Government shutdowns—like the recent DHS lapse—aren’t just political fights in Washington; they create real disruptions for everyday Americans, from airport delays to potential security risks. These shutdowns often stem from using the budget as leverage in policy disputes, leaving taxpayers and unpaid government workers to bear the consequences. A better approach exists: budget continuation laws, ...
Why lawmakers are acting now: Iowa legislators have been considering oversight measures in Medicaid and SNAP to strengthen program integrity, prevent fraud, and prepare for new federal policies that will penalize states with high error or fraud rates. National problems highlight the risk: Large-scale fraud uncovered in states like Minnesota, and an estimated $186 billion in improper payments natio...
Populism reflects real frustration with cultural decline and economic instability — but the solution matters. The key divide is whether populism empowers people or expands government power. National conservatism risks centralizing authority, using executive power, tariffs, and industrial policy in ways that blur constitutional limits and shift decision-making from citizens to politicians. Freedom ...
National conservatism argues that conservatism must prioritize the nation’s common good, restoring sovereignty, moral order, and national cohesion after decades of emphasizing individual autonomy above all else. It contends that markets alone cannot preserve communities or national strength, and that prudent policies — including protective tariffs, immigration limits, and restrained foreign policy...
Regulations aren’t just technical rules, they function like stealth taxes, often carrying real economic costs while being issued with limited public oversight. A local REINS Act would require city councils and county boards of supervisors to approve new department rules and include a public cost-benefit analysis before those regulations take effect. The goal is stronger checks and balances at the ...
Iowa’s Certificate of Need (CON) laws restrict when providers can build, expand, or add services, requiring state approval for major projects and expenditures. The process protects incumbent providers from competition. Recent proposals would significantly narrow CON requirements. Senator Kara Warme’s broad reform bill cleared the first legislative funnel by being passed out of Committee last week....
Abraham Lincoln’s legacy is most often framed around the Civil War and slavery, but his economic philosophy—particularly his support for protectionism and economic nationalism—is frequently overlooked. Influenced by the Whig and Federalist traditions and leaders like Henry Clay, Lincoln championed the American System, which emphasized protective tariffs, a national bank, and internal improvements ...
Regulatory reform is a structural issue of governance and accountability, centered on who makes the rules that shape Iowa’s economy and whether major policy decisions are made by elected lawmakers or unelected agencies. Large, costly regulations act as a hidden tax on Iowans, raising prices, slowing growth, and reducing opportunity—yet often take effect without the same scrutiny applied to major s...
Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility that depends on local cooperation. Local officials are not meant to enforce immigration law themselves, but when they cooperate with federal authorities—by transferring custody after criminal cases are resolved—enforcement occurs quietly and efficiently, largely out of public view. When states or cities refuse to cooperate, enforcement becomes m...
Affordability pressures are real, but government spending helped cause them. Massive federal COVID-era spending—and unchecked state and local program expansion—flooded the economy with dollars, fueled inflation, and worsened affordability, meaning government should first examine its own role before proposing new interventions. Not all “affordability solutions” are rooted in free-market principles....
A prediction of Supreme Court expansion sparks a deeper debate about whether sweeping institutional reforms align with or undermine the constitutional framework the Founders designed. America was built as a republic, not a pure democracy, with federalism, separation of powers, the Electoral College, and an independent judiciary intentionally structured to restrain majority impulses and protect lib...
In November 1620, after arriving in Cape Cod, the Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact before setting foot on land. Though often overlooked today, the Compact remains a foundational document in the development of American constitutionalism and self-government. Constitutional scholar James McClellan wrote that by adopting the Compact, the Pilgrims brought a contractual theory of government to the ...
Governor Kim Reynolds’ effort to make government more efficient took another major step forward with the release of the final report from the Iowa Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Task Force. Announced during her 2025 Condition of the State Address, the Task Force was charged with finding new ways to streamline government, modernize operations, and ultimately reduce Iowa’s property tax b...
Conservatives of the 1920s viewed the Constitution as the enduring foundation of American liberty, emphasizing limited government, federalism, and the need to preserve timeless principles rather than treat the document as obsolete. They rejected the progressive notion of a “living Constitution,” instead describing it as an anchor—flexible through amendment, but grounded in unchanging truths and ro...
The fireworks law may seem like a small matter, but it serves as a powerful example of how preemption works—and why it’s important for local governments to stay informed and responsive to changes at the state level. Iowa cities and counties enjoy a great deal of autonomy in managing their local affairs thanks to what’s known as “home rule.” Iowa’s constitution grants home rule authority to cities...
For families just trying to get by, this is not the time to raise taxes—especially hidden ones that show up in the cost of groceries and gas. When I talk to folks across the country—from shop owners to factory workers—they all want the same thing: more opportunity, not more obstacles. That’s why it pains me to see tariffs making a comeback. While they’re pitched as protecting American jobs, tarif...
Protectionism does not mean a rejection of trade, but rather a realistic approach that places the interests of the American economy first. “I believe in the protective tariff policy and know we will be calling for its saving Americanism again,” stated President Warren G. Harding. Over a hundred years later, President Donald Trump is implementing a tariff policy to restore the American economy. P...
As Iowans continue to benefit from sound fiscal policies like accelerated tax cuts and conservative budgeting, we cannot lose sight of what’s happening in Washington. In a troubling—but completely predictable—display of regulatory overreach, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has finalized a rule that threatens to remove an important financial tool from low-income Americans while expa...
Increased transparency ensures accountability and provides opportunities to push back against unwarranted federal interference. States like Iowa have shown that legislators remain responsive to constituent input, making public awareness a powerful tool for addressing federal overreach. State-based solutions are critical in addressing federal government overreach and ensuring local governance remai...
It’s about restoring accountability and empowering state governments to innovate and address challenges unique to their populations. States have proven their ability to implement effective reforms when given the freedom to do so. The case for state-level governance over federal intervention is clear: states are more attuned to the unique needs of their citizens and can manage resources more effect...
The perception that federal bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., know better than state leaders fosters frustration, particularly in states like Iowa, where policymakers believe they are more attuned to their citizens’ needs. Federalism, the division of power between the federal government and the states, profoundly influences the practical aspects of state-level lawmaking. While this system is design...
Reform-minded legislators must navigate criticism and resistance, often from entrenched interests benefiting from the status quo. In this pivotal moment, federalism offers a pathway to reform, resilience, and renewal. State legislatures must rise to the occasion, embracing their role as the stewards of localized governance and champions of the people’s will. Federalism has long been a cornerstone ...
Federalism reflects the vision of the nation’s founders, who sought to balance the need for a strong national government with the preservation of state sovereignty. Federalism is a foundational principle of the American system of government. At its core, federalism refers to the division of power between the federal government and the individual states. This concept, embedded in the U.S. […...
Federalism is an essential part of how our government works. This system, set up in the U.S. Constitution, was created by the founders to balance a strong federal government with the independence of each state. Learning about the history and changes in federalism helps us understand its lasting impact on American laws and government. What is Federalism Federalism reflects the […]
This article was published in the Des Moines Register and the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Iowa faces unique challenges, but lowering tax rates, conservative budgeting, and reducing the regulatory burden are the foundations for a strong economy and a stable fiscal house. Iowa is quickly becoming a beacon for economic growth and opportunity thanks in large part to Governor Kim Reynolds. […]