Yet another unconstitutional and costly adventure
LAKE JACKSON, Texas - Today, 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul issued a statement on the situation in Libya. See comments below.

"The current situation in Libya may be a short term victory for Empire, but it is a loss for our American Republic. And, I fear it may be devastating to the Libyan people.

"There is no doubt that Moammar Gadhafi is a bad guy, and that he has brought harm and misery to his country. However, our involvement in another country's civil war is costly and unconstitutional.

"We have spent over $1 billion on a war that this administration has fought not with the consent of Congress but under a NATO flag and authorization from the United Nations.

"It is a serious thing for a President to engage us in a war. He is bound by our Constitution to seek authority from the People, through our Congress, prior to engaging in any military action unless that action is to address an imminent threat to our safety and security. The situation in Libya is a civil war contained within that country's sovereign borders, and it presented no imminent threat to the United States.

"And so, our government continues to spend trillions of dollars in overseas foreign wars while we face unsustainable debt, a looming dollar crisis, and our Constitution seems to lose any meaning. These actions will sink our country if we do not reverse course.

"Meanwhile, we must beware of any 'Mission Accomplished' euphoria. The conflict in Libya is far from over, and there could very well be war in Libya for a long time to come.

"While I hope and pray that the hostility draws to a close and the people there find peace, I fear this is only wishful thinking. We face a situation where a rebel element we have been assisting may very well be radical jihadists, bent on our destruction, and placed in positions of power in a new government.

"Worse still, Gadhafi's successor is likely to be just as bad, or worse, than Gadhafi himself.   Alternately, Libya may descend into anarchy like Somalia after the overthrow of dictator Siad Barre.  Much like when we removed Saddam Hussein, another thug in Iraq, the likelihood of either a new brutal dictatorship or tribal violence and a protracted insurgency are much more likely than the peaceful transition to democracy we are all hoping for.

"With all these problems and the predictable chaos that will likely ensue, we must ask why this administration was so eager to embark on this Libyan operation in the name of 'humanitarianism.' Governments in Bahrain and Yemen have this year used military force to put down democratic protestors. The Saudi regime, which practices Sharia Law, has also been repressive, yet we have not intervened there. These countries continue to sell us oil, while Libya had begun to turn their exports toward Russia, China, India, and Brazil. Could this war largely be about protecting our oil interests at the expense of our Constitution?

"This episode is all too familiar. We were already involved in two wars that have dragged on years longer than the people who led us into them initially predicted.  We can no longer afford to police the world, in terms of both dollars and American lives. We will destroy ourselves if we do not stop, build a strong national defense at home, and focus on trade and commerce with the world instead of Empire."

Authorized and paid for by Ron Paul 2012 PCC. www.RonPaul2012.com

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CHICAGO - August 25, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:  

   

Bill No.: HB 78  

An Act Concerning: Education  

Creates the offense of criminal trespass to a safe school zone.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

   

Bill No.: HB 190  

An Act Concerning: Education  

Allows for at least 5 charter schools in the Chicagoland area to educate students from low-performing or overcrowded schools and also be devoted to those high school students at risk of dropping out.   

Action: Amendatorily Vetoed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

   

Bill No.: HB 237  

An Act Concerning: State Government  

Creates the Illinois Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission.     

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

   

Bill No.: HB 242  

An Act Concerning: Local Government  

Creates a timeframe for counties to respond to requests from townships to demolish or repair buildings considered to be a nuisance or hazard to the community and extends the time allowed for townships to pay back loans on new building projects.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

   

Bill No.: HB 299  

An Act Concerning: Public Health  

Creates a reporting requirement for all CD4 and HIV viral load test results.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  


Bill No.: HB 806  

An Act Concerning: Safety  

Places notification requirements on landowners who apply sludge to farmland.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

   

Bill No.: HB 1056  

An Act Concerning: Local Government  

Allows municipalities to adopt rules of procedure concerning participation during public hearings.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

   

Bill No.: HB 1069  

An Act Concerning: Local Government  

Requires director of the Illinois State Police to develop a process for waiver applications for qualified State police officers to act as death and homicide investigators and may grant waivers.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

   

Bill No.: HB 1095  

An Act Concerning: State Government  

The bill prohibits the use of controls in forced air heating equipment "in any non-residential structure," except for structures used for production agriculture, and provides for criminal penalties for violations of rebuilt flame safeguard controls.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

   

Bill No.: HB 1153  

An Act Concerning: Civil Law  

Creates the Illinois Residential Real Property Transfer on Death Instrument Act.  

