On August 10, 1874, Herbert Hoover was born in West Branch, Iowa. This year marks Hoover’s 152nd birthday, but it is also significant because it coincides with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the grand reopening of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. It is fitting that the reopening of the Hoover Museum comes during the 250th anniversary ...
Immigration policy has been a recurring subject of debate throughout American history, and for the past decade it has consistently ranked among voters' top concerns. It has also become one of the most divisive issues within conservative policy circles. Some want to increase immigration levels as a way to bolster our workforce and grow our population, ultimately benefiting the broad economy. Others...
Immigration is one of those issues where Washington seems determined to make everyone angry while solving almost nothing. Many Americans have real concerns. They worry about too many people coming too quickly, wages being pressured, schools and hospitals being strained, housing becoming less affordable, and cultural trust weakening in communities that already feel stretched. Those concerns should ...
New Jersey's voter registration error shows that election integrity depends on accurate systems, not just good intentions. A software glitch registered thousands of self-identified noncitizens, demonstrating how administrative failures can undermine public confidence. Iowa has strengthened safeguards, but recent audits show continued vigilance is necessary. Constitutional protections, citizenship ...
Iowa agriculture remains under financial pressure, with farm incomes down 53 percent from 2022 to 2024 amid low commodity prices, rising costs, and trade uncertainty. The Iowa Farm Bureau's 2026 Economic Summit featured competing views on trade, with Samuel Gregg criticizing tariffs while former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer defended them as necessary to achieve balanced trade. The d...
Supreme Court Clarifies Tax Sale Rights: In Pung v. Isabella County, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that taxpayers are entitled to the surplus proceeds from a tax sale—but not the fair market value of their property if it later sells for more. “Nothing Less, and Nothing More”: Building on its 2023 Tyler decision, the Court reaffirmed that governments may collect unpaid taxes through a tax sale, but ...
“The founders of our republic under Divine inspiration” established a “great political system,” which is “unique in the world,” argued Hoover. However, Hoover understood that the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were also based upon heritage. “God has blessed us with another wonderful word—heritage,” affirmed Hoover. Further, Hoover noted that the “great documents...
Iowa's primary system protects both voters and political parties while still allowing independents to participate. Any voter can change their party affiliation at the polls on primary day, ensuring access without allowing one party to influence another party's nominee. Jungle primaries and ranked-choice voting add confusion, not clarity. These systems can produce same-party general elections, ball...
Federalism was designed to ensure that every state has a voice, not just the nation’s largest population centers. The Electoral College helps preserve that balance by encouraging presidential candidates to build support across diverse regions, including rural America. As power becomes increasingly centralized in Washington, protecting federalism remains essential to preserving local self-governmen...