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How Iowa pioneered the rise of renewable energy

Every day is National Iowa Day in my book. There’s no shortage of things to celebrate in our great state. Iowa farmers feed our nation and countries around the globe. Iowa manufacturing is responsible for nearly one-fifth of the state’s economic output. For decades, the state has harnessed natural resources, built critical infrastructure and put renewable energy on the map in America’s heartland. My work in Congress aims to give voice to Iowans’ priorities and empower their work. One such example is my bipartisan Wind Energy Incentives Act. Now 30 years since it became law ...

Delivering tax relief for Iowa families, farmers, and businesses

I’ve long believed that cutting taxes for our families, farmers, and small businesses spurs investment in our rural communities, promotes economic growth, and creates good jobs. When we let hardworking Iowans keep more of their hard-earned money, folks are encouraged to start their own enterprises, hire new employees, support businesses up and down our rural main streets, and put money aside for a rainy day. At the end of the day, Iowans know far better than the federal government how they should spend their money. Serving on the House Ways and Means Committee, it remains my mission ...

Vinyl records they sold are still around, but not the stores

House of Hits. Musicland. Co-Op Tapes and Records. Brownies. Next Door. If the Baby Boomers among us, or our children or grandchildren, have any vinyl 45s or albums in their possession, it’s likely some of those records may have been purchased at one of those Fort Dodge record ...

To our family, Al Habhab was family

At 18, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and won a Bronze Star for crawling through German machine-gun fire to save a fellow soldier. He served with distinction as mayor of Fort Dodge for 14 years. He was appointed a district court judge and then chief judge of the Iowa Court of Appeals. ...

Representative says he’s running again

First off, I want everyone to know I’m definitely running for reelection. There seems to be an individual or a group out there that keeps the rumor mill running that I’m not seeking reelection. Not sure what their motive is for doing this. So, you are hearing it from me, I’m running. For me, one of the most difficult parts of working in the legislature stems from being self-employed from the time I started farming with my father in 1984. When you are in charge of the money, repairs, and keeping things running, you simply use your best judgment to fix and take care of your ...

Solving the equation for life’s variables

The journey we took together in 2023 was one of evolution and progress. Mark Twain is often credited with saying “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” Then Warren Buffett said “In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield.” In the same vein, it’s worth spending some time reflecting, celebrating and learning from our former selves rather than seceding to our innate need to balance the chaos of the present or attempt to visualize the future. When the founding CEO of a successful organization decides it is time to retire ...