Former Iowa Congressman Jim Nussle says Iowa’s 94 not-for-profit credit unions have filled a void as banks throughout the country and in Iowa continue to consolidate. “When I started in congress back in 1990, seems like ages ago now, small community banks made up about 75 percent of the entire marketplace of financial services,” Nussle says. “That’s down to 17 percent today.” Nussle is president and C-E-O of the Credit Union National Association. He was in Des Moines Thursday, to address the Iowa Credit Union Convention.

“Credit unions were one of the original disruptors of the marketplace back in 1934,” Nussle says. “We kind of forget about that and so my message to them is don’t be disrupted. Be the disruptor and we’re doing that, I think, in a very positive way for Iowans and for Americans.” More than a million Iowans are members of a credit union and the state’s credit unions have about 16-BILLION dollars in assets, according to Nussle.

“We’re growing,” Nussle says, “which is also something that not all businesses or industries can say these days and we can, which is positive.” Nussle says the “speed of change” and stress in the industry has been rather dramatic, not only because of the “Great Recession,” but because of incidents like Wells Fargo’s admission that its employees created fake accounts without customers’ permission. The recent growth of on-line “peer to peer” lending presents credit unions with an opportunity rather than a challenge, according to Nussle, because credit unions are member-driven.

“We can be that new kind of disruption, which I think many people have interest in, like millennials in particular, but do it in a safe-and-sound and with-a-track-record-to-prove-it sort of way,” Nussle says. Nussle, a Republican, served 16 years in congress representing northeast Iowa, including a stint as chairman of the House Budget Committee. Nussle says congress seems to be locked in a system right now that’s promoting dysfunction and inaction.

“It seemed to me, when I was there, there was always a point where you would make a decision,” Nussle says. “Yeah, there’d be a fight. There’d be a mess. There’s be partisanship. There might even be interparty conflicts, but there was often then a point where it was like, ‘O.K., thank you. We’ve had that fight. We’ve that debate. Let’s make a decision.'” Nussle says he’s reluctant to give advice to current members of congress because he doesn’t have the inside information they may have.

But from the outside looking in, Nussle says it appears decisions on issues like health care, immigration, tax reform and infrastructure that could spur economic growth are languishing in congress. “Have your fight. That’s fine. Have your discussion. Have your debate. People care about this stuff, so they should, but let’s make a decision,” Nussle says. “Let’s have a vote.” Nussle suggested the polarization in the congress could be addressed if more states adopted Iowa’s non-partisan system for drawing congressional district lines.

“I’m proud of those who decide to serve the public. The vast majority do it, always, for the right reason,” Nussle told Radio Iowa. “…I don’t think it’s the people. They’re locked in a system right now that is promoting this dysfunction.” After running unsuccessfully for governor in 2006, President Bush appointed Nussle to serve as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Nussle has been president and C-E-O of the Credit Union National Association for three years.

(Radio Iowa)

The U.S. Senate may wrap up debate early next week on a massive bill that outlines next year’s spending plan for the Pentagon. Republican Senator Joni Ernst says congress has an “obligation” to stop “hollowing out” the U.S. military.

“Inaction, obstruction or partial commitments are not options,” Ernst said Thursday. Four-hundred amendments have been offered on the bill and many deal with policy issues, like whether transgender troops will be allowed to serve in the military. During remarks on the Senate floor, though, Ernst focused on the nearly 700 BILLION dollars in spending items in the bill.

“Sadly, for the first time in decades, we are forced to confront not one but multiple threats to the American way of life,” Ernst said. “An aggressive Russia, expanding China, nuclear North Korea, nefarious Iran and relentless global terror networks put our lives and the lives of future generations at risk. America is once again in crisis.” Ernst is chairman of the Senate Armed Services SUBcommittee that examines emerging threats around the globe.

Ernst says it’s time to “increase cooperation with international partners” who work in the area of counter-terrorism. “And to reaffirm America’s support for our European friends by putting Russia on notice for its aggression in Ukraine and Crimea,” Ernst said. Ernst sponsored or co-sponsored nearly three dozen provisions that were added to the bill before it cleared the Senate Armed Services Committee. One would extend a suicide prevention program for soldiers in the National Guard and Reserve as well as their families. Another Ernst-backed proposal in the bill would let officials lease vacant buildings at the Rock Island Arsenal to private-sector businesses.

