19 Dec 2011

Ron Paul Marshalltown Event Attracts 110 Voters

By Gary Howard
Crowd size, makeup show growth since prior visits
ANKENY, Iowa - In a sign of growing momentum and voter interest in 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul, 110 voters attended Dr. Paul's Marshalltown town hall meeting held at the Fisher Community Center.

The turnout is noteworthy as crowds were larger than in two prior visits to Marshalltown, the city that is also county seat to Marshall County, and because of the crowd's diversity.  In particular a larger share of the voters present today were undecided voters in addition to regular supporters, thus showing both in polls and photographs growth in Paul's base.
Ron Paul speaks before opening up the floor to a Q&A.

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19 Dec 2011

More news from the Ron Paul Campaign

By Gary Howard
Ron Paul Easily Defeats Competitors in Drake University Presidential Straw Poll

More than 1,200 students participate in online contest held alongside ABC News / RPI debate
ANKENY, Iowa - Ron Paul defeated his fellow competitors for the Republican nomination in a secure online straw poll held for students of Drake University in Des Moines yesterday, demonstrating his campaign's organizational muscle and his popularity among younger voters.

With 429 votes, first place winner Ron Paul garnered 35 percent of the 1,223 total.  Second place winner Mitt Romney won 311 votes, or 25 percent, and third place winner Newt Gingrich won just 128 votes, or 10 percent.  No other candidate won a double-digit percentage share.

The straw poll victory was announced early in the morning today.  Voting occurred over 24 hours beginning December 10th, with Drake sending students a unique link to their university email address.  Links, then, could not be duplicated and could not be shared on social media for the purpose of voting more than once or padding the online survey. 

Students were able, however, to engage in conventional electioneering by communicating the importance of voting, and that of voting their preference.  Thus, Ron Paul's victory at Drake demonstrates his official campaign's organizational muscle, as those getting out the vote were in fact members of the "Youth for Ron Paul" (YFP) core leadership team: Midwest Regional Director for YFP Ani DeGroot and Edward King, National Youth Director for the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign.

In addition, the atmosphere for a Ron Paul victory at Drake was almost assured.  Drake was the site of last night's ABC News / Republican Party of Iowa Debate, so Paul supporters were notably energized.  In addition, during Paul's same three-day visit that concluded with the debate, he held two YFP rallies.  More than 1,350 mostly-young supporters attended his Iowa State University rally and more than 700 students attended his University of Northern Iowa rally.  In late October, Ron Paul spoke in Iowa City to 1,200 members of the University of Iowa and general community.  ISU, UNI, and UI are YFP chapters, and so is Drake University, to name only a few Iowa YFP chapters in the Hawkeye State.

Youth for Ron Paul, an initiative of the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign, launched on Wednesday, September 7th and since its inception more than 18,000 people signed up to get involved, forming 355 chapters in 46 states.

To learn more and sign up for Youth for Ron Paul, please visit: www.YouthForPaul.com and "like" the Facebook page found at: www.Facebook.com/YouthForPaul.

For the full Drake University straw poll results, please click here.

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Ron Paul Issues Statement on NRLB-Boeing Resolution
LAKE JACKSON, Texas - 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul released a statement today saying that he was pleased with the National Labor Relations Board's decision to drop its lawsuit against Boeing for deciding to build a new plant in South Carolina.

Statement from Congressman Ron Paul:

"Hearing that the NLRB decided to stop pursuing its ongoing harassment of Boeing was welcomed news. I would like to think this is more than just a political move by the Obama administration with an election year looming, but experience tells me otherwise.

"I have long been an advocate for the rights of workers to work without interference by big government, often acting as facilitator for big labor. My unblemished voting record on the issue of right to work, according to the National Right To Work Committee, is a testament to that fact.

"The idea that government bureaucrats, acting to empower union officials, would try to stop a private company from building a new plant is an affront to the very principles of economic liberty this country was founded upon. These are principles I have pledged to uphold my entire career.

