As a child, I felt so fancy when we used the purple food stamps — those were the pretty ones. We were a hardworking, loving family. My parents ensured we weren’t around anyone who tried to make us feel “less than” for needing help to make ends meet. That’s just reality in America. ...
Confession: I learned the word “fascist” from the Coen Brothers. In their 1998 film The Big Lebowski, the Malibu Chief of Police hurls his coffee at The Dude’s head who yells, “Ow! F— Fascist!” It’s a funny moment in the movie. But why is it a punchline? The Dude is beaten by ...
I was astonished and dismayed to see the results of the Weekly Poll that asked if Kilmar Abrego Garcia should be returned to the US from detention in El Salvador. 60% of the respondents voted No. Given that this is not a scientifically conducted poll and that there is opportunity to vote more ...
I am the farthest thing from a knowledgeable critic. Just a simple patron of the arts. Always amazed at people with talent. That being said, I attended the Marshalltown Community Theater (MCT) annual Iowa Playwright Night where Iowa talent competes with one act plays. The plays are written, ...
Since I was first elected to Congress, I pledged that I would travel to all 36 counties in our district – Iowa’s 4th Congressional District – at least twice each year. From Tuesday April 22nd to Thursday April 24th, I upheld that promise by meeting with Iowans in 12 different counties, ...
Eight years ago, I worked with President Trump to enact the most significant simplification of our tax code in decades, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), also known as the Trump tax cuts. These tax cuts provided relief to every American, simplifying and reducing personal income taxes, and ...