Area Leaders to Attend Forum Supporting Rock Island Arsenal

WHO: Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17)
Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01)
Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02)
Area leaders, Governor’s offices, Senator’s offices.

WHAT: Congressmen Schilling, Braley, and Loebsack are calling for a bipartisan community task force meeting to mount an all-out effort to preserve and strengthen the Rock Island Arsenal and the Quad Cities’ defense manufacturing capabilities.

WHEN: Saturday February 4, 2012 from 8:00 – 9:30 am

WHERE: Black Hawk College – Quad Cities Campus, Building 2 Room 105, located at 6600 34 ^th Avenue, Moline, Illinois 61265

WHY: Following Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s announcement last week regarding efforts by the Department of Defense in the Pentagon’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget to achieve cuts included in America’s new defense strategy, Congressmen Schilling, Loebsack, and Braley are urging the entire Quad Cities region to come together in support of the Rock Island Arsenal and the Quad Cities’ defense manufacturing capabilities.  The FY2013 budget is the first budget that will begin addressing the $487 billion cut to defense spending over the next decade.  This budget does not reflect potential triggered ‘sequestration’ cuts, which would add an additional $500 billion cut starting in January 2013. 

The Secretary’s announcement included mention of programs vital to the Quad Cities, including industrial base skills.  Per the DOD’s Defense Priorities and Choices , the planned budget states that it will “sustain, where possible, these segments of the industrial base.”  It takes into account the “key skills in the design and manufacture of military systems that cannot be duplicated elsewhere in the economy or regenerated quickly.

The Congressmen are part of the bi-state, bipartisan delegation that represents the Rock Island Arsenal, and have led the charge to grow workload and jobs at the Rock Island Arsenal.  The Arsenal is a major jobs engine in the Quad Cities and – with approximately 8,600 workers living on both sides of the Mississippi River – its largest employer.  Over 35 private-sector companies have leases at the Arsenal, which also houses approximately 50 Department of Defense organizations. Further, its business supports over 14,000 additional jobs in the surrounding area.  Schilling and Loebsack both serve on the House Armed Services Committee, and successfully inserted language into the FY2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to permanently lift the cap on the number of public-private partnerships that arsenals are able to enter into.  Removing that cap increases the Arsenal’s ability to increase its workload, grow their local economies, and strengthen our domestic manufacturing base.   The three Congressmen are now working to form a coalition of local leaders to promote the Arsenal’s value to our national defense strategy.

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Governor Quinn Announces Chrysler Increasing Production at Belvidere Plant to Build Next Generation of Vehicles

State’s Support Helping to Create 1,800 Jobs

BELVIDERE – February 2, 2012. One day after laying out the Illinois Jobs Agenda for 2012 in his State of the State address, Governor Pat Quinn today announced that Chrysler Group LLC is ramping up production at its Belvidere plant to help build its next generation of vehicles. The company has invested $700 million to retool the plant and will begin production of the new Dodge Dart in the second quarter of 2012. In fall 2010, Governor Quinn announced a business investment package for the company that is supporting the creation of up to 1,800 new jobs and has been instrumental to Chrysler’s decision to expand in Illinois.

“The auto industry is essential to growing our economy. Illinois automakers and their suppliers are thriving today because we have helped meet their needs,” Governor Quinn said. “By providing companies like Chrysler with the tools they need, we’re helping them not only succeed but thrive.”

As part of its investment, Chrysler opened a 638,000 square-foot body shop to support production of the Dart, in addition to installing new machinery, tooling and material handling equipment. The new body shop increased the size of the Belvidere assembly plant to 4.8 million square feet. The plant also includes a 330,000-square-foot stamping plant. The Belvidere facility currently produces the Jeep® Compass and Jeep Patriot.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is administering the state’s business investment package. The package consists of EDGE tax credits, Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) job-training funds that will help enhance the skills of the company’s workforce, and Large Business Development Program funds for capital improvements. Chrysler will also benefit from being located in an Enterprise Zone.

“The Rock River Valley has emerged as a strong leader in the transportation industry, and Chrysler has undoubtedly played a major role in building that reputation,” said DCEO Director Warren Ribley. “Today we’re pleased to stand beside them as they chart a course towards the future that includes their continued commitment to Illinois.”

Illinois added more than 52,000 jobs in 2011, and has added nearly 100,000 jobs since 2010. Since January 2010, Illinois has added almost 20,000 manufacturing jobs.

For more information on why Illinois is the right place for any business, visit www.illinoisbiz.biz .

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Super Bowl Cookies, Valentine's Day Specials, and Cooking Classes!

