Braley, Loebsack co-sponsoring new jobs bill
From Bleeding Heartland

Representatives Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack are among 105 co-sponsors of H.R. 4812, the Local Jobs for America Act. The bill “would provide direct funding to local governments to create, restore or save up to one million public and private jobs for the next two years.” According to the House Education and Labor Committee, the bill includes “$75 billion over two years to local communities to hire vital staff” and “[f]unding for 50,000 on-the-job private-sector training positions.” Some provisions that the House of Representatives approved in separate legislation are included in this bill too, such as $23 billion to “help states support 250,000 education jobs” and extra money for law enforcement and firefighters. Groups endorsing the bill include the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Read full post…

2010 Legislature did good work in short order
Editorial from the Des Moines Register
The Iowa General Assembly shortened its session to 79 days to save taxpayers’ money, yet managed to balance the budget in a severe recession, streamline state government and pass a raft of bills affecting everything from bicycle safety to puppy mills.

If shaving 20 days off the calendar has the effect of concentrating lawmakers’ minds, they ought to consider doing it every year. Despite daunting fiscal challenges, the 2010 session was a success in many respects. Read full article…

Culver to sign gun/domestic violence, ‘Ed Thomas’ bills
From the Des Moines Register

A new Iowa law prohibiting a person convicted of domestic abuse from having guns will be signed by Gov. Chet Culver Monday.

Senate File 2357 would essentially match Iowa law with an already existing federal law. Advocates of the bill say is necessary because law enforcement officials are sometimes more comfortable with and likely to use state laws. Read full article…