05 Jun 2012

EWG Releases Crop Insurance Subsidy Analysis

By Elisha Smith

Statement in response by Chuck Hassebrook, Center for Rural Affairs


Lyons, NE - An analysis of over a million government records pertaining to federal crop insurance has found that in 2011 more than 10,000 individual farming operations have received federal crop insurance premium subsidies ranging from $100,000 to more than $1 million apiece. The analysis found that some 26 farming operations received subsidies of $1 million or more last year.

According to the Environmental Working Group, the records have never before been made public and were obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

"Subsidized crop insurance premiums have become the primary farm program," said Chuck Hassebrook of the Center for Rural Affairs. "And if one corporation farmed the entire Midwest, the government would pay over 60 percent of its crop insurance premiums on every acre."

"It's past time to put a cap on crop insurance premium subsidies and stop subsidizing mega farms to bid land away from smaller and beginning farmers, " Hassebrook added.

A copy of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) release, along with links to the analysis and supporting data, can be viewed and downloaded at http://static.ewg.org/pdf/2012cropinsurance.pdf .

According to the EWG analysis, U.S. taxpayers pick up an average of about 62 percent of the crop insurance premiums for farm businesses. Their share of these premiums has soared from $1.5 billion in 2002 to $7.4 billion in 2011. The subsidies go to large operators with no conservation strings attached to protect water and soil, no means testing, and no payment limit on how much a farm business can collect (excerpted from EWG release).

Among the facts disclosed in the EWG analysis:

  • A single farm business in Florida received $1.9 million in subsidies for premiums to insure crops of tomatoes and peppers in five counties.
  • A Minnesota farm business insuring corn and soybeans in eight counties received $1.7 million in federal crop insurance subsidies.
  • In Texas, the 10 percent of farm businesses that received the greatest amount of insurance subsidies harvested 63 percent of all the crop insurance subsidies that went into the state last year.
  • The 10 percent of North Dakota farm businesses that received the greatest amount of insurance subsidies took in 45 percent of the subsidies going to all farms in the state.
05 Jun 2012

USDA Community Facilities Program Supports Job Growth Across America

By USDA Communications

Earlier today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released a report highlighting the ways in which Community Facilities infrastructure investments in rural communities help create jobs and boost economic development, and Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager announced additional investments that will create jobs and promote economic growth across the nation.

The Community Facilities program supports job growth across the nation.  For example, recently, Under Secretary Tonsager had the opportunity to visit Greene County Medical Center (GCMC) in Jefferson, Iowa.  The 75-year-old hospital is planning a large expansion and renovation project that will create a state-of-the-art medical campus and USDA Rural Development will be involved in a big way.

Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager announced recently that Greene County Medical Center in Iowa will receive loans to e

Our agency is providing an $18 million Community Facilities direct loan and a $2 million guaranteed loan to help upgrade and expand the facility which serves residents from several counties in west central Iowa.

This project at GCMC represents part of a continuing effort by the Obama Administration to advance technology as it relates to rural health care. Rural residents must have access to the best available care, and this medical campus will provide decades of service to the residents of this region.

During the last three years nearly $150 million in funding from USDA Rural Development has helped 24 rural Iowa hospitals with expansions, renovations and equipment upgrades.

Improved health care opportunities is extremely important in Iowa as it has one of the nation's highest percentages of residents who are 65 years of age or older.  A high percentage of older Iowans live in rural communities.

When construction is completed GCMC will provide enhanced healthcare delivery services, as well as expanded outpatient services. GCMC is one of the area's largest employers with more than 250 full- and part-time staff, in a community of 4,600 residents.

Since the start of the Obama Administration, Rural Development's Community Facilities Program has helped millions of rural Americans address essential challenges in health care, education, public service and public safety by financing projects through loans, grants, or loan guarantees.

05 Jun 2012

Schilling to Host HASC Readiness Chairman Forbes

By Andie Pivarunas

Congressmen to tour RIA, host Defending Our Defenders forum, visit Rockford's SupplyCore with Rep. Manzullo
Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) announced today that House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Subcommittee on Readiness Chairman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) will be visiting western Illinois on Monday June 4th and Tuesday June 5th.  On Monday June 4th Forbes and Schilling will be touring the Rock Island Arsenal and hosting a forum on the region's defense manufacturing capabilities and how local communities will be impacted by massive defense cuts.  Forbes and Schilling will be joining Congressman Don Manzullo (IL-16) in Rockford on Tuesday June 5th to visit SupplyCore, where they will again discuss defense spending levels.

