Politics
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Iowa could be the first state to strip trans people of civil rights
Iowa could become the first state in the country to repeal civil protections for transgender people under a new bill from Rep. Jeff Shipley (R-Fairfield), who has regularly used his office to target trans people’s rights. Over the years, Iowa Republicans have introduced multiple bills to remove gender identity as a protected class under Iowa’s…
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VIDEOS: Iowans share personal experiences with anti-abortion centers
Mica Chase, a Cedar Rapids resident, details their experience being shamed and misled at an anti-abortion center. @iowastartingline Mica Chase, a Cedar Rapids resident, details their experience being shamed and misled at an anti-abortion center. Chase and other Iowans delivered their testimonies at a subcommittee meeting for a Republican-backed bill to make public funding more…
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Iowa bill would let public schools hire unlicensed chaplains… but unintended consequences may arise
Iowa Republican lawmakers advanced a bill out of a subcommittee Tuesday that would allow public school districts to hire chaplains to “provide support, services, and programs for students.” But while the lawmakers heavily implied this was about Christian services coming into public schools, others pointed out that it could just as easily open the door…
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New Iowa bill places extreme restrictions on abortion pill access, adds scare tactics and felony convictions
A new bill introduced by Iowa House Republicans would severely limit access to abortion medications through a 19-step process—including making them illegal to receive in the mail—and create an electronic record of who received the pill and the medical personnel involved in the process. HF 2122 was introduced by Republican representatives Tom Determann of Clinton,…
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Iowan speaks out against anti-abortion centers: ‘I thought it was legitimate’
For two hours, staff at an anti-abortion center told Mica Chase—then 19 years old—they would go to Hell for having an abortion. The staff also said the abortion could kill them (abortion is incredibly safe) and that the staff would do anything to help Chase keep a pregnancy they had already decided they weren’t ready…
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Biden vows to ‘restore’ nationwide abortion rights in second term
During Tuesday’s event, the president and vice president highlighted several new measures the administration is taking to strengthen reproductive health care access, criticized extreme abortion bans, and highlighted the stakes of the 2024 election for reproductive rights.
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Iowa bill would force all phones, tablets to have age-limit filters
A new bill introduced in the Iowa House of Representatives would require all cell phone and tablet manufacturers to include a filter to prevent the device from displaying what the state legally defines as “obscene materials” to minors or face a civil suit. HF 2114 was introduced by Rep. John Wills (R-Spirit Lake) and would…
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Kalbach: Gov. Reynolds ramps up her attacks on public schools
We’re just past two weeks into the 2024 legislative session, and Gov. Kim Reynolds is already ramping up her crusade to defund our public schools through an unproven voucher plan. This year, Reynolds wants to transfer another $179.2 million of our tax dollars to private schools. It’s a terrible idea that will lead to additional…
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Iowa lawmaker wants looser requirements for fake pregnancy resource clinics
Rep. Jon Dunwell (R-Newton) introduced a bill Wednesday to loosen requirements for the More Options for Maternal Support (MOMS) program, which would funnel $2 million from Iowa taxpayers to anti-abortion centers in the state. For two years, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has failed to find a party to manage the…
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Sand: Let’s work together to hold government accountable
As Iowa’s taxpayer watchdog, I hear from Iowans just about every day with concerns about state and local government. Oftentimes, there are steps my office can take to address those concerns; other times, the next step is as simple as directing folks to the best channel in state government to address their question. Sometimes, it’s…
