March 12, 2020 ~by Sen Joni Ernst In the past few days, cases of coronavirus have started to arise here in Iowa, just like we’ve seen in many other states across the country. At this point, there are over 1,000 cases in the United States, and that number is almost certain to grow. In Congress, we are working to do…
Read MoreCategory: Opinion
How many have to be truthful for us to get out of this?
~a column by Colleen O’Brien The CDC is the leading national health institute. It is a federal agency (think Deep State˟), where in 2018, the top national security officials handling pandemics left abruptly, did not say why and have not been replaced by this administration.
Read MoreThe Behn Report
March 5, 2020 ~by Senator Jerry Behn On Tuesday the House and Senate announced an agreement on a K-12 education funding package for the next school year. Investing almost $100 million in new funding for schools, this money will include $7.65 million for transportation equity and $5.8 million for per pupil equity. The bill passed out of the Senate on…
Read MoreI have a winner
~a column by Colleen O’Brien 1. Who’s the whiniest person you know? It could be siblings, once-friends, parents, your child, your grandchild, a great aunt, a boss, your roommate, your president? It’s such a weenie way to live, complaining. Especially when it’s about everything, like a differing point of view. Or a questioning of point of view. Or a mere…
Read MoreHousing, here and there, then and now
~a column by Colleen O’Brie Italians I met while visiting in Italy told me about “workers’ housing” built in the middle of Rome “after the War” (WWII). A fellow I met owns one of these tiny apartments, about 400 square feet. He said it is mostly old grandmothers (from whom he inherited) still living there, and their children and grandchildren…great-great-grands…
Read MoreThe Behn Report
February 20, 2020 ~by Sen Jerry Behn Subcommittee and committee work took up most, if not all, of our time during the sixth week because the end of the week is the first legislative deadline of the year, nicknamed ‘funnel week.’ This deadline requires most legislation be passed out of committee in its originating chamber – Senate bills need to…
Read MoreA kind of prayer for a person who does not get it (life)
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Years ago, when I told a woman I couldn’t go to mass because my in-laws were coming in about then, she said, “I’ll pray for you.” I was offended, thinking she was a little high and mighty, judging me, as if she thought I needed to be prayed on. I was young and, if not…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Phylis Crowder in support of Sean Sebourn
To the editor, The city council, once again, at the expense of the residents, voted unanimously to hold a special election on March 3 to fill the vacant council seat. This in spite of the large group of supporters present at the Jan. 14 council meeting urging for the appointment of a very viable candidate, Sean Sebourn, to fill the…
Read MoreThe Behn Report
~by Sen. Jerry Behn February 14, 2020 One of the first things we did during our fifth week in the Senate was pass our education funding bills, Senate File 2164 and Senate File 2142. These bills together mean approximately $90 million in increased funding for Iowa schools. We are confident this amount is sustainable and responsible, allowing us to prioritize…
Read MoreWhat now?
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Our current president, #45, may be a perfectly fine gentlemen who is nice to his family, friends and pets. We know he really likes one of his girls. We know he brooks no difference of opinion with his friends, and we’ve seen lots of them drift away. But we all lose friends over time. His…
Read MoreTodd Rasmussen announces candidacy for IA Senate District 24 seat
Boone County Republican co-chair and local builder Todd Rasmussen on Jan. 31 announced he is running for the Iowa Senate District 24 seat. Rasmussen has spent the last 34 years in commercial and residential construction. Todd and his wife Amy live in Boone where they home school their son at Boone HSAP. Their daughter resides in eastern Iowa. He served…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Sue Richardson, in support of Iowa caucus
Dear Editor: It was disheartening for me to hear the press coverage about the Iowa caucuses. The national media claimed the caucus was a disaster which is not true for the people who attended them. It may be true for the news agencies who are paying their staff to stay in Iowa causing additional expenses, but the media frenzy was…
Read More