Schools across the state are invited to participate in Prepare for the Basics give-away.

DES MOINES, IA (03/07/2012)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald is offering free pencils to schools across Iowa for use in Kindergarten Round-Up through the Prepare for the Basics program. "Our schools know inviting families to check out their school six months before the school year begins will help kindergarteners prepare for their big transition," Fitzgerald said. "We offer the pencils as a small gesture of support for our schools." In addition to the pencil, this free program will provide information about College Savings Iowa, the state-sponsored 529 plan created to help Iowa families meet the increasing costs of higher education.

College Savings Iowa lets anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - invest for college. Iowa taxpayers can deduct up to $2,975 in contributions per beneficiary account from their adjusted gross income in 2012.* Investors do not need to be a state resident and can withdraw their investment tax-free to pay for qualified higher education expenses including tuition, books, supplies and room and board at any eligible college, university, community college or accredited technical training school in the United States or abroad.** For more information about College Savings Iowa, visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com or call 1-888-672-9116.

Elementary Principals interested in taking part in the Prepare for the Basics program are urged to register online by visiting www.treasurer.state.ia.us. They can register by clicking on the Education tab and then going to the Prepare for the Basics Campaign. To guarantee timely arrival, materials should be requested at least two weeks in advance. They will be delivered directly to the participating schools. Supplies are limited, so early registration is advised.

*Adjusted annually for inflation. If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income.

**The earnings portion of nonqualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state and local income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 888-672-9116 or visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com to obtain a Program Description. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are included in the Program Description; read and consider it carefully before investing.

Regional Math Bee held at the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency

200 area sixth grade students participated in the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency's 34th annual Regional Math Bee held at the Mississippi Bend AEA in Bettendorf, Iowa March 6, 2012.

47 enthusiastic teams of students worked individually and as a team to solve problems and demonstrate their math skills.  The top five teams as well as the top 3 individuals will represent our region at the State Math Bee in Fort Dodge on April 27, 2012

The top five teams of the 2012 Regional 6^th Grade Math Bee:

1^st Place Team: Pleasant View Elementary, Pleasant Valley School District

Students: Ethan Good, Jack Lynn, Konnor Sommer, Keshav Wagle

Coach: Zachary Day

2^nd Place Team:         Hopewell Elementary, Pleasant Valley School District

Students: Caleb Arnold, Jacob Fuhrmeister, Austin Halupnik, Tyler Helmers

Coach: Marci Furlong

3rd Place Team: Riverdale Heights Elementary, Pleasant Valley School District

Students:  Mark Kessler, Roshni Nair, Abinaya Paravasthuramesh, Vishwajit Subramanian

Coach:  David Barber

4th Place Team: Cody Elementary, Pleasant Valley School District

Students: Alec Gelande, Ashlyn Haack, Max Royer, Caroline Sharis

Coach: Cathi Betts

5^th Place Team:         Rivermont Collegiate, Bettendorf, Iowa

Students: Kenton Fee, Naina Ninan, Collin Smith, Sophia Xiao

Coach: Chae Hee Porubcin

The top three individuals of the 2010 Regional 6th Grade Math Bee:

1^st Place Individual:   Abinaya Paravasthuramesh, Riverdale Heights Elementary, Pleasant Valley

Coach: David Barber

2^nd Place Individual:   Tyler Helmers, Hopewell Elementary, Pleasant Valley

Coach: Marci Furlong

3^rd Place Individual:   Konnor Sommer, Pleasant View Elementary, Pleasant Valley

New Appointees to Bring Fresh Leadership to Vital Economic Engine

CHICAGO - March 6, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today continued his efforts to grow our economy by announcing four new appointments to the Illinois Medical District Commission (IMDC), which oversees the largest urban medical district in the country. Jennifer Woodard, James Clewlow, Meredith O'Connor and Blake Sercye will join the board that also includes two appointees designated by the mayor of Chicago and one designated by the president of the Cook County Board.

"Cutting-edge, health-related fields, such as biotechnology, are important economic engines in Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "For Illinois and the city of Chicago to remain at the forefront of these fields, we need to have leaders who will spur job creation and economic development by providing the vision and oversight necessary to identifying opportunities and investments that will benefit everyone."