Action:  Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

   

Bill No.: HB 1193  

An Act Concerning: Insurance  

Sets an 18-month time limit for insurance companies to recoup payments made to providers in error.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

   

Bill No.: HB 1218  

An Act Concerning: Revenue  

Changes a number of requirements concerning tax sales and other changes to the property tax code.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: July 1, 2012  


Bill No.: HB 1488  

An Act Concerning: State Government  

Creates a Management Improvement Initiative Committee to implement recommendations made in a report concerning streamlining oversight of human service providers.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

   

Bill No.: HB 1571  

An Act Concerning: Education  

Makes technical changes to the Care of Students with Diabetes Act.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

   

Bill No.: HB 1908  

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law  

Prohibits persons on parole/release for meth charges to buy pseudoephedrine unless prescribed by a physician.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

   

Bill No.: HB 1909  

An Act Concerning: Local Government  

Amends service of process requirements under the Counties Code for property owners who have repeatedly violated the code.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

   

Bill No.: HB 1929  

An Act Concerning: Corrections  

Increases from $2 to $5 the amount of co-payment the Illinois Department of Corrections is authorized to collect for non-emergency medical and dental care from inmates.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

   

Bill No.: HB 1973  

An Act Concerning: State Government  

Amends the fee-splitting prohibition in the Illinois Optometric Practice Act of 1987.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

   

Bill No.: HB 2094  

An Act Concerning: Wildlife  

Clarifies the definition of "baiting" in the Wildlife Code.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  


Bill No.: HB 2193  

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law  

Creates a criminal offense for possession and sale of caustic and noxious substances, and provides for restrictions on the purchase or acquisition of corrosive or caustic acid.   

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

   

Bill No.: HB 2362  

An Act Concerning: Civil Law  

Clarifies how a defendant's medical records are given to a court-appointed expert for a determination of the defendant's fitness to stand trial.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

   

Bill No.: HB 2804  

An Act Concerning: Wildlife  

Allows for the donation of unwanted or unclaimed deer meat by licensed meat processors.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediate  

   

Bill No.: HB 3005  

An Act Concerning: Parentage  

Restricts the definition of the term "parent" as it relates to child protection proceedings in juvenile court.   

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

   

Bill No.: HB 3012  

An Act Concerning: Civil Law  

Requires stable keepers to have an enforceable lien for the cost of unpaid boarding and related expenses for horses as well as all personal property left on the premises.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

   

Bill No.: HB 3115  

An Act Concerning: Education  

Authorizes the Illinois State Board of Education to provide funding to K-12 public and private schools for the purchase of selected textbooks through a new state block grant, replacing the former Illinois Textbook Loan Program.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  


Bill No.: HB 3237  

An Act Concerning: Employment  

Creates a criminal penalty of a Class A misdemeanor for violating the Prevailing Wage Act and debars those convicted or found guilty of violations of the Act for a period of 4 years.  Permits state, local and federal law enforcement agencies to obtain relevant documents from contractors and subcontractors.  Also, ensures that officers and agents of corporations who perform prevailing wage work are held accountable for the actions of their corporations.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

   

Bill No.: HB 3300  

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law  

Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act regarding victim impact statements at sentencing hearings and expands the duties of victim advocate personnel.     

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

   

Bill No.: HB 3414  

An Act Concerning: State Government  

Transfers the Illinois Main Street Program to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois Green Government Coordinating Council to the Governor's Office.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

   

   

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BETTENDORF, IA - The Bettendorf Rotary's Run with Carl will be held on Monday, September 5th. The 5Mile Run and the  5K run/walk and 1/2 and 1-mile fun runs for children 12 and under start and finish at the Bettendorf Life Center (2222 Middle Rd., Bettendorf) with Awards to follow at approximately 9:30 a.m. The course remains the same as in previous years. Entry fees are $20 for the 5K Run/Walk or 5 Mile Run for no t-shirt and $25 for the 5K Run/Walk or 5 Mile Run with a t-shirt. The youth entry fee for the ½ and 1-mile fun run is $10.

