I appreciate the suggestions for story ideas! Based on the poll, I am getting the impression that people would like to see more Bleeding Heartland articles cross-posted in this space. Is that right?
Thanks for all your good work Laura. I'd like to see more investigative reporting that follows the money. For example, can we dig deeper into the money the legislators stole from the Leopold Center to give to the ISU which made the mistake of giving some of it to UI for water monitoring only to have the Republicans then take that back and give it to IDALS. Talk about consolidating power! I see Ralph is calling it retaliation. I don't think it is. I think it's part of a much bigger fascist tendency and yes, I use that word advisedly, of those in power now - hand pick Supreme Court Justices so law suits won't go anywhere, gut the auditor's office's ability to monitor the money, campaign hard to get rid of a watchdog AG, stop funding stuff that doesn't serve your personal and political purposes.
Or a story on the many millions of ARPA and other federal funds that IDALS and Kim Reynolds are sitting on. Or how local elected Republicans like Jeff Kaufmann in my county are writing checks out of those federal funds (and now the IRA) like they're Santa Claus while cursing the Biden Administration. When will anyone actually make them answer to that? Who will force them to answer the question? I'm counting on you and Investigate Midwest to find a way. Thank you.
Thanks Suzan. If history repeats what happened to Chris Jones, I am speaking out loud many concerns that sustainable ag related ISU programs will be threatened by the Gov and legislature.
During my tenure at IEC, while Obama was President. we considered petitioning EPA to withdraw DNR authority to administer federal water quality laws, which includes CAFO permitting. Can this be explored in an article? A second question to explore: will ISU's recent support of funding water quality sensors be a cause for retaliation?
I'd like to know why AFSCME Council 61 president Rick Eilander suddenly stepped down 2 weeks after publicly calling out Kim Reynolds for 'reorganizing government to give herself more power.'
I'd like to know why there's been zero reporting on this.
Especially in light of the recent death of yet another corrections worker - the very subject Eilander was angry about Reynolds with: Iowa's prison crisis.
Honestly I did not realize there was a change of leadership at AFSCME. I didn't see any announcement of that. I have had trouble reaching Rick Eilander in the past when I've sought comment from him but I would be interested to talk to him.
I forwarded an email I put together for More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) to info@bleedingheartland.com with the deets & receipts. I really hope *someone* will investigate this - Kim Reynolds shouldn't be allowed to get away with forcing out a union leader - which is what I believe happened here.
I so appreciate the deeper dives into what is occurring under the radar. I appreciate what you are doing and how informative it is when you can’t see behind the scenes. Thank you.
I think it's hard to generalize. I would say that many rank-and-file Democrats have accepted that the party's over. Among those who hold Iowa Democratic Party positions, I think some are still hoping for a miracle: the DNC-approved calendar won't pan out because South Carolina and New Hampshire refused to change their state laws, and somehow the DNC will agree to put Iowa first again.
I agree with John Deeth: time and energy spent trying to salvage first in the nation would be better spent preparing for a future that doesn't depend on the Iowa caucuses for Democratic organizing.
I appreciate the suggestions for story ideas! Based on the poll, I am getting the impression that people would like to see more Bleeding Heartland articles cross-posted in this space. Is that right?
Yes, I don't always get to the Bleeding Heartland page.
Thanks for all your good work Laura. I'd like to see more investigative reporting that follows the money. For example, can we dig deeper into the money the legislators stole from the Leopold Center to give to the ISU which made the mistake of giving some of it to UI for water monitoring only to have the Republicans then take that back and give it to IDALS. Talk about consolidating power! I see Ralph is calling it retaliation. I don't think it is. I think it's part of a much bigger fascist tendency and yes, I use that word advisedly, of those in power now - hand pick Supreme Court Justices so law suits won't go anywhere, gut the auditor's office's ability to monitor the money, campaign hard to get rid of a watchdog AG, stop funding stuff that doesn't serve your personal and political purposes.
Or a story on the many millions of ARPA and other federal funds that IDALS and Kim Reynolds are sitting on. Or how local elected Republicans like Jeff Kaufmann in my county are writing checks out of those federal funds (and now the IRA) like they're Santa Claus while cursing the Biden Administration. When will anyone actually make them answer to that? Who will force them to answer the question? I'm counting on you and Investigate Midwest to find a way. Thank you.
Thanks Suzan. If history repeats what happened to Chris Jones, I am speaking out loud many concerns that sustainable ag related ISU programs will be threatened by the Gov and legislature.
During my tenure at IEC, while Obama was President. we considered petitioning EPA to withdraw DNR authority to administer federal water quality laws, which includes CAFO permitting. Can this be explored in an article? A second question to explore: will ISU's recent support of funding water quality sensors be a cause for retaliation?
I'd like to know why AFSCME Council 61 president Rick Eilander suddenly stepped down 2 weeks after publicly calling out Kim Reynolds for 'reorganizing government to give herself more power.'
I'd like to know why there's been zero reporting on this.
Especially in light of the recent death of yet another corrections worker - the very subject Eilander was angry about Reynolds with: Iowa's prison crisis.
Someone should talk to Rick Eilander.
Honestly I did not realize there was a change of leadership at AFSCME. I didn't see any announcement of that. I have had trouble reaching Rick Eilander in the past when I've sought comment from him but I would be interested to talk to him.
I forwarded an email I put together for More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) to info@bleedingheartland.com with the deets & receipts. I really hope *someone* will investigate this - Kim Reynolds shouldn't be allowed to get away with forcing out a union leader - which is what I believe happened here.
Thanks for your thoughts.
I covered the caucuses back in the day. It was lots of fun writing about candidates when they blew through town.
Deep down, though, I thought it was all hype.
I so appreciate the deeper dives into what is occurring under the radar. I appreciate what you are doing and how informative it is when you can’t see behind the scenes. Thank you.
Thank you for reading! I'm so grateful to have readers willing to take in these deep dives.
What's the mood of Iowa Democrats as 2024 approaches?
Have they accepted their (apparent) loss of first in the nation status to South Carolina?
I think it's hard to generalize. I would say that many rank-and-file Democrats have accepted that the party's over. Among those who hold Iowa Democratic Party positions, I think some are still hoping for a miracle: the DNC-approved calendar won't pan out because South Carolina and New Hampshire refused to change their state laws, and somehow the DNC will agree to put Iowa first again.
I agree with John Deeth: time and energy spent trying to salvage first in the nation would be better spent preparing for a future that doesn't depend on the Iowa caucuses for Democratic organizing.