Iowa Members Support Capping Direct Payments to Farmers Making +$250K

Washington, DC - Today, Congressmen Bruce Braley, Leonard Boswell, and Dave Loebsack joined together to push back against cuts that would hurt Iowa farmers, the state's economy, and America's energy independence by slashing crop insurance and gutting renewable energy programs that encourage the harvesting of agriculture energy inputs and help rural gas stations to purchase ethanol blend pumps.

In a letter to leadership of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Federal Drug Administration, and related agencies, the Members urged the Senators to take a second look at the House's cuts to crop insurance, renewable energy programs, and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The House Members asked the Subcommittee to retain the $250,000 income cap leveled ondirect farm payments in the legislation.

"Gas prices are climbing and crippling family budgets all over this country, but Washington politicians are trying to undercut the alternative fuel industry that helps lower gas prices and creates thousands of jobs. It makes absolutely no sense," said Rep. Braley. "Hard working families and thousands of good-paying jobsdepend on this funding."

"With gas prices still high and concerns over what or who is exactly driving them up, it is outrageous to pull funding from renewable energy programs that have had an impact on reducing our country's dependence on foreign oil and created thousands of jobs, especially while still paying out subsidies to oil giants like BP and ExxonMobil," said Rep. Boswell, a senior Member of the House Agriculture Committee. "The House FY 2012 agriculture appropriations bill is short-sighted, and embodies what happens when appropriators legislate without talking to Members of the Agriculture Committee who come from agriculture states and understand what it requires to run a farm and get food to our tables."

"Renewable fuels have shown to be a critical component in our efforts to reduce our dependence onforeign oil," said Rep. Loebsack. "The House's proposed cuts to crop insurance and cuts to energy infrastructure hurt Iowa's economy and our nation's security."

A copy of the letter is available here: http://go.usa.gov/Dm7

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Amana - You' ll have to see it to believe it! What starts out so innocently quickly spirals out of control as a tiny little mouse (with way too much energy) turns a home upside down in The Old Creamery Theatre for Young Audiences production of If You Give AMouse A Cookie.

The show opens Saturday June 18 at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage at 39 38th Ave., Amana and runs through July 2. Shows are at 1 p.m. on Saturdays, with weekday matinees at 10 a.m. on June 21, 23 and 29. Day cares and summer camp groups are welcome but matinees are filling up quickly, so call today.

Directed by Sean McCall, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie is adapted by Jody Davidson from the book by Laura Joffe Numeroff. The cast consists of Old Creamery regulars Nicholas Hodge and Ian Zahren.

Tickets are $8 per person for reserved seating. Call the box office at 800-35-AMANA or visit the website at www.oldcreamery.com for information or to purchase your tickets.

The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. The company is celebrating 40 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest. We thank KGAN and Fox 28, our 2011 season media sponsor.

WASHINGTON – Applications for fall semester internships in the Iowa and Washington, D.C. offices of Senator Chuck Grassley are due June 15.

Grassley said he encourages young Iowans who are interested in learning more about government to apply.  "Spending a semester working in a congressional office is a good way for college students and new graduates to learn more about the legislative branch of the federal government and to gain valuable work experience," he said.  "Exposure to the work of a Senate office can enhance a college education and make students more competitive job applicants when they graduate.  These internships are available to students in all areas of study. 

Full- and part-time internships are available for Iowans in Grassley's offices in Washington, D.C., Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City and Waterloo.  The fall internships run from late August to mid-December.  Interns assist staff members with administrative, legislative and communications work, including that of Grassley's staff on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, where he serves as Ranking Member.

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Partnership will Include Advisory Group to Study New Illinois High-Speed Rail Line

CHICAGO - June 2, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced a partnership between the University of Illinois, the Illinois Department of Transportation and a special advisory group to study the feasibility of 220-mph passenger rail service between Chicago, Urbana-Champaign and beyond. The study will complement the ongoing construction of a regional 110-mph network that will connect Chicago to 40 cities in the Midwest, while supporting Governor Quinn's vision to create jobs, enhance regional mobility and improve the environment by expanding passenger rail in Illinois.

"Illinois is leading the nation with our work to expand high-speed and passenger rail," said Governor Quinn. "This study will provide greater insight into how we can make 220-mph rail service a reality. An expanded and improved rail network will boost our position in the global economy and create thousands of jobs."

The study will explore the potential costs and benefits of establishing 220-mph service between O'Hare International Airport, downtown Chicago, McCormick Place, and Champaign-Urbana. It will also look at extending the corridor in the region to cities south of Champaign-Urbana, including St. Louis and Indianapolis.

Leading the study will be University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign professor Christopher P.L. Barkan, director of the school's railroad engineering program and one of the nation's top rail scholars. Contributing will be University of Illinois at Chicago Urban Transportation Center director Stephen Schlickman, former executive director of the Regional Transportation Authority. Their findings, made possible through a $1.25 million contribution from the Illinois Jobs Now! capital program, is expected to be complete and presented to Governor Quinn in late 2012.

"I'm delighted that the University of Illinois can lend its vast expertise to this crucial study, and I'm grateful to the governor and other leaders in the state for their support of this important work," said University of Illinois President Michael Hogan. "High-speed rail is transformational in its effect on economic development, personal mobility and on our society, in general. It's an idea that is well worth a hard look. The benefits to the University of Illinois alone cannot be overstated."

In addition to offering corridor location recommendations, the study will offer estimated ridership projections, economic impacts, construction costs and financing options. Assisting in the effort will be an advisory group composed of transportation experts, rail advocates, labor leaders, and regional planners who will provide input during the course of the study.

The members of the special advisory group include :

• State Senator Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago)
• State Representative Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook)
• Rick Harnish, Midwest High Speed Rail Association
• Kevin Brubaker, Environmental Law & Policy Center
• Joan Murphy, Cook County Commissioner (6th)
• Bob Guy, United Transportation Union
• J.D. Ross, Regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors
• MarySue Barrett, Metropolitan Planning Council
• Jack Guthman, Shefsky & Froelich Ltd

          Governor Quinn and IDOT broke ground last year on the state's signature high-speed line between Chicago and St. Louis. Speeds of 110-mph along parts of the corridor will be reached as early as next year.  A completed Midwest network will create over 57,000 jobs, including 24,000 in Illinois. In addition to Chicago-St. Louis, the Obama Administration has provided funding for the Chicago to Iowa City via the Quad Cities and Chicago to Detroit corridors. Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation also awarded additional funding to expand the Midwest's new equipment fleet with modern, domestically-built locomotives and railcars.

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