It’s been too long since I put up one of these discussion threads. Ask me anything about Iowa politics! That could include questions related to the legislature’s work, or state government, or results from the 2022 elections (I’m still working my way through some of that data).
If you are a glutton for punishment, you can look through the huge bill (more than 1,500 pages) outlining Reynolds’ government reorganization. Let me know if you spot any red flags that might escape my attention. I’m working on articles about several angles. All will be featured on my other free email newsletter, which includes links to all recent coverage on my website.
In other news, I’m organizing some house parties as fundraisers for Bleeding Heartland around the state over the next several months. Locations include Des Moines and its suburbs, Ames, Boone, Pella, Knoxville, Newton, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Fairfield, and Davenport. Let me know if you would like to help plan one of these informal events, or be added to the invitation list. I will speak briefly about my website and my work, then take questions about any Iowa political topic. There is no minimum donation level.
Update: I forgot to include donation links for those who would like to support my work (and are not Iowa elected officials, candidates, or paid campaign staff or consultants). Readers can give with a credit card here, or through PayPal, Venmo, Patreon, and Substack. I also accept personal checks (please message me for the mailing address).
Laura--I would be interested in hosting a house party in Algona for you and Bleeding Heartland. We are currently in FL but will return in April. I am thinking May if that would work for you. We would like to host you and yours for the night since it's 2 1/2 hours from DM. Let me know if you're interested in a road trip that far...Chris Louscher 515 320-2583
That's so kind--I will give you a call to follow up. I'd love to come up to Algona. May would be perfect, as the legislative session will (probably) be over and I'm sure there will be plenty of things to discuss. Most weeknights work for me except for Mondays, when I have my radio show.
I'm reading the book Newspaper Confidential (Margaret Sullivan). Demise of local newspapers and mistrust of journalists is one of the most serious issues facing this country today. News is fragmented; "readers" lured by click-bait; less shared narrative about what's happening . . . Oy!
This might be a question or comment, I'm not sure which.
When do you think that Iowa might reach what I might call a "Kansas" moment, when the majority of the state has a realization that the policies and beliefs of those in charge of the state government are not what they once were and are now going off the rails? I think many Iowa residents believe it is still the 1980's in Iowa and Republicans are like Jim Leach, Robert Ray, and 20th century Chuck Grassley. I'm not sure many of them are even paying attention to what is going on in Des Moines.
I have to think that moment will arrive when these rural schools around Iowa start closing and the residents begin realizing that the places that they consider to be the center of their communities are not coming back because we have a governor and a legislature that has no interest in educating all the youth in the state. When that happens, I might see the rural populations turning on their representatives because they lost their hometown schools and sports teams.
Two other comments, as well.
1. I am absolutely happy that the Iowa Caucuses are dying out; this state has no business being the exclusive gatekeeper of presidential politics based on what has happened in the state this decade.
2. I love what you and the other members of the Iowa Writers Collaborative are doing because we need some active journalism to keep watching what is going on in this state. I might not be flush with cash, but I have to seriously consider getting at least one or two paid subscriptions to the group.
Great question. I think many Iowans may not realize the hole we're digging for ourselves until 2025 or 2026. Note that Republicans kept income caps in place for the school voucher bill for two years, to get them past the 2024 elections.
By 2026, federal funds from the American Rescue Plan and COVID relief packages will be gone. Tax cuts approved last year will have fully phased in. And the voucher plan will (in my opinion) be even more expensive than the $345 million a year projected by the Legislative Services Agency, because I expect more private schools to pop up to take advantage of easy money.
I do think some rural school districts will close, but that may not happen for a few more years. You probably know that in Kansas, some school districts had to switch to four-day weeks, which was a wake-up call for a lot of people.
Depending on what happens with abortion rights in Iowa, that could be an inflection point that turns the public against the GOP trifecta. It's not a coincidence that they backed off from pushing their constitutional amendment.
Thank you for reading! Like the other Iowa Writers Collaborative columnists, I don't ever want cost to be a barrier for readers. Many people who have the capacity to pay for subscriptions do so, which is appreciated! But I value all readers.
Thank you, Mary! I will make sure you are in the loop. A Fairfield event likely wouldn't happen for a few more months. I'd love to come down to Ottumwa--haven't been there in years.
1. NYT had an article about how 12% of all nursing home closures in the US are from our state. If accurate, why isn’t there more noise by advocates, D’s, etc? Esp since Capitol Dispatch continues to report problems--abuse, deaths --in nursing home industry.
2. Why hasn’t there been more attention by advocates, elected officials, etc. to how families with a disabled member are being “treated” this session?
