Latest news with #IowaSenate
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republican Jim Carlin launches primary bid against U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst in week of campaign kickoffs
Former state Sen. Jim Carlin, shown here at a rally in October 2021, has launched a Republican campaign for U.S. senator. (Photo by Katie Akin/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Former state legislator Jim Carlin, a Republican, announced he is running for Iowa's U.S. Senate seat in the upcoming election — the latest candidate this week to announce their plans to run in 2026. Carlin, who served in the Iowa Senate from 2017 through 2023 and previously in the Iowa House, is running for the seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. Since his time in the Iowa Legislature, Carlin went on to found the Iowa Liberty Network, an organization focused on recruiting and electing 'constitutional conservative' candidates in state government and other public offices. In an interview with the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Carlin said Ernst is not reflecting Iowa Republicans' values in Congress. He pointed to the Heritage Action scorecard for Ernst from the 2023 session, when she received a 42% score on how often her votes aligned with conservative goals. He pointed to her support for money to aid Ukraine in its war against Russia and her vote in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act as examples of Ernst not voting in line with conservative values. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Carlin said Ernst has not delivered on her commitment 'make 'em squeal' by cutting federal spending, as well as promises to work to repeal the Affordable Care Act and 2014 campaign statement that she would only serve two terms in the U.S. Senate. 'The people of Iowa can judge whether or not she's keeping those promises,' Carlin said. 'And I believe that when they … evaluate it, when they look at her voting record and the decisions she's made as a sitting senator, that they will come to the conclusion that she doesn't represent them well in terms of the things they want to see done and the things that they believe in.' Bryan Kraber, Ernst's 2026 campaign manager, pointed to Carlin's failed primary bid against U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in the 2022 election. 'Good luck trying to take on this combat veteran,' Kraber said in a statement Friday. 'Senator Ernst has a proven record of conservative leadership—cutting waste, securing the border, and making Washington squeal to keep Iowans' hard-earned money in their own pockets. And she delivers for our families, farmers, and veterans. Iowans already saw through Carlin's last failed campaign, and they'll reject his desperate attempt at relevance again in 2026.' Though Carlin and Ernst are battling on conservative bonafides, much of the conversation centered on the upcoming race has focused on Ernst's town hall statement that 'we are all going to die' last week during talks on the funding cuts to Medicaid included in the budget reconciliation bill passed by the U.S. House. Carlin said he supports President Donald Trump's spending goals and believes cuts that should be made to federal programs but 'her handling of that showed a lack of judgment.' 'You don't flippantly say to people, 'well, we're all going to die,'' Carlin said. 'That actually kind of reminds me of Hillary Clinton's statement, 'what difference does it make,' on the other side of Benghazi when people died. I thought it was really inappropriate.' Iowa Rep. J.D. Scholten, D-Sioux City, announced Monday he would compete for the Democratic nomination, saying he 'just can't sit on the sidelines' following the Senator's comments. Scholten and Nathan Sage, a Mason City Democrat, are the only Democrats to have officially joined the race, but other potential Democratic candidates also weighed in on Ernst's comments this week. State Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, who has expressed interested in a run, said 'it is of course true that we are all going to die, but our Senators shouldn't be the ones killing us' in response to Ernst's comments. State Rep. Josh Turek, D-Council Bluffs, is also weighing a bid for the seat. Turek joined a call with Protect Our Care Iowa, an organization advocating for health care access through programs like Medicaid, on Thursday and said the proposal to reduce Medicaid spending by $625 billion in the next decade and implement work requirements will prevent more people with disabilities from accessing needed care. Republicans supporting the 'big, beautiful' tax and spending bill have repeatedly stated people with disabilities and complex medical conditions as well other protected populations, like minors, seniors, parents of dependent children and pregnant people will not be subject to work requirements or taken off the program. But Turek said as a person with a disability who has worked for an organization assessing and providing mobility devices, he has extensive experience with how funding cuts and moves like Iowa's Medicaid privatization have limited access to needed health care and services for Iowans with disabilities. The state legislator said he went to Washington, D.C., to speak with all members of Iowa's federal delegation about how the proposed changes will hurt people in need. 