The Fallon Forum

Charles Goldman and Ed discuss the fallout from Komen's decision to retract - then restore - funding for Planned Parenthood.

State Rep Dan Kelley (D-Newton) talks about a wide range of legislative issues, including dove hunting, legislative pay, traffic cameras and drainage districts. Oh, and Dan also offers his Super Bowl prediction(s), which are pretty similar to Ed's predictions.

Bruce Rastetter's AgriSol has worked with Iowa State University's College of Agriculture on a Tanzanian land deal that's getting attention and raising concerns. Joining Ed on opposing sides of the debate are Anuradha Mittal, executive director of the Oakland Institute, and Henry Akona, AgriSol's director of communications.

Part 1: Sylvia Piper with Disability Advocacy Now and Dean Lerner, former head of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, discuss the recent death at a care facility in Council Bluffs, and what changes are needed to assure better care for our elderly. Part 2: Former US Congressman Berkley Bedell talks about his new book, called Revenue Matters.

Part 1: We talk with Mother Jones reporter Gavin Aronsen about his experience as one of six credentialed reporters arrested at the occupy protest in Oakland this past weekend. Part 2: Bear with me as I test your patience and ask you to read through a message (see website for details) sent to me by a regular correspondent who fashions himself a thoughtful conservative. Perhaps you'll want to ask the sender the same question I've asked: If you truly believe these things about President Obama, then who - or what - do you think he is?

We talk with Speaker of the Iowa House Kraig Paulsen (R-Hiawatha) about traffic cameras, economic development, nuclear power, and drug testing food stamp recipients.

Sonia Ashe with the Iowa Public Interest Research Group discusses a recent memo from Iowa Utilities Board staffers expressing concern about MidAmerican Energy's proposal to saddle ratepayers with the cost of its proposed nuclear power plant.

Debi Durham with the Iowa Economic Development Authority talks with Ed about state economic incentive programs, and addresses Ed's claim that the programs often amount to corporate welfare. Then David Williams with Taxpayers Protection Alliance shares his take on the upcoming State of the Union address.

Charles Goldman and Ed discuss the results from Saturday's Republican primary in South Carolina, and what's next in Florida on January 31.

Over the past seven years, the State of Iowa has given $809 million in tax breaks to 50 big corporations. The top three are ethanol plants owned by out-of-state oil companies. Joining us for the conversation are ISU economist Dave Swenson, David Osterberg with the Iowa Policy Project, and State Rep Dan Kelley (D-Newton).