WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today urged President Obama to adopt a definition of tax reform that would make U.S. employers more competitive worldwide and encourage job creation in the United States rather than impose scattershot tax increases that do not constitute reform and do not promote economic growth.  

"Tax reform in a global economy is a serious task," Grassley wrote in a letter to the President.  "There are complex issues to be considered.  These include a comparison of the rates and incentives provided by the countries we are competing with for jobs.  A serious task needs serious leadership.  Demagoguery of tax incentives may provide good political sport but it does not provide the strong leadership needed for the serious task of reforming the tax code to secure America's competitiveness in the global economy."  

Grassley noted that the President and others define "tax reform" as closing "tax loopholes" and the President said tax reform should "ask those who can afford it to pay their fair share."  Grassley said tax reform in the sense of creating jobs involves simplification and making U.S. businesses more competitive with their counterparts worldwide.  

Grassley urged the President to "... take responsibility for the tone and tenor of the tax reform debate you are setting."  Grassley wrote, "With unemployment and growth rates where they are, the country cannot afford the kind of 'tax reform' you are promoting."  

Grassley is former chairman and ranking member and currently a senior member of the Finance Committee, which has exclusive Senate jurisdiction over taxes and has been holding hearings on tax reform.  

The text of Grassley's letter to the President is available here.  

 

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On August 15-17, President Obama will travel to the Midwest on a three-day economic bus tour, making stops in southern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa and western Illinois.  The President will discuss ways to grow the economy, strengthen the middle class and accelerate hiring in communities and towns across the nation and hear directly from Americans, including local families and small business owners.  The President knows we must do everything we can to promote economic growth, restore confidence in our nation's future and restore the sense of optimism for future generations.

Additional details about President Obama's trip will be released as they become available.

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- Activities Include Saturday Straw Poll Interactive Listening Posts to Engage Voter Opinions and Sole Sponsorship of GOP Presidential Debate Surrogate Spin Rooms -

DES MOINES – AARP will launch its nationwide presidential voter education engagement efforts next week in Ames, Iowa, listening to the concerns and priorities of 2011 Iowa Straw Poll participants. Visitors to AARP's First in the Nation: Your Right, Your Decision, Your VoteSpeak Out Tent will have the opportunity to share their views on pocketbook and retirement issues through interactive and instant audience response technology.  It's all part of AARP's national efforts to make sure presidential candidates and other elected officials hear the voices of voters 50+ throughout the 2012 election campaign.

"For the first time, voters at the 2011 Iowa Straw Poll in Ames not only have the first chance to determine which candidates rise to the top in the early days of the 2012 campaign cycle, but they also will have the opportunity to discuss what they think the next president should do to address pocketbook and retirement security issues at our cutting-edge, interactive Listening Posts and Speak Out Stage," said Tony Vola, AARP Iowa State President. Vola said AARP will be conducting voter engagement efforts in Iowa as well as other primary and caucus states at both Republican and Democratic events throughout the 2012 election cycle.

AARP's First in the Nation Speak Out Tent, co-hosted by Mediacom, is centrally located adjacent to Scheman Hall and Hilton Coliseum. The day's program features a series of events including:

  • Your Pocketbook and Your Retirement Listening Posts utilizing interactive and instant audience response technology with Republican pollster Leslie Sanchez, who's appeared on Fox News, CNN and Oprah Radio, on the AARP Speak Out Stage;
  • Leadership recognitions on the AARP Speak Out Stage for Iowa's Republican elected officials, including Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds, and Congressmen Steve King and Tom Latham; 
  • An AARP/Mediacom Speak Out Corner for participants to weigh in on what should be the top priority for America's presidential candidates;
  • Individual photographs with American historical figures and past Republican Presidents in front of backdrops featuring the beautiful Iowa State Capitol; and,
  • Refreshing snacks, beverages, WiFi café and relaxation lounge areas.

In addition to the First in the Nation Speak Out Tent activities during the Straw Poll on Saturday, Aug. 13, AARP also is the Republican Party of Iowa's (RPI) sole sponsor of the post-debate Campaign Surrogate/Media Spin Rooms for RPI's Presidential Candidate Debate Series currently scheduled for Aug. 11 in Ames, Dec. 10 in Des Moines and Feb. 1 in Sioux City.

