The biggest car enthusiast club in the Quad Cities Area, the Quad Cities Cruisers are presenting Arrowhead Ranch, Viet Nam Veterans Chapter 299 and QC Crimestoppers each a check for $2500 this coming Saturday night, September 15th at the JC Penney Parking lot of South Park Mall in Moline, IL.

There will be hundreds of classic cars on display at this event as well as many food vendors and special interest vendors.  The Viet Nam Veterans Chapter 299 will present our nation's colors promptly at 6pm and the check presentations will happen immediately after that.

For more information please feel free to contact Quad Cities Cruisers President, John Bain at 563-505-6965.
10th PreventingAbuseConference
Child Protection/abduction, Human Trafficking, and DrugCartels
30 year anniversary of Johnny Gosch kidnapping

Des Moines, IA,  (September 10, 2012) -10th PreventingAbuse onference on human trafficking, child abduction, & cartels in America will be held in Des Moines,Oct. 19, 2012.

Helping to protectwomen, children, families and the nation

Subjects:  *  Human trafficking (domestic)      *  Child abduction(is it organized?)         * NationalSecurityThreat  *  DrugCartels in America *Terroristencrypt messages in pornography  *Johnny Gosch kidnapping  *protecting children *  Good news: Successes

Nearly 1,000,000 children reported missing in America.  Human trafficking is the 2nd biggest moneymaker globally threatening nationalsecurity and is rampant in America.  1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be molested before adulthood.  Cartels infiltrated America. The  impact of pornography on the brain. Successful child rescues. More good news.

Who Should Attend:  This conference is open to the public.

Speakers: *Governor Terry Branstad–led the drive to pass the Johnny Gosch law

* Det. Sergeant Oscar Mejia, drug cartel expert 

*  Noreen Gosch,
mother of Johnny Gosch, will tell the story that few have heard.  It is compelling and eye opening.  Drew Collins, father of missing child will speak.

*  Tiffany Leeper, world renown expert on pornography addiction.

*  Ric Lumbard of CRTEC dedicated to protecting and restoring victims to health,

Detective Jim Rothstein–expert on child trafficking.

*  BAZ: Former C.I.A. intelligence, now conducts deep cover rescues.

*  Tania, former prostitute, trafficker and brothelowner of hundreds of prostitutes

*  U.S. Senator Tom Harkin                        *  U.S. Senator Charles Grassley  

*subject to confirmation/change.          

POSITIVE FOCUS: Conference will provide information that can help protectchildren, women and even the nation.  Our conferences have experienced many successes even rescues.

The information provided may help a loved one and our nation.

Date/Time October 19, 2012,  8:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.

Where: Embassy Suites Des Moines Iowa

Registration: Early bird registration is $59.00 each, lunch is included

To Register: www.preventingabuse.org Space Is Limited

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Dave Loebsack was awarded the 2012 Fueling Growth award from Growth Energy, which is the top award given each year to leaders who support ethanol biofuels.  Growth Energy, led by Tom Buis and Jim Nussle, represents the producers and supporters of ethanol.  Loebsack has long been a supporter of green energy initiatives that create good-paying jobs and promote fuel production in Iowa, including ethanol and biodiesel.  He was also honored by Growth Energy in 2011 with this bipartisan award.

"Iowa is a leader in renewable energy production and job creation, and I am proud to receive this honor from Growth Energy," said Loebsack.  "Investments in homegrown biofuels create new jobs in our state, put us on a path towards energy independence, enhance our national security, and bring increased economic development to Iowa's rural areas.  I will continue to work to promote these clean, alternative energy sources and the good jobs they provide Iowans."

A high resolution photo of Loebsack and representatives of Growth energy can be seen here.

 ###

Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) today joined 338 of his colleagues in voting to pass H.R. 5865, the bipartisan American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act introduced by Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-03).  Lipinski introduced similar legislation in the previous Congress that passed the House, but stalled in the Senate.

"I strongly believe in the American worker, and am focused on advancing policies that encourage private-sector job growth and job opportunities here in the United States," Schilling said. "If as a country we are able to compete in the global market, I know that American manufacturers and workers will deliver."

The American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act, which Schilling cosponsored, would set up a public-private board tasked with devising a national strategy to revitalize American manufacturing and create jobs.  Schilling, a member of the bipartisan House Manufacturing Caucus, has cosponsored several additional pieces of legislation to help create jobs and spur our economy, including H.R. 5910, the Global Investment in American Jobs Act, H.R.110, the Manufacturing Reinvestment Account Act, H.R. 942, the American Research and Competitiveness Act, and H.Res.705, which would designate a "Buy American Week."

