Free Republic

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill Friday that would have banned crates that severely limit the mobility of pregnant pigs, a move that will win favor with Iowa farmers and spark more speculation about Christie's presidential aspirations but cause outrage among animal rights activists who pushed for the ban. Critics consider the small metal crates a form of animal cruelty -- the pigs aren't able to turn around in the limited space -- but advocates say they prevent sows from accidentally lying down or stepping on piglets. Despite its strong bipartisan support in the state legislature, the Republican...

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is returning to the early presidential caucus state of Iowa on Saturday where he is slated to speak at two events. The potential 2016 Republican presidential contender is scheduled to speak at a luncheon for Rep. Steve King's (R-Iowa) annual pheasant hunt north of Akron before keynoting a birthday fundraiser for Gov. Terry Branstad (R) in Clive. King's weekend hunt, held at the Hole ‘N the Wall Lodge, has in the past attracted potential Republican contenders such as Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas), former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pennsylvania) and Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Christie, who will...

The campaign of Democratic candidate for governor Jack Hatch has suspended television ads in two Iowa markets, including Sioux City, and changed its advertising strategy in two others but denies it's a sign the campaign is struggling financially. "We're just redistributing how we're doing some things to reflect the polling that we're seeing," said Grant Woodard, Hatch's campaign manager... Television ad buys in the Sioux City and Davenport markets have been placed on hold and ad schedules on Des Moines and Cedar Rapids stations have been changed...

Incumbent Governor Terry Branstad (R) and State Senator Jack Hatch (D) met in a debate for Iowa’s gubernatorial race. The second of the series of three debates focused on economic prosperity and job creation. The debate, held at Edward Stone Middle School in Burlington, Iowa, was co-sponsored by the Greater Burlington Partnership, the local alliance of chambers of commerce, as well as KWQC Television in the Quad Cities and the Burlington Hawk Eye. [*The transcript for this program was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.] THE BURLINGTON HAWKEYE NEWSPAPERS AND THE GREATER BURLINGTON PARTNERSHIP. FOR THE NEXT HOUR, TERRY BRANSTAD AND JACK...

Every election cycle tells a story, but the storyline for the 2014 general election is still being written. Republicans have longed believed that 2014 would be a Republican year in Iowa, especially with the absence of a presidential candidate at the top of the ticket. Strong fundraising from Democrats seeking federal office, especially Congressman Bruce Braley who wasn’t challenged for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat that Sen. Tom Harkin is vacating, made it look like Iowa was leaning Democrat in the 2014 U.S. Senate race. A month into the general election, Braley’s campaign seems adrift, and Republican...

After the federal government surreptitiously dumped illegal immigrants in Nebraska last week without informing its governor, Republican Iowa Governor Terry Branstad told federal officials Monday that he did not want his state hosting any illegal immigrant children. “The first thing we need to do is secure the border. I do have empathy for these kids,” Branstad said, according to the Associated Press. “But I also don’t want to send the signal that (you) send your kids to America illegally. That’s not the right message.” Branstad also "said he was not aware of any of the children currently living in Iowa"...

Des Moines – Iowa Republicans forged a unified plan of attack Saturday to seize opportunities in Iowa’s fall election and begin assessing their choices looking ahead to the first-in-the-nation presidential nominating process in 2016. Nearly 1,450 delegates to the Iowa GOP state convention heard rallying cries from U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst, Gov. Terry Branstad and three presidential hopefuls before finalizing a conservative platform and nominating Kim Reynolds as lieutenant governor, Sam Clovis as their state treasurer candidate and Adam Gregg for his attorney general bid. “I think we’re going to have a very strong and unified party and the...

If “scorched earth circular firing squad” were an Olympic event, the Republican Party establishment would win the gold medal every time. Perhaps nowhere is this more true than in my home state of Iowa, where the undocumented Democrat known as Republican Governor (for life) Terry Branstad, and the corporatist shills surrounding him, could be poised to put the finishing touches on a complete rout of their own base. The end result could be the Republican Party of Iowa electing its third chairman in the last 28 months. Then nominating for Congress an agri-business lobbyist who finished fourth in the primary....

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Iowa continues to maintain an internal “do not rehire” list of fired employees who are barred from returning to state employment, even though judges have raised questions about its legality, according to a review by The Associated Press. Since 2009, judges have said three times that the Iowa Department of Administrative Services doesn’t have “the statutory or regulatory authority” to issue lifetime employment bans against fired workers, but the list has steadily grown, records show....

