(Iowa Official Register 1929-30)

Introducing your new U.S. House of Representatives, now with 20 percent less Iowa.

Yeah, it’s true, we went from 5 to 4 U.S. Reps today. We still have a King, Latham, Braley and Loebsack. But we’re down a Boswell. And of course, our U.S. Senate delegation remains unchanged from back when I had my learner’s permit.

Our congressional delegation has been shrinking steadily for decades. News flash, I know. Between 1886 and 1931, Iowa had 11 congressional districts. So in 1930, we had the same congressional representation that Illinois has today. Iowa’s delegation first shrank to nine in the 1930s. We’ve been gradually losing seats ever since.

But hey, on the plus side, Iowa’s 2012-2013 school enrollment posted a significant gain for the first time since 1996. Maybe we could start a “Back to 5 by ’30″ campaign. After a 100 year slide, it’s time for a turnaround. What a proud day that would be. Five Iowa reps sworn in January 2031, probably greeted by Harkin and Grassley.