"The Iowa Statehouse
Connection" 2006 Edition
Beginning Monday, January 9, 2006 KUNI
presents
"The Iowa Statehouse Connection," originating from the Law Library
in the Iowa Capitol Building. Hosted by Des Moines Bureau Chief Jeneane Beck,
the show airs
Mondays at 10:00 a.m. throughout the 2006 legislative session.
Each show is approximately 55 minutes long.
No audio or other content from this website may be reproduced without
permission of the authors. Please direct your inquiries to
kuni@uni.edu.
Monday, January 9, 2006: High Cost of Insurance
Today we are talking about the high cost of insurance and possible legislative
solutions with Iowa Insurance Commissioner Susan Voss, Republican Senator David
Johnson of Ocheydan, and Democratic Representative Mark Smith of Marshalltown.
Introduction
Listen to the
show here.
Monday, January 23, 2006: Ethanol
What's in your gas tank? Iowa lawmakers hope the answer is ethanol.
Legislators from both political parties are proposing new ways to
promote the corn-based fuel. Some want a mandate forcing Iowans to use
ethanol, while others want to provide grants to gas stations to help
them buy tanks and pumps to hold a higher ethanol blend, known as E-85.
Guests include Representative Mark Kuhn, a Democrat from Charles City;
Representative Steve Olson, a Republican from Clinton; Dawn Carlson,
President of Petroleum Marketers of Iowa; and Mindy Larsen Poldberg,
Director of Government Relations for the Iowa Corn Growers Association.
Introduction
Listen to the
show here.
Monday, January 30, 2006: Teenage Driving
Restrictions
Young people under the age of 25 represent only 14% of all drivers,
but they account for 40% of traffic fatalities and injuries. In fact
car accidents are the number one cause of death for teenagers. With
this in mind the Iowa Department of Public Safety is recommending new
restrictions for teenage drivers including a ban on cell phones and
limits on the number of passengers in the car. Is this fair, or going
to far? Guests include Public Safety commissioner Kevin Techau,
Republican Representative Lance Horbach of Tama, and Democratic Senator
Jeff Danielson of Cedar Falls.
Introduction
Listen to the
show here.
Monday, February 6, 2006: Education
The discussion will focus on education, particularly
teacher salaries and standards. Guests include Iowa Department of
Education Director Judy Jeffrey; Iowa State Education President Linda
Nelson; Senator Paul McKinley, a Republican from Chariton; and Senator
Frank Wood, a Democrat from Eldridge.
Introduction
Listen to the
show here.
Monday, February 13,
2006: Iowa's Prison System
Guests include Iowa Department of Corrections
Director Gary Maynard; the Vice Chair of the House Justice Systems
Budget Committee, Representative David Tjekpes, a Republican from
Gowrie; and the ranking Democrat on the committee, Representative Todd
Taylor of Cedar Rapids. We will discuss the state's prison system and
the director's recommendation that the state build a new maximum
security prison.
Introduction
Listen to the
show here.
Monday, February
20, 2006: Iowa's Tax Policy
Guests include the Democratic co-chair of the Senate Ways
and Means Committee, Senator Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City; the Republican
chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, Representative Jamie Van
Fossen of Davenport; the President of the Iowa Taxpayers Association,
Stacey Johnson and Iowa State University Economics Professor, David
Swenson.
Introduction
Listen to the
show here.
Monday, February 27, 2006: The Death Penalty
Guests include Republican Senator Larry McKibben of Marshalltown; University of Northern Iowa
Professor of Social Work, Katherine Van Wormer; and Drake University
Law Professor David McCord.
Introduction
Listen to the
show here.
Monday, March 6, 2006: Iowa's Eminent
Domain/Condemnation Laws
Guests include Republican Representative
Jeff Kaufmann of Wilton; Democratic Senator Herman Quirmbach of Ames;
Iowa Farm Bureau policy advisor Georgia Van Gundy; and Executive
Director of the Iowa League of Cities Tom Bredeweg.
Introduction
Listen to the show here.
Monday, March 13, 2006: Iowa's Race for Governor
The race for governor in Iowa is heating up. The two republican
candidates have merged
their campaigns while the democratic field has narrowed as well. Over
the next couple of weeks, we're inviting the candidates to discuss
issues facing the state and we'll take your questions. Des Moines
Democrat Ed Fallon is up first on the next Iowa Statehouse Connection.
*this show began without usual introduction
Listen to the Show here.
Monday, March 20, 2006: Iowa's Race for Governor Continues
The race for governor in Iowa is heating up. The two republican
candidates have merged
their campaigns while the democratic field has narrowed as well. We're
inviting the candidates to discuss issues facing the state and we'll
take your questions. Democratic candidate Mike Blouin, former United
States Congressman, and former director of the Iowa Department of
Economic Development is our guest on this Iowa Statehouse Connection.
Introduction
Listen to the show here.
Monday, March 27,
2006: Cost of Higher Education
Our guests will be University of Northern Iowa President Robert Koob;
Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy; the Chair of the
House Education Budget Committee, Republican Representative Royd
Chambers of Sheldon; and the Co-Chair of Senate Appropriations
Committee, Democratic Senator Bob Dvorsky of Coralville.
Introduction
Listen to the show here.
Monday, April 3, 2006: Iowa's
Race for Governor Continues
It's back
to the gubernatorial race on the next Iowa Statehouse Connection.
Democratic Secretary of State Chet Culver will be our guest. Culver is
a former teacher and the son of former U.S. Senator John Culver. His
campaign for governor has focused largely on education and renewable
fuels - with specific focus on ethanol. We'll discuss these topics and
many more.
Introduction
Listen to the show here.
Monday, April 10, 2006: Public Safety Legislation
As the legislature works toward adjournment one of the issues holding
them up is what to do with Iowans convicted of sexually abusing a
child. The senate has adopted a zero tolerance policy that calls for 25
years to life on the first offense. But the Iowa House wants to adopt a
broader package that also includes modifications to the state's 2000
foot distance requirement around schools and daycares. We'll discuss
this and other public safety legislation. Guests include the chair of the House Public Safety Committee,
Republican Representative Clel Baudler of Greenfield; the co-chair of
the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democratic Senator Keith Kreiman of
Bloomfield; and Louisa County Sheriff Curt Braby.
Introduction
Listen to the show here.
Monday, April 17, 2006: Summer Campaign Season
The weather is heating up and so is the summer campaign season. And
it promised to be one of the most expensive campaigns if Iowa history.
With the governor's seat and a closely divided legislature on the line,
both political parties are shaking the money tree. Meanwhile federal
campaign money is expected to flow freely into the hotly contested race
in Iowa's First Congressional District. What does this mean for voters
and the political process? Guests include Marla Sheffler, President of
the Iowa League of Women Voters; and State Representative Pam Jochum, a
Democrat from Dubuque.
Introduction
Listen to the show here.
"Iowa Statehouse Connection" 2005 Archives.
