Iowa’s two U-S Senators both voted to confirm Betsy DeVos today (Tuesday) as the U-S Secretary of Education. DeVos drew criticism for her lack of education background and the vote in the Senate ended in a 50-50 tie that had to be broken by Vice President Mike Pence. Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, released a video message explaining her vote. “Over the last several weeks, I have thoroughly vetted Betsy DeVos, and have found that she shares the belief that those closest to our students — from parents to teachers to local administrators and local elected officials — know what is best for our students,” Ernst says. “Additionally, she has pledged to fight for all students, including those attending public, private, and charter schools.”

Ernst says DeVoss has also pledged to support students who require additional support due to developmental, physical, or other disabilities. She also says she will be sure the DeVos follows through with what she has said she will do. “While I support her confirmation, I will be holding her accountable to the standard she has placed upon herself,” she says.

Ernst acknowledged the controversy surrounding DeVos. “I have heard from folks on both sides of the debate over Betsy DeVos. Good people can disagree with one another and still engage in a civil, productive discourse,” Ernst says. ” An open and honest dialogue is important and it’s critical that I continue to hear from you.”

She finished by saying she looks forward to “working with you to protect our schools, restore local control, and prepare our youth to enter the workforce.”  Senator Charles Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, released a statement on DeVos’ confirmation, saying: “I believe Betsy DeVos will perform the job of U-S Secretary of Education faithfully and well. There’s been a lot of misinformation that Mrs. DeVos opposes public schools. In fact, she’s committed to being an advocate for great public schools. What’s more, her job will not be to oversee public schools. That’s handled at the state and local school board levels. The role of the U-S Secretary of Education is to implement federal education programs, which are largely targeted at providing additional assistance to disadvantaged students and students with disabilities whether they attend public or private schools.”

Grassley’s statement says DeVos has made it clear that her job would be to enforce all federal laws as Congress intended, and says that’s” refreshing in light of recent experience.” Grassley says the Obama Administration overreached in trying to coerce states to adopt its preferred policies and Congress passed safeguards to prevent any future secretary of education from pushing policies not included in federal law.

(Radio Iowa)

Firefighters from Audubon were called to a reported hog barn fire several miles northwest of Audubon, Tuesday night. The call about the fire at 1038 170th Avenue came in at around 5:40-p.m. A person answering the phone at the Audubon Fire Department said a spark from a welder triggered a flash fire in methane pit. The fire blew itself out before firefighters arrived. No damage or injuries were reported. Fire firefighters were back in the station by around 6:35-p.m.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — The Dubuque City Council is moving ahead with having staff draft an ordinance that would ban retailers from using plastic shopping bags. The Telegraph Herald reports that council members voted 4-3 in favor of the plan Monday night. Council members Luis Del Toro and David Resnick argued the city would be better served by a less heavy-handed approach and recommended finding ways to encourage retailers and residents to voluntarily lessen plastic bag use.

A memo from Cori Burbach, the city’s sustainable community coordinator, says charging shoppers more in an effort to curb the use of plastic checkout bags would require a substantial amount of work. City Attorney Crenna Brumwell says the city could be exposed to litigation if a fee were implemented improperly.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republicans who hold majorities in the Iowa Legislature are moving quickly on a bill that public employee unions say would gut Iowa’s collective bargaining law.

The 68-page bill was filed Tuesday in the House and Senate. Republican leaders say they intend to approve procedural votes Wednesday and Thursday. Full votes in both chambers could happen next week under that schedule.

The bill would allow employers to fire public workers without proper cause, and it would prohibit unions from bargaining over several issues that are now covered.

Republicans say the bill would create competitive wages for the best workers, an assertion several union leaders say isn’t true. Democrats say they didn’t see the bill before Tuesday.

Dozens of union workers gathered Tuesday at the Capitol to voice opposition to proposed changes.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa Senate subcommittee has approved a proposed ban on medical research using fetal tissue despite objections it could jeopardize life-saving cures.

The Republican-controlled panel agreed Tuesday that the use or transportation of fetal tissue should be largely prohibited. The legislation is similar to a bill passed in the Iowa House last year that banned the use of aborted fetal tissue for research. That bill failed in a Senate controlled by Democrats, but with Republicans now controlling both chambers, the measure could see greater support.

The Iowa Board of Regents requested an amendment that would allow researchers to use fetal cell lines, permit medical donations and allow pathological study. Legislators didn’t OK the amendment but say they could consider it later.

The bill moves to the Senate Human Resources committee.