"Many thanks to Chairman Forbes and his staff for recognizing our area's invaluable contributions to our national defense," Schilling said. "Next week's events will be great opportunities for folks in our local defense community to share with Chairman Forbes the impact triggered defense cuts will have on their ability to support our troops and contribute to and to our local economy and to America's national defense.  I will continue working with Chairman Forbes and my colleagues in the House on a bipartisan basis to ensure cuts that the Obama Administration calls 'catastrophic' and Defense Secretary Panetta calls 'disastrous' don't come to fruition."
  • Monday June 4th - Forbes and Schilling host HASC Readiness Subcommittee Defending Our Defenders forum on defense spending from 5:30-7:00pm at the Western Illinois University Moline Riverfront Campus, Room 111, 3300 River Drive, Moline, Illinois 61265.
  • Tuesday June 5th - Forbes, Schilling, and Manzullo visit SupplyCore from 9:00-10:00am at 303 North Main Street #800, Rockford, Illinois 61101.
These events are part of a series of listening sessions that Chairman Forbes is hosting around the country on the impact that defense cuts will have local economies and America's national security.  Chairman Forbes is also inviting feedback from members of the public on defense cuts.  To submit feedback, please visit http://forbes.house.gov/Forms/Form/?ID=2004.    

Press interested in attending the Defending Our Defenders forum or the SupplyCore discussion should contact Andie Pivarunas for more information and to RSVP.

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05 Jun 2012

Ballet Quad Cities presents Ballet Under the Stars

By Ballet QC

Sponsored by John Deere

What: Ballet Under the Stars

Who: Ballet Quad Cities

Where: Lincoln Park Classic Theatre 11th Ave & 38th St Rock Island, IL

When: June 8, 9 & 10 at 8:00pm

Ticket Prices: No Admission Charged!

Three evenings of no admission charged ballet performances - a perfect time to introduce your family to our family of dancers at Ballet Quad Cities! Bring a picnic supper, chairs, or a blanket and spend an evening under the stars at lovely Lincoln Park.

The program will bring back favorite selections from this past season including the Black Swan Pas de Deux and an excerpt from The Sleeping Beauty as well as other audience favorites.

Also joining the dancers on stage are students from Frances Willard Elementary School in Rock Island who participated in an after school program lead by company dancer Margaret Huling.  The 8 students learned original choreography and will perform with brightly colored Chinese ribbons.  The Dance with the Stars program was funded by a grant from Quad City Arts Dollar$: Community Access to the Arts.

For more information, please call 309-786-3779 or visit www.balletquadcities.com

05 Jun 2012

Scott Co. Board of Supervisors Tentative Agenda

By Chris Berge
05 Jun 2012

Secretary Vilsack Releases Report Highlighting Obama Administration Accomplishments Supporting Rural Communities

By USDA Communications
Events Being Held Nationwide Today To Showcase Successful Healthcare, Education and Public Safety Investments; New Projects Announced in 21 States

WASHINGTON, May 31, 2012 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released a report highlighting the ways in which infrastructure investments in rural communities help create jobs and boost economic development, and he announced additional investments that will create jobs and promote economic growth across the nation.

"Quality hospitals, schools and libraries are the building blocks for a vibrant rural America," said Vilsack. "Today's announcement illustrates how the Obama Administration is leveraging Rural Development's investments to ensure that rural communities can compete in the global economy."

Since the start of fiscal year 2009, Rural Development's Community Facilities Program has helped more than 37 million rural Americans address essential challenges in health care, education, public service and public safety by financing projects through loans, grants, or loan guarantees.

For example, thousands of families in Missouri depend on the care provided by Macon County Samaritan Memorial Hospital. Unfortunately, the existing hospital had no private patient rooms, and its surgical rooms did not meet current standards. USDA Rural Development provided a direct and guaranteed loan to finance the construction of a new health care facility and renovate existing hospital space. The hospital employs 215 full-time employees and provides critical health care services to a primary service area of almost 16,000 residents in northeast Missouri.

To find out how the Community Facilities Program is making a difference in your state, click here.

Vilsack also announced that 38 Community Facilities investments in 21 states are being awarded today to continue the Administration's commitment to help create jobs and improve the economy. For a complete list of awards announced today, please click here.

For example, in Arizona, the Cibecue Community Education Board, Inc. is being awarded a $50,000 grant to purchase a used 20-foot cargo van that will be converted into a bookmobile for the school and community. The van will be equipped with shelving, books, computer, printer, generator and supplies. The community library closed in 2010. The bookmobile will enable the school to provide the K-8th grade, high school students, and adult community access to a library and restore the literacy program that once benefited the community. Cibecue is located on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.

USDA Rural Development's Community Facilities Program supports essential infrastructure and services for public use in rural areas of 20,000 in population or less. Financing for Community Facilities projects covers a broad range of interests, including healthcare, education, public safety and public services. There are three major Community Facilities Programs: Community Facilities Direct and Guaranteed Loan Programs, Community Facilities Grants, and the Rural Community Development Initiative.