"As President I will work to repeal all federal laws that force workers and employers to submit to union officials and their enforcers in the federal bureaucracy."

###
Two Buena Vista Area Tea Party Co-Founders Endorse Ron Paul
Activists Ken Hach and Jim Treat prefer Paul
ANKENY, Iowa - The Ron Paul 2012 Presidential campaign announced today that Congressman Paul was endorsed by two co-founders of the Buena Vista Tea Party Patriots.

"I support Ron Paul for President of the United States because his 'Plan to Restore America' includes specific goals to stop wasteful spending by $1 trillion the first year, balance the budget in three years, and return the country to Constitutional government.  His years of service in Washington have proven his integrity and strength of character in dealing with foreign policy as well as internal issues," said Ken Hach.

"Of the people I have talked with, their primary concerns are jobs and the economy.  Based on the points I mentioned earlier, both situations would improve greatly under a Ron Paul presidency," added Mr. Hach.

Mr. Hach, a retired school administrator, is also owner of Wind on Rails, Inc. and currently serves on the Buena Vista board of county supervisors.  He has been in the wind farming business for 33 years.

"Our country is on a precipice of disaster if we do not have a change of leadership in Washington.  My decision to join the Ron Paul 2012 Campaign was because Dr. Paul is a patriotic American with common sense.  Ron Paul believes in the sanctity of life, the family as the bedrock of society, a strong national defense, and to fight to win when at war.  He will return America to the precepts on which our forefathers birthed the greatest country that history has ever recorded and ensure it is governed in accordance with the Constitution," said Jim Treat.

Mr. Treat has been an active member of the Buena Vista County Republican Party for three decades, and proudly served in the U.S. Army.

The BV Tea Party Patriots formed in 2009 and is comprised of people who believe in the United States and its founding ideals as expressed in the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the Emancipation Proclamation.  It is a community of people who also believe in the American dream: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  They believe that being an American is an honor, as well as a great responsibility.

The endorsement occurred on the day Ron Paul's son, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), argued on several cable news and radio shows that one of Ron Paul's competitors for the GOP nomination, Newt Gingrich, is unworthy of tea party support.  Senator Paul's Des Moines Register op-ed arguing the same point, published today, can be read here.
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19 Dec 2011

Overflow Crowd of 700 Supporters Greets Ron Paul at University of Northern Iowa

By Gary Howard
Call to fire marshal delays 'Youth for Ron Paul' event launch as crowd swells
ANKENY, Iowa - More than 700 mostly-young supporters greeted 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul at a rally held at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), just one night after a similar event at Iowa State University (ISU) netted more than 1,350 supporters.

Event organizers noted that the start of the event was delayed because the local fire marshal was contacted due to the quickly-gathering large crowd. 

The event was held at UNI in the Commons - Slife Ballroom, located at 1224 West 23rd Street in Cedar Falls.  Like the ISU event, tonight's rally far exceeded the expectations of the "Youth for Ron Paul" organizers charged with planning and executing the events.


Youth for Ron Paul, an initiative of the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign, launched on Wednesday, September 7th and since its inception more than 18,000 people signed up to get involved, forming 355 chapters in 46 states. 

To learn more and sign up for Youth for Ron Paul, please visit: www.YouthForPaul.com and "like" the Facebook page found at: www.Facebook.com/YouthForPaul.
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19 Dec 2011

FARM BUREAU MEMBERS ANNOUNCED AWARD WINNERS AT 93rd ANNUAL MEETING

By Heather Lilienthal

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Dec. 9, 2011 - More than 1,000 Iowa Farm Bureau Federation members from across the state gathered at the Polk County Convention Center in Des Moines this week to recognize achievements in agriculture, explore their role in producing food for a hungry world and discuss the 2012 Farm Bill during the organization's 93rd annual meeting.

A number of farmers were recognized for their accomplishments on their operations and within their communities and industry. Distinguished Service to Agriculture awards were given to central Iowa cattle and grain farmers Bill and Nancy Couser, agricultural engineer Stewart Melvin and recently-retired legislator and farmer Dolores Mertz. (Photos of each award winner can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/iowafarmbureau/sets/72157628293522923/.)

