Breaking News

Local Columns

Debris in Davenport is gone, but secrets remain

As we approach the second anniversary of a tragedy that shocked the people of Davenport and brought national attention to the issue of building safety, government secrecy continues to cloud public understanding of just what happened and who to hold accountable. The tragedy occurred a few minutes before 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 28, 2023, when the back wall of a Davenport apartment building gave way, bringing down much of the six-story residence that occupied a quarter block across the street from City Hall. Three people died in the collapse. Rescuers amputated the leg of a fourth victim ...

California wants to ban our bacon? Not on my watch

California is home to high taxes, billion dollar boondoggles, and a liberal agenda. Clearly, the folks there shouldn’t be calling the shots on anything, let alone our farms. Iowa’s dedicated producers rise before the rooster crows and toil in the fields long after dark to keep our great state number one in corn, eggs, ethanol, and of course, pork. Our farmers go “whole hog” for their animals, prioritizing their safety and going the extra mile to uphold health standards. No one knows agriculture like Iowans do. That’s why I can’t stay silent while radical coastal ...

Senate advances constitutional amendment on taxes

Iowa voters are likely to decide in the 2026 election if Iowa’s constitution has a new amendment that sets a higher threshold for future state income tax increases. The Iowa Senate has given its final approval to the proposed amendment. It would require that super majorities of at least 34 state senators and 67 representatives approve any future increases in the individual income tax or the state’s corporate tax. Proposed amendments to Iowa’s constitution must win approval in the Iowa Senate and House twice over a four year period. This was the second time the Senate endorsed ...

Congress must extend tax provision to support farm families

Across rural America, where farm fields stretch to the horizon and small towns pepper the landscape, agricultural cooperatives stand as pillars of strength and resilience. As CEO of NEW Cooperative Inc., headquartered in Fort Dodge, and a lifelong advocate for Iowa’s agriculture community, I’ve seen firsthand how cooperatives play a crucial role in driving our nation’s competitive agriculture sector while sustaining the economies of our rural communities. From the outside, agricultural cooperatives may look like any other business. But they are so much more. And at a time when ...

A week in my life representing Iowa in Congress

Instead of my usual thoughts on policy debates or various pieces of legislation that I have either introduced or supported, I decided that I wanted to share a week in my life representing our families, farmers, workers, and businesses on Capitol Hill. The week spanning from Monday, April 7, to Friday, April 11, encapsulates a good snapshot of what a typical week looks like for me representing Iowa in Congress. On Monday, I spent most of the day meeting with my fellow Republican colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee as we work to extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act beyond its ...

Setting the record straight on school funding

We had one day of debate this week, which included funding State Supplemental Aid for schools. Now that SSA is passed, work can begin on the budget. I chair the Health and Human Services Budget, which is a $2.4 billion budget. Many safety-net needs and health coverage for Iowans are included. This year, Gov. Reynolds increased her funding for HHS budget by $232.7 million. My job is to work with my Senate counterpart to make sure Iowans' priorities are funded. Education We passed the State Supplemental Aid for schools, providing an additional $114 million in funding for K-12 ...