Intercity Rail Project will Create 2,100 Jobs, Boost Regional Economy

MOLINE - October 27, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today highlighted $230 million in federal funds to build passenger rail service between Iowa City, Moline and Chicago. Service between Chicago and Moline is expected to begin in 2013 with full service to Iowa City to follow in 2015. The project is expected to create more than 2,100 jobs in Illinois. Governor Quinn was joined at today's announcement by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, U.S. Representative Phil Hare and Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig.

"Passenger rail is important to our state's continued economic recovery, creating jobs and stimulating economic development throughout the region for many years to come," said Governor Quinn. "I want to thank Senator Durbin and Congressman Hare for their leadership in helping make this project possible."

Awarded jointly to Iowa and Illinois on Monday through a competitive process, the $230 million will fund the development of a new corridor of rail service and mark the return of passenger train service to the Quad Cities for the first time since 1979.

In addition, Governor Quinn is investing $45 million from the Illinois Jobs Now! capital program for the line's construction and Iowa is contributing $20.6 million. Last week, Governor Quinn, Senator Durbin and Congressman Hare announced $16.6 million for a new multi-modal station in Moline, which will serve as a stop along the new corridor.

"This new train line is just the beginning," said Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). "The route from Chicago to the Quad Cities will pave the way for new train service across the Midwest and give us the opportunity to show the world that we can build our trains and locomotives right here in America. I thank Secretary LaHood, Governor Quinn, Congressman Hare and the Iowa Delegation for seeing the potential in this route becoming an integral part of the Midwest rail network."

Nicknamed "The Green Line," the new corridor will set the standard for environmentally-friendly rail service, including the use of biofuels and soy-based lubricants produced in Illinois and Iowa.

"The good news keeps pouring in for the Quad Cities. This funding will effectively complete the Quad Cities-Chicago Amtrak route," Representative Hare said. "This project is a winner for our entire community. It will create jobs, spur economic development, and provide a safe and convenient transportation alternative. I couldn't be prouder to have played a role in making this a reality."

In addition, the Chicago-to-Detroit corridor will receive $161 million to rehabilitate tracks on a portion of the route to allow for high-speed service to Detroit. The Midwest also received funding to improve travel times and reliability on both the Chicago-to-Milwaukee and Chicago-to-St. Louis corridors.

The Midwest system has received more than $3 billion in competitive federal awards in 2010. When completed, the system will connect more than 40 of the largest cities in the Midwest with passenger rail, including 60 daily roundtrips out of Chicago.

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BAUCUS, GRASSLEY, STARK RELEASE GAO REPORT  SHOWING NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY IN NURSING HOME OWNERSHIP
Report Highlights Need for Better Accountability and Transparency
in Private Investment Firm Ownership of Nursing Homes

Washington, DC - Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health Chairman Pete Stark (D-CA) released a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report today on the need for greater transparency regarding companies' ownership of nursing homes.  Baucus, Grassley and Stark requested the report, titled "Complexity of Private Investment Purchases Demonstrates Need for CMS to Improve the Usability and Completeness of Ownership Data."  The report highlights the increasing rate at which private investment firms are purchasing nursing homes and the lack of transparency in nursing home ownership arrangements that often results.  The lack of clear ownership information makes it difficult for consumers and regulators to know who owns the nursing home and who bears responsibility for decision-making affecting quality of care and to hold those responsible parties accountable.  Baucus, Grassley and Stark have long worked to improve the accountability of nursing home owners across the country in an effort to protect Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and taxpayer dollars.  The lawmakers have requested a subsequent GAO report that will evaluate the relationship between these corporate structures and the quality of care provided to nursing home residents.

"Nursing home residents and their families deserve to know the full story about who is ultimately responsible for their care," said Baucus.  "Federal health care officials need full and detailed information so they can properly oversee these nursing homes and hold the correct parties accountable for keeping patients safe and well-cared for.  The new health reform law, the Affordable Care Act, works to address some of the problems highlighted in today's report by significantly increasing transparency and shedding light on the ownership and safety of nursing homes.  We will continue to keep a close eye on the implementation of these transparency measures to ensure we have a clear picture of who is accountable for the quality of care in nursing homes."

