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Q & A: Balanced Budget Amendment PDF Print E-mail
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Written by Grassley Press   
Tuesday, 09 August 2011 12:09

Q:        Why is a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution needed?
A:        Congress can vote to abandon plans put in place for spending restraint and history proves that, too often, Congress either unravels budget controls or never adopts them in the first place.  A constitutional requirement for a balanced budget would compel members of Congress to act in a fiscally responsible way, since every member of Congress takes an oath to uphold the Constitution, and members tend to take the oath seriously.  A majority of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees constitutional issues, said this about a balanced budget amendment after passing one twice during the 1990s:  “Flagrant disregard of the proposed amendment’s clear and simple provisions would constitute nothing less than a betrayal of the public trust.  In their campaigns for reelection, elected officials who flout their responsibilities under this amendment will find that the political process will provide the ultimate enforcement mechanism.”

Q:        How would a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution be put in place?
A:        An amendment to the Constitution requires a two-thirds vote both in the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as the approval of three-fourths of the 50 state legislatures.  At least 46 states have requirements to balance their state budgets.  Congress has voted on a balanced budget amendment several times, but there never have been enough votes to approve the amendment and send it to the states for ratification.  Along with every other Republican senator, I am a co-sponsor of legislation that could establish a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.  The last time the Senate voted on a balanced budget amendment was in March 1997, when the nation’s debt was less than half of what it is today.  The resolution failed by one vote.  A balanced budget amendment passed the House of Representatives in 1995.  Both the Senate and the House of Representatives must vote on a balanced budget amendment this year, sometime between October 1 and December 31, thanks to a requirement in the agreement that was reached to increase the federal debt ceiling.

Q:        How would the balanced budget amendment work?
A:        The legislation I’ve co-sponsored for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution would require the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually.  It would prohibit Congress from spending more than it takes in or spending more than 18 percent of gross domestic product, compared to the 24 percent that’s being spent today.  In addition, the proposal I support would require supermajorities in the House and Senate to raise taxes.  With a federal debt of more than $14 trillion and deficits as far as the eye can see, it’s time for Congress to act on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and then let states have their say.

Friday, August 5, 2011

 
Joe Pena NOV 8, 1961 to Aug 2, 2011 PDF Print E-mail
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Written by Andy Harris   
Tuesday, 09 August 2011 12:01
Services for Jose M. "Joe" Pena Jr., 49,Davenport, are 11 a.m. on Tuesday at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home @ 614 Main Street in Davenport Iowa.
Burial is at Holy Family Cemetery, Davenport. Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Monday at Halligan Funeral Home 614 Main Street Davenport Iowa.

Joe died Aug. 2, 2011, at home.

He was born Nov. 8, 1961.

Joe was a Singer / Songwriter / Musician and a collector (of Guitars, G.I. Joe’s & other collectables), selling collectables online & at various venues.    He also played extensively with The Pena Blues Band (otherwise known as the Pena Brothers) in the Quad-Cities & atMidwest Venues.   Joe recorded several CDs with his brothers & had a CD produced by the legendary Blues Artist "Buddy Guy" at Catamont Studios.
Just was a Gentle Giant with a good heart who loved his family & friends.

Joe is survived by his wife, Tammy; children, Amelia, Rolando, Guadalupe and Julio, all of Davenport, and Cayetano, Rock Island; mother, Barbara, Davenport; siblings, John, Rolando, Lyle Peña, and Danny, all of Davenport, Christina Olsen, Rock Island, and Alicia, Des Moines.

Joe will be missed.

 
34th ANNUAL PINEAPPLE SALE & 33nd ANNUAL PINEAPPLE GALA PDF Print E-mail
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Written by Camp Courageous   
Tuesday, 09 August 2011 12:00
MONTICELLO, IOWA-Fresh pineapples will be in Iowa for the 34th Annual Pineapple Sale for Camp Courageous the weekend of August 12th-14th. The pineapples will be on sale at nearly 30 Hy-Vee Stores in Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Clinton, Coralville, Davenport, Dubuque, Iowa City, Marion, and Waterloo.  Sales are Friday, August 12thSaturday, August 13th, and Sunday August 14th. Most locations will have the ability to core and place the pineapple in a container for the customer.

The 33rd Annual Pineapple Gala, will be Friday, August 19th at the Cedar Rapids Marriott beginning at 6:00 p.m. This is one of Iowa’s largest charity silent and live auction with nearly 400 items ranging from $5 to condos. An exceptional Hawaiian dinner, entertainment, and door prizes, including a trip for two to Hawaii, are planned for this year’s Gala.  Volunteer Emcee for the evening will be Gary Dolphin and the volunteer auctioneer will be Todd Smith.  Tickets are $50/each or a table of 10 for $500. Auction items can be donated, or tickets can be obtained through the camp by calling Charlie Becker at 319/465-5916, ext. 2100 or e-mailing at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Many auction items can be viewed at: www.campcourageous.org. Special Camp Courageous overnight rates are available by calling the Marriott.
This year Camp Courageous will be honoring the Lions Clubs of Iowa and their support of the camp since the camp's earliest days.

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Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topikna to Hold Press Conference at the Quad City Animal Welfare Center(QCAWC) PDF Print E-mail
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Written by Patti McRae   
Thursday, 04 August 2011 08:19

(Milan, IL) - The QCAWC is very pleased to announce that Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka will hold a press conference at the Quad City Animal Welfare Center (QCAWC) on Tuesday, August 9th beginning at 1:00 p.m. Our address is 724 West Second Avenue Milan, Illinois.

Comptroller Baar Topinka will be presenting her new program on her website called "Comptroller's Critters" which the QCAWC has animals listed at: http://www.illinoiscomptroller.com

We would like to invite all of you to meet Comptroller Baar Topinka. She has three dogs that she adopted from shelters. Contact Patti McRae with any questions at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or

309-787-6830 ext.13.

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"Nothing Compares" to Finding Lost Money with State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald's Great Iowa Treasure Hunt PDF Print E-mail
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Written by readMedia   
Tuesday, 02 August 2011 16:24

DES MOINES, IA (08/02/2011)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald announced today that a stop at the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt booth during the 2011 Iowa State Fair may be worthwhile, as fair goers could find their names among the hundreds of thousands of individuals with unclaimed property. "The Iowa State Fair is one of the most fun and successful ways we have to reach people who may have money in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt," Fitzgerald stated.

"Computers will be set up for people to search for their names or someone they know at the state fair," Fitzgerald said. "Treasure Hunt staff members will be on hand to help treasure hunters print claim forms and answer questions on the spot. Over the years, we have had tremendous success in reuniting people with their lost treasures. Last year, over 7,500 people were successful in finding their name or that of someone they know."

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program has returned over $134 million in unclaimed property since Fitzgerald created it in 1983. Unclaimed property refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions or companies that have lost contact with the property's owner for a specific period of time. State law requires these institutions and companies to annually report and deliver unclaimed property to the State Treasurer's Office. The assets are then held until the owner or heir of the property is found. Common forms of unclaimed property include savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility security deposits, and safe deposit box contents.

Visit the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt booth at the Iowa State Fair, August 11 - 21, in the Varied Industries Building. The building will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information about the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, please visit www.greatiowatreasurehunt.com. Treasure seekers may also write to State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald, Great Iowa Treasure Hunt, Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines, IA 50319 or correspond by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 
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