Rod BoshartRod Boshart has been The Gazette’s Des Moines bureau manager since 1989 covering state government, the Legislature and political campaigns – both statewide and presidential elections. Boshart also worked for United Press International for eight years in the Des Moines and the Quad-City bureaus covering general assignment news, political campaigns and University of Iowa athletics. After graduating from the University of Iowa with degrees in journalism, history and political science, Rod worked for four years as a co-partner in a family farm operation with his father and brother in southeast Iowa. He is married and has four children. |
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Iowa paying more for outside legal counsel
The Iowa Executive Council has authorized nearly $1.49 million in payments to outside legal counsel to defend Gov. Terry Branstad and state agencies against litigation and to help recoup money owed to Iowans or state government this fiscal year. The cost of legal representation provided by private attorneys with special expertise so far in fiscal [...]
MidAmerican reviewing options after nuclear energy bill stalls in Iowa Senate
Officials at MidAmerican Energy Co. are studying potential options now that the Iowa Legislature adjourned without taking action on a bill the utility sought to lay the groundwork for a state regulatory structure as a step toward its planned construction of a nuclear power plant in Iowa. “We are evaluating future options, and at this [...]
Branstad says he’ll continue focus on tax relief, education reform
DES MOINES — Gov. Terry Branstad told reporters Monday he will “never give up” on efforts to cut commercial property taxes and to limit the growth of taxes for residential and agricultural property owners. The governor also said he believed belt-tightening efforts that he and the Legislature undertook during the past two sessions will make [...]
Iowa legislative leaders say they’ll keep working on property tax compromise
Two top lawmakers expressed a willingness Friday to keep working on a property tax relief compromise that could be adopted in special session, but they conceded “a gap” remains between what majority Republicans in the House and majority Democrats in the Senate would accept to lower business tax rates while avoiding a shift of burden [...]
Branstad lifts ban on lead shot in dove hunts
UPDATE: Gov. Terry Branstad fired a shot at his executive-branch agencies while issuing a “historic” order Friday rescinding a ban on lead ammunition by dove hunters, saying he would not let them trump actions of elected officials by using “administrative fiat” to set rules that go beyond a law’s intended effect. “We need to make [...]
Special session on property tax relief possible, Branstad says
Gov. Terry Branstad said Thursday he would consider calling a special legislative session to pass a comprehensive property tax relief package if a satisfactory compromise could be worked out with assurances the votes would be there to pass it once lawmakers returned to the Capitol. Branstad, Republicans who control the House and Democrats who lead [...]
Branstad studying options on lead shot ban for Iowa dove hunters
State lawmakers have adjourned without nullifying a ban on the use of lead ammunition when hunting doves in Iowa, but Gov. Terry Branstad is telling hunters to keep their powder dry for the time being because he may find a way to intercede before the next season starts Sept. 1. “Stay tuned. We’re researching that,” [...]
Iowa lawmakers adjourn 2012 session
DES MOINES – Iowa lawmakers adjourned their 2012 session today without resolving differences over commercial property tax relief. The Iowa Senate passed a “sine die” adjournment resolution at 5:23 p.m. and the Iowa House followed with adjournment at 6:13 p.m. Lawmakers spent the session’s 122 day putting the finishing touches on a $6.244 billion [...]
Property tax reform bill fails to advance in Senate
DES MOINES — Hope for a compromise on commercial property tax relief dimmed for the second straight session last night as the Senate rejected two different versions of the legislation. Majority Democrats first rejected by a 21-26 vote a more expansive version of the bill that had earlier passed the Republican-controlled House. Sens. Rob Hogg, [...]
