DES MOINES, IA (11/03/2011)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald reports that outstanding debt obligations for state and local governments in Iowa totaled nearly $13.8 billion as of June 30, 2011. Overall, this represents an increase of 6.61% from last year. All political subdivisions, instrumentalities, and agencies of the state are required to disclose this information annually to the State Treasurer.

Cities continued to report the greatest amount of outstanding obligations with 35% or $4.8 billion of all outstanding debt. Cities mainly issued debt for utility/sewer projects (35%). Most city debt was issued as general obligation debt (59%).

Schools and Area Education Agencies reported the second largest amount of outstanding debt with an increase of 9.46% over last year. Of the $2.7 billion reported, the majority (over $2.6 billion) was for public buildings and schools.

State agencies accounted for the largest increase in debt for fiscal year 2011, due largely to the I-Jobs program and the new Iowa State Penitentiary being constructed in Fort Madison. The IJOBS financing secured bonds to strengthen Iowa's economy and help Iowa recover from the natural disasters of 2008. I-Jobs bonds account for $160 million of the increase, while the State Penitentiary bonds account for $130 million of the increase.

Iowa counties reported an increase of 22.9% in debt over last year. Polk County reported 35% of the $828 million in outstanding county debt.

Other entities with outstanding debt issues include state authorities with $2.3 billion, community colleges with $573 million, the Board of Regents with $1.3 billion, and others (utility systems) with $38 million.

The report is available in its entirety at www.treasurer.state.ia.us (can also be viewed by county, excluding short term/anticipatory debt) or from the Office of the State Treasurer, State Capitol Building, Des Moines, Iowa 50319.

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WASHINGTON -- Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley is leading an effort to make sure the Obama administration is not turning a blind eye to local governments that resist in cooperating with federal immigration authorities and blatantly ignore the immigration status of individuals with whom they come into contact.

In a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Grassley, along with Senators John Cornyn of Texas, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, and Jeff Sessions of Alabama, wrote that they were specifically concerned about the department's handling of Cook County, Ill.  The senators wrote that in a meeting with Gary Mead, the Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, "Senate Judiciary Committee minority staff were told that Cook County presents a major problem for immigration enforcement efforts.  In fact, Mr. Mead said that Cook County is the most egregious example of sanctuary city policies and that this situation presents 'an accident waiting to happen.'"

"The Secretary needs to step up and take control of this situation before Cook County's ordinance is copied by other local governments," Grassley said.  "These anti-enforcement policies are allowing criminals to walk free and putting the safety of the public at risk."

In addition, recent press reports indicate that much to the chagrin of local Border Patrol agents, the U.S. Border Patrol ended transportation checks on random busses, trains and airports.  According to agents, the searches were an effective tool for deterring illegal immigration.

"This all adds up to an administration that has little concern with the rule of law.  Sanctuary cities undermine the ability of law enforcement personnel to enforce the laws on the books, and until the administration shows a desire to put an end to the practice, local governments will continue to thumb their nose at law enforcement," Grassley said.

Here is a copy of the text of the letter.  A signed version of the letter can be found here.

November 2, 2011

The Honorable Janet Napolitano

Secretary

Department of Homeland Security

Washington, DC 20528

Dear Secretary Napolitano:

We write to express serious concerns about the Administration's lack of attention to local law enforcement jurisdictions that enact policies that undermine federal immigration law.  Specifically, we are very concerned with policies enacted by Cook County, Illinois, and how your department is responding to them.

At the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on October 19, you were asked if you had communicated with Cook County officials about a recently passed ordinance that prohibits federal government officials from having access to undocumented persons detained by the county.  This ordinance aims to free suspected undocumented individuals jailed by the county on misdemeanor cases, in spite of requests from federal law enforcement to hold them for possible deportation.  During the hearing, you indicated that you had not participated in any discussions with Cook County.  You also indicated you had not had any discussions with the Justice Department about how they will handle local jurisdictions, such as Cook County, that harbor undocumented individuals.

When briefed by Gary Mead, Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Senate Judiciary Committee minority staff were told that Cook County presents a major problem for immigration enforcement efforts.  In fact, Mr. Mead said that Cook County is the most egregious example of sanctuary city policies and that this situation presents "an accident waiting to happen."  Mr. Mead also reported that the Department is relying on the ICE District Director to resolve the situation, although ICE Assistant Secretary Morton has taken some direct steps to address the matter.

We would like to know what specific steps have been and will be taken by your Department to compel Cook County to reverse its policy of ignoring immigration detainers.  In addition, we would request an overview of meetings held between federal officials and Cook County, including any emails or other documentation that exist, to understand how the federal government has been or is attempting to rectify the situation.

More importantly, we urge you, as Secretary, to take a direct role in this matter.  Cook County's ordinance is a serious threat to the public's safety that requires your immediate and personal attention.  This is too important of an issue to go unresolved, and as a matter of national security, we urge you to take control of the situation so that detainers are not ignored and undocumented individuals are properly detained and put in deportation proceedings.

Finally, we encourage you and your colleagues in the Administration to seriously consider taking action against local or state jurisdictions that enact policies that purposely undermine the law or encourage their officers not to cooperate with the federal government when it comes to immigration enforcement.  Given the current fiscal crisis facing the federal government, serious consideration should be given to withholding federal grant dollars to local or state jurisdictions that fail to cooperate with the federal government on immigration enforcement.  The Administration has a responsibility to ensure that the homeland is protected, and it must not turn a blind eye to such entities that proactively defy the immigration laws we have on the books.

Thank you and we look forward to your timely response.

Sincerely,

Chuck Grassley

John Cornyn

Tom Coburn

(Kansas City, Kan., Nov. 1, 2011) - Anyone along the Mississippi River will see the steady-moving push boats moving along America's inland waterways, carrying commodities from as far north as St. Paul, Minn. to ports as far south as New Orleans, La.  Push boats run 24 hours a day, seven days a week moving goods to markets at inland ports along the river.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a $494,978 grant to Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission (SEMO RPC) to replace engines on a push boat operated by SCF Marine.  The boat's old engines are from 1953 and 1960, decades before emission standards went into effect.  The new engines will meet EPA Tier II standards, resulting in reduced health impacts for port workers and communities along the Mississippi River.  The EPA grant is part of a $1 million project.

The Tier 2 vehicle and gasoline sulfur program is part of a series of major initiatives that reduce emissions from passenger vehicles, highway trucks and buses, and nonroad diesel equipment. The result will be reduced emissions, cleaner air, and improved human health.

SEMO RPC is also working with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to reduce emissions on trash haulers and switch locomotives in southeast Missouri.

EPA has awarded $50 million for clean diesel projects as part of its ongoing campaign to reduce harmful emissions in the air and better protect people's health. These efforts will replace, retrofit or repower more than 8,000 older school buses, trucks, locomotives, vessels, and other diesel powered machines. Reducing emissions from existing diesels provides cost-effective public health and environmental benefits while supporting green jobs at manufacturers, dealerships and businesses across the country.

Diesel engines emit 7.3 million tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 333,000 tons of soot annually. Diesel pollution is linked to thousands of premature deaths, hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks and millions of lost work days. While EPA's standards significantly reduce emissions from newly manufactured engines, clean diesel projects funded through these grants will work to address the more than 11 million older diesel engines that continue to emit higher levels of harmful pollution.

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