<![CDATA[KObradovich · Storify]]>http://storify.com/KObradovichNodeJS RSS ModuleSun, 26 May 2013 02:27:00 GMT<![CDATA[Regent appointee grilled on gay rights ]]>

Members of the Iowa Senate Education Committee questioned two appointees to the Iowa Board of Regents today: Robert Cramer of Grimes and Subhash Sahai of Webster City. Cramer, a conservative Republican, fielded most of the questions.

Storified by · Tue, Mar 19 2013 14:55:52

Senate Education Committee Chairman Herman Quirmbach said today he has reservations about the appointment of Robert Cramer of Grimes to the Iowa Board of Regents.

"I have some concerns about Mr. Cramer," Quirmbach, D-Ames, said, citing Cramer's opposition in 2001 of a Des Moines City Council decision to add sexual orientation to its anti-discrimination regulations. 

Quirmbach spoke after the committee spent over an hour interviewing Cramer and fellow appointee Subhash Sahai.

Quirmbach said Cramer does not seem to have changed his position on the gay rights issue.  During a committee hearing, Cramer indicated he would prefer to treat all people with respect rather than designating certain protected classes. .But, he said, he would abide by the law as it exists.

Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, raised Cramer's service as a board member for the Family Leader, which pushed to oust Supreme Court justices who ruled to legalize same-sex marriage.  "In light of some of these roles that you have played, is it fair to assume you will be bringing an equal amount of political poison to the board of regents that could potentially have a lightning rod effect ..." McCoy asked.

Cramer said he believes in traditional marriage but also is respectful of people with other views.  He added that he's interested in education and doesn't see it as the university's role to advocate for a political agenda. "Let's just stick with focusing on education," he said.

He said he's been "smeared" by emails describing his role as a Johnston School Board member in dealing with parent concerns about the content of books intended for use in a class: “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou and “The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier. Cramer said the issue was whether an alternative book would be more age-appropriate, not whether any book should be banned or removed from the school library.

Sahai, a physician from Webster City, received softball questions and no criticism. There has been no public controversy about his appointment and unless something changes, he appears to be a slam-dunk for confirmation.

The questioning came a day after senators pressed Regents President Craig Lang about his role in dealing with the controversial Harkin Institute at Iowa State and the board's treatment of University of Iowa President Sally Mason.

If Quirmbach's comments are any indication, Cramer may be in greater jeopardy than Lang at the committee level. The Senate Education Committee meets at 2 p.m. Wednesday and Quirmbach said the goal is to act on all appointments.

Quirmbach declined to make predictions about how Lang might fare in the committee or the Senate as a whole.

"We will give him careful consideration," Quirmbach said. He said he spoke further with Lang today about the issues raised during Monday's meeting.

Jens Manuel Krogstad of the Des Moines Register and I both live-tweeted today's meeting.
Iowa senators&#39; rebukes leave Lang&#39;s future in doubt | The Des ...Iowa senators&#39; rebukes leave Lang&#39;s future in doubt | The Des ...
11 hours ago ... I realize that from time to time I make mistakes,&#39; Board of Regents President Craig Lang told the Senate Education...
The committee had few questions for Sahai, a Democrat, whose appointment has yet to generate any controversy.
Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Des Moines, centers his questions on Cramer's opposition in 2001 to Des Moines City Council adding sexual orientation to its list of classes to be protected from discrimination.
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]]>http://storify.com/KObradovich/regent-appointee-grilled-on-gay-rightshttp://storify.com/KObradovich/regent-appointee-grilled-on-gay-rightsTue, 19 Mar 2013 21:55:52 GMT<![CDATA[Tweets: Education reform on Iowa Press]]>

Department of Education Director Jason Glass; Mary Jane Cobb, executive director of the Iowa State Education Association, and Tom Downs, executive director of Iowa State Association of School Boards, were the guests today on Iowa Press. I live-tweeted the taping.

Storified by · Fri, Feb 22 2013 08:32:11

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]]>http://storify.com/KObradovich/tweets-education-reform-on-iowa-presshttp://storify.com/KObradovich/tweets-education-reform-on-iowa-pressFri, 22 Feb 2013 16:32:11 GMT<![CDATA[Braley says he plans to seek re-election but 'things can change']]>

Congressman Bruce Braley, said to be considering a run for governor, says it's too early to discuss it but he didn't rule it out.

Storified by · Fri, Jan 25 2013 11:40:13

Congressman Bruce Braley said today he’s planning to run for re-election to the U.S. House but he left his options open to seek statewide office.

