Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The Office of Senator Chuck Grassley issued the following information today in response to comments made by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney about waivers to the federal welfare program's work requirements being supported in 2003 by Senator Grassley.

Senator Grassley's demonstrated goal for the TANF program has been to make work requirements stronger.

As Chairman of the Finance Committee in 2003, Senator Grassley authored and won passage of a reauthorization bill reflecting that goal.  The legislation didn't push for work waivers, as suggested by Jay Carney.  The only broad waiver authority in the Grassley bill was for a 10-state demonstration project to improve the coordination and delivery of services by TANF, the Social Services Block Grant, and child care services.  This project was specifically objected to by every Democratic senator serving on the Finance Committee in the Minority Views expressed in Finance Committee Report 108-162.  Ironically, in light of the current executive branch's interest in controlling waivers, the Minority Views call the super-waiver demonstration "an ill-considered attempt to cede Congressional authority to the Executive branch."  The Views are attached.  The Views include objections to the bill as a whole such as "not enough flexibility for states," "higher hour standards," and not enough flexibility for education and rehabilitation.  No Democratic senator voted for the legislation in committee.  On the Senate floor, the Democratic caucus launched a filibuster against the legislation.

As far as work requirements, then-Chairman Grassley's 2003 legislation increased required participation hours from 30 to 34 per week and set a hard cap on the state-determined participation rate, in contrast to the Obama administration's apparent current effort to reduce work requirements and to do so without any proper authority.

Carney remarks:

Carney-- weds: 13:14:56 to address hypocritical criticism I have been surprised by it as... By the hypocrisy of our critics since many of them have in the past supported and even proposed such waivers -- Governor Romney, Governor Barbour, Governor Huckabee, Secretary Tommy Thompson and Senator Grassley -- all supported these kinds of waivers for states in the past. In a 2005 letter to the Senate Republicans governors including then Governor Romney requested such waivers. Under President George W. Bush, HHS Secretary Thompson put forward a proposal that would allow quote "super waivers" in the program. The Senate under republican control at the time passed a bill authored by Senator Grassley with broad waiver authority. And just last year, states led by democrats and republicans including Nevada and Utah called for these waivers.. these very waivers so they could have more flexibility to get more people back to work faster. So given this long documented history of bipartisan support it is surprising to say the least to see this kind of flip flopping on the part of republicans. 13:16:08

DAVENPORT, IA - On July 18, 2012, Dietrich Anthony Wilmington, age 23, from Davenport, Iowa was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Robert W. Pratt, having previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Wilmington was also ordered to be placed on two years of supervised release and pay $100 towards the Crime Victims Fund.

Wilmington was prohibited from possession of a firearm after a 2010 Scott County, Iowa conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. On April 24, 2011, officers of the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department investigating bullet holes in an apartment came into contact with two subjects, one later identified as Wilmington. When the officers asked to speak to Wilmington, he ran, pursued by police into the grounds of a nearby Ralston Purina plant.

Wilmington refused repeated commands to stop. When cornered, Wilmington refused repeated commands to get on the ground.

After apprehending Wilmington, officers retraced his flight route, recovering a 9mm handgun, two loaded clips and numerous rounds of ammunition. Wilmington later admitted possessing the handgun and ammunition. Police also determined that earlier that same day,

Wilmington fired several shots in the air from the same 9mm handgun while driving in the area of Kirkwood Boulevard and Pershing Street in Davenport. Shell casings from this location were matched by the Iowa Division of Criminalistics Laboratory to the 9mm handgun recovered from Wilmington.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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QUAD CITIES, USA - More than 15 volunteers from Lowe's of Moline, IL will work along side Salvation Army staff in nearly 100-degree heat this Saturday from 10am to 3pm to completely restore the landscaping and renew the playground area at The Salvation Army's Family Service Center. This homeless family shelter houses over 100 people every night, and another 70-100 people are fed at the Churches United/Salvation Army Meal Site Monday through Saturday evening.

