Gronau, Podhajsky and Rozenboom re-elected as district directors to board

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA -- Dec. 5, 2013 - Craig Hill of Milo was re-elected president of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) at the organization's 95th annual meeting in Des Moines.  Delegates also re-elected three district directors to the board.  They include Doug Gronau of Vail, Nick Podhajsky of Traer and Calvin Rozenboom of Oskaloosa.

Hill's service to the Iowa Farm Bureau started at the county level. He was involved in various positions with the Warren County Farm Bureau board of directors. In 1989, he was elected as the District 8 representative on the state board of directors. He then served as the organization's vice president from 2001-2011 before being elected president.

As president, Hill serves as chairman of the board of FBL Financial Group, Inc., and serves on the American Farm Bureau board of directors. In addition, he serves on the Rain & Hail LLC board of directors.

Throughout his years on the IFBF board, Hill has been involved in a variety of projects. He was instrumental in the development of Revenue Assurance, a revenue-based crop insurance for corn and soybean farmers.  He also served as the first chairman of the Iowa Ag State Group, which consists of representatives from all sectors of Iowa's agriculture, and on the U.S. Grains Council. Hill was also appointed to Governor Vilsack's Strategic Planning Council in 1999 to help Iowa prepare for the future of our state in 2010.  In 2003, the AFBF named Hill to a 23-member national committee, Making Agriculture Productive and Profitable (MAPP).  The committee develops policy options for Farm Bureau to consider.

He and his wife, Patti, have two children.  Their son, Adam, is involved on the family grain and livestock operation.  Their daughter, Abbie, is an associate attorney with Gross & Welch in Omaha, Neb.

Gronau represents District 4, which consists of 11 counties in west central Iowa.  He was elected to the position in 2001.  Prior to his election to the board, he was vice chairman of the internal study committee.  Gronau has served in numerous Crawford County Farm Bureau leadership capacities.  He has served on several statewide environmental committees representing IFBF and was also a member of the IFBF Speaker Corps.  He has also been appointed to the Farm Bureau Life Insurance Board of Directors.  He currently serves on the Leopold advisory board.

Podhajsky represents District 6, which consists of 11 counties in eastern Iowa.  He was elected to the position in 2011.  Podhajsky was a 2010 Iowa delegate representative for the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting and has served in many other elected positions in his county Farm Bureau office, including president and county voting delegate.

Rozenboom represents District 8, which consists of 10 counties in south central Iowa.  He was elected to the position in 2001.  Before that, he was very active in the Mahaska County Farm Bureau where he served as president and vice president.  He has also served as chairman of the IFBF swine advisory committee and as a member of the IFBF resolutions committee.  He was also a member of the AFBF swine advisory committee.  He has spent six years on the board of directors of CRWRC, an international relief agency which currently serves in 28 countries, primarily providing community development, health education, literacy services and disaster relief.

Nine delegates were elected to represent Iowa at the AFBF annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 12-15, 2014.  They include : IFBF President Craig Hill, Vice President Joe Heinrich of Maquoketa, Doug Boland of Williamsburg, Cal Rozenboom of Oskaloosa, Dallas Johnston of Kent, Dave Kronlage of Dyersville, Gary Rayhons of Garner, Paul Gieselman of Morning Sun, and Dan Chism of Emmetsburg.

Dave Seil of Gowrie (Webster County) was elected to a three-year term on the IFBF internal study committee.   The internal study committee serves as a liaison between the county Farm Bureau voting delegates and the state board of directors.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online media center at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

By Clare Foran

December 5, 2013

Biofuels backers and a coalition of organizations opposed to the renewable-fuel standard will line up on Thursday to give testimony during the Environmental Protection Agency's public hearing on the proposed 2014 mandate. At the same time, interest groups are also making a push to shift the conversation onto the RFS outside the Beltway.

Americans United for Change, a progressive advocacy group, is launching an ad buy suggesting that cuts to the renewable-fuel standard will hurt American farmers and the domestic economy.

The ad, which will air primarily in the Des Moines, Iowa, marke?in the heart of corn country?urges viewers to ask EPA to leave the mandate intact and directs them to visit the website www.savetherfs.com.

"Tell the EPA to stand with Iowa farmers and small towns, not big oil," the narrator says, while images of a farmer standing in a corn field and idyllic street scenes appear in the background. "Tell the EPA: Don't gut the renewable-fuel standard."

In a statement, Brad Woodhouse, the president of AUFC, continued the attack on big oil: "The industry that brought us the Gulf oil spill loves the new RFS rule as it stands and would love nothing more than to keep rural America quiet until the ink is dry. That's why it's incredibly important that Americans in the heartland make their voices heard, because the strength in numbers of those who benefit from the RFS can beat big oil's deep pockets."

Governor's Top Legislative Priority Becomes Law; Will Erase Unfunded Liability and Restore Fiscal Stability to Illinois

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed into law his number one priority - historic legislation that addresses the most critical fiscal challenge in Illinois by reforming the state's pension systems. This comprehensive pension reform solution will eliminate the state's unfunded liability and fully fund the pension systems, a standard set by the Governor two years ago.

After inheriting the worst-funded pension crisis in the nation that was 70 years in the making, Governor Quinn made pension reform his top priority and worked with legislative leaders and legislators to pass Senate Bill 1. In June, he proposed a conference committee to break the ongoing legislative gridlock, and this vehicle led to the bill he signed today. Earlier this year, the Governor suspended legislative salaries and refused to accept his own salary until pension reform was sent to his desk.

