Following up on my review of news from the first half of last year, I’ve posted links to Bleeding Heartland’s coverage of Iowa politics from July through December 2009 after the jump.

Hot topics on this blog during the second half of the year included the governor’s race, the special election in Iowa House district 90, candidates announcing plans to run for the state legislature next year, the growing number of Republicans ready to challenge Representative Leonard Boswell, state budget constraints, and a scandal involving the tax credit for film-making.

Just to catch everyone up, MidAmerican Energy is attempting to keep their iron grip on the wind energy production in Iowa, and have been fighting tooth and nail during hearings these past two days.  The Des Moines Register reported this afternoon that they were accused of being so desperate to submit something to the utilities board, they “effectively mailed in four boxtops of Cheerios and asked for approval.”

Now, let's take a trip down memory lane.   MidAmerican Energy is the same company who dumped $25,000, along with RJ Reynolds (big tobacco), into the “Iowa Leadership Council's” negative ad campaign. Their campaign targeted Art Staed, Elesha Gayman,  Bob Kressig, and Eric Palmer– ALL DEMOCRATS.

And Art Staed ended up losing his election.

Clap. Clap. Clap. 

Now, flash forward to today, and you are looking at the reason why I hope with every inch of my being that they “lose” the hearing, or whatever they would consider to be a “loss.” 

Check out the crazy ads they helped run, after the jump.