'I talked to them specifically about this bill and about the cuts to Medicaid, and additionally about what they're looking at doing on grant funding,' Turek said. 'And we're looking at 140 organizations and groups here in Iowa, disability services — beyond just Medicaid, that are looking at losing all of their funding in some cases, or 50%, 25%. They cannot plead ignorance. They know exactly what this bill is. It's a tax break to the richest, most wealthy Americans off the backs of the poorest and the most vulnerable.' Ernst's comment also led to another campaign launch for the Iowa House. India May, the 33-year-old from Charles City who sparked Ernst's comments on Medicaid during the Parkersburg town hall, is running for Iowa House District 58, currently represented by Republican Rep. Charley Thomson, R-Charles City. May, the Ionia Public Library director, is a county death investigator for Chickasaw County and registered nurse. She shouted 'people will die' at Ernst during the public meeting. 'People are not — well, we all are going to die, so for heaven's sake,' Ernst responded. The day after the meeting, Ernst made an 'apology video' filmed in a cemetery where she said she 'made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this earth.' 'So I apologize, and I'm really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well,' Ernst said in the video. She also added that 'for those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.' In a social media post responding to the video, May wrote that Ernst's apology was 'disingenuous and reinforced gaslighting and christofascism aimed toward her MAGA supporters.' She also used the platform to highlight her own run for office. 'In short, my response to Joni's phoney apology is this: I don't want to see another Iowan choose between medicine or food. It's already happening and this bill will make it worse,' May wrote. '… Joni may be disappointed to know that I will continue to email her every day with my concerns, and that it is my intention to run as a progressive Democrat for Iowa House District 58, to undo the damage caused by the incumbent, Charley Thomson, who recently made headlines for targeting a nonprofit organization.' May had referenced the directive sent by Thomson in his capacity as the House government oversight committee chair to the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, an immigrant rights organization, requesting information about the nonprofit organization's clients, donors and members. An attorney for Iowa MMJ rejected the request in April, saying it was not legally valid. Iowa Rep. Eddie Andrews launched his bid for Iowa governor Wednesday, running as a Republican for the seat that will be vacated by Gov. Kim Reynolds following the 2026 election. Andrews, a Johnston Republican first elected in 2020, is one of the first GOP candidates to officially run in what is expected to be a crowded field. Former state Rep. Brad Sherman had announced he is running as a Republican gubernatorial candidate before Reynolds left the race. U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra and Iowa Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, have both launched exploratory committees for a gubernatorial campaign, and other high-profile Iowa Republicans like Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and House Speaker Pat Grassley have expressed interest but not made a decision on whether to run. In a news release on his run, Andrews said his work as a state lawmaker shows why Iowans should back his campaign — he highlighted his support for 'landowner rights' through supporting bills restricting the use of eminent domain in carbon sequestration pipeline projects, efforts to increase psychiatric residencies and provide more incentives to keep doctors in the state, as well as proposals to end sales tax on certain essential items. As governor, Andrews said he wants to focus on improving Iowa's education system, making mental health care more accessible, and pledged to 'destroy the human trafficking industry in our state.' 'Iowa deserves a Governor who listens and delivers,' Andrews said in a statement. 'My experience as a tech entrepreneur, minister and legislator prepares me to serve you.' Democrat Julie Stauch, a longtime Iowa political operative, also launched her campaign for governor this week. Iowa Auditor Rob Sand is considered the frontrunner in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, though Stauch alongside Democrat Paul Dahl will be competing against him in the primary June 2, 2026. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislators listened to the people of Iowa. It's up to Kim Reynolds now.