Young farmers Justin and Jennifer Dammann, who raise cattle, corn, soybeans, alfalfa and rye on their Century Farm near Essex, won the IFBF Young Farmer Achievement Award and were recognized for their entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to Farm Bureau and their community. (www.flickr.com/photos/iowafarmbureau/6482190819/in/set-72157628293558591.)

Jamie Busch-Upah, a farmer from Tama County, won the Young Farmer Discussion Meet contest. The discussion meet encourages dialogue about issues and challenges that affect agriculture.  It tests young farmers' knowledge of ag-related issues and their ability to express their opinions. (www.flickr.com/photos/iowafarmbureau/sets/72157628293536367/.)

The Dammanns and Busch-Upah will compete in these contests at the national level next month during the American Farm Bureau annual meeting.

Keynote speaker Walter Bond, a former NBA player, offered a "slam dunk" presentation; encouraging farmers to reach out beyond their comfort zones to understand their customers and how others perceive them and their work.  "You have success right now, but don't you dare rest of your laurels. Don't you dare relax," he said. "You've had a great year, but your job is to get bigger, stronger and faster."

-30-

19 Dec 2011

Q&A on Holding the FCC Accountable

By Sen Chuck Grassley

with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

 

Q:        Why have you taken on the Federal Communications Commission?

A:        More than seven months ago, I started asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for information that would shed light on the agency's apparent rush to approve the LightSquared project.  Until public outcry, the agency was allowing LightSquared to move forward on a fast track with its plans for a nationwide wireless network, despite serious concerns of interference with the GPS systems used widely in military, aviation, emergency response venues, and even agriculture.  The agency has refused to provide the public with insight into its approval process.  This is of tremendous concern because the FCC controls a big part of the economy with its decisions about which companies can access highly valuable broadcast spectrum space.  The FCC conducts the public's business, and the public's business ought to be public.

 

Q:        Is there a way to make the FCC respond to your efforts for accountability?

A:        To date, the FCC has provided none of the information and found excuses not to provide the information.  Even the private companies involved - LightSquared and Harbinger Capital Partners (the hedge fund backing the project) - have promised to be more forthcoming than the FCC, even though the FCC is a public agency funded by the taxpayers.  LightSquared and Harbinger Capital promised to provide me with requested documents on their dealings with the FCC this month.  As a last resort to try to exhort more transparency and accountability from the FCC, I'll be placing a Senate hold on consideration of two nominees, a Democrat and a Republican, to serve as FCC commissioners.

 

Q:        What's at stake beyond accountability and the integrity of the FCC's approval process?

A:        This week, it was disclosed that Harbinger Capital Partners and fund owner Philip Falcone have received what's called a Wells Notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  Last April, in my initial letter to the FCC on its decision to fast-track the LightSquared project, I noted that the hedge fund faced ongoing SEC investigations.  In July, I followed up by writing a letter that asked FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski if he was concerned about these multiple SEC investigations of Mr. Falcone related to market manipulation, especially since the FCC had granted Mr. Falcone's company a $10 billion victory with LightSquared following an unusual, shortened public comment period.  While the Wells Notice does not mean the SEC definitely will take action against Mr. Falcone and his hedge fund, it does show that the SEC staff believes there is sufficient evidence to consider recommending an enforcement action.  Now the FCC is faced with the real possibility that it made a multi-billion-dollar grant of valuable spectrum to someone who could be charged with violating securities laws.  When I raised this concern seven months ago, the FCC Chairman was dismissive.  Now, more than ever, the FCC chairman should lead the effort to provide documents and offer insight into how the agency decided to give Mr. Falcone, Harbinger Capital Partners, and LightSquared this multi-billion-dollar grant. The public spectrum is a valuable asset that the Federal Communications Commission is responsible for protecting.  It's unclear what would happen if a company gets access to a piece of this spectrum property and then falls apart.

