New legislation introduced by Harkin to create jobs, invest in America, And restore balance to tax system

DES MOINES - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that his staff will return to all 99 counties this summer to discuss how ideas obtained from Iowans last year on how to rebuild the middle class have influenced legislation introduced by Harkin.  The mobile office tour begins this month in schools in 30 counties.

"Last year, my staff and I heard from too many Iowans who were working hard, playing by the rules, but still seeing the American Dream slip away.  It was clear from those conversations that our country needed a comprehensive strategy to reverse that course," said Harkin.  "The Rebuild America Act puts policies in place that will repair the engine that drives our nation's economic growth: the middle class.  It creates the good jobs families need now through robust investments in America and will help grow the middle class in the long term by building economic opportunity for families.  I am proud that my staff is able to return to areas they visited last year to tell Iowans how legislation they influenced could benefit their families."  

The Rebuild America Act, unveiled in March, tackles the problem of the shrinking middle class in four ways: by taking immediate steps to create jobs and kick-start the economy, by investing in our roads, bridges, schools, and other critical infrastructure needs, by implementing policies that will help families achieve financial security and peace of mind, and by paying for these new investments through a balanced tax code that reduces inequality and fosters economic growth.  It comes after a year of hearings and events in Washington and Iowa conducted by Senator Harkin, the Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and his staff.

This year's mobile office tour will highlight various aspects of the bill, beginning with provisions that modernize America's schools.  Harkin has long believed that too many of our nation's schools are not equipped to meet the needs of 21st Century students and teachers. His legislation provides $20 billion in formula grants for the modernization, renovation, and repair of early learning facilities, K-12 public schools, and community colleges.

Each summer, Senator Harkin's staff visits each Iowa County to talk to Iowans about the issues impacting them and their families.  Staff will then post information on their visits on Senator Harkin's web site (http://harkin.senate.gov/)

A full list of events for this year's tour is still coming together, but all events will be advised to media by county.

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(Moline)Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego), U.S. Congressman Aaron  Schock (IL-18), and State Rep. Rich Morthland (R-Cordova)  are holding a press conference in Moline on Friday, April 13th at 1:45 p.m. to highlight the additional financial burden the implementation of Obamacare will place on Illinois' budget.  

Time:                         1:45 p.m.
Date:                         Friday, April 13, 2012
Location:                   Quad Cities International Moline Terminal, 2200 69th Avenue, Moline, IL

Outdoors retailer offering shoppers a free download of new Billy Gilman single The Choice

with footwear sales proceeds in 114 stores nationwide going to fund shoe charity initiative

 

ST. PAUL, MN, April 12, 2012 -- Gander Mountain is proud to announce a unique arrangement with Soles4Souls which aims to supply 500,000 pairs of shoes to those in need. The nation's premiere outdoors retailer and the Nashville-based charity have joined forces once again, helping promote multi-platinum selling country artist Billy Gilman's new charity single The Choice while working toward the goal of supplying shoes to needy children.

 

Starting on April 16, Gander Mountain customers who purchase a pair of shoes in stores will receive a free download of Gilman's new single. In addition to Gilman, the song features 18 of country music's top artists, including Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Josh Turner, and Keith Urban. Gander Mountain will donate $1 from every pair of shoes purchased to Soles4Souls, which is able to supply a pair of shoes to someone in need for every dollar that is donated.

 

"We are proud to be able to partner with Soles4Souls once again to help reach the goal of 500,000 pairs of shoes for those in need," said Steve Uline, Gander Mountain's executive vice president of marketing. "It is a great opportunity for Gander Mountain customers to help those less fortunate while getting a free download of some great music from Billy Gilman and other popular country artists."

 

Gilman, who has sold more than six million albums worldwide and garnered a wide range of awards, was in the process of writing material for his upcoming music project with two of his co-writers, Dan Murph and Philip Douglas, when the idea for The Choice was born. In a YouTube video, Soles4Souls challenged people from all across the country to start their own shoe drives in their communities and do something to benefit those living in adverse poverty and in need of footwear. Instead of setting up a collection bin on a crowded street, Gilman, Murph and Douglas got the idea to do what they do best--write a song. They agreed that every penny generated from the song, including the songwriters' and publishers' shares, would go to Soles4Souls. Within one week, the trio penned The Choice and pitched the idea to the charity organization.

 

"Great success and countless pairs of shoes donated have been the results of our past collaborative efforts with Gander Mountain, so it made perfect sense to work together once again, giving shoppers the opportunity to provide great footwear for themselves and for those less fortunate, while getting great music for free," said Kevin Goughary, CEO of Soles4Souls, which has donated more than 17 million pairs of shoes across 129 countries since its inception in 2004. "For every pair of shoes purchased at a Gander Mountain store, a life somewhere around the world will be changed with the gift of shoes. It doesn't get any sweeter than that."

 

The Choice was co-written by Gilman to bring attention to the world wide plight of children in desperate need of shoes. All of the proceeds from digital download of The Choice go directly to Soles4Souls. The song came to life through the contribution of the voices of Gilman and fellow country artists Rodney Atkins, Montgomery Gentry, Amy Grant, Steve Holy, Alan Jackson, Wynonna Judd, Richie McDonald, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Ronnie Milsap, Craig Morgan, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes, Diamond Rio, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Josh Turner, and Keith Urban. The song is scheduled to be released on April 16, and every download will provide a pair of shoes to some child in need.

 

The Gander Mountain special offer runs through May 14.

 

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The Figge Art Museum and the University of Iowa Libraries are pleased to announce the release of the Grant Wood Digital Collection (http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/grantwood/) in conjunction with the Grant Wood Biennial Symposium 2012, April 13-14, 2012.

This unique digital collection includes more than 12 scrapbooks and albums of news clippings, photographs, postcards, letters, and related ephemera assembled by Grant Wood's sister Nan Wood Graham chronicling her brother's professional life.

For the first time, scholars, students and the general public will have unprecedented virtual access to the scrapbook materials.  Due to their fragility, access to the actual scrapbooks is simply impossible.

"Nan Wood Graham is one of the most famous faces in the history of art, immortalized in Wood's iconic painting American Gothic. The materials Graham compiled provide wonderful insight into Wood's life in Iowa and his development as one of the most famous American artists of the 20^th century," said Andrew Wallace, Figge Art Museum. "It is gratifying to know that, through this digital collection, people around world are able to learn about the life and times of Grant Wood through the words of close friends, family, and fellow artists."

This digital collection project would not have been possible without the generous assistance of the Henry Luce Foundation American Art Renewal Fund and through additional funding for imaging equipment provided by an anonymous donor.

These materials, along with several hundred artifacts, including the artist's wire-rimmed glasses, palettes, paint box, and easel, are part of the Figge Art Museum's Grant Wood Archive. The Archive has provided primary source material for numerous articles, catalogues, and monographs for over 40 years, most recently by R. Tripp Evans for his award-winning 2010 biography "Grant Wood - A Life."

The collection is the latest edition in the Iowa Digital Library, which features nearly a half million digital objects created from the holdings of The University of Iowa Libraries and its partners. Included are illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, fine art, political cartoons, scholarly works, and more. Digital collections are coordinated by Digital Research & Publishing.

The Figge Art Museum is located on the riverfront in downtown Davenport, Iowa  at 225 West Second Street. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, Sundays 12-5 p.m. and Thursdays 10 a.m. - 9p.m. To contact the museum, please call 563.326.7804, or visit our website, www.figgeartmuseum.org.

 

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