(Radio Iowa)

A Bloomberg report out of Washington, D.C. indicates an Iowan who’s run unsuccessfully for statewide office twice will be the new chief of staff for the U.S. Attorney General. Matthew Whitaker of Clive was the G-O-P nominee for state treasurer in 2002. President Bush named Whitaker the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa in 2004 and Whitaker held that post for five and a half years.

In 2014, Whitaker was one of five Republicans who ran for the U.S. Senate, the year Joni Ernst won the G-O-P primary and the general election. Whitaker, who is 47 years old, played football at the University of Iowa and earned an MBA and a law degree from the school as well.

Two other high-ranking Republican politicians are partners in Whitaker’s Des Moines law firm. Attorney Jack Whitver is the president of the Iowa Senate and attorney Chris Hagenow is the majority leader in the Iowa House.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — Defense attorneys are asking a judge to dismiss a charge against reality TV star Chris Soules for leaving the scene of a fatal accident in Iowa. Soules starred on the television show “The Bachelor” two years ago. The local farmer is accused of driving a truck that hit a farm tractor near his hometown of Aurora in April that killed the tractor’s driver. Soules was in the courtroom Thursday when his attorneys said they would formally ask for the charge to be dismissed at a hearing next month.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police say a Waterloo man who called 911 in July to report the drowning of a child in a bathtub has been charged in the child’s death. Police say an autopsy showed 4-year-old Jaheem Harris had been beaten to death. The Courier reports that 23-year-old Walter Cordell Williams has been charged with first-degree murder in the child’s death. He was arrested Thursday and his bond set at $1 million.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Repairs to a nature trail in Iowa have been delayed after the Federal Emergency Management Agency put a hold on a funding request. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that FEMA’s decision to halt the $380,000 request comes in the wake of severe hurricane damage in Texas and Florida. Blackhawk County Conservation Director Mike Hendrickson says the county was notified of the hold Friday. Hendrickson said it’s not a surprise that only critical needs are receiving funding at this time.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge won’t let a Des Moines woman use Iowa’s new “stand your ground” defense against charges that she killed her stepfather. The law says a person doesn’t have to retreat before using deadly force if the person thinks his or her life is being threatened. Sera Alexander’s lawyer had argued that Alexander should be allowed to use the law although it took effect nearly two months after Anthony Hartmann was slain.

An Iowa State Patrol pursuit that began near Avoca a little after 10-a.m., Thursday, ended with the suspect losing control of the vehicle, which ended up in a cornfield just outside of Woodbine. Pursuit of the black Dodge Durango with what was believed to be occupied by two black males, began on eastbound on Interstate 80 near Avoca, after the driver refused to stop for a speeding citation. According to Iowa State Patrol Trooper M.J. Kober, the vehicle exited the interstate and proceeded northbound on Highway 59 into Shelby County. Kober said the trooper lost sight of vehicle, but it was later seen in Harlan.

According to Kober and a press release from the Iowa State Patrol, as the vehicle entered the south side of Denison, it turned onto Highway 30. Numerous officers attempted to deploy stop sticks during the pursuit, all of which were unsuccessful. From Denison, the suspect traveled south through Dow City and Dunlap and, at approximately one mile east of Woodbine, the Durango went off the road to the left, struck a corn field and came to a stop in the ditch.

One male subject was placed under arrest. The driver suffered injuries during the accident and was transported to CHI Missouri Valley Hospital, then later to Mercy Hospital in Omaha. Law enforcement on the scene did search the cornfield for a possible second suspect, but Kober said no one was found in the field.

Assisting the Iowa State Patrol were: Harlan police , the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Denison Police, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa DOT Enforcement, Iowa DCI, Woodbine Police, Woodbine Fire and Rescue, Harrison County Conservation and the ISP Air Wing.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports two men from Wiota have filed to run for City office. Ford Lillard has filed nomination papers to run for Mayor. And, Jeff Lillard has filed to run for a City Council seat. They join the list of other, previously announced candidates who are in the running for the Nov. 7th City Elections in Cass County. The deadline to file nomination papers is 5-p.m., Sept. 21st.