Race Day registrants are not eligible for awards so pre-registration is encouraged.

For pre-registered runners, packet pick up will take place at the Bettendorf Life Fitness Center parking lot (2222 Middle Road) on:

  • Friday, September 2nd 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, September 3rd Noon until 3:00 p.m.

The 2010 Run with Carl attracted 1,300 runners and raised funds to support college scholarships for Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley graduates. This year, we hope to knock that number out of the park by registering 1700 runners for the 17th year of the race. Participants may register online only at www.runwithcarl.com.

Carl Schillig was 15 years old when he was killed in a car-pedestrian accident in 1994. Carl was active in a variety of community, school and church activities. In commemoration of his life, the Run With Carl Walk/Run attracts participants to the challenging, but scenic, course following city streets, neighborhoods and the Bettendorf Recreation Path.

For more information or to register, visit the website at www.runwithcarl.com or find us on Facebook by searching for "Run with Carl."

About the Bettendorf Rotary: The Bettendorf Rotary Club was chartered in 1957. The group meets every Wednesday at noon at Fortune Garden Restaurant (2211 South Kimberly Road, Bettendorf). They are the Title Sponsor of Run with Carl.

About the Carl D. Schillig Memorial Fund, Inc.: The Carl D. Schillig Memorial Fund was established in 1995 in memory of Carl Schillig who was killed at the age of 15 in a car-pedestrian accident. The fund provides a $4000 college scholarship to graduates of Pleasant Valley High School - which Carl attended - and Bettendorf High School graduates. With Carl's philanthropy as its inspiration, the nonprofit also distributes proceeds from the run to organizations in which Carl was active, including the Bettendorf Pleasant Valley Aquatics, the Cornbelt Running Club, and Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

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The German American Heritage Center is offering German Language Classes to be held on twelve consecutive Thursdays beginning September 1 through November 17.

 

The Level l Beginning Class will be 5:00 - 6:30

The Level ll Advanced Class will be 7:00 - 8:30

 

The course is $95.00 for non GAHC members and$75.00 for GAHC members plus $20 for the textbook (members receive a 10% discount off books purchased at the GAHC.) 

 

Registrations are due by phone at (563)322-8844 or by email at info@gahc.org by August 26.

Early Introduction of Nissan LEAF Driven by State's Targeted Green Investments

 

CHICAGO - August 25, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today joined representatives from Nissan to announce that its zero-emissions, all-electric LEAF will arrive early in Illinois, thanks to the Quinn administration's targeted green state investments in car-charging technology and strong interest among Illinois consumers. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's ongoing commitment to ensuring that Illinois continues its leadership in sustainability and the green economy while protecting consumers.

"Illinois is laying the groundwork for electric vehicles and a more green economy, and our efforts are paying off," Governor Quinn said. "By investing in electric vehicle technology, both the state of Illinois and Nissan are making transportation in our state more efficient, sustainable and affordable."

The Nissan LEAF is the first and only 100-percent electric, zero-emission vehicle available on the mass market. Early rollout of the vehicle in Illinois was driven in part by availability of electric vehicle charging stations in the Chicagoland area. Throughout this year, 280 car-charging stations are being installed throughout the metropolitan area thanks to a $1 million investment from Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! capital program and an additional $1 million grant secured by the city of Chicago through the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities program.

"Governor Quinn, Mayor Emanuel and other visionary Chicago-area leaders have paved the way for mass market adoption of electric cars in their community," Scott Becker, senior vice president, Administration and Finance, Nissan Americas said. "Chicagoland consumers want a transportation solution that uses no gas and produces no emissions, and the introduction of the Nissan LEAF to Illinois makes that a reality."

Nissan has accelerated the timeline for the LEAF rollout in Illinois due to strong consumer demand spurred by rising gas prices, the spread of charging infrastructure and the availability of state incentives to encourage the adoption of electric and other alternative technology vehicles. In addition to a $7,500 federal tax credit for alternative fuel vehicles, Illinois also offers up to $4,000 in state rebates, making the LEAF an affordable option for consumers.

The LEAF is recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the most efficient car it has ever certified, regardless of fuel, rating a gasoline-equivalent of 99 miles a gallon, with a range of over 100 miles per charge. It was named as the 2011 Eco-Friendly Car of the Year by Cars.com, ranked as the top green car of 2011 by the Kelley Blue Book and was chosen by international journalists as the 2011 World Car of the Year.

