A cardinal rule as elected officials is not to break things – as in, if it isn’t broken, don’t “fix” it – not unlike the medical profession’s Hippocratic oath: first, do no harm. more

I have spent decades in healthcare, both in clinical settings and in policymaking, and one thing has become crystal clear to me: the best solutions for rural Iowa’s healthcare challenges come from Des Moines – not Washington, DC. more

Ordinarily, this column is devoted to government policies and politics as they affect Iowa. more

The challenges facing Iowa’s higher education system have been building for many years, and the impact on students is becoming increasingly severe. For far too long, we have seen a mission drift on campus, leading to out-of-control costs and a less-prepared workforce. The state legislature has a duty to act since taxpayers are forced to foot the bill. Last November, for the first time in over 50 years, Speaker Grassley formed a new committee solely focused on ensuring our higher education system better serves students, not just the university bureaucracy. I have the honor of leading that committee, and during our first year, we got right to work.  more

Tuition is too damn high. Higher education is so expensive that many Iowa students end up buried in debt before they even start working. More than 400,000 Iowans are still carrying student loan debt, and it’s holding them back from building their futures here in Iowa.  more

I’m a mom of a sophomore at North Scott High School. To start, let me preface this by saying I graduated from Assumption High School in 2005 — I bleed red, white, and black. I will always be an Assumption Knight in my soul. more

When Kim Reynolds gave her big annual speech at the beginning of the year, she told Iowans that “the condition of our state is strong” and that “childcare has been a longstanding priority for my administration.”  more

Raising a family is no easy task, but it shouldn’t bankrupt you. As both a parent and grandparent, I’ve seen how much harder it is for Iowa families to afford housing, groceries, and especially child care. Four years of record-high inflation under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have left working parents stretched thin. more

Florida executed a man this week and is scheduled to put another to death this month, setting a modern-day record for the state and underscoring an unsettling trend for the nation. more

Peggy Noonan has been a right-leaning columnist for The Wall Street Journal since leaving the Ronald Reagan administration as his primary speechwriter. Five of Noonan’s books have been New York Times bestsellers. Consuming every word of her weekly column keeps me politically balanced. more

Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst both made comments this week on the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. more

Q: Why did you convene a Judiciary Committee hearing about 23andMe? more

Brenna Bird and the Trump administration apparently don’t see eye to eye when it comes to what constitutes hindering the enforcement of federal immigration laws. At least not when it comes to one northeast Iowa county. more

Last week, the Pentagon accepted the emir of Qatar’s gift of a Boeing 747, a $400 million bauble donated for our president to enjoy by a monarch whose family has ruled the tiny Mideast nation for more than a century. more

Travel insurance safeguards your investment in a costly trip by covering unexpected events that could disrupt your plans.  It can reimburse pre-paid, non-refundable expenses for unforeseen circumstances.  Consider purchasing a policy if there is a chance the trip could be impacted by severe weather, a loved one has a pre-existing health condition, or non-refundable expenses have already been incurred.  Before purchasing a policy, understand the different coverage options, exclusions, and limitations, as policies vary significantly.  Check current insurance policies and credit card protections for coverage already provided.  more

Wow, what an adventure the voters of Scott, Clinton, and Jackson County sent my wife (served as clerk) and me on. We went to work immediately on Day 1 and on Day 2, I gave my first floor speech entitled “School Finance 101” about why 2% SSA was a property tax hike for local communities. As bills came up, I reviewed the lobbyist declarations to determine where different groups stood on the issues. Following the old cliché of “trust, but verify,” I made personal calls and sent emails to our local elected officials, business owners, and impacted constituents to ensure that I was representing their interests. As your voice in the Iowa Senate, I gave support protecting the 5th Amendment regarding the limitations of eminent domain, and after much research and personal phone calls, I voted against the pesticide bill as it would hurt the farmers, and their heirs, should they be unfortunate enough to incur non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. I voted to provide an even business model for our local pharmacies. In summary, I continue to educate myself in areas in which I do not have much background and provide real-life examples in areas that I do. I will continue to answer emails and attend multiple events throughout the year as your State Senator.  more

Americans check their phone on average 205 times a day or around once every five minutes. With phones seldom out of reach, it can be difficult to moderate usage in an increasingly connected world. For many people, this habit can persist even when behind the wheel, but the distraction it provides can have real consequences. more

Almost two weeks after our scheduled finish, the legislative session officially concluded. It was a busy end to the session as we worked on several major issues and priorities to finish the year. more

Rest assured, Iowa. Republicans in Des Moines have heard your concerns about high prices, and they’re doing something about it. more

House Republicans released their spending plans for Fiscal Year 2026 on Monday afternoon (April 28), once again committing to moving forward a responsible, conservative budget for Iowa.  The plan spends $9.453 billion starting on July 1.  This represents an increase of $505 million over the current year.   more