State Notes

Meanwhile in Des Moines...

Playing catchup on state politics, both the legislative session and the primary. Worth noting:

Paul Pate launches a one-day campaign for his old Secretary of State job, filing a campaign committee on the 19th and then announcing on the 20th that he won't run. desmoinesdem has a good overview of the SOS race.

State rep Polly Bukta (D-Clinton) stepping down. Seat's ben in Dem hands quite some time with Art Ollie preceding Bukta.

Proposed legislation to expunge 18-21 year old alcohol charges from criminal records. How about just going the next step: put the drinking age back at 18 where it belongs so that these young adult "crimes" (sic) aren't crimes in the first place?

And Civic Skinny has the Iowa parts of "Game Change," with Madame Secretary of State doing lots of caucus bashing.