"The stigma of being homeless is bad enough, so making the property as inviting as possible means a lot to the programs here at the Family Service Center. We cannot thank Lowe's enough for partnering in our mission of changing lives," states Brandon Luke, Social Services Director for The Salvation Army.

Lowe's Heroes, a company-wide program from coast to coast, has a mission to provide impactful support to local communities, and was put into place in the late 1990s. The Lowe's Moline Store employees will roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty as they reinforce Lowe's culture of caring.

Shayne Cobine, the Lowe's project organizer said that "We are very excited to help. I have been working at the shelter recently, and it has been an eye opening experience. It has been my pleasure to help make this day happen."

Lowe's employees devised a plan to make the heavily-used yard a more function and maintainable space. The work will include mulching the existing playground area and adding benches for the parents; installing hearty plants around the perimeter of the new sod; and fencing and lighted fence posts.

A grant from Lowe's and a grant from the Tri-City Garden Club have made this project possible.

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Davenport, IA / July 16, 2012 - Local residents will have a chance to tour Living Lands & Waters' new Teamwork Barge Thursday, August 9th from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m at the Lake Davenport Sailing Club at Oneida Avenue and River Drive.  The 150-foot long barge features a handicapped-accessible classroom, which can host up to 60 students at a time, as well as sleeping quarters for an 8 person Living Lands & Waters crew.  The LL&W crew will be providing tours of the new classroom during the annual Barge Party, a celebration and appreciation event for volunteers and supporters of the environmental group.  Chad Pregracke and his Living Lands & Waters' staff and crew will be on hand to celebrate fifteen years of river cleanups, environmental education workshops, the MillionTrees project and engaging communities in river stewardship. 

The menu for this year's Barge Party will feature a fish fry & shrimp boil and Root Beer floats featuring River Rat Root Beer and Whitey's Ice cream.  The Barge Party will also feature live music by Alan Sweet and Justin Morrissey and a silent art auction, featuring the works of nearly a dozen regional artists who donated river-inspired pieces, including salvaged material sculptures, mixed media painting, folk art, driftwood pieces, quilts and glass art.  Chad Pregracke will update guests on the progress they've made this year. "We couldn't keep these barges running, making the river a cleaner place, without the support of Quad-Citians who volunteer and support Living Lands & Waters. It all makes a difference and we are so grateful," said Chad Pregracke, Founder & President of Living Lands & Waters. Tickets for the event are $35 per person. Reservations can be made by calling the office at (309) 496-9848 or going to their website www.livinglandsandwaters.org. Spots are limited, so please make your reservation soon to guarantee a seat.

Teachers interested in exploring a workshop for their students should contact Tammy Becker at LL&W:  tammy@livinglandsandwaters.org. "We have had over 1,600 teachers in our Educational Workshops dating back to 2003.  The new barge will create an opportunity for thousands of students to experience the river first hand" said Pregracke.   Also on display at the barge party will be LL&W's new one-thousand horse power tow boat which is needed to push the new floating classroom.  The floating classroom was made possible by the generous support of five of LL&W's long-term partners:  Cargill, ADM, Caterpillar, AEP River Operations and Ingram Barge Company, as well as hundreds of area union carpenters and skilled tradesmen.

The Living Lands & Waters Barge Party is held in appreciation of volunteers, supporters and fans of LL&W's efforts, as a celebration of the power of committed staff, volunteers and sponsors working together to meet an important need.

Chad Pregracke started Living Lands & Waters in 1998 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the beautification and restoration of America's major rivers and to the education of people about environmental issues. From his single boat beginning, LL&W has grown into an internationally known organization with a fleet of barges and workboats.  LL&W engages thousands of volunteers each year in river cleanups, hands-on environmental education workshops, the Great Mississippi River Cleanup, Adopt-a- River-Mile programs and the MillionTrees Project.

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