(DES MOINES) - Gov. Branstad today signed the following bills into law:

Senate File 91: an Act increasing civil penalties applicable to specified pipeline safety violations.

Senate File 110: an Act relating to conformity with federal law concerning unemployment insurance employer charges and claimant misrepresentation regarding benefit overpayments, providing a penalty, and including applicability provisions.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today joined Iowa's Congressional Delegation in penning a letter to the International Olympic Committee asking them to reverse a decision that would eliminate wrestling from the Olympic Games.

The bipartisan letter can be found HERE and is pasted below.

Dr. Jacques Rogge

President, International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board
Château de Vidy
Case Postale 356
1001 Lausanne
Switzerland

Dear President Rogge:

We write as a group of elected officials from the State of Iowa, a State with a rich wrestling tradition, regarding the recent decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to remove wrestling as an Olympic sport following the 2016 Olympic Games. We strongly urge the IOC to reconsider its position, and vote to ensure wrestling's continued existence in the 2020 summer Olympic Games.

Wrestling harkens back to ancient civilization and the sport's inclusion in the Olympics has only enriched the ongoing Olympic tradition. Early Olympic organizers recognized wrestling's unique and global importance by including the sport in the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896. Wrestling has been a major part of the Olympics ever since.

The same spirit of competition that drove ancient wrestlers and early modern Olympians has transcended generations, and here in Iowa, we are the beneficiaries of this spirit. It is a sport where self-pride and determination battle and as a result, helps build character. Wrestling does not discriminate by age, gender or economic background.

At its core, wrestling is an instinct and embodies the human qualities of hard work, discipline, and perseverance. Fellow Iowan Dan Gable, an Olympic gold medalist and former US Olympic wrestling coach, best summarized the life foundation that wrestling provides when he stated, "Once you've wrestled, everything else in life is easy."

Iowa is not the sole beneficiary of these traits and wrestling's reach goes well beyond the United States. Forms of wrestling have been important parts of culture in China, Japan, Russia and many other countries. Soviet and Russian wrestlers have won 77 gold medals.  Wrestling federations exist in approximately 180 countries and the recent London Olympic Games had wrestlers from 71 countries.

We disagree with the IOC's release statement that: "This is a process of renewing and renovating the program for the Olympics." Renewing or renovating the Olympics should respect important Olympic traditions. Unfortunately, this IOC decision ignores wrestling's rich Olympic tradition.

We would also encourage a transparent voting system for future votes on which sports should be included as part of the Olympic Games. As public officials, we hold transparency as a sacred principle and we would encourage the International Olympic Committee to abide by that same principle.

We encourage your prompt reconsideration of your decision to exclude wrestling from the Olympics. We hope that wrestling will continue to be an important part of the Olympic tradition.

Sincerely,

Terry E. Branstad                       Kim Reynolds

Governor of Iowa                           Lt. Governor of Iowa

Charles Grassley                       Tom Harkin

United States Senator                        United States Senator

Tom Latham                         Steve King

United States Congressman                    United States Congressman

Bruce Braley                         Dave Loebsack

United States Congressman                    United States Congressman

cc:           Raphael Martinetti, President of International Wrestling Federation

Larry Probst, Chairman, United States Olympic Committee

James Ravannack, President, USA Wrestling

Dan Gable, National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum

Thursday, February 14, 2013

2:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad signs Senate File 106 into law

Governor's Formal Office

State Capitol

Des Moines, IA

Senate File 106: an Act updating the code references to the Internal Revenue Code and decoupling from certain federal bonus depreciation provisions, providing certain taxpayers additional time to file a claim for refund or credit of individual income tax, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today joined Dwolla founder Ben Milne to announce a new partnership to provide Iowa taxpayers with an innovative electronic payment option.

Dwolla is a cash-based payment network that provides real-time, low cost, online and mobile payments. Instead of charging a floating percentage and fixed fee per transaction for goods and services or the administrative headaches of checks, Dwolla's easy-to-use network costs a flat 25-cent fee on any payment over $10.

Branstad said he was pleased to announce another step for innovation in state government, saying, "Iowa is always looking for better ways to do business, and this is a step in the right direction."

"Dwolla is a safe, secure payment method, and we are proud as a state to be partnering with such a great Iowa company," said Branstad. "This new method is an efficient, effective means of payment for Iowa taxpayers, and I look forward to expanding this service into additional areas within state government."

From collecting property taxes to issuing refunds, from renewing vehicle registrations to paying government contractors, Branstad and Reynolds say the state will be identifying the potential impact Dwolla's open, social, online and mobile payment technologies could have on every level of state government.

Today's first integration will focus on the Iowa Department of Revenue, allowing businesses, who already pay more than $100 million in cigarette stamp taxes, the option of paying via Dwolla. The option is cheaper and safer than mailing and processing a paper check. The speed and efficiency of the system also allows participating businesses to receive their tax stamps quicker.

"Our announcement today shows there is no geographic monopoly on innovation," said Reynolds. "Dwolla is a fantastic Iowa company that is providing dynamic solutions for consumers, businesses and now the state of Iowa."

"The number of state and federal payments are in the billions with transactions totaling in the trillions, meaning even a fraction of savings could have a profound effect on the economy," said Ben Milne, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Dwolla. "This partnership is about creating a more sustainable, responsive, and convenient business climate for the state and its taxpayers, both today and tomorrow."

Eligible vendors and retailers interested in participating in today's announcement may go to www.dwolla.com/government to learn more.