"Illinois is moving forward," Governor Quinn said. "This is a serious solution to address the most dire fiscal challenge of our time. I applaud House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, Senator Kwame Raoul, Senator Daniel Biss, Representative Elaine Nekritz, Representative Darlene Senger, members of the conference committee, and legislators from both parties who made this day possible. Working together, we will continue to build a brighter future for the people of Illinois."

Sponsored by Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) and Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), Senate Bill 1 will eliminate the state's unfunded pension liability and fully stabilize the systems to ensure retirement security for employees who have faithfully contributed to the systems. All four leaders worked tirelessly to negotiate and pass this legislation.

"The bill would not have passed without me. I was convinced that standing fast for substantial savings, clear intent and an end to unaffordable annual raises would result in a sound plan that will meet all constitutional challenges," Speaker Madigan said.

"I applaud the Governor for prioritizing this issue," Senate President Cullerton said. "I look forward to working with him and all legislative leaders to ensure that we continue on this path of fiscal leadership and bipartisan cooperation."

"With today's bill signing we have staved off a greater crisis," Leader Durkin said. "I am proud many of the significant components are Republican ideas generated by the conference committee, and my predecessor through Senate Bill 1. We should place value into Fitch Ratings' initial comments viewing our actions as positive and I am confident this law will withstand a court challenge and feel it is a major victory for Illinois taxpayers."

"This is a major step forward in putting Illinois on the path to financial recovery," Leader Radogno said. "It is the result of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations, after a great deal of debate and discussions. It will demonstrate to the credit rating agencies and job creators that we are serious about turning Illinois around. This is not the only step we need to take to get Illinois back on track. But it is a significant step at a time when doing nothing would only make our problems worse. I'm proud of the bipartisan effort and its result. Now we need to build on this momentum."

Under the new law, the state will adopt an actuarially sound funding schedule that requires level payments and achieves 100 percent funding no later than the end of fiscal year 2044. To prevent future governors and legislatures from repeating the same behavior that helped create the pension crisis, the law includes a funding guarantee, giving retirement systems the right to go to court if the state fails to make the required payment to the pension fund.

Under the new law, there will be no reductions in the pension checks going out to current retirees. The law will also minimize the impact on the lower-earning, longer-serving employees. There will continue to be Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA); however, they will grow at a slower rate. For most employees, the COLA will be adjusted from the current 3 percent annually compounding increases that are unsustainable to a new formula based on years of service that includes protections for lower-earning, longer-serving employees.

For example, under the new law, a 65-year-old retired state conservation worker with 20 years of service receiving a $17,000 state pension will see that grow to about $22,000 over 10 years. Prior to the law, that would have grown to about $22,400 over 10 years.

Under the new law, current active employees will see COLA pauses every other year upon retirement, with the number of pauses determined by current age. The law also reduces the amount of money current employees pay into their pensions by one percent.

In addition, pensionable salary will now be capped at the greater of the Tier 2 salary cap ($109,971 for 2013), the employee's current salary, or the employee's salary at the end of an existing collective bargaining agreement. The cap will increase over time, based on the consumer price index (CPI). There will also be graduated increases in retirement age based on the age of the employee, with a maximum increase of five years. The bill also creates an optional 401(k)-style defined contribution plan that will be available for up to 5 percent of Tier 1 employees. Senate Bill 1 goes into effect on June 1, 2014.

Since taking the oath of office, Governor Pat Quinn has made pension reform his top priority in order to restore fiscal stability to Illinois. Unlike his predecessors, he made the full pension payment each year. In May 2009, Governor Quinn established the Pension Modernization Task Force, which laid the foundation for future reform efforts. In 2010, despite intense opposition, he signed into law sweeping pension reform for new hires to save taxpayers billions of dollars.

In January 2012, the Governor convened a pension reform working group to develop a comprehensive solution. Three months later, Governor Quinn proposed a comprehensive pension reform plan that erased the unfunded liability, and refused to sign any legislation that didn't meet that standard. The Governor also released several studies on the dire impact of pension inaction on education and launched an online campaign to raise awareness about the pension squeeze and the urgent need for reform.

In June 2013, the Governor proposed a conference committee as a vehicle to break legislative gridlock between the two chambers. He asked the conference committee to forge a compromise that provided 100 percent funding for the systems, which ultimately became the legislation he signed today.

In addition, Governor Quinn also signed Senate Bill 1961 today. Sponsored by Speaker Madigan and Senator William R. Haine (D-Alton), the bill clarifies that the Attorney General will represent the pension systems in any court proceedings, except in cases where the systems are seeking to force the state to make funding payments. The new law takes effect immediately.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack will have a member of his staff in two Eastern Iowa counties for open office hours. Henry Marquard, Loebsack's District Representative, will be at the following locations. Marquard will be on hand to work with individuals who are having difficulty with a government agency, have suggestions for Dave, or would just like to share their concerns. Members of the public are invited to attend. Marquard holds regular office hours throughout Eastern Iowa.

If residents are unable to attend but have a concern to share with the Congressman, please call our district office toll-free at 1-866-914-IOWA (4692)

Marquard's schedule is as follows.

Tuesday, December 10^th

Camanche

9:00 - 10:00 AM

Camanche City Hall

917 3rd St.

Clinton

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Clinton City Hall, Conference Room

611 S. 3rd St.

Eldridge

2:00 - 3:00 PM

Scott County Library, Freedom Room

200 N. 6th Ave.