The IMDC, formally established in 1941, develops and manages the 560-acre Illinois Medical District (IMD) in Chicago, which has 20,000 employees working in hospitals, health clinics, research labs and the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) - the nation's largest medical school, and the state's largest biotechnology complex. The IMD supports 50,000 direct and indirect jobs, while generating $3.3 billion in economic activity and more than $100 million in state and local taxes. The IMD is funded through property sales and lease proceeds and cannot levy taxes.

Jennifer Woodard is associate vice chancellor in the Office of External Affairs at UIC. During her 14 years at UIC, Woodard has lead numerous initiatives focused on bringing support to the academic, research and service missions of the campus. Prior to joining UIC, she practiced law, specializing in corporate and international corporate matters. She has served on several non-profit arts and service organization boards, including Chicago Opera Theater, El Valor and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. She holds degrees in English literature and history from the University of North Dakota and a juris doctorate from the Northwestern University School of Law.

James Clewlow has served as chief investment officer for CenterPoint since January of 2005, after serving as senior vice president of investments. He joined CenterPoint in 1997 and oversees investment activity for the company. Mr. Clewlow has been involved in industrial real estate since graduating from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1985. He worked for CBRE as an industrial real estate broker for 11 years serving the Chicago area and joined CenterPoint in an acquisitions capacity. Mr. Clewlow received his master's degree in business administration from Kellogg's Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Meredith O'Connor is the managing director of Jones Lang LaSalle's Midwest Region. Prior to joining Jones Lang LaSalle, O'Connor was the deputy director of business development at World Business Chicago (WBC), a public-private economic development corporation comprised of more than 20 top executives from many of Chicago's leading companies. She spent more than 10 years as deputy commissioner with the city of Chicago where she founded a new unit in the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) to advocate for science and technology-based economic development. She also held several other city positions, including assistant to the mayor and was appointed as the youngest-ever assistant sergeant at arms for the Chicago City Council. Ms. O'Connor holds a master's of business administration in finance from Loyola University's Graduate School of Business.

Blake P. Sercye is an associate in the litigation department at Jenner & Block.  Prior to joining the firm, Sercye handled family law, sealing and expungement matters as a PILI Fellow at the Chicago Legal Clinic in the city's Austin neighborhood. He serves on the board of directors for the Umoja Student Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization that provides tutoring and college preparatory counseling for inner city high school students. He is also a member of Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School's Young Leader's Council, the Chicago Westside Branch of the NAACP and the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Sercye earned his juris doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was a member of The University of Chicago Legal Forum and the Black Law Students Association. He received a bachelor's degree in politics with honors from Princeton University.

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Senator Chuck Grassley made the comment below about information released today by the U.S. Air Force regarding its fiscal year 2013 Total Force Manpower Force Structure, which includes authorized manpower numbers for Iowa, including the 132^nd Fighter Wing in Des Moines and the 185^th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City.

The Air Force document indicates a net reduction of 492 Air Guard positions in Des Moines due to recent recommendations to retire 21 F-16s in Des Moines.  The Air Force document also indicates a net increase of three Air Guard positions in Sioux City.

Senator Grassley's comment:

"Reversing this decision will take a concerted effort by National Guard advocates in Congress.  So far, the effort has been significant, and there will be an opportunity to determine a different outcome when annual legislation to authorize defense spending is considered later this year

"I'm a member of the National Guard Caucus in the Senate and plan to continue pressing for answers and a thorough review of what's best for taxpayers and national defense.  During a Budget Committee hearing last week, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon and I both asked Defense Secretary Panetta to review these recommendations.  In addition, 49 governors, including Governor Branstad, have expressed opposition to the Guard cuts.

"Fiscal responsibility and stewardship dictate that the Air Force should use a cost-benefit analysis that looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the active and reserve forces.  It's not clear that such a process has been used, and the Air Force needs to account for its approach."

Rep. Bruce Braley's office sent the following:

Braley: Stopping Air Force Cuts to Des Moines Air National Guard is "Just Common Sense"

Washington, DC - March 6, 2012 - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement today after the US Air Force said it was recommending eliminating 492 positions at the Des Moines-based 132^nd Iowa Air National Guard Fighter Wing:

"Stopping the Air Force's misguided cuts to the Des Moines Air National Guard wing isn't a partisan issue, it's just common sense.  If the Air Force's goal is to reduce costs, downsizing the Iowa Air National Guard while more expensive units and less experienced pilots are preserved elsewhere just doesn't add up.

"The Pentagon's priorities are wrong, and I'll continue working alongside Iowa's elected leaders to stop this damaging plan in its tracks."