“… I am moving forward, planning to run for re-election in 2014. But things can change,” Braley, a Brooklyn Democrat, said.

Iowa Democrats have said Braley is considering a run for governor. He said during the taping of “Iowa Press” that he’s focused on his job in Congress and said Iowans aren’t thinking about the next election. He pushed back, however, at the notion an Iowa congressman might have trouble getting elected governor.

Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican who is also keeping his 2014 options open, raised that question after last week’s “Iowa Press” taping.  “It’s kind of interesting that he would ask you to ask me that question, Dean,” Braley said to Dean Borg, host of the show.

He pointed out several former members of Congress who are now governors in Washington, Indiana and Oklahoma.  “Are people in Iowa so different from people in those three states that they would never consider someone who had served in Congress as a governor? I don’t think so,” he said.

It’s kind of interesting that Braley had an answer all ready for that question of Branstad’s, isn’t it?
 "Iowa Press" airs at 7:30 p.m. today and noon Sunday on Iowa Public Television and online at iptv.org/iowapress. 

  

Branstad pokes at potential Braley candidacy for governor | The Des ...Branstad pokes at potential Braley candidacy for governor | The Des ...
Jan 18, 2013 ... BRANSTAD ON BRALEY: “Ask him the last time a congressman was elected governor in this state,” he said, just after the ...
Braley called on Hillary Clinton today to declassify video of the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
Iowa Democrat Bruce Braley calls on Hillary Clinton to release ...Iowa Democrat Bruce Braley calls on Hillary Clinton to release ...
4 hours ago ... HILLARY CLINTON & BENGHAZI: Braley and other congressmen were ... In a letter dated Friday, Braley asked Clinton to...
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]]>http://storify.com/KObradovich/braley-says-he-plans-to-seek-re-election-but-thinghttp://storify.com/KObradovich/braley-says-he-plans-to-seek-re-election-but-thingFri, 25 Jan 2013 19:40:13 GMT<![CDATA[Grassley not ruling out limiting high-capacity magazines]]>

Sen. Charles Grassley spoke about gun control and other issues today during the taping of "Iowa Press."

Storified by · Fri, Jan 11 2013 11:00:22

U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley said today he would “have to say no” to a federal assault weapons ban at present, but suggested controls on high-capacity magazines might pass constitutional muster.

Overall, Grassley appeared open to considering legislation being prepared by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., saying he thinks it will be a “different sort of bill” than an assault weapons ban.

Asked about high-capacity magazines, he said, “I think that’s a whole different issue, that can maybe be dealt with without violating the 2nd Amendment, but I want to see the legislation,” he said.  However, he stressed he wants to read Feinstein’s bill before he commits to supporting restrictions on ammunition.
The gunman responsible for the mass shooting in Newtown, Conn., last month reportedly had clips allowing 30 rounds to be fired without the need to reload.

Grassley made his comments during the taping of “Iowa Press” on Iowa Public Television. You can watch the show at 7:30 p.m. today or noon Sunday, or later on IPTV.org/iowapress.  I live-tweeted the show; tweets are below or at Twitter.com/kobradovich.

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]]>http://storify.com/KObradovich/grassley-not-ruling-out-limiting-high-capacity-maghttp://storify.com/KObradovich/grassley-not-ruling-out-limiting-high-capacity-magFri, 11 Jan 2013 19:00:22 GMT<![CDATA[Replay: Gov. Terry Branstad's news conference]]>

Replay of live tweets from Gov. Terry Branstad's weekly news conference, Jan. 7, 2013.

Storified by · Mon, Jan 07 2013 08:51:41

Terry Branstad | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs
Register Investigation: 33 fired public employees returned to work for state .... Terry Branstad on Friday, hours before the start of n...
Spiker retains top Iowa GOP post | The Des Moines Register ...Spiker retains top Iowa GOP post | The Des Moines Register ...
1 day ago ... A.J. Spiker won re-election as chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa on Saturday despite fierce GOP in-fighting that h...
Gov. Terry Branstad bags an 8-point buck | Des Moines Register ...
2 hours ago ... Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad just couldn&#39;t resist talking about the buck he bagged this weekend during his press confer...
State union lashes out at Branstad | The Des Moines Register ...State union lashes out at Branstad | The Des Moines Register ...
2 days ago ... Terry Branstad on Friday, hours before the start of negotiations over ... Danny Homan, head of the American Federation o...
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]]>http://storify.com/KObradovich/replay-gov-terry-branstad-s-news-conferencehttp://storify.com/KObradovich/replay-gov-terry-branstad-s-news-conferenceMon, 07 Jan 2013 16:51:41 GMT<![CDATA[Hearing raises concerns about voter verification rules]]>

Dozens of speakers at a public hearing today protested the Iowa secretary of state's plan to screen state voter rolls looking for non-citizens. A few of them raised points that merit further review, the secretary of state's attorney says.

