In his first stop in Iowa in 16 years, potential GOP presidential contender John Kasich talked to a room full of voters Wednesday in downtown Des Moines. The Ohio Governor touted his success in his state as a way to lead America, noting improvements in the state budget, education, poverty, and residents with disabilities. Kasich says he’s still exploring a bid for the White House.
Dallas County sheriff’s office is rolling out a new online gun permit system today. The website will become the ONLY way for getting a permit in the county…eliminating the paper system. The sheriff’s office says the online system is in a response to the large influx of applications from the past few years.
Senator Joni Ernst had a good day at the capitol today…seeing her bill on keeping federal government projects in check get out of the Homeland Security committee. Ernst emphasized that the legislation ensures that taxpayers’ dollars are spent wisely, and it helps hold the government accountable to adopt standards and policies used in the private sector. The bill now awaits further action in the Senate.
Just in time for all the rain…the city of Des Moines and its regional Wastewater Reclamation Authority are getting $111 million for flood mitigation projects to be used over the next 2 decades. The money is going to 14 projects along the Des Moines River…and the governor signed a bill as a final stamp of approval for the funding earlier this week.
An Iowa egg farm is being sued by a food supplier for breach of contract because it didn’t deliver the promised eggs after being struck by the bird flu. Hawkeye Pride’s parent company lost more than 5-and-a-half million egg-laying hens. The suing company – Michael Foods Egg Products – is a subsidiary of Post.
In more ag news…several buses provided by Fuels America are leaving tomorrow morning for Kansas City, Kansas to rally outside the EPA’s national hearing on the recently proposed Renewable Fuel Standards. Farmers and biofuel industry workers are encouraged to hop on the bus for free…one is leaving Johnston tomorrow morning at 7:30.
Governor Branstad is looking for federal unemployment benefits for those losing their jobs to the bird flu. He also wants financial help for family farms and businesses that may be forced to go out of business. Branstad says he hasn’t received a response yet from the president, but admits it’s a very unusual request for a disaster declaration.
Pink slips have gone out to the remaining staff at the Clarinda and Mount Pleasant mental health institutes, despite their inclusion in the next state budget. Some lawmakers see the layoff notices as an indication that the governor will line-item veto funding for the facilities, since he hasn’t signed the spending bill yet.
Des Moines’ city council is considering an ordinance that would change the way buildings are designated as historic structures. Some council members said a single resident should not be able to launch a time-consuming process if the building owner objects, as was the case with the Riverfront YMCA.
The Democrats are joining the wave of GOP presidential hopefuls washing over Iowa this week. Martin O’Malley will be attending house parties on Sunday in Ames, Sioux City and Carroll. Jim Webb is attending the Clinton County Democrats Hall of Fame Dinner on Friday.
