Iowa Politics with Jeff Stein -- Fri. Sep. 04, 2026

Yet another unfinished priority.

I'm Jeff Stein with today's Iowa Politics Report.

It should come as no surprise to you that I am sorely disappointed with the lack of productivity coming out of Congress these days, even things that are agreed to by large numbers on both sides of the political aisle.

still fail to get passed.

Today's example, the AM Radio in Every Car Act.

It has plenty of support in both the House and Senate and the President has called for it to come to his desk.

Yet another year though is rapidly slipping away with no action.

The latest congressional shenanigans would have it be part of a highway bill.

But this week, House Speaker Mike Johnson says he does not expect that bill to be taken up until after the November election during the lame duck session.

Keep in mind that the current highway funding package is set to expire September 30th, the end of the current federal fiscal year.

Now, before you think that September has just begun so there's plenty of time, word from Washington yesterday was that not only would the House leave town that day for the Labor Day Week as scheduled, returning on September 14th, but that the House was canceling two full weeks of action at the end of the month.

In other words, they'll come back on the 14th for four days

and then add two weeks to the currently scheduled four weeks off in October prior to the election.

Hard to pass anything when lawmakers aren't in session.

And now, between late July and after election day, the House apparently will only be in session a total of eight days.

That's eight days over a span of some 15 weeks.

And that's the chamber that is actually trying to move legislation as opposed to the lack of leadership in the Senate.

Now that's just one example and not the most important one, but if that cannot even get done, what hope is there on things that are more controversial?

And that's the Iowa Politics Report for Friday, September 4th on Twitter, Instagram, Gitter, Threads and Truth Social at Iowa Politics.

I'm Jeff Stein on News Talk 1540.

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