Since taking office, President Obama's Administration has taken historic steps to improve the lives of rural Americans, put people back to work and build thriving economies in rural communities. From proposing the American Jobs Act to establishing the first-ever White House Rural Council - chaired by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack - the President wants the federal government to be the best possible partner for rural businesses and entrepreneurs and for people who want to live, work and raise their families in rural communities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $165 billion in affordable loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

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05 Jun 2012

Lt. Governor Simon Statement on strip club surcharge

By Kara Beach

SPRINGFIELD - May 31, 2012. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today issued the following statement regarding the House's 92-23-3 concurrence to House Bill 1645, Amendment 3, which establishes a strip club surcharge and fee structure to help fund rape crisis centers that have seen state funding decline about 28 percent over the past five years. The bill now awaits the Governor's signature.

Simon said: "I want to thank all of the advocates who answer rape crisis hotlines and counsel women, men and children who survive sexual abuse and assault. Sen. Hutchinson worked hard on your behalf to negotiate a compromise with the adult entertainment industry and garner bipartisan support for legislation that will help restore critical funding during tough budget times. My thanks also go out to Rep. Feigenholtz who ushered this bill through the House, again with bipartisan support. This is an example of how the process should work. All parties worked together for the good of our state."

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05 Jun 2012

Loebsack Announces Funding For Local Airport Improvements

By Joe Hand

Loebsack Announces More Than $233,000 for Davenport Airport Improvements

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today announced that the Davenport Municipal Airport will receive a total of $233,500 to make improvements to the runway.  These funds come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) grant program.

"Access to local airports allow our communities to grow, as well as fuel additional economic development in the region," said Loebsack.  "I am pleased that the Davenport Municipal Airport is receiving this grant which will help fund much needed runway improvements and allow the airport to continue functioning safely and effectively."

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Loebsack Announces Nearly $180,000 for Muscatine Airport Improvements

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today announced that the Muscatine Municipal Airport will receive a total of $179,488 to make improvements to the taxiway and runway.  These funds come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) grant program.

"Access to local airports allow our communities to grow, as well as fuel additional economic development in the region," said Loebsack.  "I am pleased that the Muscatine Municipal Airport is receiving this grant which will help fund much needed runway and taxiway improvements and allow the airport to continue functioning safely and effectively."

Specifically, the airport will receive:

$129,088 to rehabilitate the existing taxiway pavement that has reached the end of its useful life

$50,400 to remove obstructions in the runway approach

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05 Jun 2012

Braley Announces Over $1 Million for Improvements to Eastern Iowa Airports

By Jeff Giertz

Will allow for infrastructure improvement and future planning at the Waterloo, Independence & Oelwein airports

 

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) announced today that three eastern Iowa airports will receive a total of $1,051,556 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration.  This funding will be used to update master plans, identify future needs and improve runway lighting.

 

"This is great news for Eastern Iowa. The grant money will help these airports make critical infrastructure improvements right now and identify improvements needed in the future - both ensure the safety of passengers and employees," Braley said. "Whether traveling for business or family vacation, Iowans rely on their community airports to be safe, secure and reliable. It's critical we give Iowa's airports the tools they need to provide the safest and most efficient service to their customers."

 

Specifically, the funds will be used for:

 

Waterloo Regional Airport                        $967,856 to improve the runway lighting system to ensure visibility

Independence Municipal Airport              $52,200 to update the airport master plan and identify future needs

Oelwein Municipal Airport                        $31,500 to update the airport master plan and identify future needs

 

 

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05 Jun 2012

Youngest Person to Run Barefoot Across the Country to Run Through Colona, Illinois

By Elizabeth Kirk

18 year old Rae Heim is not your average high school student.  She is spending her days running across the country to help people who don't have shoes.  Having already run through 11 states and over 1,000 miles, Rae is more than half way done with her journey, which will conclude in California in November.  Rae runs between 12 and 30 miles a day with all of her belongings piled in a backpack.  And although she is running solo, supporters from across the country are meeting up with her to run alongside and show their support.

WHO:
Rae is raising funds for the charity Soles4Souls, who is able to provide a pair of shoes to someone in need for every dollar raised.  Supporters can donate to Rae's cause by visiting http://www.soles4soulsfundraising.org/cgi-bin/view_profile.cgi?id=2766.  You can visit her website to view her schedule and other important details about her journey at http://flavors.me/raeainslee.

WHEN:
Tuesday, June 12, 2012

WHERE:
Annawan, Illinois to Colona, Illinois

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About Soles4Souls
Soles4Souls collects new shoes to give relief to the victims of abject suffering and collects used shoes to support micro-enterprise efforts to eradicate poverty.  Soles4Souls' other two divisions, Clothes4Souls and Hope4Souls, provide the same relief and support through clothing and other necessities. Donating parties are eligible for tax advantages.  Visit www.giveshoes.org, www.clothes4souls.org, or www.hope4souls.org for more information.------------------

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