 

Friday, December 9, 2011
19 Dec 2011

Iowa Supreme Court Opinions December 9, 2011

By Iowa Judicial Branch
Notice: The opinions posted on this site are slip opinions only. Under the Rules of Appellate Procedure a party has a limited number of days to request a rehearing after the filing of an opinion. Also, all slip opinions are subject to modification or correction by the court. Therefore, opinions on this site are not to be considered the final decisions of the court. The official published opinions of the Iowa Supreme Court are those published in the North Western Reporter published by West Group.

Opinions released before April 2006 and available in the archives are posted in Word format. Opinions released after April 2006 are posted to the website in PDF (Portable Document Format).   Note: To open a PDF you must have the free Acrobat Reader installed. PDF format preserves the original appearance of a document without requiring you to possess the software that created that document. For more information about PDF read: Using the Adobe Reader.

For your convenience, the Judicial Branch offers a free e-mail notification service for Supreme Court opinions, Court of Appeals opinions, press releases and orders. To subscribe, click here.

NOTE: Copies of these opinions may be obtained from the Clerk of the Supreme Court, Judicial Branch Building, 1111 East Court Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319, for a fee of fifty cents per page.

No. 09-0222

JOHN P. PAVONE and SIGNATURE MANAGEMENT GROUP, L.L.C. vs. GERALD M. KIRKE and WILD ROSE ENTERTAINMENT, L.L.C.

No. 10-0354

JOSE ANGEL AGUILERA vs. STATE OF IOWA

No. 11-0114

IOWA SUPREME COURT ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY BOARD vs. DAVID M. NELSEN

No. 11-1280

IOWA SUPREME COURT ATTORNEY DISCIPLINARY BOARD vs. STEVEN F. OLSON
19 Dec 2011

House Passes Bill Striking Preemptively at EPA's Regulation of Farm Dust

By Pamela Helsey

Dec. 9, 2011 - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill ( HR 1633) that would establish a temporary prohibition against revising any national ambient air quality standard applicable to coarse particulate matter in order to limit federal regulation of "nuisance dust" in areas in which such dust is regulated under state, tribal, or local law. Proponents of the bill were concerned about the possibility that the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency would regulate so-called "farm dust," particulates kicked up in the air during normal farming practices. Opponents of the bill believe the bill's language is too broad and will prevent regulation of harmful pollutants.

The bill was supported by a cross-section of the agricultural community, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Feed Industry Association, the American Seed Trade Association, the Dairy Farmers of America, the National Association of Wheat Growers, the National Renderers Association, the Fertilizer Institute, the National Pork Producers Council, the US Beet Sugar Association, and the USA Rice Federation, as well other interest groups such as the American Motorcyclist Association, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association.

The bill was opposed by environmental protection and health policy groups such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, the American Lung Association, the American Public Health Association, the American Thoracic Society, and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Amongst All Members of the House

  • Interest groups that supported this motion (Milk & dairy producers, Stone, clay, glass & concrete products, Agricultural chemicals (fertilizers & pesticides), Small business associations, Motorcycles, snowmobiles & other motorized vehicle, etc.) gave on average 3.4 times as much to House members who voted 'YES' ($53,758) as they gave to House members who voted 'NO' ($15,816).

Amongst House Democrats

  • Interest groups that supported this motion (Milk & dairy producers, Stone, clay, glass & concrete products, Agricultural chemicals (fertilizers & pesticides), Small business associations, Motorcycles, snowmobiles & other motorized vehicle, etc.) gave on average 4.9 times as much to House Democrats who voted 'YES' ($77,049) as they gave to House Democrats who voted 'NO' ($15,816).

Amongst House Republicans

  • House Republicans received on average over 1.5 times as much from interest groups that supported this motion ($50,487) as they received from interest groups that opposed this motion ($32,812). No Republicans voted against the measure.

METHODOLOGY: MapLight analysis of reported contributions to congressional campaigns of House members in office on day of vote, from interest groups invested in the vote according to MapLight, July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2011. Contributions data source: OpenSecrets.org

A link to this data release can be found here.