Storified by · Thu, Jan 03 2013 17:11:24

If nothing else, a public hearing showed that proposed voter verification rules are unpopular with members of a statewide citizen’s action group and advocates for Latinos and immigrants.

The Iowa secretary of state’s office held the hearing to advance proposed rules aimed at screening voter lists for names of people who have been listed as non-citizens in a state or federal database. The rule would allow the state to notify voters and seek verification of their citizenship status. Voters who do not respond could eventually be challenged at the polls if they attempt to vote.

Out of nearly 40 people who spoke at a public hearing, only two could be described as generally in favor of concept.

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, a statewide citizen’s action group, dominated the hearing. Speaker after speaker condemned the proposed rules as intentional and politically motivated voter suppression. Many also objected to the use of state and federal money to address a “non-existent” problem of voting by undocumented immigrants.

“New citizens are considered guilty until proven innocent by the proposed rule,” said Evan Burger of Des Moines.

Secretary of State Matt Schultz did not attend the hearing, which was conducted by the office’s attorney, Charlie Smithson. Schultz will consider the comments before the rules are finally enacted, Smithson said.

Schulz is not likely to be persuaded by the dozens of remarks that he doesn’t want Latinos to vote because they might not vote for Republicans. But a few made the point that the federal database that Schultz wants to use to verify voters’ citizenship may be flawed.

Schultz is seeking access to a federal database that is used to verify citizenship for people who are applying for federal benefit and entitlement programs. The Systematic Alien Verification Entitlement (SAVE) database is administered by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

Rita Bettis of ACLU Iowa said the database “does not have real-time information on citizenship; it is not free of errors and inconsistencies,” and it does not have access to birth certificates.

Smithson said after the hearing that concerns that SAVE may not provide real-time information is something that should be explored and considered.  “That, to me, is something that came out of this meeting that we can take back and look at substantively and think about what we want to do,” he said.

That would be wise. Schultz originally flagged about 3,500 registered voters who were included on a state Department of Transportation list of non-citizens who had obtained driver’s licenses. Some had criticized the use of that list, arguing that it was not up to date.  If the SAVE list is also not up to date, it could increase the state’s chances of erroneously contacting legal voters.

ACLU of Iowa is one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking an injunction against similar rules that Schulz sought to move forward through an expedited, “emergency” procedure. The lawsuit is still pending.

One of the other arguments at the hearing that could eventually be a factor was the often-repeated claim that the secretary of state doesn’t have the authority to make these sorts of policy changes. Those decisions should be left to the Legislature, several speakers said.

Smithson said the Legislature has given the secretary of state broad rule-making authority to enforce election laws. But even if Schulz legally has the authority, lawmakers could still decide they want a say.

The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a panel of state legislators, is scheduled to consider the rule Wednesday. The committee could delay the rule until after the legislative session, allowing it to take effect only if the Legislature takes no contrary action. The committee meets at 9 a.m. in room 116 of the Capitol.

I live-tweeted the hearing. Follow me on Twitter at @kobradovich.
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]]>http://storify.com/KObradovich/hearing-raises-concerns-about-voter-verification-rhttp://storify.com/KObradovich/hearing-raises-concerns-about-voter-verification-rFri, 04 Jan 2013 01:11:24 GMT<![CDATA[Internet gaming is the industry's future, top Iowa regulator says]]>

Jeff Lamberti, chairman of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, said today that the industry is moving toward online gambling.

Storified by · Fri, Dec 21 2012 14:59:31

Iowa’s top gambling regulator said today that the Internet gambling is the future of the industry and the state would be prepared to regulate it if the Legislature approved.

Jeff Lamberti, chairman of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, said it would be up to Iowa lawmakers and the governor to decide whether to allow state-regulated casinos to offer online gaming.

“That’s really where the next step in gaming is moving. We’ve seen some states approve it and are moving in that direction,” Lamberti said.

He said if the Legislature authorizes online gaming, “we want to do like we do with our current facilities, is have a high level of integrity, regulate it so that people that engage in that can trust the product.”

Wes Ehrecke, president of the Iowa Gaming Association, which represents state-regulated casinos, agreed that Iowa casinos would like to offer online table games such as poker or blackjack. He cited an estimate that 150,000 Iowans already gamble online through sites located outside the United States, which can’t be reliably regulated.

