by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

 

Unemployment, at 7.3 percent, is still much too high and a pressing problem for our country.  Even worse, unemployment of young people under age 25, is at 15.6 percent.  This is a very large number of young Americans.  Many of these young people have invested in a college education and are still unable to find jobs.  Participation in the labor market is at an all-time low of 63.2 percent.  This is the lowest rate in 35 years.  Last month, 312,000 people stopped looking for work.

We need to increase production.  To do that we need two things: capital and labor.  Capital comes first.  We need capital to create jobs and lower unemployment.  One of the best ways to do that is to unleash investment.  Better policies in Washington can allow this to happen.  We need to reduce marginal tax rates, allow for the production of domestic energy, reform the tort system, and reform the corporate tax code.  We have one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world, which makes us uncompetitive in the global economy.

It's time to implement policies that will make us more competitive and, in turn, increase productivity and strengthen our economy.

MONTICELLO, IA --The annual Camp Courageous of Iowa Pancake Breakfast and Open House is set for Sunday, September 29, 2013 from 7:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

Camp Courageous began serving individuals with disabilities during the summer of 1974 with campers totaling 211. Camp Courageous of Iowa is run on donations, without government support, without paid fund raisers, and without formal sponsorship. Today the camp is open year-round and the campers number is over 6,500!

Camp Courageous is celebrating their 39th anniversary. A DVD presentation about the camp, as well as new camp merchandise can be found in the camp's main office. Leo Greco CDs and DVDs also available.

A hot breakfast that includes pancakes, sausage, and more. The cost is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children under 12. After your breakfast enjoy a Live WMT Broadcast from the camp's main lodge. Live Reenactment Train Robbery by Red Cedar Regulators at the Train Depot at 9:00 AM, 9:45 AM, 10:45 AM, and 11:45 AM. Live! In the Sill barn performing free will be Dixie-Notes-Plus at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00.

See the new entrance to Camp Courageous, new curb / gutter, new parking surface, and location of future caboose.

The camp is located five miles southeast of Monticello off Highway 38 and 151-Exit 65.


The Pancake Breakfast is also kick-off for sales of the Camp Courageous Fruitcakes. The fresh baked Fruitcakes are $10.00 each with no purchase limit.


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Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today made the following comment on the government's settlement with J.P. Morgan over the firm's "London Whale" trades.  The trades were the subject of a nine-month investigation by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.  Grassley follows enforcement actions from the Securities and Exchange Commission and other agencies that oversee the financial system.

"The SEC's number one job is looking out for investors, including pensions, mutual funds and small, individual investors.  While the settlement includes penalties for internal control failures, I'm concerned that it doesn't focus more on the firm's reported misrepresentations to the public and shareholders.  The Senate report concluded that those misrepresentations occurred.  The SEC says it's still investigating individuals in this case.  Maybe we'll see more enforcement action on how the bank communicated with investors.  A firm is required by law not only to stay on top of its finances, but also to tell the truth about its finances to the investing public."

Quad Cities will play a home game on 13 weekends, including the season-opening series April 3-6

DAVENPORT, Iowa (SEPT. 19, 2013) - The 2013 Midwest League Champion Quad Cities River Bandits will open defense of their title on the same field where they won it all, as Modern Woodmen Park will host the 2014 home opener Thursday, April 3, against the Kane County Cougars. The team announced on Thursday its 140-game schedule, including 70 home dates and times, for the 2014 season.

The Class-A affiliate of the Houston Astros will play a four-game Opening Weekend series April 3-6 at Modern Woodmen Park, voted the Best Minor League Ballpark in a nationwide vote at 10Best.com and USA TODAY. The very next weekend, the ballpark will host the second annual Bandits Race to Home 5K and Kids Fun Run presented by Palmer Chiropractic Clinics to benefit the Bandit Scholars Program at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 12. The River Bandits will go on to play a home game on 13 weekends throughout the season.

"After two championships in three years, our fans can look forward to another season of first-rate baseball and affordable, family-friendly entertainment," said team co-owner Dave Heller. "With the Ferris Wheel opening in May and new improvements throughout the ballpark, exciting new promotions, great entertainment and must-see attractions, we are determined to make 2014 the best year ever at the Best Minor League Ballpark in the country!"

The River Bandits will play weekday home games at 7:00 p.m., with the exception of 11:00 a.m. start times on three Tuesdays - April 29, May 6 and May 20. This season, all Saturday home games will start at 6:00 p.m. instead of the usual 7:00 p.m. start so younger fans can enjoy every minute of the action. Sunday home games will start at 1:15 p.m. the first half of the season (April 6, June 8 and June 15), and at the end of the season (Aug. 17 and Aug. 24). Sunday games will start at 5:00 p.m. June 22, July 6, July 20 and Aug. 10.

The River Bandits will play a home game on 13 weekends throughout the season, including the Fourth of July weekend, Friday, July 4, through Sunday, July 6, as well as Memorial Day weekend games Friday, May 23, and Saturday, May 24. The team is home for Mother's Day weekend games Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, and a three-day Father's Day weekend series Friday, June 13, through Sunday, June 15. The River Bandits play their regular season home finale Friday, Aug. 29, of Labor Day weekend.

The River Bandits have eight different homestands of six games or more, including two season-long seven-game homestands; one comes Aug. 4-10 and the other June 13-22, sandwiched around the three-day break for the Midwest League All-Star Game, set for Tuesday, June 17, in Comstock Park, Mich. A season-long 10-game road stretch takes place June 24-July 3.

Quad Cities will have a rematch of the 2013 Midwest League Championship Series against the South Bend Silver Hawks April 17-19 at Modern Woodmen Park. Other Eastern Division teams making visits to Modern Woodmen Park include the West Michigan Whitecaps (April 14-16), the Fort Wayne TinCaps (July 16-18) and the Lake County Captains (July 19-21). Every Western Division team will play at least six games at Modern Woodmen Park in 2014.

A full schedule of home and road games for 2014 is available at www.riverbandits.com. Ticket plans for the 2014 season are now on sale.

UP NEXT: Now is the time to lock in your season ticket plan for the 2014 season! Call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000 or visit www.riverbandits.com to download the season ticket order form. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. The team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, just saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championships.

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