During his weekly video address, Senator Chuck Grassley discusses the need for job-generating tax policy, spending reductions, regulatory relief, trade agreements, and energy development, as well as respect for the checks and balances that have helped to define America's system of government for 235 years.

 

Click here for audio.

Here is the text of the address:

I held meeting with Iowans in 36 counties this month.  People at the grass roots are looking for leadership.  13 million unemployed workers need to know that Washington can take action to help get people back to work and move the country in the right direction.

Workers, employers and entrepreneurs need an environment where the economy can improve and jobs can be created.

Taxes, especially tax certainty, are a major factor.  One of the biggest tax increases in history will happen at the end of this year if Congress and the President don't stop it.  Small businesses, where most new jobs are created, would be hit hard

Government spending needs to be reduced.  The problem isn't that taxes are too low, it's that Washington spends too much.  Massive federal debt gets in the way of economic growth.  So does the heavy hand of government regulation, and it must be lifted.

American workers also need new export markets for the goods and services they manufacture.  They need an energetic and enthusiastic effort to establish new international trade relationships for the United States.

The economy benefits from affordable energy, so domestic production has got to be a priority and a reality.  Even so, President Obama is denying the Keystone XL pipeline project.  This infrastructure project would create as many as 20,000 jobs.  The President's position works against creating jobs and getting people back to work.

Since 2009, President Obama's big spending stimulus and government intervention has failed in terms of job creation, economic growth and fiscal responsibility. We need a new direction.

On top of that, President Obama seems determined to test and even exceed the powers of his office.  America has a system of checks and balances that's generally worked for more than two centuries.  The President's interest in putting the executive branch above the other branches of government is unconstitutional and counter-productive.  It's something Americans rejected 235 years ago.

Today, finding common ground with the elected representatives of Congress would be more productive than trying to govern by edict from the Oval Office.

 

Financial Planner Shares Tips for a 21st-Century Filing System

Jane was not looking forward to going through her parents' belongings to get their house ready to sell. Their health had been failing for some time and they finally agreed to move to a retirement community. Now that they were both comfortably moved into their new apartment, it was up to Jane to get rid of the things they no longer needed.

Her parents had lived in the same house for more than 50 years, so Jane expected to find things that should have been tossed out years ago.  But she was amazed to discover 50 years of tax returns and bank statements carefully stored in boxes in the attic. Her parents had saved all their financial records!

Many people are confused about what records they need to keep and for how long. They hold onto tax returns, bank records, brokerage statements and other financial information simply because they don't know if they'll need it again. Like Jane's parents, the documents get packed in boxes that eventually take over valuable living or storage space.

Financial planner Rick Rodgers, author of The New Three-Legged Stool: A Tax Efficient Approach To Retirement Planning (www.TheNewThreeLeggedStool.com), says tax time is a great time to get organized.

"Most people are going through their records to get ready to file their return," he says. "This is the time to get smart about what you need to keep and then set up a system to store it efficiently going forward."

Rodgers suggests these five steps to help you effectively organize your finances for 2012 and beyond:

1. Out with the old - Discard the records you no longer need: Tax returns older than seven years; bank records and credit card statements that are not related to the tax returns you're keeping; brokerage statements that aren't related to purchases of current holdings. Be sure to shred all your old documents before throwing them out.

2. Go digital - Convert the documents you plan to save into digital images that are stored on your hard drive. Invest in a good scanner and scan as you go through your paperwork, shredding and tossing the hard copies as you go. On your computer, file by tax year, so your 2011 folder will contain your tax return for 2011 and all pertinent bank records and receipts. Organize the previous six years the same way. Next year you can delete the oldest folder when you add the 2012 folder.

3. Save a forest - All of the financial institutions you deal with would prefer to send your statements electronically. Stop receiving paper statements. Instead, download your statements electronically and store them in your new filing system.  Most banks and credit card companies keep at least a year's worth of statements available.  You need to download these files only once a year to complete the year's file.

4. Save backups in case of emergency - Make backup copies of your files on a CD. Choose a CD-R (recordable) as opposed to a CD-RW (rewriteable), because CD-R cannot accidentally be overwritten. Depending on your computer operating system, you may be able to continue adding data to a CD-R each year, until the CD is full. However, some operating systems won't allow that, so you'll need a new CD for each year.

5. Go paperless - Your new electronic filing system can be expanded to include all your financial records, from car maintenance receipts to pay stubs.  Wills and insurance policies can also be scanned and stored but, of course, keep the originals of those in a safe deposit box or fireproof safe.

