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Budget Process, Where the Heck are We?!

It’s been a little bit since I’ve talked about the budget process, so I thought I’d share a bit about 

what has happened thus far and what must happen yet.   

Just a reminder that we started our budget process back in December.  The department heads 

began their work back then to develop operating budgets.  When we refer to operating budgets, we are 

Iowa House Advances Skilled Workforce Act

Week 4 was a shorter week at the Capitol with no session on Monday, Feb. 2, due to the midterm party caucuses. Even so, important work moved forward: advancing the Skilled Workforce Act, welcoming constituents to the Capitol and connecting with Iowans at events like Iowa State University’s Day on the Hill and the Iowa Ag Expo.
Committee Action

Cui Bono Means “Who Benefits?”

As I was ringing the Salvation Army bell outside of Fareway a reader noted that it is difficult to know the truth. Well, yeah.
 

Proposed Election Laws

 Did you know that in 2025 over 2000 bills were proposed during the legislative session and of those, under 200 were passed into law?!  So, it is quite normal that many bills are proposed each year, but it is hard to work in this field and not become very concerned with each bill that is proposed and the effect it would have on you and your job if it were passed into law.  I find myself reading the bill book every day to see what has been prop

Waiting for Summer

At the time of writing this column, there are 138 days until summertime officially arrives here in   Iowa. After an entire week of my kids, my spouse, and myself all being sick… I’m counting   every single one of them. 
I’ll be honest…. I’m done with winter. 

2026 Tax Season Delivers Real Relief for Iowans

As tax season begins, families across Iowa are taking a closer look at their paychecks, refunds, and household budgets. After years of historic inflation and economic uncertainty, many families have tasked our government with correcting the economic failures of the previous four years. 
 

Islands

I have never been to an island. At no point in my life, from what I’m able to recall at least, have I ever set foot on a piece of land surrounded by water on all sides. Well, to be completely frank, that statement is a full-blown lie now. It’s been kind of false for the past two years, slightly more false since about four weeks ago, and completely, irrefutably, indisputably, and incontrovertibly incorrect for just under three weeks.

Adversaries or Friends

Wealth in America has been a manufactured illusion built on lies. Democracy is the culprit in the eventual downfall of the US empire.

Protecting Iowa Taxpayers and Stopping Welfare Fraud

Since being elected to Congress, I have been committed to ensuring Iowa taxpayer dollars are used correctly and safeguarded from fraud. Families who work hard for their money do not
deserve to have their taxpayer dollars wasted by their government. That’s why I am working with President Trump and my Republican colleagues to crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs meant to help our most vulnerable.
 

Proposed State Legislation

As I’m writing this, we’ve completed the first two weeks of the 2026 state legislative session and honestly, I’m partially at a loss for words.   I’m feeling defeated because of the narrative of County government that is being painted by the state leadership.  Their words make it sound like counties across this state are living off a fat hog.  They are making it sound like so many county officials are not pouring their hearts into providing th

A Full Stomach and a Full Heart

To be abroad, in my experience, is synonymous with having a full stomach. When I say full, in this sense, I mean beyond the capacity at which you would usually say, “Yeah, that seems to be plenty,” and instead refer to the point at which you become literally unsure of whether or not you are capable of consuming anything more. Essentially, Thanksgiving every day.

Fraudsters Can’t Prosecute Fraud

 A YouTuber exposed massive fraud in Minnesota and it’s being portrayed as some outrageous new thing. Before getting on with this I think it’s important to recognize the role that Nick Shirley played here. He’s a guy with an agenda like me. I haven’t been paid for my YouTube videos. I just want to get ideas out there for the benefit of my fellow man, whether on a big huge level or a quiet chuckle. Search YouTube for “fritz groszkruger”.

Running for County Office

The Primary Election is coming up in June.  Primary Elections are for the registered political parties in Iowa.  We happen to have two of them: Republican and Democrat.    The 

Primary is for federal, state, and county-wide positions.  This year, there are several County offices on the ballot this year.  County positions are 4-year terms and alternate between 

A Better Way (Part Two)

Costs and returns for farmers paint a dire picture right now. Oversupply and inflation are wolves at the door for anyone who doesn’t have family money as a backup. Oversupply was created by lobbies for crop insurance (federal welfare) and alternative fuel mandates or subsidies. Lack of profitability is intensified by habitual tillage and soil destruction.

Primary Election Preparations

I know what you’re saying….preparing for the Primary Election already?! Well, that’s how things work in our office! Believe it or not, it’s been 64 days since the  City-School Election was held in November and we’re slowly starting the process all 

over again because the Primary Election is just 146 days away and while that may seem like a long time, we truly must start this far in advance for several different 

'Families All Over the World'

When I was in Delhi for a day in transit to Malaysia, I met up with my internship mentor from this past summer, Aparna. Frankly, I met up with as many coworkers as possible, stopping by the Sehgal Foundation for a whole two hours and greeting everyone I could before I had to take the metro back to the airport and catch my next flight.

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