Video

The facts on the size of state government (video)

June 23, 2011

Senator Pam Jochum gives the facts on the size of state government

Democrats move ahead to prevent shutdown; New budget meets top two Republican demands (Video)

June 20, 2011

Senate Democrats today began work on a comprehensive set of budget bills that meet the most essential needs of Iowans. Democrats say the package will also meet the top two demands of Governor Branstad and House Republicans: Spending less than $5.99 billion and approving a two-year budget.

Branstad administration asleep at the wheel

Last week, an open records request revealed that Governor Branstad has made no contingency plans for a shutdown, contrary to previous statements from his administration. With ten days left to resolve budget differences, we’d expect the Governor to be hard at work negotiating a compromise, or at least making plans for an emergency shutdown. Nope. Governor Branstad is not even in the state today and has no plans to attend budget meetings this week. We can all look forward to a Turkey Lovers proclamation on Thursday though.

GOP corporate tax cut raises residential taxes; devastates local job-creation

June 14, 2011

Tax Hearing Highlights: After today’s public hearing, the threat posed by the poorly thought-out Republican corporate tax plan is more clear. While Wall Street corporations get millions, homeowners get the largest property tax increase in Iowa history.

Open Budget Hearings

Senate Democrats are hosting a weeklong series of “Open Budget Hearings” at the Iowa Statehouse. Informed Iowans will detail the impact of the significant points of disagreement between Senate Democratic proposals and those of Governor Branstad and House Republicans. On this page you can watch archived video of the meetings, read statements and post your own comments.

Rude dismissal of Iowa college students no accident (Video)

June 8, 2011

Iowa State Senator Shawn Hamerlinck (R-Davenport) has doubled down on his rude dismissal of student testimony in opposition to a $40 million cut to Iowa’s public universities.

Gronstal’s fact-filled alternative to Governor’s large font rhetoric

May 27, 2011

Yesterday Governor Branstad’s one word approach to budget negotiations (“NO!”) changed abruptly when he issued a fact-free press release with the largest ratio of headline to actual information ever seen in Iowa politics.

Bolkcom on next Iowa Press

May 13, 2011

On today’s edition of Iowa Press, Senator Joe Bolkcom (D-Iowa City) and Representative Tom Sands (R-Wapello), chairmen of the legislature’s Ways and Means Committees, will discuss budget disagreements surrounding property taxes and commercial property taxes for FY 2012.

“A gut-punch to the middle class” (VIDEO)

May 5, 2011

At a statehouse news conference on May 5, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal describes Governor Branstad’s last minute decision to cut state services even deeper as “a gut-punch to the middle class.” (Video and partial transcript)

Don’t open door to scandals in economic development (Video)

May 3, 2011

Senator Brian Schoenjahn of Arlington raises concerns about the Governor’s proposal to change Iowa’s economic development efforts (HF 590).