Articles by Mike Glover

Iowa Business Tax Overhaul Elusive Once Again

Democrats and Republicans seem to agree that Iowa’s commercial property tax is archaic and out of line with other states, but hope is fading that the Legislature will approve a fix this year because of stark differences about how best …

Iowa Pays $180,000 to Working Mom Fired by State

The state has agreed to pay $180,000 to settle the claim of a state worker who was fired after her supervisor expressed skepticism that working mothers can handle high-pressure jobs. That supervisor, Roya Stanley, resigned from her job at the …

Iowa Governor Proposes Downstream Missouri River Group

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has urged governors in three states to consider pulling out of a Missouri River association because of the Army Corps of Engineers’ long-term management of the river and what he believes is a tendency to favor …

Iowa Legislature Approves Compromise Texting Ban

The Iowa Legislature has approved a compromise package that puts new limits on sending or reading text messages while driving, including tough restrictions on young drivers. Lawmakers have argued about the issue for most of the session. A House-Senate conference …

Letter from Iowa Governor Prompts Wellmark to Delay Rate Hike

Iowa’s largest health insurance provider will delay a planned premium increase after Gov. Chet Culver raised questions about the higher rates to the state insurance commissioner. Culver sent a letter to Insurance Commissioner Susan Voss, expressing concern about Wellmark Blue …

Iowa Governor Signs Bill Expanding Benefits for First Responders

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver signed into law a measure expanding benefits for police and firefighters who get cancer and some other infectious diseases. Under the measure, the diseases are presumed to be job-related, an assumption that boosts pensions and other …

Measure in Iowa House Requires Registration for Disabled Housing

Responding to as situation in Atalissa, Iowa, where 21 mentally disabled Texas men lived in a dilapidated house while they worked at a nearby turkey processing plant operated by Texas-based Henry’s Turkey Service, an Iowa House committee has approved a …

$100 Million Iowa Relief Plan Would Include Buying Flooded Homes

Iowa Democrats have unveiled a $100 million flood relief package and are negotiating how to pay for it. The biggest part of the plan would be $20 million for flood prevention efforts. The plan sets aside $12.5 million to buy …

Iowa Could Fine Drivers Caught Using Cell Phones

Some Iowa legislators have a message for cell phone users: stop talking or texting while driving. A measure being considered in the Legislature would fine drivers $30 if they used their phones while behind the wheel. “It doesn’t make sense …

Iowa Governor Signs $56 Million Flood Relief Bill

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver has signed into law a $56 million package designed to help Iowa recover from last summer’s record flooding, but he cautioned that the measure was only one step in a long recovery process. “The good news …