For immediate release March 16, 2014 Contact: tomhoefling@gmail.com 2014 Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Hoefling today challenged incumbent Governor Terry Branstad to a series of five debates in the run up to the June 3rd primary. His proposal includes four smaller events hosted and organized by willing county GOP organizations within the four congressional districts, and would culminate in a large venue debate hosted by the state party. Any proceeds would be split proportionally between the various party organizations participating, for use in electing local Republicans in November. Moderation would be provided by the state and county party chairmen. Hoefling said,...

Tom Hoefling's affidavit of candidacy and nomination petitions for the office of Iowa Governor for the Republican Party have been officially accepted and certified by the Iowa Secretary of State's Office. His name will now be certified to the appropriate county commissioners of elections for inclusion on the ballot at the June 3, 2014, Primary Election! Our heartfelt thanks to all who helped make this possible! Because of you, Iowa Republicans now have a choice!

WATERLOO | Republican Tom Hoefling believes his party's voters deserve a chance to weigh in on Gov. Terry Branstad before the general election. When nobody else stepped up to the challenge, Hoefling saw an opportunity to be that choice and voice for issues that he says otherwise would not get attention during the race to Nov. 4.

It seemed more like an election night victory celebration than a campaign launch. It was unique, but perhaps it was appropriate as well. After all, for the Branstad-Reynolds team, there were plenty of reasons to celebrate. Terry Branstad made a triumphant return to Iowa politics four years ago, promising to return the state to prosperity. The governor believes he delivered on that promise. “Four years ago, I saw the future of our state getting bleaker. I love this state. I was sick of the direction we were going. I knew we could do better and four years ago, I came...

Governor Branstad announced on Monday morning that his campaign has raised a whopping $3.4 million dollars in 2013.  The impressive fundraising haul means that the Governor has over $4.1 million dollars in the bank as the election year begins.Iowa Democrats have had a difficult time finding a formidable challenger to challenge Branstad in 2014.  The lone Democrat in the race, State Senator Jack Hatch, announced a couple weeks ago that he gave his campaign $200,000.  Hatch made the move to scare away any likely primary opponents following State Representative Tyler Olson’s exit from the race due to him pending...

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed an executive order on Wednesday rejecting federal intrusion into the state’s education system. The order, Number 83, declares that the state, “not the federal government of any other organization, shall determine the content of Iowa’s state academic standards”. The order also states that school districts may also choose to use additional assessments to measure student progress.

For Immediate Release Contact: tomhoefling@gmail.com December 2, 2013 Tom Hoefling of Lohrville today announced his intention to enter the 2014 Republican primary race against incumbent Governor Terry Branstad. Hoefling, the long-time conservative activist and organizer, enters the campaign as an anti-establishment outsider, having spent the last six years outside the GOP as a registered independent, and as the founder and chairman of the national America’s Party. On the campaign’s newly-renovated website (tomhoefling.com), he says: “The Branstad era in Iowa is coming to an end soon. There is little doubt about that. The only real question is where we will choose...

The Governor of Iowa's SUV was clocked at 84 MPH. A senior member of Iowa's police force called it in, but the SUV wasn't pulled over. He complained about the incident. He's now been fired.P Special Agent in Charge Larry Hedlund observed the SUV of Governor Terry Branstad going nearly 90 MPH on the highway. He was in a state owned vehicle, but called for an on-duty officer to pursue. Another officer clocked the SUV at 84 MPH, but didn't pull them over once he saw that another trooper was driving.P Hedlund complained to superiors about the incident and how...

Tuesday, dash cam video surfaced of an Iowa State Trooper pursuing a speeding black Chevy SUV on Highway 20 between Cedar Falls and Fort Dodge, back in April. In an audio recording, you can hear DCI Special Agent Larry Hedlund call a state dispatcher for help in pulling over the SUV that he was going a "hard 90." State Patrol started a pursuit, but backed off when they learned the SUV was being driven by a fellow officer and Governor Terry Branstad was a passenger. Five days later the DCI put Hedlund on administrative leave after he complained to his...

SAN PEDRO, CA — Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad was taken by ambulance from the USS Iowa after he choked on a carrot while participating in the dedication of the retired naval vessel July 4. Branstad, 65, was alert and “under his own power,” according to an aide, but was taken to a medical facility for tests. He has left the hospital to return to the USS Iowa and plans to take in a fireworks display this evening, according to Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht. “Right now he’s more embarrassed than anything,” said Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht. Branstad had just finished delivering...

Team Herman Cain ~ Interview with ESPN before Iowa State vs Texas A&M game. pic.twitter.com/OiOmtdqs Team Herman Cain ~ Watching the Iowa-Indiana game with IA Governor Terry Branstad pic.twitter.com/WhIpkclS