Governor Kim Reynolds has just signed into law House File 437, which establishes a Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa. Governor Reynolds did a great service to Iowans—as did Representative Taylor Collins, who shepherded the bill through the legislature, and all his colleagues who supported and voted for House File 437. The new Center will do a great deal to improve Iowa’s pu...
If you go to the Iowa Judicial Branch’s website, you will see photos that accompany the various announcements of what is going on with Iowa’s court systems. One of the photos depicts a statue of Lady Justice-the allegorical personification of the administration of justice. She is depicted blindfolded and holding a balanced set of scales. The imagery is powerful: Justice is supposed to be delivere...
Regulations, just as with high tax rates, deter economic growth and create roadblocks for an individual’s right to earn a living or for an entrepreneur to start a business. Governments have the instinct of a vegetable, according to President Herbert Hoover. Iowa’s own Oval Office resident explained that “they keep spreading and growing.” This is an accurate description, especially as [&helli...
By Guest Columnist Kyle Wingfield If Chevron itself sounds arcane, know that it has unleashed unelected bureaucrats to wield legislative powers never intended for them. When the courts must settle a conflict between regulators (government agencies) and the regulated (citizens and businesses), common sense tells us there should be an equal playing field. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the ca...
The Iowa Legislature could reinforce the integrity of our legal system and uphold the tradition of impartial decision-making, essential for maintaining public trust. Iowa lawmakers are considering ways to reduce agency deference as this year’s legislative session gets closer to the finish line. That’s why we were excited to read about our Midwestern neighbors in Indiana making progress to en...
The outcomes at both the federal and state levels could help reset the balance of power between the government and the governed. For those who follow the United States Supreme Court, the Chevron doctrine is a prime focus in the news. This issue is before the Court right now and will presumably get a ruling very soon. In a similar […]
Iowa’s legislature has signaled their desire for a level playing field and a fair, impartial judicial system. The concept of agency deference has shaped the legal landscape of the United States since the Supreme Court issued a decision known as “Chevron”. The Chevron deference, named after the energy company, was a legal principle where the courts would defer to an […]
This article was published in the Des Moines Register, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Iowa City Press-Citizen and the West Branch Times. Herbert Hoover is a forgotten conservative statesman, whose philosophy and ideas can still serve as a guide for the nation today. President Herbert Hoover led a remarkable life that was based upon public service, humanitarianism, and a belief that America […]
David Pietrusza is both a gifted historian and storyteller. He is also the “Dean” of American presidential election history. His previous books focus on the elections of 1920, 1932, 1948, and 1960. All provide a rich narrative that explores the individuals, candidates and political environment that shaped these important presidential elections, which have lasting impact on both the nation and [&he...
Constraining the size and scope of the federal government is an issue that should transcend politics or partisanship. State Attorneys General have a vital role in protecting states from regulatory and administrative overreach. Iowans elected a new Attorney General to represent them in the 2022 elections. Forty-year incumbent Tom Miller was defeated by Republican Brenna Bird. Bird, who lost to [&he...
These days, it seems the last place where the free exchange of ideas is tolerated is a college campus. Too often we read about an example of a university administrator stamping out free expression and thought in the name of promoting ephemeral concepts like “social justice” or a “safe environment for learning.” Rather than promoting an environment where students and faculty exchange viewpoints and...
The Republican Ascendancy of the 1920s is associated with a return to conservative politics with the presidential administrations of Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. Warren G. Harding, who was elected President in the election of 1920, initiated an era of conservative government based upon policies that were rooted in constitutional limited government. Harding was a constitu...
“The Full-Dinner Pail” was a campaign slogan utilized by President William McKinley and other Republicans to symbolize support for working Americans. It is often assumed that Republicans are opposed to labor, but this notion is false. President Donald J. Trump’s America First policies were pro-labor. Whether unshackling businesses from excessive regulations, cutting tax rates, and pursuing trade a...
By Alan Ostergren Freedom movement scores important legal victories Labels are useful for describing a person’s political views, but only to a point. People who define themselves, for instance, as Conservatives, Republicans, or even Patriots, do not agree on every issue. But one issue unites political observers of all stripes: the importance of the courts. In the last few […]
In response to the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court by President Donald Trump, Democrats are threatening to “pack” the Supreme Court. On the campaign trail Vice President Joe Biden has refused to address whether he would support a measure to “pack” the Court. The threat of “packing” the Supreme Court should alarm every […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Iowa’s rural hospitals. The Iowa Hospital Association has estimated, the “state’s 118 hospitals, collectively, could lose as much as $2.17 billion in revenue by the end of this year.” A significant reason for this potential loss is, during the start of the pandemic, hospitals were not providing elective surgeries and other procedures. “Most of the […]
The Iowa legislature recently passed a major piece of legislation, COVID-19 liability reform. Iowa’s economy is reopening, and social distancing and other hygienic practices continue to slow the spread of the virus. As Iowans beginning to reengage with the economy and other public institutions there remains an element of risk of catching COVID-19. The objective of COVID-19 liability protection i...
Religion and Morality: The Indispensable Supports of Political Prosperity The United States Supreme Court in a 7-2 ruling in American Legion v. American Humanist Association decided that a Bladensburg, Maryland memorial cross dedicated to 48 heroes from Prince George County who died in World War 1 does not violate the Establishment Clause. The First Amendment to the Constitution reads [&hel...