DES MOINES, IA (04/12/2012)(readMedia)-- Thomas Wolfe, a retired junior high school teacher from Davenport, will receive the Iowa State Education Association's (ISEA's) top honor, the Charles F. Martin Award for Association Leadership. Wolfe will accept the honor Friday, April 13, before a group of nearly 400 educators attending the ISEA Delegate Assembly at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines.

The Charles F. Martin Award has been presented annually since 1972 to recognize an ISEA member who has made significant contributions to the teaching profession through Association involvement. Named in honor of the late Charles F. Martin, who served as ISEA president in 1945 and then as executive director from 1946 to 1961, the award is given to an educator who embodies the link between the Association's mission and the impact it has in the classroom.

"Tom is truly one of the most committed and compassionate leaders the ISEA has had the privilege of working with," said Chris Bern, president of the ISEA. Tom spent his professional life dedicated to being the best in his classroom and a leader in his professional association. He has helped shape the face of public education and we will be eternally grateful for the many leaders he inspired. While he is retired today after years in the classroom and working alongside his colleagues strengthening his local association, he can still be found actively promoting public education, the ISEA, and the NEA at all levels," Bern added. "Tom truly embodies the Charles F. Martin award."

The ISEA is a professional association made up of nearly 34,000 educators dedicated to supporting and protecting a quality public education for all Iowa students. Great Education. It's an Iowa Basic!

Braley secured $187,000 for installation of generator in 2009

Camanche, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Camanche Fire and Police station where he helped unveil a new emergency generator that will allow Camanche's first responders to continue operating during natural disasters and power outages.

"Preparing for floods and disasters now will save lives and save money in the future," Braley said.  "Camanche officials have worked diligently to upgrade their systems to prepare for the unknown and I'm happy to have worked with them to get this generator installed."

In 2009, Braley secured $187,500 in federal funds to design and install the emergency generators in Camanche.  The funding was included in the FY 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act.

Braley visits Davenport and Dubuque to discuss benefits of tax credit for families and kids

Waterloo, IA - At events in Davenport and Dubuque today, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) discussed an effort he's launching to renew and expand a tax credit for families that choose to adopt children.

When Congress returns to session next week, Braley will introduce the Making Adoption Affordable Act, a bill that will permanently expand the adoption tax credit to $13,360 and make it refundable -- allowing more families to take full advantage of it.  Unless Congress acts, the current adoption tax credit of $12,360 will expire at the end of the year.

"Deciding to adopt a child is one of the most caring decisions a couple can make," Braley said.  "Unfortunately, it's a decision also carries significant financial costs with it.  This can be a barrier for many couples.

"The adoption tax credit is a small investment that provides a huge return: getting more children into loving homes and out of the costly foster care system.

"When a policy puts more kids in good families and also saves taxpayers millions of dollars in the process, renewing it should be a no-brainer.  Expanding the adoption tax credit makes even more sense and will help even more parents and children."

Braley discussed the renewal and expansion of the tax credits at events today at Bethany for Children and Families in Davenport and Hillcrest Family Services in Dubuque.

The federal government partners with states to care for orphaned children.  Adoption is preferable to foster care not only because it results in better outcomes for children, but because it is far less costly for taxpayers.  As of 2010, foster care costs to taxpayers averaged $47,000 per child, per year.

The adoption tax credit is a proven incentive to promote adoptions.  Before its last expansion in 1998, the tax credit was claimed after only 50,400 adoptions.  After expansion, in 2004, the tax credit was claimed in nearly 87,000 adoptions, representing a nearly 50 percent increase.

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Abill that sets the school start date no earlier than the fourth Monday in August passed the House with a 54-44 vote. Many parents, citizens, and tourism groups have supported the bill as well but its fate isn't certain in the Senate. As it stands, state law says the earliest schools can open is the week that includes September 1st but the majority of districts request, and are granted, waivers to start earlier. The Governor has hinted at preventing the Dept. of Education from granting those waivers and forcing the schools to honor the current code if the Senate fails to act.

Tax increment financing (TIF) is an economic growth tool that many areas of the state have used wisely, but there have been blatant abuses by some that brought the TIF Reform bill to the House Floor. TIF Reform relates to the city and county authority to address slum and blight and economic development by modifying Iowa's urban renewal law, providing for future repeal of Iowa's urban renewal law, authorizing cities and counties to establish project development areas to utilize tax increment financing for certain projects. A highlight of the bill, in most cases, states the three taxing entities; city, county, and school governments need to have a majority agreement on the need for TIF enactment. There are too many more topics related to TIF that are covered in the bill to mention in this article.

With the only the budget left to come across the House Floor, Health and Human Services, I would anticipate conference committee assignments on all of the other budgets yet this week. I believe this signals the end of session is near, possible by April 20th.

If you have concerns or questions I can be reached at the Capitol by emailing steven.olson@legis.state.ia.us.