By Sara Sciammacco, Capitol News Connection
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kios/local-kios-926290.mp3
Washington, D.C. – A new report based on census estimates predicts a major change in Iowa's political landscape. It says the state will probably lose a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives because of population trends.
Take away one member of Iowa's delegation -- which is already small compared to more populous states -- and Iowa could stand to lose some of its power and clout in Congress.
Tim Storey of the National Conference of State Legislatures says that's a big deal for Iowa. "It means more could be looking out for the interested of a particular state Iowa or Pennsylvania or any other state and it really does translate almost directly into influence and power over federal policies and what happens in Washington."
Storey says Iowa will not know for sure whether it is losing a seat until the Census Bureau releases the final population numbers in December. He says the retirement effect, where older couples move to southern states, and the economic recession have put Iowa in this position.
According to the study by the group Elections Data Services, Nebraska may also be in line to lose a seat in the reapportionment process much later down the road in 2020.