Current Office: Senator
First Elected: 11/02/2004
Next Election: 2012
Party: Democratic

General

Gender: Male
Family: Wife: Coleen; 1 Child: Steve
Birth date:
Birthplace:
Home City: Epworth IA
Religion:

Profession

United States Postal Service, retired Fire Chief, Epworth Fire Department, 1987-2003 Fire Fighter, Epworth Fire Department, 1968-2003

Education

Committees

Agriculture
Appropriations
Environment and Energy Independence
Judiciary
Natural Resources and Environment
Subcommittee on Justice System Appropriations
Transportation

SF 2284 Amends Education Provisions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 2275 Authorizes Internet Gambling
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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: Yea

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SF 2284 Amends Education Provisions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SF 2275 Authorizes Internet Gambling
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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: Yea

SF 534 Abortion Restrictions
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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: Yea

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: Nay

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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: Yea

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

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

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

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

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

SF 2380 Tax Law Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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

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

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

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: Yea

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

SF 2088 Government Reorganization
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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

SF 2033 Education Law Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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

SF 477 Appropriation Bonds
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: -

SF 389 Health Insurance Expansion
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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: Yea

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: Nay

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

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

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

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: Nay

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

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: Yea

HF 2359 Veterans Trust Fund
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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

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

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: Yea

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: Yea

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: Yea

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

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

SF 599 Iowa Power Fund
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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

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

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

SF 599 Iowa Power Fund
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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

HF 877 Statewide Preschool Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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

HF 877 Statewide Preschool Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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

HF 877 Statewide Preschool Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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: Yea

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

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

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

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

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

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: Yea

SF 61 Harassment In Schools
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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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