Rick Smith

Trump carelessly tweeted last week that “trade wars could be good for the U.S. and easy to win!” Business leaders, agricultural leaders and our trading partners all agree that Trump is absolutely wrong. They are warning of catastrophic consequences of an all-out world trade war. Our trading partners have made it crystal clear, they will…

Vice President Mike Pence came to Council Bluffs yesterday, trying to convince Iowans that they should be happy with the Trump/Republican tax scam. He wants Iowans to believe a tax cut that is going primarily to the richest companies and the wealthiest Americans is good for them. In addition, he wants Iowans to celebrate a…

Following an Iowa vs. Wisconsin women’s basketball game in mid-February, Senator Grassley asked in a tweet why a black female Badger player was not patriotic “enuf” (sic) to stand for the national anthem. Grassley’s tweet directed his twitter followers to ask the Wisconsin Coach and “exprress (sic) outrage” to the University of Wisconsin. Iowa constituents…

Republicans’ SF 2311 legislation would reverse Iowa’s long commitment to energy efficiency (energy conservation) programs, taking Iowa backwards. It would make energy efficiency programs optional and could eliminate them altogether. According to the Iowa Environment Council’s analysis, “The bill allows utilities to discriminate against solar customers and charge them separate and higher rates. The bill could…

Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court heard a case challenging public unions ability to collect the funds necessary to bargain for their members and non-members alike. Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31″ (known as Janus v. AFSCME) could permanently curb the power of public unions. If the court rules…

Unprecedented record breaking high temperatures and rapidly disappearing sea ice have the climate science community concerned. In February, Arctic temperatures soared more than 45 degrees above normal. Temperature stations closest to the North Pole measured temperatures at the highest on record for the month of February. February also saw the greatest loss of Arctic sea…

George Lakoff is perhaps the best-known writer on framing Democratic messaging. He suggests that the Democrats’ political future depends on how well they can explain why they are Democrats. Lakoff says Democrats must recall who they represent and why. He argues that Democrats fight for basic public resources that benefit all Americans. He says Democrats…

Rockwell Collins, one of Iowa’s largest corporations with over $5.26 billion in sales, paid no Iowa income tax in 2017. However, because of an out-of-control state Research Tax Credit program, Rockwell Collins received a check from Iowa taxpayers for nearly $14 million dollars in 2017. Rockwell Collins is just one of 29 of Iowa’s largest…

Vote Republicans out of office! You might assume this suggestion came from a Democrat. It didn’t. It’s from former Florida Republican Congressman David Jolly. Jolly was interviewed following the latest Florida school massacre. He believes the only way to end the gun mass murders is to vote Republicans out of office. “Republicans will never do…

There’s a striking similarity between the reaction of Governor Reynolds to sexual harassment at the Iowa State Capitol and President Trump’s failure to offer sympathy to the two abused ex-wives of his key staffer. It was revealed last week that Rob Porter, a key White House staffer, had never received security clearance because of evidence…