"I've been fighting for greater transparency and accountability for nursing home residents and their families for more than decade," Grassley said.  "This report provides further evidence of what we already knew - that the federal government needs to do a better job giving nursing home residents -- including Medicare beneficiaries - complete, accurate and timely information so they can make the right choices when choosing a nursing home.  I'll continue my vigorous oversight to hold the system accountable.  We owe that to nursing home residents."

"This GAO report found that a handful of private equity firms have been buying up nursing homes over the past decade - leaving seniors and their loved ones in the dark about who is making the decisions about their care," said Stark.  "New disclosure requirements in the health reform law will shed light on who owns nursing homes, who is making care decisions, and how these facilities are being run.  I intend to monitor CMS's progress in implementing the law, and look forward to a future report on the relationship between ownership and quality of care."

The GAO report details how private investment firms acquired 1,876 nursing homes from 1998 to 2008, with ten large firms accounting for 89 percent of the purchases. According to the report, then-current law did not require sufficient disclosure of information on multi-home chains and led to a lack of accountability across the industry.  The three lawmakers noted that provisions enacted into law in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provide CMS an opportunity to address these shortcomings and may be the solution to problems identified in the GAO report.  Specifically, the Affordable Care Act requires nursing homes to provide information to state and federal health officials about the facility's ownership, governing body and organizational structure.  The new law also increases transparency of information related to nursing home staffing, certifications, complaints, criminal violations and expenditures, including wages and benefits for staff.  This increased transparency will help improve patient care by making clear who is ultimately responsible for keeping patients safe and well cared for.    The three lawmakers will be monitoring CMS's efforts to improve transparency as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and as recommended in the GAO report.  Today's GAO report is available here.

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On Saturday, November 6th at 11:00 A.M. a Fall Tree Hike is planned at the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center. Participants will enjoy a fall stroll exploring the Wapsi woods and learning about our local trees.  Learn how to identify them by leaves, bark, seeds, nuts and fruits.  Bring a friend, a picnic lunch and stay for the afternoon program as well!

Following the fall tree hike, at 1:00 P.M., the program Rustic Residents will take place at the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center. Participants will see how seeds, nuts and twigs can be "magically" transformed into people and creatures.  Guaranteed fun for the whole family!  Supplies are limited, so please pre-register at (563) 328-3286.

2009 college grads carried an average of $24,000 in student loan debt, up 6% from the previous year, according to The Project on Student Debt's report, Student Debt and the Class of 2009, released this month.  Statewide average debt levels for the Class of 2009 vary widely; Iowa makes the list as the fourth highest, with an average debt of $28,883 (behind the District of Columbia, New Hampshire, and Maine). In addition, 74% of Iowa graduates report having debt, which ranks Iowa second, only behind South Dakota (78% of grads with debt).  In the current economic climate, college grads face unique challenges in paying back student loans, and substantial debt can limit career options and make it difficult to save for a home, a family, a retirement, or their own children's educations.

Rivermont Collegiate, the Quad Cities' only private, independent, nonsectarian college-prep school, boasts 100% graduate acceptance to four-year colleges and universities.  Furthermore, over 90% of Rivermont grads earn four-year renewable merit scholarships (valued at $1.4 million in 2009).  The value of these scholarships is substantial, particularly given rising student debt and its potential consequences.  Over 35% of Rivermont students qualify for need-based tuition assistance while at Rivermont, proving that a private PS-12^th education can reap future benefits both academically and financially, while still being affordable.  In fact, Rivermont works hard at fundraising to keep itself affordable and is committed to a diverse population of students.

What are you waiting for?  Explore the Rivermont approach to learning!  Join us for Open Tours the first Tuesday of every month.  The next Open Tour will be held Tuesday, November 2nd from 8:30-10:00 a.m.  No appointment necessary!  Drop in to explore our philosophy and curriculum, take a tour of campus, see our teachers in action, and get answers to all your questions about Rivermont.

For additional information on The Project on Student Debt, including the full Student Debt and the Class of 2009 report, visit http://projectonstudentdebt.org

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate or Tuesday's Open Tours, contact Cindy Murray at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org

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