There are some in the Iowa Legislature who periodically toy with the possibility of eliminating the requirement that local governments print public notices in newspapers. This is the wrong move today, tomorrow and for the future. Government transparency is more important than ever. In truth it ...

Sunshine Week is observed in March during the week of James Madison’s birthday. The nation’s fourth president is known as the “Father of the Constitution” and a “fierce intellect” who prized public access to information. A statesman and a scholar, Madison’s fervent defense of ...

Happy Sunshine Week, folks! It’s the time of the year when we celebrate more sunshine in our lives…and in our government. But while we may be getting a little more sunlight every day, Washington seems to be lost in the dark. The government demands to know exactly how much money you ...

Iowa farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our country, who wake before the sun rises to feed families and fuel our nation. However, while there is no more rewarding work, it can come with a series of unforeseen risks that can threaten our producers’ livelihoods. Farmers work long hours ...

This week was the second legislative funnel deadline, which means that most House bills must pass a Senate committee and vice versa by the end of this week, so House committee work was focused on review Senate bills. I also participated in a bi-partisan press conference unveiling polling data ...

National Agriculture Week is always one of my favorite times at the Capitol. It’s a chance to step back and recognize just how important agriculture is to our state. Farming is not only part of Iowa’s identity, but also a major driver of our economy, making up more than 22% of total ...