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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Law changes touch many Iowans
DES MOINES – Even with a limited agenda pared even further by divided government, the 2013 Legislature managed to touch a lot of Iowans. Laws passed during the 130-day span that the General Assembly was convened will have immediate effects as well as reverberate for years to come. See also: Some of the things the [...]
Branstad commends Legislature for 2013 work
Gov. Terry Branstad today is hailing the members of split-control Legislature for their landmark session achievements. The five-term GOP governor says lawmakers succeeded in approving significant property tax relief, transformational education reform, and meaningful health modernization that focuses on quality outcomes for low-income patients while modernizing of the Medicaid system. The governor noted that the [...]
Lawmakers expected to finish work on landmark session today
DES MOINES – State lawmakers will be back this morning to continue their attempt to finalize bipartisan agreements on tax relief, school reform, more health-care coverage for needy Iowans, and an increased state budget plan Wednesday before adjourning what some regarded as a landmark session. Shortly before midnight, the Iowa Senate passed a final adjournment [...]
Iowa Senate passes historic property tax cut
DES MOINES – The Iowa Senate voted 43-6 Wednesday to pass a wide-ranging, historic tax relief package that will benefit all property classes, provide an estimated $120 credit to income taxpayers, and give a break to low-income working families. Supporters called Senate File 295 a long-awaited compromise that will stimulate the economy by helping businesses [...]
Branstad, Iowa legislators reach health-care expansion accord
DES MOINES – Gov. Terry Branstad and legislative negotiators have hammered out a bipartisan agreement to use federal money to expand health-care coverage to needy Iowans by financing insurance premiums for participants who help manage their costs with healthy choices. The newly named Iowa Health and Wellness Plan contains elements that meets the desires of [...]
Iowa Senate Republican leader refutes ex-employee’s harassment claims
The leader of the Iowa Senate’s Republican caucus today refuted claims by a former employee of a hostile work environment where she and other female staff members were sexually harassed. “I’ve never tolerated in the past nor will I tolerate in the future harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment,” said Senate GOP Leader Bill [...]
Iowa Legislature 2013 adjournment in sight, leaders say
The split-control Legislature inched toward adjournment on its 18th day of overtime session Tuesday. House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said progress on the outstanding issues holding up the session’s end was “excellent” and he told reporters “I think that there’s a very real possibility that we are done tomorrow.” Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council [...]
Democrat thanks GOP governor for seeking pay hike party leader attacked
DES MOINES – Gov. Terry Branstad told fellow Iowa Executive Council members Monday he is still pushing to get the yearly salaries increased for their positions in 2014, but he’s not optimistic given the legislative reception the proposal received last week. Meanwhile, State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald, a Democrat, said he was disappointed the proposal to [...]
Iowa Executive Council approves health plan for state police officers
DES MOINES – The Iowa Executive Council on Monday approved a six-month health insurance coverage plan for about 600 unionized state police officers that calls for a 2.84 percent renewal increase with Wellmark to carry the bargaining unit through until the 2014 enrollment plan takes effect in January. Ed Holland of the state Department of [...]
Iowa Legislature health care negotiators hopeful of compromise
Key legislators and Gov. Terry Branstad expressed optimism Monday that progress was being made to forge a “hybrid” health care compromise that would merge elements of the governor’s “Healthy Iowa” plan with Senate Democrats’ desire to expand Medicaid to cover low-income, uninsured Iowans. “If we’re going to get something resolved, nobody’s going to get their [...]
