Rick Smith

President Trump’s vicious attack on Democrats, many of whom have bravely served their country, deserves unqualified condemnation. Trump’s labeling of fellow patriotic Americans with treasonous behavior, an offense punishable by death, crossed the line of acceptable presidential conduct. Here’s Trump’s accusation from a speech in Cincinnati last week. “They were like death and un-American. Un-American.…

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan tweeted on Saturday celebrating a Lancaster, Pennsylvania school secretary’s wage increase of $1.50 per week. “A secretary at a public high school in Lancaster, PA, said she was pleasantly surprised her pay went up $1.50 a week… she said [that] will more than cover her Costco membership for the…

President Trump’s latest immigration proposal appears to offer the 1.8 million Dreamers protection, but the rest of his proposal would severely restrict legal immigration. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused President Donald Trump of “using a proposed path for citizenship for young undocumented immigrants as cover for making sweeping — and damaging — changes to…

Governor Kim Reynolds and the Republican-controlled legislature have chosen to slash essential funding for Iowa universities, courts, human services and the prisons. Why are they refusing to consider a reasonable, common sense alternative to these painful and unnecessary cuts? The state has over $600 million dollars sitting idle, unused and available in the combined Cash…

Throughout American history, the President of the United States has been recognized as the leader of the free world. Amazingly, in less than a year, President Trump’s “America first” policy has destroyed America’s leadership position among the nations of the world. A recent Gallup survey of 134 nations showed an approval of America’s role in…

If the falling circulation for the nation’s newspapers continues, that headline could become a reality. What would an America without newspapers mean to political understanding and awareness? Investigative journalists led by the New York Times and the Washington Post have exposed the Trump administration’s lies and their attempted cover-up. If America didn’t have newspaper journalists…

The 2016 election losses in rural America were a shocking wakeup call to Democrats. It demonstrated that winning in urban areas alone isn’t sufficient to regain majority control in statehouses and Congress. Democrats must find an effective message that will resonate with rural and working class voters. Following President Donald Trump’s overwhelming wins in rural…

Governor Reynolds’ growing budget crisis is a direct result of the Trump administration’s war on our agricultural trading partners. Trump campaigned on a promise to renegotiate our trade agreements, not destroy them. He bragged that he would bring his art-of-the-deal persuasion to the trade negotiating table.  He boasted that he would save American jobs and…

There’s probably no better proof of Iowa’s long historical commitment to Iowa’s immigrant population than the welcoming pamphlet buried in the cornerstone of the Iowa State Capitol. On November 23, 1871, the cornerstone of the present Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines was dedicated. There were 40 sacred items placed in that cornerstone as a…

Governor Kim Reynolds and the Republican-controlled Legislature already face a major state budget crisis with declining revenue forecasts. Their current budget drastically fails to meet the essential funding for Iowans’ education needs, mental health demands, water cleanup and much more. Reynolds must first repay the money she borrowed from this year’s budget to balance last…