Senator Chuck Grassley made the following comment regarding his vote against the nomination of Richard Cordray to be the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB.

"This position was created to operate inside the Federal Reserve, without any opportunity to hold the bureau accountable.  That's the wrong direction.  Lack of accountability contributed in big ways to many of the problems that came to a head in the 2008 financial meltdown.  It doesn't make sense to try to fix things with more of the same and unchecked power.  Our system of government depends on checks and balances.  Americans deserve to have their voices heard in any regulatory process through the representative branch of government.  This position, as currently set up, flies in the face of those values and principles."

Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will spread holiday cheer to service members this season, thanks to a new "digital care package" project launched by the Illinois Center for Broadcasting.

Simon will work with student broadcasters to record a holiday video during the school's first "man on the street" recording session at 4:15 p.m. Thursday across from the iconic Chicago Theater sign at State and Lake Streets in downtown Chicago.

The ICB is also taking appointments from military families and supporters who want to record a free message at their holiday studio between Thursday and December 16. The video messages will be distributed to military members stationed throughout the country and in Iraq and Afghanistan by the U.S. Army and Illinois National Guard.

"The selfless dedication of our service members should be recognized year-round, but the holidays are often more difficult for our troops overseas and away from their families," Simon said. "I encourage all that are able to send a warm greeting from home to our service members stationed across the world."

As chair of the state's Interagency Military Base Support and Economic Development Committee (IMBSEDC), Simon works to preserve military installations throughout the state and provide support for military members and their families.

Lt. Governor Simon holiday message recording

TIME: 4:15 p.m.
DATE: Thursday, December 8
PLACE: Southwest corner of State and Lake Streets, Chicago

Historic Hotels of America recognizes "creative rehabilitation efforts"

Davenport, IA - Hotel Blackhawk has just been named a Preservation Success Story Award Honorable Mention winner by the Historic Hotels of America - a part of the National Trust For Historic Preservation. The award was officially announced Dec. 1st.

According to organization Executive Director Thierry Roch, the award exemplifies "creative rehabilitation efforts undertaken to recapture, promote and glorify the property's original use in a preservation sensitive manner."

This caps a year of recognition for Hotel Blackhawk. It earned a "Smart Meetings" Platinum Choice Award for 2011 marking excellence in service and amenities among meeting facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Then, management was informed it would be featured as a must-see destination in a book from The New York Times entitled "36 Hours, 150 weekends in the USA and Canada."

"It's thrilling to see the vision of Amrit and Amy Gill of Restoration Saint Louis and the City of Davenport rewarded by Historic Hotels of America, Smart Meetings and The New York Times," said General Manager Tim Heim. "It was the vision of restoring a jewel which has been realized by me and my staff. It provides great satisfaction that preservationists, industry observers, guests and clients have recognized this gift as well."

Hotel Blackhawk re-opened December 15th, 2010. The hotel retains its 95-year-old historic character while featuring modern conveniences throughout the 130 guestrooms and extended-stay suites, eight meeting rooms and up to 300-person banquet capacity in the signature Gold Room.

Other features include wireless internet, a fitness center, business center, swimming pool, hot tub, Spa Luce (lu-CHAY), Milan Flower Shop, the Bix Bistro restaurant, the Beignet (been-YAY) Done That coffee shop and Blackhawk Bowl & Martini Lounge. The hotel is part of the Summit Hotels & Resorts group (www.summithotels.com) and the Historic Hotels of America network (www.historichotels.org).

For more, visit www.hotelblackhawk.com or find us on www.facebook.com (Search: Hotel Blackhawk).

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Gut Check Time: Senator Grassley: Don't Block Richard Cordray as Head of the Consumer Financial Protect Bureau, Key to Protecting Consumers

Washington, DC - Tomorrow the U.S. Senate will vote on confirming former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray as the new head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Senator Chuck Grassley will have the opportunity to show his true stripes - stand with consumers just trying to keep our heads above water or stand with those big banks which are doing everything to avoid being held accountable for crashing the economy and costing millions of jobs.

Republican have done everything in their power to delay, defund, repeal, or weaken the new Wall Street reforms that created the new watchdog, and Wall Street companies and their well-paid lobbyists have spent as many millions to undermine the new law as they did to block it.

Tom McMahon, Executive Director, Americans United for Change: "Let's be clear - this isn't about the overwhelming qualified Richard Cordray.  This about the Republicans doing the banks bidding by standing with them and against the 99%.  It's about the students and members of our Armed Forces who are preyed upon. It's about the more than $3 million that Senator Grassley has received from the financial sector to do their bidding. We can't afford any more delays in putting in place a strong consumer watchdog looking out for all of us.  It's unconscionable for Senator Grassley to block Cordray from heading this agency - an agency that is finally standing up for our interests."