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State Sen. Brad Zaun Published 11:34 a.m. CT April 21, 2017 | Updated 16 hours ago

Brad Zaun(Photo: Special To The Register)

This session was a big one not just for me, but for our constituents and all Iowans who wanted to see results. We were not elected for more of the same. We were elected to make big changes and bold decisions.

We were able to bring a number of bills to the floor for debate that had never been previously discussed. These include our overhaul of laws regarding the Second Amendment in Iowa, voter ID and life.

Our focus this session has continually been economic growth and development. We worked to pass several of the priorities we set out the first week of session, including requiring jobs impact statements for administrative rule changes and legislation to help our small businesses and job creators. We passed Senate Joint Resolution 9, allowing the people of Iowa to vote on putting a 99 percent expenditure limit amendment to the Iowa Constitution. This would provide confidence to Iowa families and job creators that the state will live within its means in the same way they must live within their means.

We made a series of changes to regulations in this state with the goal of allowing our job creators to spend less time fending off frivolous lawsuits and focus on expanding their businesses in our communities.

This year we were able to pass supplemental state aid for our schools on time, setting budgets early and allowing school districts more time and predictability to plan their school year budgets. We passed collective bargaining reform, allowing school boards and administrators to reward good teachers and get rid of bad teachers.

We also passed a bill that had been pushed for years transportation equity for our rural school districts. This bill is important to many rural districts across the state as they seek to provide the best education to their students regardless of where they live in Iowa.

Bills were passed to give more local control to school boards and how they spend their money.

We passed common-sense laws supported by a majority of Iowans, such as one of the largest gun bills in recent history, expanding the rights of every gun owner across the state. We were also able to require a government-issued identification in order to participate in one of the most important things you can do as a citizen casting your vote.

This session was a productive one for the people of Iowa. I appreciate all the emails, phone calls and messages this session. In the coming months, please continue to contact me with your questions, concerns and any problems you are having. It is an honor to serve as your state senator.

STATE SEN. BRAD ZAUN, R-Urbandale, represents District 20 in the Iowa Senate, which includes Johnston, parts of Urbandale and Grimes and areas of northern Polk County to Saylorville Lake. He can be reached at brad.zaun@legis.iowa.gov or at the Statehouse at 281-3371.

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Zaun: Session saw strides for Second Amendment, schools, economy - DesMoinesRegister.com

Candidates for Montana's special election to replace Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, launched combative ads showcasing their support for gun rights on Thursday.

Democrat and country music singer Rob Quist is running against Republican Greg Gianforte, a millionaire businessman who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2016.

After receiving criticism for comments made in January suggesting he would be open to a national gun registry, Quist's campaign launched a video ad, "Defend," on Thursday showing him in a field holding a rifle.

"I won't stand by while a millionaire from New Jersy tries to attack my Montana values," the Democrat said just before shooting a television screen.

Just hours later, Gianforte responded with an ad claiming Quist wanted to establish a national gun registry loaded with constituents personal information.

"Some folks just don't get it. Our Second Amendment rights are not up for negotiation," Gianforte said while shooting a computer screen with a shotgun.

Following the congressional special election in Kansas, and anticipated June runoff in Georgia, attention has shifted to Montana's upcoming special election which is set to take place on May 25.

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Montana special election candidates trade Second Amendment shots - Washington Examiner

On April 6,Breitbart News reported that the South Carolina House passed permitless carry legislationsponsored by stateRep. Mike Pitts (R-14). That legislation,which would abolish the need for concealed carry permits, is now with the Senate.

Pitts bill would recognize South Carolinians right to carry a handgun openly or concealed without a permit for self-defense.The Post and Courierquoted Pitts saying, This bill is a very simple bill. It means, by definition of the Constitution, it gives you the ability to keep and bear arms without having to be permitted by the country.

Governor McMaster concurs.According to The Charlotte Observer, McMasters spokesman, Brian Symmes, said, Governor McMaster appreciates the Houses hard work on this bill, believes it is constitutional and will sign it if it reaches his desk.

There are currently12 states that require no permit for exercising the Second Amendment right to bear arms: Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, and West Virginia. And permitless carry is the law of the land in99.4 percentof Arkansas and Montana.

AWR Hawkins is the Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and host of Bullets with AWR Hawkins, a Breitbart News podcast. He is also the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.

