Posted August 08, 2022in Morain
U.S. Senate Democrats passed their omnibus Inflation Reduction Act last Sunday 51 to 50, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote. They did so under so-called “reconciliation” rules, which require only a simple majority to pass bills related to appropriations, rather than the usual filibuster-blocking 60-vote margin. The
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Posted August 04, 2022in Morain
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-New York) and Senator Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) on Wednesday of last week announced they had reached agreement on a comprehensive economic policy bill that, if adopted, would be the most consequential national legislation in recent years. It was a stunning announcement. Whether congressional
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Posted July 26, 2022in Morain
Independent voters appear to hold the key to the direction of the nation. Lots of fog around these days. Like the one that took over my brain during my recent bout with COVID-19 and stuck around for awhile. Same for my wife Kathy. Same for a bunch of our friends
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Posted July 07, 2022in Morain
America celebrated its independence again this past Monday, marking 246 years of national freedom. Every important U.S. holiday bears its unique celebratory hallmark, regardless of the original reason (religious or not) for its commemoration. With Thanksgiving it’s a belt-loosening dinner. With Halloween it’s trick-or-treating. With Memorial Day it’s decorating family
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Posted June 28, 2022in Morain
For 50 years abortion was a legal choice for American women. Then last week the U.S. Supreme Court, overturning its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, ruled 5 to 4 that choice is no longer a constitutional right, and handed off control of the issue to each individual state. For Iowa’s
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Posted June 21, 2022in Morain
The deepening of political extremism in the United States grows increasingly more evident. Moderation and bipartisanship shrink as progressives and conservatives move toward their respective corners of the political spectrum. The center attracts fewer activists. It’s hard to predict what politics will be like in a few more years. I
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Posted June 14, 2022in Morain
This week’s Friday, June 17, is a red-letter day. One reason is that it’s my brother Bill’s birthday. Happy B-day ending in a zero, bro. You’ll never catch me. Another is that it’s Bunker Hill Day. On June 17, 1775, the British stormed American Revolutionary Army fortifications on Bunker Hill
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Posted June 07, 2022in Morain
The theme for this week’s column is “Be careful what you wish for.” Or maybe “What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.” Either applies. Last fall the state of Texas enacted its fetal-heartbeat abortion ban, the strictest abortion ban in America at the time. The Texas Legislature
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Posted June 01, 2022in Morain
America is very good at mourning its victims of mass shootings. Should be — we get plenty of practice. Local, state and national leaders express their heartfelt condolences to the grieving survivors. Memorial flowers, messages and tokens of remembrance pile up at the site of the tragedy. Reporters interview suffering
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Posted May 24, 2022in Morain
This year’s Bell Tower Festival in Jefferson will be special. It’s the 43rd annual Festival, but that’s not anything out of the ordinary. The extra “secret sauce” this year is that 2022 is the 150th anniversary of Jefferson’s incorporation. So the Festival committee is adding numerous extras to make this
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