Keeping Up the Dialogue, Working to Strengthen Representative Government

The Senate was in recess this week, and I was in Iowa for 21 meetings with constituents in 20 counties. I've now held meetings in 55 counties this year. On Monday, I was in Dakota City, Fort Dodge, Laurens, Lake City and Wall Lake. On Tuesday, I was in Alta, Aurelia, Primghar, Sibley, Inwood and Hawarden. On Wednesday, the meetings were in Kingsley, Sergeant Bluff, Correctionville, Holstein and Spencer. And, on... Read more

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Stopping the Next Bernie Madoff

Bernie Madoff’s financial fraud scheme was so big, brazen, and long-lasting that it ensnared everyone from charities to movie stars to the New York Mets. Yet it escaped the notice of the federal agency charged with protecting investors. That agency, the Securities and Exchange Commission, is supposed to look out for anyone with a stake in the stock market, whether... Read more

Feeding the World, Supporting U.S. Jobs

As Americans, we know our food is among the best quality, safest in the world, and arguably the very best. We produce it from seed to stem, we consume it, and we export it far and wide. Some U.S. trade partners make unfounded allegations about the safety of our food -- like raising an unfounded scare about beef -- but in private, their consumers want American products and know those items are safe. A new government report out this week... Read more

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One Year Later: Taking Stock of Health Care Reform

A growing number of Americans say they’re dissatisfied with the health care overhaul enacted a year ago this week. The new law is having a negative impact on many people, with health insurance premiums going up at a higher rate than ever before. One of the major reasons for reform was ever-increasing costs, but the reform law is having the opposite impact and making the upward trend worse, even while many families and individuals continue to struggle with job loss or less pay. The massive tax increases in the new law are taking their toll, too. Higher taxes work against America’s economic recovery. And, employers tell me they’re not hiring new workers because of the... Read more