Sure, Rep. Tyler Olson may get carded if he files papers to run for governor, but that doesn’t mean the Cedar Rapids Democrat shouldn’t take the plunge. Or maybe he’ll run for Congress, although I’m not sure why anyone would. Olson left his post as chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party to mull his [...]

  So, as expected, all the leaning and considering has turned into a real campaign. Cedar Rapids City Council member Monica Vernon is running for Congress as a Democrat.  So now, on the D-side, in the 1st District of Iowa, in 2014, we have Vernon and state Rep. Pat Murphy of Dubuque who are in, [...]

By Ron Moore —-   Let’s eliminate income taxes for individuals and businesses. Will this increase our nation’s budget deficit? Not if we switch to sales and net worth taxes. The income tax is full of exemptions, loopholes, deductions. Special deals Congress has approved for certain businesses and individuals but not others. Some of our [...]

Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen will make a decision this summer whether to move to a bigger House – the U.S. House. Paulsen, for the first time Tuesday, confirmed he is thinking about running for the U.S. House 1st District in 2014. It will be an open-seat race because Rep. Bruce Braley is running for [...]

  The mayor poured cold water on congressional rumors. But the mayor pro tem  just might be in. Cedar Rapids City Council member Monica Vernon says she’s getting a lot of encouragement to run for the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District. U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley is leaving the seat to run for the [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS — Can the talent pool for congressional candidates extend to City Hall? City Council member Monica Vernon is all-but-certain she is going to try to find out. Vernon, the city’s mayor pro tem and a two-term council member, on Tuesday said she is nearly ready to announce a run to become the Democratic [...]

DES MOINES – A brainstorming session last year lead to development of an iPhone app to help connect Eastern Iowans to volunteer opportunities. That app, created for the United Way of East Central Iowa Volunteer Center, has earned a mention in a congressional budget justification on volunteer services. In the Corporation for Community Service congressional [...]

  By Dean Lerner —-   The April 9 New York Times Editorial, “Eating with our eyes closed,” is a real eye-opener. As usual, there’s always more to bizarre stories. And where there are bizarre stories, Congress/politicians aren’t far away. An Associated Press article (Aug. 24, Des Moines Register) informed us about three Republican congressmen [...]

By J.T. Rushing, correspondent   WASHINGTON, D.C. — A key procedural motion to take up Congress’ first step toward gun control legislation since December’s mass shootings in Connecticut passed the U.S. Senate on Thursday. Senators voted 68-31 to clear the way for the chamber to start debating a bill next week that would expand background [...]