Tag Archives: Iowa Civil Liberties Union

Caught off guard

Posted on October 8, 2025 by Marty Ryan

In 1997, when I was lobbying for the Iowa Civil Liberties Union (the forerunner to the ACLU of Iowa), a bill was introduced in the Iowa House of Representatives that would have allowed school officials to randomly conduct searches of … Continue reading →

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Fool me once

Posted on April 21, 2023 by Marty Ryan

As a lobbyist, having lunch with a legislator is a great opportunity to discuss the issues that matter most to you, and if it’s just the two of you, the legislator’s ear is all yours. And if the legislator is … Continue reading →

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Dennis Barnum 1934-2014

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Marty Ryan

Dennis Barnum: Dennis, as in “Dennis the Menace”, and Barnum, as in “Barnum and Bailey Circus” (he purposefully left off the Ringling Brothers association); that’s how he introduced himself to me, and how I have heard him introduce himself to … Continue reading →

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1995

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Marty Ryan

I saw a beam of light through the pessimism. Continue reading →

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