Current Office: Senator
First Elected: 11/05/2002
Next Election: 2014
Party: Republican

General

Gender: Male
Family:
Birth date:
Birthplace: West Branch, IA
Home City: Ocheyedan IA
Religion: Catholic

Profession

Dairy Farmer, present Newspaper Publisher/Editor Camp Manager, Scientific Expeditions to Antarctica and Arctic

Education

BA, History, Beloit College, 1973

Committees

Agriculture
Appropriations
Education
Human Resources
Legislative Council
Subcommittee on Health and Human Services (Joint Appropriations)
Subcommittee on Studies

SF 2284 Amends Education Provisions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 2275 Authorizes Internet Gambling
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 2304 Requires DNA samples from all individuals convicted of certain misdemeanors
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 589 Prohibits obtaining employment at agriculture facilities under false pretenses
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HF 649 Appropriations for Health and Human Services
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

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SF 2284 Amends Education Provisions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 2275 Authorizes Internet Gambling
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 2304 Requires DNA samples from all individuals convicted of certain misdemeanors
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 589 Prohibits obtaining employment at agriculture facilities under false pretenses
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HF 649 Appropriations for Health and Human Services
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 534 Abortion Restrictions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 526 Requiring a Study to Weigh Outcomes of Legalizing Online Poker in Iowa
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 525 Revises the Iowa Mental Health System
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 682 Congressional and Legislative Redistricting
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 617 Alcoholic Beverage Permits
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 464 Establishment of an Open Season for Hunting Mourning Doves
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 301 Low Interest Loans for Small Businesses
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 328 Education and Employment Training Funding
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 301 Low Interest Loans for Small Businesses
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 328 Education and Employment Training Funding
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 166 Funding for Public Schools
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 2531 Appropriations and Tax Law Amendments
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 2389 Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 2379 Requiring County Sheriffs to Issue Concealed Weapons Permits to Qualified Applicants
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2389 Iowa Jobs II Program and Budget Amendments
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

Amdt 5371 Authorizing Qualified Individuals to Conceal Weapons Without a Permit
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

S 5340 Prohibiting Individual Health Care Mandate
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 2456 Texting While Driving Ban
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2380 Tax Law Amendments
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HF 2518 Retirement Contribution Rate Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 2380 Tax Law Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 2378 Increase in Fees for Traffic Violations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 2376 2010-2011 Education Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 2378 Increase in Fees for Traffic Violations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 2357 Prohibiting Firearm Possession by Domestic Violence Perpetrators
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 788 Prohibiting Liquor Licensees from Permitting Criminal Activity Adjacent to Their Premises
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SF 2062 State Worker Retirement Incentive Program
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2088 Government Reorganization
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 2030 School District Budget Requirements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 2033 Education Law Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

SF 376 Bonds Issuance for Infrastructure Projects and the Creation of an Iowa Jobs Program, Board, and Fund.
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 477 Appropriation Bonds
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 389 Health Insurance Expansion
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

SF 218 Growth Percentage for State School Foundation Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 137 Wage Discrimination Policy and Penalties
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 44 Expediting Local-Option Tax Approval in Disaster Areas
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 2432 2008-2009 Prison and Infrastructure Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 2663 Statewide Sales Tax Increase for School Infrastructure Funding
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 5408 Changes to School Infrastructure Sales Tax
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 2663 Statewide Sales Tax Increase for School Infrastructure Funding
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 5408 Changes to School Infrastructure Sales Tax
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 2663 Statewide Sales Tax Increase for School Infrastructure Funding
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 5408 Changes to School Infrastructure Sales Tax
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2425 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 5377 to SF 2425 Pregnancy Counseling and Support Services
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2425 2008-2009 Health and Human Services Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 5377 to SF 2425 Pregnancy Counseling and Support Services
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

S 5355 to SF 2420 State Funding of Road Projects
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2420 Increasing Vehicle Registration Fees
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

S 5355 to SF 2420 State Funding of Road Projects
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2420 Increasing Vehicle Registration Fees
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 2212 Smoking Ban
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

HF 2539 Health Care Expansion Plan
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HF 2145 Mandatory HPV Vaccination Coverage
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 2645 Public Employee Collective Bargaining and Teacher Termination Policy
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SJR 2002 Natural Resources Trust Fund
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 2212 Smoking Ban
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2355 Time Off to Attend Presidential Precinct Caucuses
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 2359 Veterans Trust Fund
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 2212 Smoking Ban
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SF 2216 State-Mandated Curriculum for Schools
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 920 Univeristy Capital Improvement Bonds
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

Prohibiting State Funding of Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Services
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 604 Commercial Residential Property Tax Reduction
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 909 2007-2008 Health and Human Services Budget
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SF 604 Commercial Residential Property Tax Reduction
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 427 Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HF 909 2007-2008 Health and Human Services Budget
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

Prohibiting State Funding of Partial-Birth/Late-Term Abortion Services
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 604 Commercial Residential Property Tax Reduction
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 427 Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 485 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 599 Iowa Power Fund
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 277 Teacher Pay and Incentive Programs
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 596 Electronic Downloads Tax Creation and Regulation Adjustments for Cigarette Retailers
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 277 Teacher Pay and Incentive Programs
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 599 Iowa Power Fund
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 596 Electronic Downloads Tax Creation and Regulation Adjustments for Cigarette Retailers
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 877 Statewide Preschool Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 588 2008-2009 Education Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 877 Statewide Preschool Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 588 2008-2009 Education Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 877 Statewide Preschool Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

S 3371 Firearms for Campus Police
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 277 Teacher Pay and Incentive Programs
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 611 Research-Based Sex Education
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 485 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 430 Recognition of Tribal Court Decisions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 653 Election Day Voter Registration
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 427 Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 5 Maximum Title Loan Finance Charge
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 413 “Fair Share” Union Fees
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 128 Tobacco Tax Increase
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 162 Stem Cell Research and Penalties
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SF 61 Harassment In Schools
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

SF 61 Harassment In Schools
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HF 1 Minimum Wage Increase
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HF 2351 Eminent Domain
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Yea

HF 2540 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2377 Confinement Feeding Operations
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 2540 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2377 Confinement Feeding Operations
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HF 2540 2006-2007 Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2377 Confinement Feeding Operations
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

SF 2408 Elderly Income Tax Reduction
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 2330 Prohibition of Video Gambling Machines
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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