Whether you are cheering for New England or New York this Sunday, we have the treats that will make your Super Bowl party a winner! Stop in this week to get Patriot and Giants frosted sugar cookies. They are $1.50 each or $12 per dozen. Sunday Feb. 5th only the Super Bowl cookies are buy 6, get 6 free until supplies last. We also have football cupcakes and cookies! Special orders are accepted to guarantee availability.

VALENTINE'S DAY!

We also have the perfect gifts for all of your Valentine sweethearts, whether it be students, teachers, husbands, wives, boyfriends or girlfriends! You can pre-order Valentine's Day cookie bouquets, heart-shaped cakes and cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries and more! Stop in for a complete list of available items. As always, we would be happy to customize anything your heart desires!

COOKING CLASSES

We are happy to announce that we will begin holding cooking classes this month! Call or stop by to reserve your spot for any of the offered classes. Here is a list of available classes:

JUNIOR CHEFS (Ages 9-14)

Sunday, Feb. 5 3-5 p.m. • $15 per person

Young chefs will learn how to bake and decorate fun and delicious desserts for Valentine's Day!

TINY CHEFS (Ages 3-8)

Sunday, Feb. 19, 3-5 p.m. • $10 per person

The Mystery of the Missing Banana
Kids will learn how to follow instructions as they crack an egg, mash bananas with their hands, and stir the batter. They will also learn how rewarding it is to eat something they've made with their own two hands!

ADULT CLASSES

SWEETS FOR YOUR SWEETIE
Monday, Feb. 6 7-9 p.m. • $25 per person
Get unique dessert ideas that will make your
Valentine's Day special.

MARDI GRAS
Thursday, Feb. 16 7-9 p.m. • $25 per person
If you can't make it to New Orleans for Mardi Gras,
bring Mardi Gras to your home!

SOUPS AND STEWS
Thursday, Feb. 23 7-9 p.m.

WHISK AWAY CAFE

Location:

919 6th Avenue, DeWitt, Iowa 52742 ( MAP IT )

Find us on Facebook!

Facebook.com/whiskaway

The perfect Valentine's Day

The Quad City Symphony Orchestra is hosting a Valentine's Day Gala on Saturday, February 11, at the hip and historic Hotel Blackhawk in Davenport. This black-tie optional event begins at 4:30 PM with hosted beer and wine, delicious appetizers, and a live jazz trio, followed by a latin-infused gourmet dinner in the luxuriant Gold Room.

The $125 reservation includes tickets to the QCSO's Valentine's Day concert down the hall in the Adler Theatre featuring romantic favorites including Scheherazade, Bolero, and the Concierto de Aranjuez with guitarist Robert Belinic.

After the concert you are welcomed back to the Gold Room where you can dance the night away to the sultry sounds of the Candymakers and savor an assortment of delectable desserts.

Silent auction items include an all-expense paid, three-night trip for two to Riviera Maya, Mexico; an authentic Italian dinner for 10 prepared by QCSO Music Director Mark Russell Smith; a $5,000 diamond pendant courtesy of Holland Jewelers, and more....

Click here to make your reservations or call 563.322.QCSO.

Overnight accommodations at the Hotel Blackhawk are available at an exclusive QCSO rate; call 563.322.5000 to find out more.

All funds raised at the Valentine's Day Gala support the many cultural and educational endeavors of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra.

Olson's Observations

As I write this edition of the newsletter it is Groundhog Day and even though he’s seen his shadow ensuring 6 more weeks of winter I think we’ve been lucky so far so it’s not quite as damning as it has been in the past.

The House Transportation Committee is set to meet today on the “Traffic Camera Bill” HF 2048.  This bill would ban the use of all automated traffic law enforcement systems, and require their removal by July 1st. I’m still researching this bill and have yet to decide my position. Other states across our country vary greatly on their laws on automated traffic enforcement.  I’ve already received many emails from my constituents
on this subject and welcome many more, as your views are an important part of my decision making.

On our budgeting process, this is based on an ongoing revenue stream that is determined by the Revenue Estimating Conference at their December meeting, the figure determined was 6.251 billion for 2013. We can spend up to 99% of that figure. The House Republicans beginning target is 6.059 billion, which is 97% of said ongoing revenue stream.

Many of you may have heard in the news that State revenue is reported to jump by approximately 62.6 million more than the previous year. This does not alter the state budgeting process that was mentioned in the previous paragraph. HF 2150, the IRC Coupling Bill, references the Internal Revenue Code to make federal income tax revisions enacted by Congress in 2011 applicable for Iowa income tax purposes. The updates include revisions to the federal research credit, the basis for Iowa research activities credit.

On the “Lead Shot Nullification” bill, HJR 2001, legislative intent versus the rule making process by state agencies has become a hotly debated issue. I will be supporting this bill which reinstates legislative intent.

If you have questions or comments please feel free to contact me via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .