Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today urged the Speaker of the House to bring up and pass a long-term farm bill after press reports that the Majority Party was planning on only bringing up a one year extension.  Loebsack has been leading the charge in Congress to pass a reformed farm bill that provides certainty to our farmers and includes drought relief to aid those who have been severely affected.

"With Congress not being in session for over a month, Iowans expected work to be done toward moving forward a new reformed farm bill but instead will be presented with another missed opportunity and a can that's kicked down the road because of politics in the form of another extension," wrote Loebsack.  "Americans elected Congress to get things done for the American people. I stand ready to work in bipartisan fashion to get a farm bill passed and again urge your attention to bringing up the farm bill for passage in the House."

Since earlier this summer, Loebsack had called on Congress to stay in session multiple times to get critical work done.

A copy of today's letter can be seen here.

A recent Gallup poll shows 81 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with the governing of the country, a historic number.

With the ongoing discussion among experts, pundits, politicians and the general public on whether or not America has lost its way, citizens are looking for solutions. They are out there, says Dixie Swanson, former TV personality, former Beltway insider and author of The Accidental President Trilogy (www.dixieswanson.com), a series of novels about an apolitical physician who stumbles into a Senate seat.

"Problems in our country are moving faster than solutions," says Swanson. "Whether we elect Mitt or Barack, we are going to be facing the same gridlock that's jamming and corrupting the process today," she says.

To get the nation back to duly elected government officials who spend their time leading and making decisions in the best interests of the entire country, Swanson suggests the following five amendments:

• Abolition of Electoral Voting: The U.S. electoral process is as antique as a powdered wig. It has already failed three times, electing presidents who did not win the popular vote. As the system stands now, if a candidate wins by one vote in a state with a few people, like Wyoming, he gets three electoral votes. If he wins in California, he wins 55. This violates the idea that every vote counts equally. Romney could get "Gored" this year and win the popular vote but lose the electoral vote. All Americans want their votes to count equally.

• Single Six-Year Term for Presidents: Our country has enormous problems and the president and vice president need to be on the job full-time, not running for reelection beginning on Day 2. No one in the highest levels of the federal government is looking 20 and 30 years down the road. We need to lengthen the term to build in an opportunity for focus and visionary thinking.

• A Balanced Budget: The budget shall not exceed the previous year for which fiscal revenues are known. In the event of a national catastrophe, this can be overridden with a two-thirds vote of each house and the president's signature. This should be gradually implemented throughout the next decade to reduce economic whiplash. This should include an income surtax that goes directly toward paying down the national debt.

• Constitutionally Mandated Campaign Reform: The big money of PACS and Super PACS is corrupting. Let's return power to the voter. Only voters can donate, and then only to one candidate in each race for whom they can vote: his or her choice for representative, senator and one presidential ticket. Congress may set a limit on donation amounts. No entity of any kind may give money to the candidate or give it to an individual to donate. Any violations are a federal crime punishable by five years in prison with no parole. Just as your ballot is secret, your donations will not be published on the internet (with your address) as they are now, but will be reported daily to the Federal Election Commission by the campaign treasurer. All donations are to be made by check, credit/debit card or electronic funds transfer. No cash donations are acceptable and there are no in-kind donations. Lobbyists can still exist and do advocacy, they just can't bring money, or anything of value, to the conversation. During an election, any advertising is to be paid for by the candidate and by no one else.

• The Line-Item Veto: Congressional attempts to give the president line-item veto power have been shot down by the courts as unconstitutional, so the only way to provide this is by amending the Constitution. As is stands now, the courts can throw out a part of a law, but the president cannot. That is inequitable.

About Dixie Swanson

Dixie Swanson was a pediatrician for 10 years and the Family Health Reporter for NBC's Houston affiliate. She also spent time working for a Washington lobbyist with access to the White House.  Dixie is the author of "The Accidental President Trilogy - a Political Fable for Our Time."

Teachers Use Student-Designed Stickers to Reward Good Work

DES MOINES, IA (09/11/2012)(readMedia)-- Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) members around the state have used ISEA's student-designed stickers to celebrate student achievement and good work for over 27 years. Now in its 28th year, the popular Design-a-Decal program helps give statewide recognition to young art students when their winning designs are printed on stickers and teachers use them to give positive feedback to their students. With encouraging messages like "Thumbs Up" and "Aced It," the stickers get used on everything from homework assignments, to papers and projects.

Students competed in three, grade-level categories: elementary (K-5); junior high/middle school (6-8); and high school (9-12). The 24 winning designs are printed in full color on sheets of one-inch square stickers and each design is featured twice.

"The Design-a-Decal contest is one of our longest-standing programs because it's so much fun for the students. Art teachers who administer the program are very enthusiastic and the students who submit designs do a great job and love to participate, so it's a win-win for everyone. It's a wonderful way to encourage creativity. The end result is stickers our members can use on homework and other assignments to encourage more great work," said Tammy Wawro, president of the ISEA.

The students who created the designs used on the decal sheets receive two plaques from the ISEA-one they keep and one to be displayed at their school.

(A listing with names of the schools, supervising art teacher, and students whose designs were selected for use on the decal sheets is attached. Also attached is a picture of the winning decals.)

The ISEA is a private, professional organization made up of almost 34,000 educators who are dedicated to promoting and preserving public education for all Iowa students. Great Education. It's an Iowa Basic.

New commissioner has served in the CIA, U.S. Secret Service and INTERPOL

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad today named K. Brian London has the new Commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety. London begins on October 8^th, and replaces Larry Noble, who retired from the position earlier this year.

London, 59, has a long career in public safety, beginning as a U.S. Military Captain from 1975-1980. London then served as the State Traffic Officer for the California Highway Patrol until 1983. From there, he went on to serve in the Office of Security at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Langley, VA.

London returned to California in 1984, where he served as a special agent in the U.S. Secret Service until 1987. From 1987 to 2004, London worked in Washington, D.C. as the Director and Supervisor of Detectives at the U.S. Customs Service, which later turned into the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE.)

London served as Executive Director at the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) in Lyon, France from 2004-07. He then moved to serve as Deputy Chief for Law Enforcement at the Florida Department of Financial Services in Tallahassee. London remained in Tallahassee, where he most recently was operating as an independent security consultant.

"Iowa is incredibly fortunate to have Brian filling this critically important role within state government," said Gov. Branstad. "There is no higher responsibility for the government than to protect its citizens, and Brian has a wealth of experience to apply within our Department of Public Safety."

"I am honored to have been selected for this position, and look forward to serving with the outstanding men and women of the Department," London said. "I will make enforcement and efficiency both top priorities for the department. I believe a more efficient department will offer a better return for Iowa's taxpayers, and will allow us to perform our core function, which is to protect the safety of Iowans. In my role as a part of Florida law enforcement, I led the effort to reorganize divisions to enhance efficiency, which resulted in increased enforcement."

Reynolds says London will work closely with the administration to ensure Iowa's safety needs are met.

"Our administration looks forward to working with Brian to ensure Iowa's well-earned reputation for being a safe place to live and raise a family is upheld," said Reynolds. "Brian's appointment sends a strong signal about our administration's commitment to public safety. We are excited to welcome Brian, and his experience, to the team."

Brian and his wife, Marie-Line, have three children.

# # #

About K. Brian London:

After serving 6 years on active duty as a military officer, Brian London has served as a sworn law enforcement officer for over 30 years, uniquely serving in a variety of roles in local, state, federal, and international law enforcement.   Brian's initial law enforcement position began in 1981 when he became a State Traffic Officer with the California Highway Patrol, serving in Santa Cruz, California. He later served as a Special Agent in the Central Intelligence Agency, and a Special Agent in the US Secret Service, providing protection to current and former Presidents, Vice-Presidents, and visiting foreign heads of state.

In 1987 Brian transferred to the US Customs Service (now Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and was assigned to the southwest border to work narcotics, financial crimes, environmental crimes, and high-technology crimes investigations. Over the years, Brian served in numerous management positions with the US Customs Service including; Senior Customs Representative, International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), Lyon, France, Customs Liaison to the Executive Office of the President of the United States (The White House), Director in the Office of Investigations, Chief of Special Agent Career Planning, and Exodus Command Center Supervisor. In addition, Brian spearheaded the creation and establishment of the US Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), which today is one of law enforcement's largest criminal intelligence and analysis organizations.

In 2000 Brian was assigned to INTERPOL Headquarters, in Lyon, France, and became its first American Executive Director, serving until 2007.  From 2008 until 2010, he served in the position of Deputy Chief for Law Enforcement in Florida's Department of Financial Services.  As the senior law enforcement officer within the Department, Brian had the privilege of leading nearly 900 personnel responsible for criminal investigations of financial fraud, insurance fraud, mortgage fraud, worker's compensation fraud, and arson. In addition, Brian oversaw the State Fire College and the State Arson and Explosives Laboratory.  Brian also sat on the Florida Violent Crime and Drug Control Council.

Brian London received the US Department of the Treasury's Albert C. Gallatin Award, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's (FinCEN) Distinguished Service Award, the US Customs Commissioner's Citation Award, Certificate of Merit Award from the Executive Office of the President of the United States, the US Department of the Treasury Certificate of Merit Award, numerous Superior Performance Awards, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) Achievement Award for Academic/Press Affairs, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Writing Competition's, US Marine Corps Association Award, as well as numerous other significant law enforcement awards.

In 1992, Brian was selected to attend the Senior Executive Fellows Program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and in 1997 Brian London was selected to attend the National War College (the US Military's senior officer military college) as the only US law enforcement representative.

Brian possesses a Bachelor of Arts Degree (with Honors) from Claremont McKenna College, a Master's of Arts Degree in Human Resource Management from Pepperdine University, and a Master's of Science Degree in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University.

Brian is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), a certified polygraph examiner, and private pilot.  Brian is also an active member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and former member of the Florida Police Chief's Association, and the Florida Sheriff's Association.