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Iowa can do more to reduce workforce barriers

Columnists

The need for more qualified workers is a bipartisan issue in Iowa. Regardless of a rural or urban setting, workforce is still a concern for many employers and communities. State policymakers have been responsive to this concern, and they have actively been easing regulatory burdens in recent years. This includes reducing barriers to employment and ensuring that unnecessary roadblocks do not deter individuals from securing meaningful work. In 2020, Iowa passed landmark occupational licensing reform, which universally recognizes out-of-state licenses. This reform is crucial, because now ...

The Warme Wire: Week Six

Columnists

The sixth week of the legislative session brought us right up to the first major deadline of the year, often called the “funnel.” This is the point in session when ideas need to move forward through committee in order to stay alive for further consideration. As you might imagine, that ...

ICE means American safety

Columnists

Anecdotes favorable to American law enforcement abound. They tell of neighborhood residents protected from criminality, businesses safeguarded, and of society’s lowest being grabbed up and accorded the harsh justice their crimes merit. (I love it when American justice lands hard on ...

Supporting Iowa’s troops and veterans

Columnists

Last week, 250 Iowa National Guardsmen returned home. These brave men and women exemplify the very best of our state, and we remain eternally grateful for their service. Their homecoming is a powerful reminder of the duty and sacrifice our servicemembers and their families make for our nation. ...

District 53 Newsletter

Columnists

As I write this, we are in our final hours of “funnel week.” In order for our individually filed bills to be available for floor debate they must be passed by their respective committee by Feb. 20. That deadline creates a flurry of activity as we press to get our individual bills through their subcommittees and through the full committee. Several of the bills I’ve filed have passed the funnel deadline, including a bill to give courts greater subpoena powers over online transactions by those that are behind on child support, a bill to make it illegal in Iowa to give an employer a ...

Thankful for our city staff

Columnists

As I write this, another snowstorm is bearing down on our fair city. As usual, our dedicated city departments will be hard at it, clearing the snow on our 166 miles of roads so you can go about your day with the least amount of disruption. Yes, I said that right, 166 MILES of roads in Marshalltown. 16 hour days and nights are not uncommon. It takes teamwork between departments plus dedication per snowfall to make it all work. I contacted Heather Thomas, our City Engineer, for some details. This is from Heather. Public Works has a variety of larger equipment that we use to plow snow ...