AARP's participation in the Iowa Straw Poll is part of the Association's 25+-year tradition of focusing candidate attention on the issues of concern to older Americans and their families, and helping voters know where the candidates stand on those issues. AARP is nonprofit and nonpartisan. The Association does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates.  For more information on AARP visit www.aarp.org

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WASHINGTON, D.C.–In a letter to President Obama today, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) supported Governor Branstad's request for individual assistance in Fremont, Harrison, Monona, Pottawattamie and Woodbury Counties due to rising floodwaters and asked that the President approve the declaration.  Earlier this month, Harkin urged Secretary Vilsack's declaration for crop assistance.

"The cost of the flood fighting effort is evident from cities such as Sioux City to communities downriver as far as the town of Hamburg," wrote Harkin.  "Every community, business and family on the river, and in some instances miles inland from the river, has been impacted.   I therefore urge you to assist the State of Iowa and the affected counties in every way possible so they may quickly recover from this disaster."

 

The full text of Harkin's letter follows.

 

July 20, 2011

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I write today to urge expeditious approval of Governor Terry Branstad's request that Woodbury, Monona, Harrison, Pottawattamie and Fremont Counties receive a federal declaration of a Major Disaster for Individual Assistance. This declaration will allow federal aid to immediately assist my constituents along the Missouri River.

The individuals in the areas mentioned above have taken extraordinary steps in order to fight oncoming flood waters from the Missouri River, and have spent private dollars in order to mitigate the effects of this flood.  For that reason, Governor Terry Branstad issued a State Disaster Proclamation for these counties on June 2, 2011. The cost of the flood fighting effort is evident from cities such as Sioux City to communities downriver as far as the town of Hamburg.  Every community, business and family on the river, and in some instances miles inland from the river, has been impacted.

As Governor Branstad's disaster declaration request indicates, significant manpower and equipment available at the state, county, and local level have been dedicated to responding to the Missouri River flood.  The preliminary damage assessment completed by local and state emergency management staff in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Small Business Administration officials have confirmed severe cost to my constituents in western Iowa.

I therefore urge you to assist the State of Iowa and the affected counties in every way possible so they may quickly recover from this disaster. Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

Tom Harkin

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement on President Obama's visit to the Alcoa plant in his district in Bettendorf, IA:

"I've long called for a national manufacturing strategy so I'm very pleased that the President is turning his focus to the manufacturing crisis in this country. 

"During the past decade, we've lost five million manufacturing jobs and 54,000 factories. All Americans should be troubled by this. Our economy, our national security and our nation's future depend on a strong manufacturing sector that provides good-paying jobs to middle class Americans. 

"The President's leadership is crucial to help us restore the image of America as a country that builds things."

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Senate President John CullertonIllinois Senate President John Cullerton has received a lot of bad press, sharp condemnation from Republicans, and even some quiet criticism from his own members over the past month.

But Cullerton made no apologies during an interview last week for the way his caucus sought to hold the state's public-works bill hostage by tacking on $430 million in additional budget items. The move was rejected by both parties in the House, by Senate Republicans, and even, in the end, by Governor Pat Quinn, who had pushed for additional spending all year. The General Assembly had to return to town last week so the Senate could officially back down from the spending and send a "clean" bill to the governor's desk.

The Senate President told me numerous times over the past several months that he believed he could convince House Speaker Michael Madigan - a fellow Democrat - to go along with his budget plans. In the end, however, Madigan stuck to a budget pact he'd made months earlier with House Republican Leader Tom Cross and beat back the Senate Democrats' plan. So what went wrong?

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement on President Obama's Afghanistan speech:

"Last night, the President laid out his vision for withdrawal from Afghanistan. I don't agree with his plan. It's time for our troops to start coming home now - and to be out of Afghanistan fully by the end of this year. Afghan security forces must be able stand up and take control of their country, Bin Laden is gone and America simply can't afford this war anymore. We've spent a decade in Afghanistan, and our country has paid tremendous costs: the lives of our young men and women, the sacrifice of our military families and the crippling budget deficits that will burden our children and grandchildren. It's time for our brave troops to come home."  