19 Dec 2011

IOLTA Grant Applications

By Iowa Judicial Branch

Des Moines, December 9, 2011– The Iowa Supreme Court Lawyer Trust Account Commission is accepting applications for grants under the Interest on Lawyer Trust Account (IOLTA) program for the grant period that begins July 1, 2012. IOLTA program grants are awarded to public purpose projects that provide legal services to the poor in civil cases, law-related education, and other programs that improve the administration of justice in Iowa.

Organizations may obtain grant application forms by contacting the Lawyer Trust Account Commission, Judicial Branch Building, 1111 East Court Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50319, or by calling (515) 725-8029. The Commission encourages applicants to submit grant requests in electronic form. Organizations may request an electronic version of the complete application set from the Commission by electronic mail to iolta@iowacourts.gov or download the application forms from the Commission's web page on the Judicial Branch web site at:

http://www.iowacourts.gov/Professional_Regulation/Attorney_RegulationCommissions/IOLTA

The Commission must receive completed grant applications no later than 4:30 p.m., Friday, March 2, 2012. The Commission will then review the applications and seek approval from the Iowa Supreme Court for awarding the grants. Grant recipients will be announced in late May or early June of 2012.

The Iowa Supreme Court created the Lawyer Trust Account Commission to provide legal services to the poor in civil cases using the interest from lawyers' pooled trust accounts. The lawyers' pooled trust accounts hold clients' funds that are so small in amount or held for such a brief period that it is not possible for the funds to economically benefit the individual clients. Previously, attorneys' trust accounts earned no interest. The first grants awarded under the IOLTA program were made in June, 1986. To date, the Commission has awarded more than $22,883,000 in grants.

# # #

15 Dec 2011

New QC Music School Now Open

By QC Rock Academy

The Quad City's newest music school is now open and accepting new students for guitar, drums, bass, piano and vocal lessons.

Call 563-386-3044 or visit us at QCRockAcademy.com

13 Dec 2011

Weekly Video Address: Cameras Provide Public Access and Accountability to Federal Courtrooms

By Grassley Press

Advisory for Iowa Reporters and Editors

Friday, December 9, 2011

During his weekly video address, Senator Chuck Grassley discusses a bill he introduced requiring the Supreme Court to broadcast and televise court proceedings.  By allowing cameras in the Supreme Court, the American people would have access to a court that few have the opportunity to see in person. In addition, access to the Supreme Court through audio and video coverage would help provide the public with an educational experience about our federal judicial system and the laws that are debated before the court. Grassley is also the author of legislation to grant federal judges the authority to allow cameras in other federal courtrooms.

Click here for audio.

Here is the text of the address:

This week a Judiciary subcommittee held a hearing about public access to the Supreme Court.  In conjunction with the hearing, I introduced a bill requiring the Supreme Court to broadcast and televise court proceedings.

This new bill goes with legislation I've sponsored for more than 10 years to grant federal judges the authority to allow cameras in other federal courtrooms.  That sunshine legislation has been passed many times by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and it's passed with bipartisan support.

The Judiciary Committee also has supported broadcast coverage of the Supreme Court.  The bill I introduced this week was previously sponsored by former Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.  Just last year, the Supreme Court started releasing audio recordings of its proceedings at the end of every week, a step in the right direction.

In 1947, the Supreme Court said that what transpires in the courtroom is public property.  So, it shouldn't be limited to the 200 people who can fit inside the chamber.

In Iowa, we've had broadcast coverage of the courts for more than 30 years.  The chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court testified at the Judiciary Committee hearing yesterday about the success and value of this access.  He said that "cameras expose the courts to what they are - a proud institution of justice."  In fact, for the Iowa Supreme Court, expanded media coverage includes not only traditional broadcast but also live and archived streams of all oral arguments.

I will work for passage of both pieces of legislation and complete access to the Supreme Court and the federal courts based on what President Lincoln said, that our government is of, by and for the people.  Today, the best way to make sure government accountable to the people is to establish access and transparency.

-30-

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