After three years and four pieces of legislation sent to the Iowa Senate by the Iowa House, on May 12 the chickens came home to roost. The voices of the people were drowned out no more, and thanks to 11 brave senators who refused to buckle, a vote was forced on legislation to protect the landowners of Iowa against the use of eminent domain to seize their property to build Summit Carbon Solutions' CO2 pipeline. The pipeline can be built with voluntary easements, but instead, to save money, Summit has chosen to use the heavy hand of government power through eminent domain to seize the land of others. I have been told that many who refused to sign easements were treated disrespectfully. This project in the opinion of many legal scholars does not meet the Iowa constitutional requirement for being a public use project and runs afoul of the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution. More: What is eminent domain? What to know about Iowa's bill limiting it for carbon pipelines Property rights are in our DNA as Americans. It is one of the reasons we fought a revolution, and as George Washington reminded us, 'Freedom and property rights are inseparable. You can't have one without the other.' With our state motto being 'Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain,' it should have come as no surprise that the citizens of Iowa would fight to protect their fundamental right of private property. So, here we are today. The House sent four pieces of legislation to the Senate over a three-year period to protect landowners. Senate leadership refused to bring them to the floor for a vote. This year we sent them two strong bills to uphold the Constitutional rights of landowners. One of them they ignored, and Sen. Mike Bousselot attempted to destroy the other one with a poison pill amendment that did nothing to protect property owners impacted by the Summit CO2 pipeline. Thanks to 11 brave Republican senators who refused to pass budgets until the voices of the people were heard, House File 639 came to the floor for a vote in the Senate. As a Republican, I was saddened to see how some Republican senators conducted themselves on the floor, attacking the freedom fighters who insisted that the voices of the people be heard, and the Constitution be upheld. House File 639 was attacked as being written by environmental extremists, a ridiculous argument. The bill was written by conservative Republicans, including myself. We are not environmental extremists; we support the concept that we should Drill, Baby, Drill, but we also believe in the Constitution and insist that its principles and protections be honored. More: How Iowa lawmakers voted on a bill limiting eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines House File 639 was also attacked as being a terrible bill. Yet, those attacking it offered no alternatives that truly protected landowners. Those attacking it were sent four pieces of legislation over a three-year period, and they did nothing. Their claim of being for landowner rights was betrayed by their actions. In the spirit of GOP Party Chair Jeff Kaufmann, who in 2006 wrote eminent domain legislation to protect landowners and spearheaded the successful effort to override Gov. Tom Vilsack's veto of it, and in keeping with the requirements of the Iowa Constitution and the Republican Party of Iowa Platform, House File 639 passed both chambers with the majority of elected Republicans in support. In contrast to past efforts in which Democrats opposed eminent domain protections, this time many of them supported the legislation. House File 639 passed with bipartisan support. It passed by a vote of 85 to 10 in the House and 27 to 22 in the Senate. The people, through their elected representatives, have spoken. Lobbyists supporting renewable fuels believe the pipeline must be built to support ethanol. This is in fact an economic development argument, not an argument that supports the constitutional public use requirement. The pipeline can be built with voluntary easements, and the fact that some believe it to be essential for the future of ethanol does not mean we toss the Constitution aside. We must not do that because that is not who we are. We can support economic development, we can support agriculture, while also supporting the constitutional rights of my constituents in Shelby County and across our amazing state. For over three years I have watched landowners fight for their private property rights, and in fighting for these rights, they were fighting for the rights of all of us. They have lived with uncertainty, threats, fear, exhaustion, and economic hardship in having to hire attorneys and fight for the legacy of their land and the future of their children. I have seen the frustration in their eyes with their government when year after year their voices were ignored in the Senate as elected officials hid behind process. Some elected officials had to be reminded that government exists in our great country not to restrain the people, but rather to constrain itself, because the power in the United States of America and the state of Iowa must always belong to the people. Thanks to the steadfast effort of House Republicans, the incredible efforts of landowners, and 11 brave senators, the voices of the people have been heard, and they reverberate in House File 639. It only remains for the governor to recognize the will of the people and their constitutional rights and sign this legislation as quickly as possible. I look forward to our governor signing this legislation, cementing her legacy as a leader who stands for freedom and the Constitution, as she has done since she became our governor. State Rep. Steve Holt of Denison represents Iowa House District 12. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: On eminent domain for carbon pipelines, Iowans were heard | Opinion
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Sen. Lynn Evans launches exploratory committee as he considers run for Congress