He said casinos could enforce age limits and other regulations by offering their own, online gaming sites.

The Iowa Senate passed an Internet gaming bill in March 2012, but the bill was not considered in the House. The payday to the state was estimated at $3 million to $13 million. That vote came just a month after a Register Iowa poll showed that 69 percent of Iowa adults opposed legalized Internet gambling for adults. Only 29 percent favored it. 

I still think Iowans’ support for legalized gambling recognizes that landbased casinos are a magnet for tourism and investment in entertainment infrastructure. Internet gaming has the potential to explode gambling addiction problems without contributing a single dime to local hotels, restaurants or gas stations.
The risk involved in unregulated gaming keeps more Iowans from trying it. That’s not such a bad thing.

I live-tweeted the "Iowa Press" taping today. The show airs starting Dec. 28.
Iowa casino license up for grab, strong bidding expected | Des ...Iowa casino license up for grab, strong bidding expected | Des ...
Jul 12, 2012 ... Iowa gambling regulators agreed today to go ahead with plans to put Sioux City&#39;s casino license up for grabs, and ...
State taking hands-off approach toward Ankeny casino | The Des ...State taking hands-off approach toward Ankeny casino | The Des ...
Nov 16, 2012 ... Iowa&#39;s chief gambling regulator is keeping a hands-off approach toward a proposal for a $150 million Ankeny casino...
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]]>http://storify.com/KObradovich/internet-gaming-is-the-industry-s-future-top-iowahttp://storify.com/KObradovich/internet-gaming-is-the-industry-s-future-top-iowaFri, 21 Dec 2012 22:59:31 GMT<![CDATA[Iowa school leaders support police in schools, not arming educators]]>

Educators and the state's homeland security administrator say districts benefit from police presence. But they strongly oppose arming teachers and school staff.

Storified by · Fri, Dec 21 2012 14:21:42

Iowa school leaders and the state’s top homeland security official encouraged efforts to place more police officers in schools, but adamantly opposed arming educators and regular school staff.

The National Rifle Association, the nation’s largest gun lobbying group, called today for having armed police in every school as a way to prevent crimes such as the mass shootings in Newtown, Conn.

Tom Downs, executive director of the Iowa Association of School Boards, said he has long supported having police resource officers in Iowa schools and he would not object if they were armed. “I think that heightened security, that command presence, if you will, that show of force can’t be underestimated at providing a safe environment,” he said.

Mark Schouten, Iowa’s homeland security administrator, agreed, as did Jon Thompson, superintendent of the Aplington-Parkersburg school district. All three men appeared today on “Iowa Press,” which airs at 8 p.m. today and noon Sunday.

Thompson, whose district was the scene of the shooting death of football coach Ed Thomas in 2009, said he’d like to see the state’s school-aid formula expand to help pay for school resource officers. Districts that have them today usually share the cost with the city or county. Federal grants that helped fund resource officers in the past have dried up.

Downs said in an interview that it should still be up to local school officials to decide whether to place police officers in schools. He agreed that state or federal financial assistance would be needed.

Downs, Schouten and Thompson all opposed the idea of training and arming teachers and other regular school staff, however.  Downs said that would make schools more dangerous, not safer. “I would see two outcomes of that. Number one would be more school shootings, and number two would be more dead teachers.”

Thompson agreed.  “I just think it would lead to more problems than it would solve,” he said.

Having a police presence in Iowa schools would have plenty of benefits, if used appropriately. Children can benefit from having friendly exposure to law enforcement in a non-threatening environment. Students and teachers may be more likely to trust and confide in an officer they know.

But even having a police officer in every school wouldn’t guarantee safety. Downs said he doubts that someone who would shoot up a kindergarten class and then commit suicide would be deterred by the knowledge a cop was present in the school. Such a person is beyond making rational decisions, he said.

I live-tweeted the taping. Follow below our at Twitter.com/kobradovich.

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]]>http://storify.com/KObradovich/iowa-school-leaders-support-police-in-schools-nothttp://storify.com/KObradovich/iowa-school-leaders-support-police-in-schools-notFri, 21 Dec 2012 22:21:42 GMT<![CDATA[Property tax cut forecast still cloudy]]>

Legislative leaders, speaking to Iowa Taxpayers Association, were still divided on property tax cut details.

Storified by · Tue, Dec 04 2012 12:48:17

Three of the four legislators who spoke today to the Iowa Taxpayers Association expressed some level of optimism that some form of property tax relief would be approved in the 2013 legislative session.