Gone are the days of saving your financial documents in box and shoving it into the attic.  Technology advances have made organizing your personal finances easier with minimal cost.  Make 2012 the year you get organized by moving your finances into a 21st century filing system.

About Rick Rodgers

Certified Financial Planner Rick Rodgers is president of Rodgers & Associates, "The Retirement Specialists," in Lancaster, Pa. He's a Certified Retirement Counselor and member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisers. Rodgers has been featured on national radio and TV shows, including "FOX Business News" and "The 700 Club," and is available to speak at conferences and corporate events (www.rodgersspeaks.com).

St Paul, MN -- Sydney Quandt, a senior at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn., has been named to the Dean's List for academic excellence for the winter 2011 semester. Sydney is the daughter of Jim and Julie Quandt from East Moline, IL.

Des Moines, IA. Recognition for outstanding academic achievement has been given to the following Grand View University students for the 2011 fall semester:  Amber Bloch and Jordan Alexander Garrow, both from Davenport, IA.  The students are named to the Dean's List for earning a grade point average of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale while carrying at least 12 hours of classes.

Kansas City, MO. - Rockhurst University has announced the dean's list for the fall 2011 semester. This honor recognizes Gabriella Binion of Davenport who has achieved a grade-point average of 3.5 or above. 

Cedar Rapids, IA - Ashley Jipp, daughter of Gary and Wendy Jipp has been named to the Coe College Dean's List for the fall 2012 term.  LindseyJipp, daughter of Gary and Wendy Jipp has been named to the Coe College Dean's List for the fall 2012 term. The Jipps are from Pleasant Valley, IA.
Full-time students who rank in the top 10 percent of the student body are named to the Dean's List. For the past fall term, students achieving a grade point average of 3.875 or higher earned this high honor.

Morehead, KY (01/27/2012)(readMedia)-- Jami Whitcomb has been named to the Dean's List for the fall 2011 semester. Whitcomb is from Taylor Ridge, IL. To be eligible for Dean's List, a student must carry a semester GPA of 3.5 or better and take a minimum of 12 letter-graded hours (four courses).

Huntington, IN (01/30/2012)(readMedia)-- Huntington University has announced that the following students were named to the Dean's List for the fall semester of the 2011-12 school year:

• Valerie Van Ee, a junior Animation major from Eldridge, IA.

• Jenna Johnson, a freshman Nursing major from Davenport, IA.

• Christopher Burton, a senior Broadcasting major from Rock Island, IL.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center is pleased to announce the opening of the Ida Robinson Banquet Room honoring 40 years of dedicated service from Mrs. Robinson to the King Center and the City of Rock Island. Ida Robinson will leave the King Center for the final time as a full time employee on Tuesday January 31. Ida has been essential in establishing the King Center as a trusted resource due to her diligence, dedication, honesty, and integrity. Ida earned a reputation as a community legend by surpassing any duties in her job description in pursuing her desire to enrich our community. She leaves behind a legacy honored with a brand new plaque dedicating the room.

This beautiful new banquet and conference center, created with the King Center's renovation and expansion in 2011, is available for rent. The 3,700 square foot room is ideal for weddings, family reunions, birthday parties, corporate meetings, fundraisers, or other celebrations.

The room has natural lighting and a neutral color palate, making it easy-to-adapt for any occasion. The room can be divided in half creating two separate event areas or kept open to accommodate 450 people using theatre style seating or 200 people using round tables that seat 8 people each.

A full-service kitchen with commercial stove, warmers, freezer, and refrigerator

is also available. The King Center welcomes clients to provide their food as well as its preparation in our kitchen. They are also able to help select a caterer from a list of preferred partners provided upon request or clients can select their own.

Alcohol service is allowed with proper licensure, insurance, and notifications. A list of approved caterers of alcohol can be provided by the King Center

The King Center offers the following rental rates commiserate with the quality of the new facility yet still highly comparable to similar Quad City facilities:

• $ 250 per 3 hours to groups (3 hour minimum); $100 per each additional hour.

• $ 200 per 3 hours to nonprofit organizations with proof of valid and current 501 c(3) status; $75 per each additional hour.

• An additional and separate $100 required as a refundable cleaning and security deposit.

• Usage of the kitchen is an additional flat rate of $50.

The Ida Robinson Banquet Room is available Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 9:00 pm and Friday - Sunday 8:00 am - 12:00 am.

Please call the King Center at 732-2999 to make your reservations or for more information