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SC Governor: The Second Amendment Is Your Concealed Carry Permit - Breitbart News

Your news article "Gorsuch dives into the fray on first day emphasized the originalist constitutional legal philosophy of the newest Supreme Court justice. Neil Gorsuch made repeated references to the plain words and plain texts of the law he was considering. He asked, Wheres the ambiguity? And, Wouldnt it be a lot easier if we just followed the plain text of the statute? Like the late Antonin Scalia, Gorsuch claims to decide cases based on the literal words of the law, not its purpose or how it has been interpreted by lower courts.

That brings us to the plain unambiguous text of the Second Amendment: A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. For too long well-regulated meant any firearm any place any time and militia meant individual person.

Your story said the Supreme Court decided to take no action on a California case in which gun owners sued when they were denied a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Eventually the Supreme Court, including Gorsuch, will have to rule on a Second Amendment issue. Then we will see if he actually follows his originalist philosophy and uses the plain unambiguous meanings of well-regulated and militia in his decision. If he doesnt then we can conclude his originalist philosophy is a pretext used only to rationalize his ultra-conservative political ideology just like Justice Scalia before him.

Bob Barth, Chicago

Read more:
How will Justice Neil 'Plain Words' Gorsuch tackle the Second Amendment? - Chicago Tribune

Push against anti-immigrant bill

Maine should push back against anti-immigrant efforts, such as that proposed by Republican Rep. Lawrence Lockman, who has submitted LD 366, An Act to Ensure Compliance with Federal Immigration Law by State and Local Government. It has a public hearing at 1 p.m. Thursday. Those opposed to the bill should make every effort to attend the hearing or contact their legislators.

LD 366 requires that towns demand their local police officers act as immigration agents. Should the bill pass and become law, the penalty for municipalities that do not comply would be the termination of all state funds. LD 366 is a stark example of federal overreach, altering the rules on short notice so government can meddle in local affairs.

Maine is in the middle of an opioid epidemic. We desperately need our police officers to focus on helping to control this epidemic. Immigrants commit crimes at a lower rate than the general population, so why expend our precious resources on policing them? Also, imagine the chaos as our local police officers, without any training as immigration agents, try to interpret and enforce very complicated federal immigrations laws. Lawsuits seem inevitable.

Passage of LD 366 would have a chilling effect on anyone in the state who does not descend from Anglo-Saxon stock. At a time when Maine needs young immigrants to step in and help staff our hospitals and nursing homes, LD 366 would discourage people from giving us the hand we need.

Kathreen Harrison

Camden

An Act to Strengthen Work Participation in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, LD 1017, proposes that individuals receiving TANF benefits may no longer use good cause reasons to excuse an inability to comply with the work participation requirements of their contract, allowing the state to suspend benefits for adults without notice. If not found in compliance within 90 days, they will lose the benefits for the entire family.

Because someone loses TANF benefits for noncompliance, it does not mean they no longer have need or that they would be able to immediately find employment. And in the case of what good cause reasons previously included, such as the illness of a child or relative, would be equally good cause to take time off from work. In fact, these situations are often protected in the workplace by existing laws. Furthermore, under current law, good cause reasons must be received in a short time frame are not accepted without due consideration and review.

An Act to Strengthen Work Participation in the TANF Program is scheduled for a hearing on April 24. Please take the time to let your senator and representative know that LD 1017 does not strengthen work participation; it puts individuals in an impossible position. It punishes people who already are dealing with hardship. Certainly, it is in the best interest of everyone to allow TANF recipients some flexibility and understanding while they pursue the training and assistance TANF/ASPIRE provides to help them gain meaningful and sustaining employment.

Margaret Hanna

Belfast

I read the BDNs April 17 editorial about the ride of Paul Revere, the Lexington confrontation of British regulars by patriot militia and other musings. The part about the Lexington confrontation, to me, highlights the full benefit and purpose of the Second Amendment: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The editorial mentioned that the British were marching to Lexington to try and capture rebel leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams. As important, and not mentioned in the editorial, was the other focus of the British jaunt to capture stores of rifles, black powder and shot and to confiscate arms.

Without the patriotic resolution of the population to free itself from English domination our country would not be. If the British had captured those arms and accessories our country might not be. The Second Amendment is as important today as it was then, and for a very good reason.

I wholeheartedly agree that Patriots Day needs to be elevated to a more prominent place in our list of observances, perhaps not necessarily a holiday but recognized and observed for what it is the beginning of the great American experience.

Gregory Palman

Amherst

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Thursday, April 20, 2017: Why we have the Second Amendment, push against anti-immigrant bill, don't punish people ... - Bangor Daily News