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In early March 2011, Vernon and Loma Wegerer were among a group of twenty four on African Safari to Tanzania with Linda Meadors of Blue Horizon Travel. Upon arriving at the Kilimanjaro Airport, we were met by the Bushdrifters in their five land cruisers. The Bushdrifters is a locally owned company providing transportation and guided tours. We toured national parks, observing thousands of animals in their natural habitat.

The Bushdrifters took us to a grade school that they were building in Babati, Tanzania, approximately 300 km from Arusha. At that time the school had just walls, a roof, and wooden desks, but no teaching supplies. Since then, windows and doors have been added. Many small villages have no school at all.

Ann McConachie, a retired school teacher from Downers Grove, Illinois, was among the Safari group. Ann stayed on in Tanzania to teach English. The children in Babati can speak English but need help with sentence structure and writing. After three weeks, Ann returned to the U.S. with a desire to outfit the school with supplies. Supplies that we take for granted. Among those items are educational books, desks, chairs, teacher desks, world maps, supplies, paper, marker boards, notebooks, story books, educational games, and toys.

Vernon is working with Jordan Catholic School on a new building addition which includes new science, computer, and engineering labs outfitted with the best equipment available. Learning of the needs of the school in Babati, Jordan's administration offered to donate old, unused furniture being stored at the former Sacred Heart School, Rock Island.

On Friday August 26th, a truck with be loaded with the furniture and sent to Hinsdale, Illinois. It will then be placed in a container and shipped to Arusha, where Bushdrifters will transport the contents to Babati School.

Ann plans to return to Africa in January, 2012, for four months to instruct teachers to be more effective in teaching the English language.

Members of the tour group have established a non-for-profit fund, "AMKA AFRIKA SCHOOL FOUNDATION". Donations will be used to help pay miscellaneous expenses for the school.

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley today said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a major disaster declaration for several Iowa counties including Benton, Clay, Dickinson, Marshall, Story and Tama counties.  This declaration triggers the release of federal funds to help communities in this area recover from the severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding which occurred July 9 - 14, 2011.  According to FEMA, additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and it is warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FEMA will now provide public assistance to Benton, Clay, Dickinson, Marshall, Story and Tama counties through the Public Assistance Program.  The Public Assistance Program assists state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.

All Iowa counties are also eligible to apply for assistance through the Hazard Mitigation Grant program.  The Hazard Mitigation Grant program assists state and local governments and certain private non-profit organizations for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.

Grassley sent a letter to President Obama asking him to grant Governor Terry Branstad's request to declare Iowa a major disaster area as a result of the severe storms, flooding and tornadoes that began on July 9, 2011.

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Iowa City, IA - Riverside Theatre will celebrate its 31st season opening with a reception at Chait Galleries, 218 E Washington St, Iowa City, on Sept. 1 from 5:30-7 p.m.

This event will be a chance to meet and mingle with playwright Megan Gogerty and the director Alexis Chamow of Feet First In The Water With A Baby In My Teeth, which opens at Riverside Theatre on Sept. 9.

Feet First In The Water With A Baby In My Teeth is a mostly-true story about a woman who gives birth and then a few years later becomes a mother. The show runs Sept. 9-Oct. 2, at Riverside Theatre, 213 N Gilbert St, Iowa City.

Suggested donation for this event is $10. Donations can be made at the box office prior to the event or at the door that evening. For more information contact the box office at 319-338-7672.

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Iowa City, IA - Riverside Theatre, Iowa City's only professional theatre company opens its 31st Gilbert Street season with the rolling world premiere of the free-wheeling one-woman show, Feet First In The Water With A Baby In My Teeth by Iowa City playwright and actor Megan Gogerty.

The show runs Sept. 9-Oct. 2, at Riverside Theatre, 213 N Gilbert St, Iowa City. The show is directed by Los Angeles guest artist Alexis Chamow and performed by Gogerty.

Feet First In The Water With A Baby In My Teeth is a mostly-true story about a woman who gives birth and then a few years later becomes a mother.

