By Shane Goodman shane@dmcityview.com

Progress or politics?

With the Iowa caucuses over and the national media attention gone, it is time to once again focus on local issues of importance right here in Iowa. Just don’t expect it to come from the legislature, at least not this year. Seem fishy? You might be on to something.

Iowa has a state bird, state flower, state tree and state rock, so is there room for a state fish? And, if so, should it be the channel catfish? I know, I really don’t care either. But this may be one of the most pressing subjects for a legislature that seems unlikely to move on important issues for our state. Pundits tell us not to expect huge achievements from the Democratic control, certainly not ones that would compare to the levels of importance like the increase in teacher pay, the raise in the cigarette tax or the creation of the Power Fund that were all passed in 2007.

“Maintaining progress” is the key Democrat phrase in 2008, but Republicans fear this will mean their counterparts will avoid controversial issues during the election year in order to keep from alienating voters. This is simply politics as usual, most would say.

Meanwhile, there are issues that deserve attention, and reporter Jason Hancock previews several in this week’s cover story, including road and bridge construction; immigration; fair share vs. right to work; local control of hog lots; commercial property taxes; same sex marriage; school construction; campaign finance reform; and, of course, the official state fish.

Thanks for reading.

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