

Senate files property tax cut compromise

Statement by Senator Joe Bolkcom, chair of the Ways and Means Committee We filed a property tax cut bill today that contains elements of proposals from the Senate, the House and the Governor. When fully implemented, the legislation will encourage job creation by cutting taxes by almost $350 million.  Our goal is to increase economic [...]

Screen-Free Week encourages healthy activity

Did you know that doctors recommend no more than 2 hours of screen time per day for young children? Yet preschool kids spend on average 32 hours a week watching TV or playing on a computer, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. Screen-Free Week from April 30 to May 6 is a time [...]

(VIDEO) Gronstal sees progress on economic growth, jobs

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal talked about progress being made in the Iowa Legislature on economic growth and jobs during a news conference on May 3.

Vietnam Veterans Ceremony, May 7

On May 7, Iowa will mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and remember those who served. A ceremony will take place at noon at the Vietnam Memorial on the South Grounds of the Statehouse in Des Moines. For more information, contact the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-800-838-4692 or visit https://va.iowa.gov.

Keeping Iowa seniors safe

May 2, 2012

In response to an assault at an Iowa nursing home, the Senate voted to toughen protections for our seniors living in nursing homes and other care facilities. A sexually violent predator who’d served his sentence was released from a state-run facility directly into a northwest Iowa nursing home.  There he assaulted an elderly woman, who [...]

Open government helps all Iowans

To work well, democracy requires that citizens know what government is doing and why. In 2007, work began on fundamental reforms of Iowa’s open records and open meetings laws. The goal was to make the proceedings and records of state and local government open and accessible to citizens. The Legislature has now approved Senate File [...]

Enhancing accountability on economic development projects

May 1, 2012

The Iowa Senate has voted to increase accountability and transparency when your tax dollars are spent for local economic development. We support Tax Incremental Financing — better known as TIF — because it is an important economic development tool for cities and counties. After a TIF district is created, the property tax income generated from [...]