Governor Reynolds Vetos Bill Calling For Restricting Attorney General Actions For Out-of-State Lawsuits
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has vetoed a measure that Republican lawmakers pushed through in the final days of the legislative session to stop the state’s Democratic attorney general from filing or joining lawsuits challenging President Donald Trump’s policies.
The measure Reynolds vetoed Wednesday was targeted at stopping Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller from joining multi-state lawsuits filed against the federal government. Republicans argued Miller had sued Trump too much.
The proposal would have required the attorney general to get the
permission from the governor, legislature or state executive council before filing any out-of-state court action. Iowa would have been the only state with such limits.
After Reynolds announced the veto, Miller issued a statement saying he’d agree to “get the consent” of Reynolds before joining such lawsuits. He acknowledged the agreement meant he’d stop suing the Trump administration.
Attorney General Tom Miller Comments About Compromise With Governor Reynolds
(Des Moines) — Attorney General Tom Miller, a Democrat, says the agreement he’s just made with Republican Governor Kim Reynolds means it’s “pretty unlikely” he’ll sign the State of Iowa onto multi-state lawsuits challenging Trump Administration policies.
Governor Reynolds on Wednesday used her item veto authority to nix a policy that would have forced Miller to get permission from her, the state’s Republican-led executive council or from the legislature’s Republican majority to join lawsuits filed in courts outside of Iowa. However, Miller has struck what he calls a “good faith agreement” that’s not set in Iowa law and has promised to seek the governor’s consent before joining any multi-state lawsuits over the next 20 months.
Miller says he’s pleased a Democrat and a Republican could make this deal at a time when there are few examples of good faith bargaining in politics.
Miller says during his FIRST term in office, attorneys general from other states explained the importance of the powers and duties of the office — and that weighed on his mind.
Miller also got some back-up from CURRENT attorneys general, including from Republicans in Idaho and Nebraska, who urged Reynolds to reject the proposal from G-O-P lawmakers. One of the Republican legislators who sought to put restraints on Miller in state law says he’s pleased the governor pursued this compromise — and if Miller intends to challenge Trump Administration policies in the future, he’ll be doing so under his own name rather than on behalf of the State of Iowa.
…….
King To Hold Town Hall Meetings At Webster and Woodbury Counties
Washington DC- Iowa 4th District Republican Congressman Steve King announces that he will be hosting town
hall meetings in Webster and Woodbury counties on Tuesday, May 28. The Webster County town hall will occur in Fort Dodge at Iowa Central Community College from 10:00-11:00 AM. The Woodbury County town hall will occur in Hornick at the Hornick Town Hall facility from 3:15-4:15 PM.
The town hall meetings are open to the public and to the media. King has pledged to hold a town hall in each county in the 4th Congressional District this year, and these two events will be the 15th and 16th town hall meetings King has hosted since January.
In addition, King announces that he will be hosting a “Hornick Recognition Ceremony” on May 28th prior to the Woodbury County town hall meeting. During the ceremony, which will run from 2:30-3:00 PM Central, King will be specifically recognizing individual town residents and town officials for heroic actions they took to protect Hornick during this year’s flooding.
Congressman King’s “Hornick Recognition Ceremony” is open to the public and to the media.
Man Sentenced To 50 Years In Prison For Fatal Bar Fight
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A man who had said he was only defending himself when he beat another man at a central Iowa bar has been given 50 years in prison.
Polk County District Court records say 49-year-old Rodney Henricksen was sentenced last week for killing Joshua Sadlon. Sadlon, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, died a day after the incident at the Escape Lounge in Urbandale in January 2018. A jury found Henricksen guilty of second-degree murder.
Henricksen had said he’d tried to de-escalate threats made by the drunken Sadlon and said Iowa’s “stand your ground” law protected him from prosecution. The law says a person doesn’t have to retreat before using deadly force if he or she reasonably thinks his or her life is being threatened.
The jury rejected his claim of self-defense. Prosecutors called it a
bar beating, not a bar fight.
County Supervisor Shows Up Drunk For Meeting
FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) – A former NFL defensive lineman who is now a county supervisor in Iowa faces misdemeanor charges after police say he showed up drunk and armed with a pistol at a daytime board meeting.
The Mason City Globe-Gazette reports that police were called to the Winnebago County Courthouse after Tuesday’s meeting in northern Iowa. Police say Mike Stensrud, the Winnebago County supervisor, drank alcohol from a cup during the meeting, and an alcohol breath test showed his blood alcohol level at .09, above the .08 limit.
They say the 63-year-old Stensrud acknowledged having a pistol, which an officer found in his pocket.
Stensrud is charged with public intoxication and carrying a firearm while under the influence.
He told the Globe-Gazette he sought treatment for his drinking in
January and was sober until Tuesday but “just blew it.”
Stensrud, who played at Iowa State before going pro, was in the NFL for a decade before retiring in 1989.
New Book Showcases Successes and Stumbles Of Iowa’s Leaders
(Ankeny) — An author from central Iowa is releasing a new book that focuses on the successes — and stumbles — of some of the region’s most well-known figures. Aaron Putze of Ankeny says his non-fiction book, “You Are Destined for Greatness,” is a compilation of lessons learned by those who have excelled in business, sports, academia, finance, retail and elected office.
The list includes former University of Iowa football star Chuck Long and his coach, Hayden Fry, Ambassador and former Governor Terry Branstad, and Randy Edeker (EE-dah-kur), chairman and C-E-O of Hy-Vee. Putze says his book zeroes in on how our attitudes and the choices we make impact everything we attempt and achieve.
Putze says books sold through his website, putzeink.com, will benefit the youth organization Junior Achievement.
