DAVENPORT, IA (June 17, 2011) - The Quad Cities newest automotive dealer, Smart Toyota,is now open in Davenport. The dealership's unprecedented focus on digital technology and a customer-centric approach to selling and servicing vehicles is designed to position Smart Toyota as the area's first true 21st Century automotive retailer.
Smart Toyota is owned by the Indiana-based Gurley Leep Automotive Family, one of the nation's largest privately-held, family-owned automotive groups. The store is the result of the sale of Quad City Toyota to the family and is located on North Brady Street in the former location of that dealership though a brand new facility is being planned for the near future.

"Our business model for Smart Toyota is to truly provide the Quad Cities and surrounding areas with a better, smarter way to buy a vehicle" said Mike Leep, Jr., Gurley Leep's Vice President. "With today's car buyers turning to the internet for the majority of their shopping,we've completely integrated the online shopping process with the purchase process to make buying a new Toyota or used car easier, faster and affordable than it's ever been."

Smart Toyota's embrace of innovative technology is exemplified by their free smart phone app that will allow mobile access to inventory, pricing, service appointments as well as coupons, discounts and special promotions. The store is also integrating Quick-Read (QR) codes intotraditional mediums such as their newspaper ads that will make it easy for customers to gather additional details, see more photos and request more information. The store plans to back these digital efforts as well as their web site (www.smarttoyotaqc.com) with one of the finest internet staffs in the country. A FAST, friendly response will greet online shoppers that make an inquiry.

For more information about Smart Toyota and the Gurley Leep Automotive Family, contact Mike Leep, Jr. at 574-272-2014 or via email at mleepjr@gurleyleep.com.

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Q.  Do you still support tax incentives for ethanol?

A.  I support ethanol.  Among the renewable energy sources, ethanol is doing the most to displace foreign oil, and foreign oil comes with substantial hidden costs to taxpayers.  Taxpayers are on the hook for an average of $84 billion a year in military expenditures just to keep open the transit routes that get the oil from there to here.  America's dependence on foreign oil is a major national security issue.  All together, America spends an estimated $1 billion a day on foreign oil.  Imagine if that money were spent on domestically produced energy, including ethanol.  Last year, 13 billion gallons of ethanol were produced in the United States.  That's nearly 10 percent of America's transportation fuel needs.  A lot of that was made in Iowa.  It creates good paying jobs.  The tax incentive for ethanol encourages ethanol production in the United States.  Not only has the tax incentive been a great success in spurring the production and use of corn-based ethanol, but it also has been the impetus for a new generation of ethanol made from other plants and plant waste, such as switch grass, corn stover, wood waste and other biomass.  We've seen what ethanol can do, and the sky is the limit as we move to the next generation of advanced biofuels and cellulosic ethanol.  Even so, there are efforts in Congress to end the ethanol tax incentive immediately and entirely.  With gas prices at record highs and the unemployment rate at 9.1 percent, that doesn't make any sense.  Eliminating the tax incentive without any transition time would lead to higher prices at the pump for consumers, increased dependence on foreign oil, and cost jobs in ethanol production.

Q.  What's the reason for the ethanol bill you introduced in May?

A.  I introduced a bipartisan bill with Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota to make gradual reductions in the tax incentives for ethanol from corn.  Our legislation is supported by the National Corn Growers Association, the American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, and the Advanced Ethanol Council.  We proposed it as a responsible way for tax policies for ethanol to evolve.  It's a first step to reducing and redirecting federal tax incentives for first generation ethanol.  The Domestic Energy Promotion Act, or S. 884, would extend, through 2016, the cellulosic producers' tax credit and the volumetric ethanol excise tax credit, or VEETC.  Under this extension, VEETC, also known as the blenders' credit, would be reduced from 45 cents to a fixed rate of 20 cents in 2012 and 15 cents in 2013, then convert to a variable tax incentive based on the price of crude oil for 2014 through 2016.  Also extended through 2016 under this bill is the alternative fuel refueling property credit, which is offered to fueling station owners who install equipment for the distribution of alternative fuels.  Establishing alternative fuel infrastructure would give consumers choice, and I know when they have one, they'll chose domestic, clean, affordable, and renewable fuel.  Finally, the bill would extend the ethanol import tariff, stepping it down to 20 cents for 2012, and 15 cents for 2013 through 2016.

I've argued this year that it's not fair or logical for Congress to debate changes to the tax incentive for ethanol in a vacuum.  Biofuels are not the only form of energy that receives incentives or supportive policies from the federal government.  In fact, there are oil and gas incentives that have been permanent tax law for nearly 100 years.  Ethanol incentives have always been temporary and subject to renewal, or not.  Today, only the ethanol industry has stepped forward in the current energy and budget debates to back a forward-looking proposal for their industry, like the Grassley-Conrad proposal.  I've challenged other sectors to be as forward-looking and responsible.  And I've challenged Congress to make any changes to energy tax incentives as part of a comprehensive review of all energy tax incentives.  I will continue to work for legislation that encourages the creation and use of domestic, renewable energy and do everything I can to educate members of Congress and the public about ethanol and the biofuels industry.  Domestically produced renewable energy sources provide an effective way to reduce U.S. dependence on oil from the Middle East and increase national security, along with creating jobs for American workers.

Friday, June 10, 2011

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT is happy to announce recent grants awarded to the station to help support equipment upgrades, membership acquisition and retention, and the station's literacy initiatives.

The Scott Regional Authority granted WQPT $20,000 for broadcast equipment. "With existing equipment being beyond its life expectancy, and with new technology moving towards an all IT-based environment, the timing of this grant couldn't be better," according to WQPT's General Manager, Rick Best.

The Riverboat Development Authority presented a challenge grant to the station in the amount of $15,000 to bring new members to the station and to encourage existing members to increase their contribution. WQPT is currently in their June membership drive and any new member's donation will be matched using this grant. "We're pleased that the RDA recognizes the importance of developing our member base," said Jamie Lange, WQPT's Chief Development Officer. "This grant will help us bring in new members that will support the station for years to come."

WQPT's First Book Club, which supplies books to low-literate and low-income families in the Quad Cities has received several grants. Among the grantors are: 3M Foundation - $500, Rock Island Arsenal Welcome Club - $100, Rock Island Rotary Club Literacy Fund - $500, Junior Board of Rock Island - $400  and  Modern Woodmen of America - $1,500.  "The First Book Club has been in existence for 15 years and we currently distribute about 5,000 books per year through selected schools," said Ana Kehoe, Educational Outreach Director.  "These grants will allow us to maintain our current level of service to the schools." The station also provides hands-on workshops for students, teachers and parents to encourage students and families to be more involved in reading.

"All of these grants come at a crucial time for WQPT," according to Best. "Until space becomes available to move into a WIU facility, the station is incurring considerable additional costs for leased space and utilities. These grants help us maintain our programs during this time of transition."

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University in Moline, Illinois.

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Grassley Continues Rigorous Oversight
Senator Grassley has always taken his constitutional role of oversight very seriously. As an elected representative, he has exposed waste, fraud and abuse in a effort to protect taxpayer dollars. He was on the case again this week, shedding light on unsatisfactory audits at the Department of Defense that leave "huge sums of money vulnerable to theft and waste."