Since taking office Schilling has fought to bring home wins for manufacturers around the 17th District, working to lift the cap on public-private partnerships at arsenals to promote job growth, removing wasteful spending from the federal budget, and voting to advance a multi-year transportation plan.  

"Just last month, the manufacturing sector lost 15,000 jobs," Schilling said. "Today, I'm proud to be supporting this pro-jobs legislation with so many folks from both sides of the aisle to boost American manufacturing.  The Senate should work to immediately advance this bill to promote a national manufacturing strategy and help provide our unemployed friends and neighbors with fresh job opportunities and regular paychecks."

# # #

To send Congressman Schilling an e-mail, click here

Augustana College is excited to be hosting renowned poet Carl Phillip as part of its River Readings program.

carlphillips.jpg

Rock Island, IL/ Sept. 12 2012 -Augustana College will continue its River Readings program on Thursday, Sept. 20 with poet Carl Phillip. Phillips will discuss his work and career and do a free reading followed by a reception and book signing. The event will be held at7 p.m. in Wallenberg Hall inside Denkmann Hall (3520 7th Ave). Every reading is open to the public and the campus community alike.

"The River Readings gives both students and members of the Quad Cities community a chance to meet, face to face, with internationally renowned authors. It's not every day we get the opportunity to talk to someone whose work will appear in literature textbooks for generations to come." - said Dr. Kelly Daniels, River Readings coordinator and assistant professor of English.

Phillips is the author of numerous books of poetry, including Quiver of Arrows: Selected Poems 1986-2006 and Riding Westward. His collection The Rest of Love won the Theodore Roethke Memorial Foundation Poetry Prize and the Thom Gunn Award for Gay Male Poetry.  His book Pastoral won the 2001 Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry, and in 2002 he received the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award for The Tether. In 2006, he was named the recipient of the Fellowship of the Academy of American Poets.  Phillips is currently a Professor of English and of African and Afro-American Studies at Washington University in St. Louis, where he also teaches in the Creative Writing Program.  A few copies of Phillips's books, Double Shadow and Quiver of Arrows, will be available for purchase after the reading

For years Augustana has brought writers of poetry, fiction, and literary nonfiction to campus from all corners of the country to present their work in a free reading on campus.  In the past, Augustana,has invited Marvin Bell, Simon Ortiz, Gerald Stern, and Jill Essbaum to share their work.  Later in this academic year, Augustana will host fiction writers Peter Geye on Thursday, Nov. 29 and Donald Ray Pollock on Thursday, Apr. 18.

###

Award-Winning Director Gives Tips for Ambitious Amateurs

Because technology is moving so quickly, it's easy to miss out on gadgets that may impact one's life.

"Anyone with a cell phone knows how accessible taking pictures and shooting footage is nowadays, but with a minimum of investment, movie fans can tell their own stories with the same professional hardware that legends are using today," says seasoned filmmaker Kerstin Karlhuber.

She completed her latest project, "Tides of the Heart" (www.silentgiantproductions.com), in collaboration with partner and renowned songwriter Daniel Jay Paul.

"It's a feature-length music video - there's no dialogue. The story is told completely through the music and Kerstin's direction," says Paul, whose latest album, "Clean Getaway" (www.danieljaypaul.com), not only makes up much of the score for the film, but also structures the plot.

"With the technology available today, you can really afford to experiment and innovate. That's what keeps pushing the artistry to the next level," he says.

Karlhuber and Paul offer suggestions for creative-minded individuals who have been kicking around ideas, but haven't yet pulled the trigger on a project:

• The Canon EOS 5D Mark III: Canon v. Nikon ... who cares? The point is that the big dogs in the film business, from James Cameron to Neill Blomkamp of indie-film success story, "District 9," are using digital gear that can be purchased by the average movie fan. The sharpest, crispest picture in the history of images can tell your story for a few thousand dollars.

• Adobe, CyberLink, Final Cut Pro, etc.: Film editing software, more than ever, is cheap, user-friendly and easy to acquire. There are several tutorial demonstrations available online, and if you need to come up with ideas for a project brainstorm with friends or family. That's half the fun.

• Getting started: Sadly, most of the failure of creative projects - whether film, music, art or writing - involves work-ethic issues, or lack of confidence. Ask the following questions: How long have I been thinking about my idea? Is my vision doable? What's keeping me from pursuing it? ... And, perhaps the most insightful question - Why not?

