[Cross Posted @ Bleeding Heartland]On a bi-partisan 59-37 vote, the Iowa House expanded Iowa’s civil rights law to end discrimination in housing or the workplace based on sexual orientation.

"It is a historic vote," said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Des Moines Democrat. "I also think it was a mainstream vote. This was not some sort of liberal/social agenda. This is just saying that under housing and employment people should not be discriminated based upon their real or perceived sexual orientation."

According to a House Democratic press release,"Discrimination in any form is simply wrong.  Whether in the workplace or housing, Iowans should not be discriminated against because of age, race, color, religion or sexual orientation," said State Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell of Ames, who managed the bill.  

Danny Carroll is the Republican incumbent in Iowa's HD 75.  He's running against Eric Palmer.  Carroll is one of the hardcore "Christian Coalition" conservatives left in Central Iowa.  He says he "values seniors"...but what does that get them?  Danny Carroll participating in a Las Vegas land scam that bilks on elderly woman out of $50,000...more below:

Eric Palmer is the Democrat running for the seat in Iowa's House District 75.  He's up on TV.  The ad is here.

Help keep him on TV - contribute HERE.

Seems that national trends are beginning to filter down to the local level in Iowa's HD 75 (Oskaloosa-Grinnell-Montezuma).  This race is being held in a traditional "swing district" and was decided by less than 300 votes in 2004 but the rematch between socially conservative Republican Danny Carroll & Oskaloosa Democrat Eric Palmer is starting to look like it's gaining some momentum ... more below

Recently the "Republican State Leadership Committee", a 527 campaign organization headquartered on K Street in Washington D.C., has endorsed Iowa House Republican Danny Carroll in his race for re-election in Iowa's House District 75.  Carroll is running for re-election against Oskaloosa City Council member Eric Palmer.

So, in Iowa there's a conservative blog called "The Krusty Konservative"...kind of interesting in that they have chosen to use the "K" as a re-signified letter when spelling conservative.  Actually, the guy who goes by the name "Krusty" (ala, the Simpsons) changes most "C's" into "K's".

Just out from The Caucus Cooler that Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour is making a trip to Des Moines to campaign, and raise money, for Republican incumbent Danny Carroll - running for re-election in HD 75 (Oskaloosa-Grinnell-Montezuma).  This is particularly interesting because Eric Palmer (Democratic candidate for the seat) has outraised the incumbent in 2 out of the last 3 campaign finance reporting periods.  More below the fold...

I live in southern Iowa and I've just decided to begin a series of "profiles" on Iowa House & Senate Candidates who I believe stand a real shot at changing the make-up of the Iowa Legislature.  Winning state legislative seats can be a KEY part of the 50 State Strategy.  Today, I'm going to talk about Eric Palmer (HD 75).

There is a serious hotbed of political activity going on "below the radar" in the local Iowa blogosphere. I've been sweating away in 90+ Degree heat (90%+ humidity) and I decided to move inside to the AC and talk about some of what I find going on in local "outside the beltway" politics in my home state - Iowa. [Just a note....Please help us collect links to other "Iowa-Centric" political blogs that might be of interest...candidates included!]