 

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) tonight issued the following statement after President Obama's primetime address on his proposal to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.  

"The men and women serving in our armed forces have more than succeeded in accomplishing the mission we asked them to do. They have served honorably and heroically and they should be commended. But, we must remember that we were in Afghanistan to bring Osama bin Laden to justice, to take down the main base of al Qaeda and to remove the Taliban from power.  Bin Laden is dead and al Qaeda's true base of power is now decentralized and in areas like Yemen, Somalia and North Africa; and the Taliban is no longer in charge of Afghanistan.   

"We cannot justify the continued loss of life when we have already lost thousands of men and women in our military, including 71 Iowans since 9/11; we also can't sustain the nearly $10 billion we are spending each month in Afghanistan this year.

"The President is taking the right action in redeploying troops from Afghanistan, but as I and several other senators urged him earlier this month, there should be more troops coming home sooner."

Last week, Harkin joined a bipartisan group of 27 senators in sending a letter to President Obama calling for a shift in strategy in Afghanistan, urging the President to use next month's deadline as an opportunity to begin a "sizable and sustained" drawdown of troops that puts the U.S. on a path toward removing all regular combat troops from the country.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) tonight issued the following statement after President Obama's primetime address on his proposal to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.  

"The men and women serving in our armed forces have more than succeeded in accomplishing the mission we asked them to do. They have served honorably and heroically and they should be commended. But, we must remember that we were in Afghanistan to bring Osama bin Laden to justice, to take down the main base of al Qaeda and to remove the Taliban from power.  Bin Laden is dead and al Qaeda's true base of power is now decentralized and in areas like Yemen, Somalia and North Africa; and the Taliban is no longer in charge of Afghanistan.   

"We cannot justify the continued loss of life when we have already lost thousands of men and women in our military, including 71 Iowans since 9/11; we also can't sustain the nearly $10 billion we are spending each month in Afghanistan this year.

"The President is taking the right action in redeploying troops from Afghanistan, but as I and several other senators urged him earlier this month, there should be more troops coming home sooner."

Last week, Harkin joined a bipartisan group of 27 senators in sending a letter to President Obama calling for a shift in strategy in Afghanistan, urging the President to use next month's deadline as an opportunity to begin a "sizable and sustained" drawdown of troops that puts the U.S. on a path toward removing all regular combat troops from the country.

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DES MOINES, IA (06/21/2011)(readMedia)-- The following local students have been named to the President's List at Drake University. This academic honor is achieved by earning a grade point average of 4.0 during the Spring 2011 semester at Drake.

Lauren Brandt of Bettendorf, IA

Amanda Cleppe of Bettendorf, IA

Jared Dammann of Bettendorf, IA

Erika Milas of Bettendorf, IA

Caitlin Pryor of Bettendorf, IA

Jordan Porter of Eldridge, IA

Marshall Phares of Princeton, IA

The following local students have been named to the Dean's List at Drake University. This academic honor is achieved by earning a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher during the Spring 2011 semester at Drake.

Kelsey Berneking of Bettendorf, IA

Stuart Bildner of Bettendorf, IA

Leah Christensen of Bettendorf, IA

Nicholas Oestreich of Bettendorf, IA

Steven Soseman of Bettendorf, IA

Stephanie Merrick of Eldridge, IA

Steven Merrick of Eldridge, IA

Eric Hartmann of Davenport, IA

Daniel Pelletier of Davenport, IA

Katherine Foley of Davenport, IA

Alise Farrell of Davenport, IA

Chelsea Rink of Davenport, IA

Ryan Hendricks of Rock Island, IL

Claire Vandercar of East Moline, IL

Kayla Pearson of Milan, IL

Drake is a private, independent university in Des Moines, Iowa, with an enrollment of approximately 3,300 full-time undergraduate students from 50 states and 50 countries. Drake University's mission is to provide an exceptional learning environment that prepares students for meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments and responsible global citizenship. The Drake experience is distinguished by collaborative learning among students, faculty and staff and by the integration of the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation.

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