Tom Barton
The Gazette
Davenport, IA, United States
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Past articles by Tom:
Republicans ‘all in’ on conservative agenda set to reshape Iowa
Emboldened by six years of conservative reforms under their belts and multiple elections that expanded their majorities in the House and Senate, Iowa Republicans have felt empowered to push a more conservative agenda. It coincides with the 2024 GOP race for president, softening the ground for candidates to campaign on the same themes. → Read More
Native Iowan, school choice advocate picked to lead state education department
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed Chad Aldis, an Iowa native with experience working for multiple charter school and private school choice think tanks, to lead the Iowa Department of Education. → Read More
Iowa’s Chuck Grassley pushes back on Biden Medicare plan
Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley says the White House’s proposal to extend Medicare’s solvency is likely to run into a barrage of Republican opposition. → Read More
Iowa lawmakers squash proposed abortion bans, but access ‘hangs by a thread’
Among the bills that didn't survive Friday's “funnel” deadline were those dealing with abortion as the governor’s office and legislative leaders await an Iowa Supreme Court ruling on a “heartbeat” law that would ban abortions after 6 weeks. → Read More
Iowa government reorganization among flurry of bills advanced to meet deadline
State government reorganization, bills impacting LGBTQ students and youth, gun regulations and more were passed overnight Thursday into early Friday → Read More
Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis planning trips to Iowa this month
The top two leading contenders in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination area headed to Iowa. → Read More
Iowa teens could serve alcohol, work longer hours and apprentice in factories and mines under amended bill
Iowa teens could work longer hours and more jobs, including those formerly off-limits as being hazardous, and serve alcohol under a controversial bill advanced Wednesday by House Republicans. → Read More
'Our kids are not for sale': Union workers protest loosening of Iowa child labor laws
Union workers from across Iowa gathered at the State Capitol Monday to protest proposals loosening state child labor laws. → Read More
Public health group convenes to combat rising syphilis, gonorrhea rates in Iowa
With a sharp rise in sexually transmitted infections, the Sexual Health Alliance of Linn and Johnson Counties is brainstorming ways to reduce 10-year highs. → Read More
Iowa youth speak out as LGBTQ school bills advance: ‘Why are we not past this?’
Republican state lawmakers continued to advance bills opponents say target and discriminate against Iowa’s LGBTQ community. → Read More
Do Iowa Republicans think Tim Scott’s the guy to run in 2024? He’s here to find out
South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, a prospective 2024 Republican presidential candidate, stopped in Des Moines as part of his “Faith In America” listening tour. → Read More
Nikki Haley urges Republicans considering Trump to ‘look forward’
Newly announced Republican presidential candidate and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley said the party has “got to move forward” from former President Donald Trump. → Read More
Republicans proposes more job searches to qualify for unemployment benefits
A year after enacting stricter requirements for Iowans who receive unemployment, a new Republican bill would require Iowans to conduct more job searches in order to earn benefits. → Read More
Hearing on removing school books leads to testy exchange
A hearing Monday on Iowa school districts’ processes for reviewing and removing school library books and materials some parents and community members deem obscene devolved into testy exchanges between Democrats and Republicans → Read More
Newly announced Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley to host Marion town hall
Newly announced Republican presidential candidate and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley will host a town hall in Marion on Tuesday. → Read More
Iowa prosecutors worry bill would usurp local decisions
While the proposal restates existing law, county attorneys worry it could enable the AG to undermine their work → Read More
Iowa Department of Education director announces resignation
The head of Iowa's Department of Education is stepping down next month to pursue other opportunities, the Iowa Governor’s Office announced Friday. → Read More
Grassley, Klobuchar continue push to drive down drug costs
U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, say they have new confidence Congress will continue efforts to lower prescription drug costs. → Read More
Iowa Senate advances proposal to reduce property taxes
Representatives of Iowa’s public schools, cities, counties and assessors warn it will lead to public service cuts. → Read More
Iowa Senate Republicans balk at over-the-counter birth control despite Reynolds’ push
Senate Republicans advanced Gov. Kim Reynolds’ sweeping health care bill, but removed a provision that would allow pharmacists to dispense birth control without a prescription. → Read More