James Q. LynchJames Lynch covers politics and state government. For nearly 30 years, he’s covered pork queen contests, papal visits and presidential campaigns in Iowa. |
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Battling to take on Braley
CEDAR RAPIDS — Two Republicans seeking the nomination for a northeast Iowa congressional seat stuck to their talking points last night, emphasizing their conservative credentials and their ability to defeat a three-term incumbent. Dubuque businessman Rod Blum and Independence attorney Ben Lange squared off in a live, televised debate at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar [...]
Branstad: ‘Next year’s the year’ for gas tax increase
Raising the state gas tax should be part of broader tax reform that could actually decrease what Iowans pay in taxes and fees, Gov. Terry Branstad said Friday. “I think next year’s the year to do it,” Branstad said on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press.” Branstad has recognized the need for more revenue to meet [...]
Obama returning to Iowa next week
President Barack Obama will return to Iowa on Thursday to meet with supporters, deliver an economic address in Newton and, perhaps, make an announcement about wind energy production. Few details have been released other than Obama will make a presidential visit to Newton and a campaign stop in Des Moines. It will be his first [...]
Rove, Myers ‘disagree agreeably’ in joint appearance
MOUNT VERNON — Karl Rove would be sleeping better if Hillary Clinton was president. Rove, widely considered the architect of George W. Bush’s presidential victories in 2000 and 2004 and nemesis of all things Democratic, offered a spirited endorsement of a Clinton presidency — as long as the alternative is a Barack Obama presidency. Not [...]
GOP hopefuls call Braley’s support for balanced budget ‘election-year conversion’
A pair of Republicans who hope to challenge Rep. Bruce Braley are calling his support for a balanced budget amendment an election-year conversion. Braley, who is seeking a fourth term in the U.S. House, announced May 16 he is signing on to a Republican-authored plan to amend the Constitution to require a balanced budget. [...]
Grassley not alarmed by Tea Party, Paul supporters’ success
Sen. Chuck Grassley isn’t alarmed by “what some might call upheavals” in Republican politics in Indiana, Nebraska and Iowa. He sees the recent victories by Tea Party-backed candidates in GOP Senate primaries in Indiana and Nebraska, as well as the success of Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul supporters in Iowa in electing a majority of [...]
GOP chided for exclusive deal on caucus results
The Republican Party of Iowa caught heat from news organizations for reneging on its own plan for releasing certified presidential precinct caucus results by giving them to the Des Moines Register before any other media outlets. One of the party’s critics at a public hearing held by the GOP in Des Moines on Tuesday was [...]
Romney to deliver major policy speech in Des Moines Tuesday
On Tuesday in Iowa, Mitt Romney will deliver what’s being billed as a major policy address on the “out-of-control spending and debt” under the Obama administration, according to U.S. Rep. Steve King. Romney, who is hitting back on a new round of attack ads by President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, will speak at 2:05 [...]
Iowa House speaker names new top aide
Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, has announced that former state lawmaker Doug Struyk will become his executive officer. Struyk will replace Matt Hinch, who is leaving the speaker’s staff to join the Des Moines Partnership. Struyk, 41, served in the Iowa House from 2003 to 2011, including a stint as assistant minority leader. His [...]
State lawmakers prepare for 2012 election
Jobs and the economy, property tax relief, lower spending and education reform were winning issues for Iowa Republicans two years ago when they took a 60-40 majority in the House and picked up six seats in the Senate. “Thematically, not a lot has changed since 2010,” said House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha. “That’s still what’s [...]