• A little help from your friends: Chances are that if you're a creative person, you have a few creative buddies who can help you troubleshoot concepts and technical issues. Lean on your artistic friends for moral support - they understand the struggle of the creative process. The same people may be a good source for constructive criticism, too, when the project is nearing completion.

• Consider trends: Karlhuber's film has no dialogue and relies solely on Paul's songs for sound. The most recent Oscar winner for best picture, "The Artist," also features no dialogue, relying on old-school Hollywood visual drama. While this is a coincidence, Karlhuber says it has helped her film gain attention. "If your creative ideas happen to line up with a trending topic, there's no reason why you shouldn't take advantage of the public's zeitgeist," she says.

About Kerstin Karlhuber & Daniel Jay Paul

Kerstin Karlhuber is an award-winning filmmaker and director. Her work in the arts has been seen around the world, from off-Broadway to Cannes, the Arclight Theater in Los Angeles to a segment on "Good Morning America." She is the founder and director of the film production company Silent Giant Productions based in New York City.

Daniel Jay Paul is a songwriter who recently released "Clean Getaway" on the Sunlight Communication Arts label. His songs have been described by Music Express' Marcus Wright as "music you hear with your heart ...." Paul is the author of the novel "The Last Sunset."

Law Allows Counties More Flexibility to Rehabilitate
Non-Violent, First-Time Offenders

CHICAGO - September 12, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today highlighted a new state law at the Cook County Criminal Court Building that will help local law enforcement more effectively rehabilitate non-violent, first-time offenders. The governor was joined at today's event by legislators and Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, whose office launched the successful pilot program on which this new law is based.

"To improve public safety, we need smart crime prevention strategies that put offenders on the right path," Governor Quinn said. "When we use our resources more efficiently, we can reduce crime and increase the effectiveness of our criminal justice system."

Senate Bill 3349, sponsored by Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) and Rep. Kimberly du Buclet (D-Chicago), created the Offender Initiative Program and is based on a successful one-year pilot program launched in Cook County for first-time, non-violent offenders.

"It is clear that there are far too many cases in the criminal justice system and I think that prosecutors can play an important role in implementing new alternative sentencing measures like this that not only bring just results, but also provide non-violent offenders with a second chance," said Alvarez. "We have been extremely pleased with the results of our Deferred Prosecution Program and we are very proud that the governor and the Illinois Legislature have seen fit to use it as a model for prosecutorial-based diversion programming across the state."

With the approval of a judge and the state's attorney, an offender can be placed in a diversion program similar to probation, instead of being incarcerated. The offender would have to meet certain requirements, such as making restitution; performing community service or holding a job; attending educational classes to receive vocational training, a high school diploma or a GED; and if appropriate, receiving substance abuse treatment and passing drug tests.

If the offender successfully completes the intensive program, the state's attorney can request a dismissal and expungement of the original charges and the offender will be spared the enormous burden of having a felony conviction on his or her record. However, if the offender reoffends within five years, those expunged records may be used against them in court.

Since February of 2011 when the pilot program began in Cook County, a total of 645 individuals have been accepted into the program.  Felony charges have been dismissed against 257 of those individuals.

According to county estimates, about $1.1 million of taxpayer resources has been saved through this program, due to lower court and incarceration costs. The rehabilitative services offered in the program also make it less likely a person will re-offend, which reduces future costs to the criminal justice system.

SB 3349 codified this Cook County program into state law and allows state's attorneys across Illinois to create their own offender initiative programs that can be tailored to the needs of their jurisdictions. Governor Quinn signed this legislation on Aug. 27, 2012.

###

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today regarding the killing of U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans in Libya.

"As Americans we grieve for those whose lives were lost in such a senseless act of violence and send our thoughts and prayers to their families and loved ones. This horrific attack is a reminder of the threats we face around the world and of the dangers faced by Americans serving overseas, whether in uniform or as diplomatic personnel. We must now act to bring those who are responsible for it swiftly to justice."

 ###

BETTENDORF
787 Middle Rd, Bettendorf  563-345-6099
Coffee & Books and Dunn Bros Coffee
5 reasons to join
Free 12oz coffee
Join Coffee & Books

Statement of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

Roundtable Discussion of the Senate Special Committee on Aging

"Let the Sunshine in:  Implementing the Physician Payments Sunshine Act"

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this important roundtable today.  I also want to thank you for your continued leadership on this issue.

In 2007, I began conducting extensive oversight and seeking disclosure of industry financial ties with groups including taxpayer funded research, physicians, medical schools, medical journals, continuing medical education companies, and patient advocacy non-profit organizations.