Iowa Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, has launched an exploratory committee as he considers a run for Congress in Iowa's 4th District. Evans, who is the chair of the Senate Education Committee, announced in a news release Saturday, May 17, he's considering a campaign for the state's most conservative district. Evans is serving his first term in the Iowa Senate representing District 3, which includes Buena Vista, Osceola, and O'Brien and portions of Cherokee and Clay counties. 'After prayerful consideration and thoughtful conversations with family and constituents, I'm launching this exploratory committee to assess a run for Congress,' Evans said in a statement. 'Iowans deserve true conservative representation—someone who understands rural values, works hard, and puts people ahead of politics.' The seat is currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, who has filed paperwork and formed an exploratory committee to run for Iowa governor in 2026. Feenstra is in his third term representing Iowa's 4th Congressional District. Evans, who works as adjunct professor at Buena Vista University, asserted that one of the reasons he is considering a run for Congress is because Washington is 'out of touch' with Iowans. 'I'm exploring this race because I believe in common-sense, conservative solutions—and I know how to bring people together to get things done,' Evans said in the statement. Democrat Ryan Melton also has announced his campaign for the seat. José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@ or follow him on X @mendiola_news. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Sen. Lynn Evans explores run for 4th Congressional District
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa lawmakers end 91st General Assembly early Thursday morning
DES MOINES, Iowa — After waiting through the night, Iowa lawmakers in both chambers finished with the state budget right when the sun came up Thursday morning. The Iowa House chamber was the last to sine die, meaning adjourn, around 6:30 a.m. after passing the standing appropriations bill. Lawmakers had gaveled in at 9:30 a.m. the day before, marking a 21-hour marathon to wrap up the 91st General Assembly. All 99 Iowa counties face increased food insecurity, survey reports Governor Kim Reynolds saw a number of her priorities pass this session. Those included a cell phone restriction in schools, rural healthcare expansion, hands-free driving bill, Medicaid work requirements, unemployment insurance reform, and more. A property tax reform bill was introduced this session, but due to the wide impact of the bill lawmakers were not able to pass it this session. 'I look forward to continuing this work next session—especially when it comes to reducing Iowans' property tax burden. And to make sure tax cuts remain sustainable, even as we continue to make smart investments, we'll keep streamlining government. Our alignment efforts, so far, have already saved taxpayers more than $250 million, and we're just getting started.' Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, (R) The Iowa Senate adjourned just briefly before the House with both chamber leaders highlighting legislation that had been passed over the last four months. 'We addressed a wide range of issues this year as Iowans brought us their concerns, their stories of successes or struggles, and their experiences and expertise. We passed bills on the biggest priorities of Iowans, including education, health care and public safety. We always are putting the taxpayers first, and it consistently showed as we passed bills to protect our freedoms, budget responsibly, and fund important priorities.' Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver (R), District 23 from Grimes Senate President Amy Sinclair discussed the unemployment insurance tax that had just made it through both chambers on Wednesday. 'This year, we passed common-sense legislation to allow Iowa businesses to keep more of their money to reinvest in growth, wages, and employee benefits. This legislation cuts taxes by $1 billion. That's $1 billion businesses will invest in our economy. It's common sense to take less from Iowans and allow the market to dictate how to invest in our state.' Senate President Amy Sinclair (R), District 12 from Allerton Now, lawmakers, lobbyists and Iowans await what bills will be signed into law, specifically a bill that would add requirements for eminent domain use for carbon pipelines. Iowa lawmakers end 91st General Assembly early Thursday morning All 99 Iowa counties face increased food insecurity, survey reports Unemployment insurance tax, other bills sent to Gov. Reynolds' desk Bison baby boom! New stars bring visitors flocking to Neal Smith NWR Iowa veteran credited with ending the Vietnam War 50 years ago shares his story Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Iowa House lawmakers send state Medicaid work requirements governor's desk
DES MOINES, Iowa — After the Iowa Senate amended a bill which requires 80 hours of work for those in order to be able to receive state Medicaid expansion; the Iowa House approved that amendment and sent to the bill to Governor Reynolds' desk. The bill was passed in a vote down party lines on Wednesday afternoon. House Democrats were frustrated at the amendment striking out a study on a work program for disabled workers, calling it the only good part of the bill. 'Then the only thing left to do is to gamble with the lives of over 180,000 Iowans who would lose their health insurance. 180,000 Iowans have the possibility of losing their health insurance. That's the gamble. But gambling with the lives of Iowans who make less than $17,000 dollars a year and vote no on this bill,' State Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D), District 49 from Ames. Des Moines finishing project to eliminate combined sewage 'And lastly, the last reason I think we should do this is because, frankly for me and I know a lot of us others here are feeling the same way,' said State Representative Josh Turek (D), District 20 from Council Bluffs. 'I'm tired of the Senate treating us like children. We are all duly elected officials in this building. We are the largest independent governing body here. And I think that we should send this back to them and let them choke on it.' The bill sponsor, Rep. Carter Nordman said that the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services plans to conduct the study without the directive to conduct that study. 'While I would prefer this study remain in code, I have had extensive conversations with Director Garcia and have received her full commitment to conducting the study without a directive,' said State Representative Carter Nordman (R) District 47 from Adel. The bill is now eligible to be signed into law by Governor Reynolds, who last month requested a federal waiver to have 100 hours of work required for those able on state Medicaid. There is a list of those exempted from the ages 19 to 65-years-old in the legislation. Iowa News: Iowa House lawmakers send state Medicaid work requirements governor's desk Ames outdoor gear store permanently closing after 70 years in business Forecast: Rain for some, then cooler temps With Trump's plans for America's 250th in mind, Iowa lawmakers don't want cities to limit fireworks 2 injured in multi-vehicle crash involving Pella school bus Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
