Legacy of Deficits and Debt as Far as the Eye Can See

Every wage-earning American started the new year with less take-home pay. The payroll tax holiday ended on January 1, which meant breadwinners across the country were forced to figure out how to make ends meet with two percent less. Now Washington is getting a taste of its own medicine: making do with less. Automatic spending cuts took effect on March 1, requiring Uncle Sam to cut back 2.4 percent of... Read more

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Summer Internships

Summer 2013 internships are available in my offices – both in Washington and Iowa – for college-age Iowans who want to learn more about government and gain valuable work experience. The internships are open to students in all areas of study, and I encourage anyone interested to apply. Previous interns put their first-hand account on video (watch here). It gives a good sense of what’s involved. On the job, interns help permanent staff members with administrative, legislative, and communications work... Read more

Improve Standards, Reduce Costs

The federal government pays for about 40 percent of the births in the United States. Complicated deliveries are risky for mothers and babies and expensive for taxpayers. It makes sense to improve maternity care for women and newborns, to save lives and reduce health care costs. This week, I introduced a bill with Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan to fill gaps in existing quality measure programs so that... Read more

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Let the Sun Shine in the Federal Courts

Could you imagine if the American people could see the Constitution, not as some dusty old document only read about in the history books, but to actually see it upheld daily by the actions of their federal judiciary on televisions across the country, like C-SPAN coverage of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate? It would be a tremendous learning experience for people of all ages. That’s why I’m renewing my effort to bring more transparency into federal courtrooms. My “Sunshine in the Courtroom Act” allows judges at all federal court levels to open their courtrooms to television cameras and radio broadcasts. This year’s bill is bipartisan and bicameral. I’m once again introducing legislation with Senator Chuck Schumer in the Senate, and Congressman Steve... Read more