Posted June 17, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – A former Republican candidate has filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission against one of his rivals in the 2012 presidential race alleging he paid $1 million for the endorsement of a prominent Iowa conservative. Republican Fred Karger asked the commission to investigate allegations that the
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Posted June 17, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering upping the ethanol requirement in gasoline this summer — a move that threatens to ignite a new fuel war. “The dialogue should be to repeal the renewable targets and let the market decide,” Charles Drevna, president of the American Fuel and Petrochemical
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Posted June 12, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – The number of Iowa workers on disability has only slightly increased during the past nine years, while the federal government’s monthly payments to the state has nearly doubled, according to figures from the Social Security Administration. Claims in the Hawkeye State grew 8 percent from 2003 to 2011,
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Posted June 11, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – When it comes to U.S. Senators with agendas that cost taxpayers the most, look no further than Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin. Harkin ranked second when it came to the 10 largest spending agendas among senators in the 112th Congress. His proposals during 2011-12 reaching nearly $271.5 billion,
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Posted June 11, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Iowa’s education leaders say they’re serious about cheating on state reading and math tests. But when it comes to preventative measures, the state could use some remedial education, according to officials at the Iowa Department of Education. Districts aren’t required to keep records of the chain of custody
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Posted June 07, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – The U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s inspector general has denied an Iowa lawmaker’s request to investigate spending of federal dollars by Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz, according to a letter recently sent to the Iowa State Auditor’s office. State auditors, however, will look into whether Schultz improperly
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Posted June 06, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Jon Stewart of “The Daily Show” Wednesday night took aim at 15 states, including Iowa, that have shunned free federal dollars to expand Medicaid and the number of poor people it covers. The problem for the Comedy Central funnyman is that those dollars are anything but free
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Posted June 06, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Iowa City is on its way to becoming one of the first cities in the nation to at least temporarily ban drones, after residents successfully petitioned the City Council to take action on the issue. Council members unanimously voted Wednesday to ban the use of drones and
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Posted June 06, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Iowa’s two most high-profile races for 2014 are starting to take shape, although the final pool of candidates is far from finalized. Former Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack, who currently heads the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced today through staff that he will not run for governor. It’s
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Posted June 05, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Members of Congress from Iowa and their families continue to collect thousands in farm subsidies, raking in more than $73,000 in 2012, according to a newly released report. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley and U.S. Reps. Tom Latham and Steve King, all Republicans, and their family members benefited from
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