From Iowa Data Center, in 2021, nearly 50% percent of households receiving food stamps have one or more persons with a disability. With the education bill, children with disabilities will be disproportionately harmed (private schools are exempt from most state education requirements to accept children with disabilities).
The nursing home industry gives generously to both parties in Iowa, and I agree with you, Democrats have not been vocal enough about bad conditions in nursing homes. This was a problem during the Democratic trifecta, as Clark Kauffman's reporting for the Des Moines Register showed at that time.
Laura--I would be interested in hosting a house party in Algona for you and Bleeding Heartland. We are currently in FL but will return in April. I am thinking May if that would work for you. We would like to host you and yours for the night since it's 2 1/2 hours from DM. Let me know if you're interested in a road trip that far...Chris Louscher 515 320-2583
That's so kind--I will give you a call to follow up. I'd love to come up to Algona. May would be perfect, as the legislative session will (probably) be over and I'm sure there will be plenty of things to discuss. Most weeknights work for me except for Mondays, when I have my radio show.
I'm reading the book Newspaper Confidential (Margaret Sullivan). Demise of local newspapers and mistrust of journalists is one of the most serious issues facing this country today. News is fragmented; "readers" lured by click-bait; less shared narrative about what's happening . . . Oy!
The decline of newspapers is a huge problem. Iowa still has more local newspapers than many states, but the newsroom staffs have been cut so deeply.
This might be a question or comment, I'm not sure which.
When do you think that Iowa might reach what I might call a "Kansas" moment, when the majority of the state has a realization that the policies and beliefs of those in charge of the state government are not what they once were and are now going off the rails? I think many Iowa residents believe it is still the 1980's in Iowa and Republicans are like Jim Leach, Robert Ray, and 20th century Chuck Grassley. I'm not sure many of them are even paying attention to what is going on in Des Moines.
I have to think that moment will arrive when these rural schools around Iowa start closing and the residents begin realizing that the places that they consider to be the center of their communities are not coming back because we have a governor and a legislature that has no interest in educating all the youth in the state. When that happens, I might see the rural populations turning on their representatives because they lost their hometown schools and sports teams.
Two other comments, as well.
1. I am absolutely happy that the Iowa Caucuses are dying out; this state has no business being the exclusive gatekeeper of presidential politics based on what has happened in the state this decade.
2. I love what you and the other members of the Iowa Writers Collaborative are doing because we need some active journalism to keep watching what is going on in this state. I might not be flush with cash, but I have to seriously consider getting at least one or two paid subscriptions to the group.
Best of luck with your endeavors.
Great question. I think many Iowans may not realize the hole we're digging for ourselves until 2025 or 2026. Note that Republicans kept income caps in place for the school voucher bill for two years, to get them past the 2024 elections.
By 2026, federal funds from the American Rescue Plan and COVID relief packages will be gone. Tax cuts approved last year will have fully phased in. And the voucher plan will (in my opinion) be even more expensive than the $345 million a year projected by the Legislative Services Agency, because I expect more private schools to pop up to take advantage of easy money.
I do think some rural school districts will close, but that may not happen for a few more years. You probably know that in Kansas, some school districts had to switch to four-day weeks, which was a wake-up call for a lot of people.
Depending on what happens with abortion rights in Iowa, that could be an inflection point that turns the public against the GOP trifecta. It's not a coincidence that they backed off from pushing their constitutional amendment.
Thank you for reading! Like the other Iowa Writers Collaborative columnists, I don't ever want cost to be a barrier for readers. Many people who have the capacity to pay for subscriptions do so, which is appreciated! But I value all readers.
I would enjoy attending in Fairfield. I would also be willing to host in Ottumwa
Thank you, Mary! I will make sure you are in the loop. A Fairfield event likely wouldn't happen for a few more months. I'd love to come down to Ottumwa--haven't been there in years.
2 comments/questions.
1. NYT had an article about how 12% of all nursing home closures in the US are from our state. If accurate, why isn’t there more noise by advocates, D’s, etc? Esp since Capitol Dispatch continues to report problems--abuse, deaths --in nursing home industry.
2. Why hasn’t there been more attention by advocates, elected officials, etc. to how families with a disabled member are being “treated” this session?
From Iowa Data Center, in 2021, nearly 50% percent of households receiving food stamps have one or more persons with a disability. With the education bill, children with disabilities will be disproportionately harmed (private schools are exempt from most state education requirements to accept children with disabilities).
The nursing home industry gives generously to both parties in Iowa, and I agree with you, Democrats have not been vocal enough about bad conditions in nursing homes. This was a problem during the Democratic trifecta, as Clark Kauffman's reporting for the Des Moines Register showed at that time.