However, legislative leaders were obviously still divided on details of how to reimburse local governments for as much as $560 million in lost revenue from a property tax cut.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said he upgraded his forecast for a tax cut after hearing Gov. Terry Branstad’s remarks to the taxpayer group on Monday. “I’m really encouraged and I have moved from ‘hopeful’ to ‘confident.’”

Branstad said Monday that the state budget situation is healthy enough to reassure local governments that the state can fully fund tax credits on the books and also replace revenues from a property tax cut. Although Branstad did not spell out many details, it seemed he might be willing to consider more replacement money for local governments than he has previously proposed.

Rep. Dave Jacoby of Coralville, representing House Democrats at the forum, said he’d give 2-to-1 odds that a property tax cut would pass next session. Republicans were more cautious.

House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, said she puts the odds at better than 50-50 for a property tax bill, but said she remains “slightly skeptical.” But Senate Minority Leader Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock, said he’s pessimistic.

I remember this same discussion at the ITA forum last year. Lawmakers had the same universal agreement that commercial property taxes were too high. They also had the very same partisan disagreements about how to go about cutting them.

Republicans, generally, still think the Legislature should cut property tax rates and then decide each year how much to reimburse to local governments, without triggers or tax credits. Democrats want to reimburse taxpayers directly for a portion of their property tax bills, leaving local governments harmless.

Gronstal says the difference over how to deliver tax relief is a matter of “marketing.” However, he adds that the only reason he can see for the Legislature to approve annual reimbursement is if it intends to eventually cut or end the payback.

Based on today’s discussion, I think I’ll see Upmeyer’s “slightly skeptical” and raise to “believe it when I see it.”


State Auditor David Vaudt and Department of Management Director David Roederer also spoke today to the Iowa Taxpayers Association annual meeting in Altoona. I live-tweeted the meeting. Tweets are below, or follow me at Twitter.com/kobradovich.
Branstad: Commercial property taxes must be cut next year | The ...Branstad: Commercial property taxes must be cut next year | The ...
23 hours ago ... IOWA PROPERTY TAXES: “We&#39;re looking at going after this again and ... Branstad said during a speech to the Iowa Ta...
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]]>http://storify.com/KObradovich/iowa-officials-mix-messages-on-state-budgethttp://storify.com/KObradovich/iowa-officials-mix-messages-on-state-budgetTue, 04 Dec 2012 20:48:17 GMT<![CDATA[Marco Rubio jokes about 2016 rumors in Iowa ]]>

Sen. Marco Rubio, the first of the potential 2016 presidential field to visit Iowa, joked tonight about the "elephant in the room." I live-tweeted. Tweets are below and at Twitter.com/kobradovich.

Storified by · Sat, Nov 17 2012 17:50:34


Florida Sen. Marco Rubio sounded like a potential presidential candidate, even as he joked about rumors of his political aspirations.

“Look, let’s just address right up front the elephant in the room, because anytime someone makes a trip to Iowa, people start speculating  about what you’re going to do in the future and all of that.”

Having just joked that he would have been in the National Football League had it not been for his size, speed and talent, Rubio continued the punchline.  “I am not now, nor will I ever be a candidate for offensive coordinator of Iowa.”

I assume he meant the Hawkeyes, although this year they might be able to use someone of Rubio’s size and talent.
Rubio did not directly criticize Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, saying he would have made a great president and that he hopes he “stays involved” in politics. But he also said, “Others have suggested that the American electorate has changed. That people are just going to vote for whoever promises them more. I don’t believe that’s true. I can’t believe that’s true.”

Rubio spoke at Gov. Terry Branstad’s birthday fundraiser, to what his spokesman said was a sellout crowd of about 700. Rubio offered effusive praise of Branstad and Iowa’s economy. He said before the event that he looks to Iowa as an example of how to move the economy forward.

“Leadership in Iowa has shown us, in some ways, the way forward; how government can work with its citizens to make life better. I mean, look at the results here: 5.1 percent unemployment. I mean, if we had 5.1 percent unemployment across the country, we’d be a lot better off.”

.@marcorubio speaks to reporters in Iowa with Gov. Terry Branstad. #iapolitics http://pic.twitter.com/htYPkdIo · Kathie Obradovich
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]]>http://storify.com/KObradovich/marco-rubio-jokes-about-2016-rumors-in-iowahttp://storify.com/KObradovich/marco-rubio-jokes-about-2016-rumors-in-iowaSun, 18 Nov 2012 01:50:34 GMT