We exposed numerous cases where there were vast disparities between drug company payments received and reported by leading medical researchers.  Two examples of disparities included:

·         At Stanford University, the chairman of psychiatry received an NIH grant to study a drug, while partially owning as much as $6 million in stock in a company that was seeking FDA approval of that drug.  After exposure, the NIH removed the individual from the grant.

·         At Harvard University, three professors failed to report almost a million dollars each in outside income while heading up several NIH grants.  In response to my oversight, Harvard revised the conflict of interest policies and conducted an internal investigation of these professors.

These problems led to the Physician Payments Sunshine Act.  The Sunshine Act establishes a nationwide standard requiring drug, device and biologic makers to report payments to doctors to the Department of Health and Human Services.

It requires information about those payments to be posted online in a user friendly way for public consumption.  It also establishes penalties as high as $1 million for knowingly failing to report the information.

As we all know, the legislation was ultimately included as Section 6002 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) was eventually tasked with carrying out the Sunshine Act.   The agency had until October 1, 2011, to issue regulations.

When CMS failed to meet that deadline, Senator Kohl and I wrote to CMS about why it failed to meet the deadline.  We asked for a timetable for issuing the preliminary regulations and implementing the Sunshine Act.

CMS's response was incomplete and uninformative. There was no explanation for the delay and no indication of when to expect completion.

At the time of the response, the U.S. government just settled with a medical device maker for $2.4 million over allegations of kickbacks to doctors to use the company's products.  The payments to doctors are the kind that might be prevented through disclosure as soon as the Sunshine Act is in place.

Senator Kohl and I then scheduled a hearing to force the agency to publicly explain why the rule was taking so long.  Not surprisingly, on the eve of the hearing CMS finally issued the proposed rule.

For the most part I was very pleased with CMS's proposed rule.  CMS stuck to the goals and integrity of the Sunshine Act -- providing clarification where it was needed.

However, many questions remain on the technical aspects of the rule and how the data will be presented.

I have said from the very beginning, if the information provided to the public is not concise, easily readable and understandable, then we have all failed the American taxpayer.

It has now been nearly nine months since the proposed rule was issued and CMS cannot tell us when they plan on issuing the final rule.

The longer we wait, the more taxpayers miss out on the benefits of public disclosure.

CMS is simply dragging its feet on implementing the Sunshine Act.  But why?  It doesn't make sense.

Rarely do you find all stakeholders, including consumer groups, industry, professional medical organizations, and provider organizations, MedPAC, the Institutes of Medicine, and Congress all on the same side of an issue.  In fact, industry and consumer groups sent a joint letter to CMS on October 25, 2011, urging full implementation of the Sunshine Act. Yet, still there is delay.

Our efforts to engage with CMS on the implementation of the Sunshine Act have been met with resistance and silence.  Why is CMS so unwilling to being open and transparent with the implementation process?

I am never one to put a lot of stock into rumors, but one that keeps popping up is that CMS has completed the final rule and sent it over to OMB - but OMB will not issue the final regulation until after the election.  That doesn't make sense, but that is what people are saying.

CMS needs to clarify if there is any truth to this rumor.  Is the rule at OMB? Is it being held until after the election?  If so, why?

We need to find out what the hold-up is, deal with it, and get the job done.

The American people deserve the full disclosure and transparency this law promises and industry needs certainty about what the specifics of the rules so that compliance can begin.  The time for delays is over.

Today's roundtable is geared toward gaining a better understanding from CMS officials on why they have failed to implement the Sunshine Act, their anticipated release of the regulations, and the consequences facing industry due to the lack of guidance from CMS.

Due to the structure of the law, companies must establish an internal data collection system and educate all employees on the new requirements.

However, companies do not have the luxury of going to Best Buy and purchasing the latest data collection system off-the-shelf.  Companies build the systems.

They must train and educate their employees on the proper use of the system in order to properly capture the necessary data.

Many companies have already begun piloting these systems to ensure they are capturing all the relevant information.  However, with a lack of recognized practices from CMS on how to move forward, companies cannot prepare to meet the letter of the law.

Lastly, I want to thank our participants in today's roundtable.  Collectively, these participants represent the government agency in charge of carrying out the intent of the law, the industry the law is intended to regulate, the consumer group representing the patients the law is intending to help, and various experts in the field.

It is my sincere hope that CMS is prepared to be open and honest about where it is in the process and why it has failed to implement the law in a timely manner.

Letting the sun shine in and making information public is basic to accountability.  The sooner we can properly implement this law, the sooner we can establish greater accountability for patients and consumers, especially with medical research.

-30-

Pages