"Feet First is about Megan's attempts to be a working artist, ardent feminist and a mom.  And Alexis came to Iowa City to direct the play with her baby girl in tow. Talk about art imitating life and vice versa," said Riverside Theatre Resident Artist and Production Manager Ron Clark.

Sharing stories of a harrowing trip to New York City with a baby, being trapped in a house with a moody toddler, and Dolly Parton as a feminist icon Gogerty uses her quick wit and sharp-eye to take on politics, pop culture and parenting.

"Everything in this story is true. And some of it actually happened," Gogerty said.

Feet First In The Water With A Baby In My Teeth is a rolling world premiere with Atlanta's Synchronicity Theatre. After its initial premiere in Iowa City, the show will have a second premiere at Synchronicity Theatre in Atlanta in December as part of their Bold Voices Series where the show will run from Dec. 2-19.

"Rolling world premiere is an initiative of the National New Play Network - of which Riverside Theatre is a proud new member.  Theatres are encouraged to mount the same new play within a twelve-month period. The result is a 'rolling world premiere' through which a playwright develops a new work with different creative teams, for different communities of patrons - and hopefully attains the polish and momentum needed to attract the attention of other producers," said Riverside Theatre Artistic Director Jody Hovland.

"When Megan premiered her last solo show at Riverside Theatre in 2008, Megan Gogerty Loves You Very Much, she continued to develop the script throughout the run and afterwards, so that by the time she toured it to Synchronicity Theatre in Atlanta later that season, it had morphed into Hillary Clinton Got Me Pregnant.  So this time around it seemed like a no-brainer to include Synchronicity in our conversation about this new premiere - and they were as excited as we were." 

Feet First In The Water With A Baby In My Teeth features scenic design by Scott Olinger, lighting design by Drew Bielinski, sound design by Gogerty, and original music by Christopher J. Clark.

Feet First In The Water With A Baby In My Teeth runs September 9 - October 2 at Riverside Theatre. Showtimes are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $28 for adults, $25 for over 60/under 30, and $15 for youth (18 and under). $15 college student rush tickets are available 20 minutes prior to the show with valid ID.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.riversidetheatre.org, by phone at (319) 338-7672 or at the Riverside Theatre Box Office, which is located at 213 N. Gilbert St, Iowa City. Box office hours are: 12 - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Riverside Theatre will celebrate its 31st season opening with a reception at Chait Galleries, 218 E Washington St, Iowa City, on Sept. 1 from 5:30-7 p.m. This will be a chance to meet and mingle with the playwright and the director a week before the show opens. Suggested donation for this event is $10. 

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EVENT

USB FARMER-LEADERS AVAILABLE AT FARM PROGRESS SHOW TO STRESS IMPORTANCE OF ANIMAL AGRICULTURE

Several United Soybean Board (USB) farmer-leaders will attend the Farm Progress show next week to stress with their fellow U.S. soybean farmers the importance of supporting their No. 1 customer: the animal agriculture industry. Visit the USB and Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) tent for the opportunity to discuss that and other issues facing the soybean industry with Marc Curtis, USB chairman and soybean farmer from Leland, Miss.; Phil Bradshaw, past USB chairman and soybean farmer from Griggsville, Ill.; David Hartke, USB farmer-director and soybean farmer from Teutopolis, Ill.; and Nancy Kavazanjian, USB farmer-director and soybean farmer from Beaver Dam, Wis.

DATES Tues., August 30, Wed., August 31, and Thurs., Sept. 1, 2011
LOCATION Lots 349 and 351 
Third Progress Street, east of West Progress Avenue
Decatur, Ill.
If you would like to schedule an interview on-site or in advance, please call Erin Hamm at (314) 746-1962 or email hamme@osborn-barr.com
INTERVIEW
OPPORTUNITIES
  • Marc Curtis, USB chairman and soybean farmer from Leland, Miss. (Wed., 8/31 only)
  • Phil Bradshaw, USB farmer-leader and soybean farmer from Griggsville, Ill. (Tues., 8/30 only)
  • David Hartke, USB farmer-leader and soybean farmer from Teutopolis, Ill. (Tues., 8/30-Wed. 8/31)
  • Nancy Kavazanjian, USB farmer-leader and soybean farmer from Beaver Dam, Wis. (Tues., 8/30-Wed. 8/31)
ON-SITE CONTACT Erin Hamm with USB Communications, cell (314) 412-6982

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