15 Jun 2011

Grassley amendment would safeguard tax dollars awarded as federal grants, ban federal grant awards to tax delinquents

By Grassley Press

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley has offered an amendment designed to prevent fraud, waste and abuse of federal grant programs.  His proposal would amend a bill pending in the Senate which would increase the number of federal grants available for government infrastructure projects administered by state and local governments.

"Federal officials need to make certain due diligence is done on the front end to safeguard tax dollars from grant recipients who are delinquent in paying their taxes.  It's wrong that someone with big unpaid tax bills would be given a federal grant," Grassley said.  "After grants are awarded, federal agencies also need to follow up and make sure recipients of taxpayer dollars meet reporting requirements for how the money is spent."

Grassley was one of four senators who requested a government report that was released in May.  It found that 3,700 contractors and grantees owed $757 million in back taxes, but also received $24 billion in stimulus awards.  The study identified 15 cases of individual contractors or grantees involving "abusive or potentially criminal activity."  One construction firm owed nearly $400,000 in back taxes but received a contract worth more than $1 million.  One non-profit organization owed more than $2 million from years of unpaid payroll taxes, but received more than $1 million in stimulus funds.

Separately, since last fall, Grassley has worked to get the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to pay attention to the waste and abuse of tens of millions of tax dollars by the Philadelphia Housing Authority.  The Philadelphia Housing Authority received nearly $370 million in HUD money this year plus an additional $127 million in stimulus funds.  "The mess in Philadelphia shows the worst that can happen when the federal government doles out money, but then doesn't check to make sure that money is used for its intended purpose," Grassley said.

The amendment that Grassley filed to the Public Works and Economic Development Reauthorization bill this week would apply to federal grant programs authorized by the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965.

Grassley's amendment would:

1)      Ban government agencies from providing grants to any person or entity that is seriously delinquent with tax debt, including anyone with a lien from the federal government.
2)      Require that at least 10 percent of federal grants be audited annually for compliance with program requirements.
3)      Ban for two years any grantee with an unresolved problem based on an audit.

"This amendment is a common-sense accountability measure that should be adopted," Grassley said.

-30-

14 Jun 2011

Harkin Aides Launch Summer Listening Tour to Collect Ideas on How to Rebuild the Middle Class in America

By Harkin Press Office

DES MOINES - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that his staff will visit all 99 counties this summer to hear directly from Iowans on how the economy is impacting families across the state.  The listening tour aims to collect ideas for rebuilding the middle class in America- from recent college graduates looking for employment to working Iowans needing to secure their retirement.  The tour, "Rebuilding America's Middle Class: Stories from Around Iowa," will begin next week

The Iowa tour builds upon Harkin's work in Washington, where he is examining the impact of economic policies on the middle class.  In mid-May, Senator Harkin, as Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, convened his first Committee hearing on this issue entitled, "The Endangered Middle Class: Is the American Dream Slipping Out of Reach for American Families?"  Archived video and testimony from that hearing can be found here.

"As I travel in Iowa and across the country, I hear from more and more hardworking middle class families who feel that the American Dream is slipping away," said Harkin.  "One thing is certain:  there can be no sustainable economic recovery without the recovery of our middle class.  This listening tour will collect ideas directly from the students, workers, near retirees, and all of those impacted by this economy."

Each summer, Senator Harkin's staff visits each Iowa County to talk to Iowans about the issues impacting them and their families.  Staff will then post information on their visits on Senator Harkin's web site (http://harkin.senate.gov/) Last summer's tour focused on the positive impact the Americans with Disability Act has had on Iowans as the nation celebrated the law's 20th anniversary.  To read staff accounts of that tour, click here.

A full list of events is still coming together, but all events will be advised to media by county.
10 Jun 2011

Grassley, Senate Judiciary Committee Members Call for Hearing on Balanced Budget Amendment

By Grassley Press

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley called on the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, Dick Durbin, to immediately begin holding hearings on a balanced budget amendment.

The letter to Durbin, signed by all Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says that a balanced budget amendment would "put in place a much-needed restraint on runaway Washington spending and protect working Americans from higher taxes."

"Today of every dollar spent, more than 40 cents is borrowed. Our country is on an unsustainable path," Grassley said. "It's time to have an honest and open debate about the fiscal future of our country."

A balanced budget amendment was last seriously debated in 1997 when the Senate was one vote short of passing the measure.  The budget deficit is now almost 15 times greater than in 1997.

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


June 8, 2011

The Honorable Dick Durbin, Chairman
Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights
Senate Judiciary Committee
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20150

Dear Chairman Durbin,

Our nation is facing a fiscal crisis that is only getting worse. The national debt, now over $14 trillion, has increased by more than one-third since January 2009. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the deficit for the current fiscal year will be approximately $1.4 trillion and the national debt will soon be larger than the economy. The debt also has implications for our national security. Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, calls the debt "the most significant threat to our national security." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warns that the debt "sends a message of weakness internationally."

Therefore, we ask that you immediately hold hearings on S.J. Res. 10, which calls for a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. S.J. Res. 10 would also put in place a much-needed restraint on runaway Washington spending and protect working Americans from higher taxes. S.J. Res. 10 is supported by 47 Senators and has the support of numerous grassroots organizations.

Undoubtedly, Washington has a spending problem and this problem is getting worse. The budget deficit is now almost fifteen times the size it was when the Senate came within one vote of passing a balanced budget amendment in 1997. A balanced budget amendment is a measure that is long overdue and whose time has come.

The American people are demanding action from Washington to get our fiscal house in order once and for all.

 Sincerely,

John Cornyn
Orrin Hatch
Michael Lee
Jon Kyl
Chuck Grassley
Jeff Sessions
Lindsey Graham
Tom Coburn

Cc: The Honorable Patrick Leahy

Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee

10 Jun 2011

RENEW RURAL IOWA FOCUSES ON INNOVATION WITH NEW SUMMER SERIES FOR BUSINESS LEADERS, ENTREPRENEURS

By Iowa Farm Bureau
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - June 8, 2011 - One of the keys to success for a new business is the ability to be innovative and stand out from the crowd. Renew Rural Iowa, an Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) initiative that supports new and existing businesses through education, mentoring and financial resources, is focusing on the power of innovation with a new series of seminars this summer.

The interactive seminars are designed to connect entrepreneurs and economic developers with the newest economic development tools.  At each free seminar, participants will learn about growth strategies from leading Iowa visionaries, discover how new relationships can strengthen economic development efforts and more. Adam Steen, president of the business development firm 25Connections (www.25connections.com), will discuss how partnership and collaboration can grow enterprise value.

"Renew Rural Iowa is based on the principle of innovation and encouraging the innovative use of new and existing tools to help make new connections for business growth," said Sandy Ehrig, IFBF Renew Rural Iowa economic development administrator.

The seminars will be offered at community colleges across the state and run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The sessions are free, but registration is encouraged. For more information and to register, visit www.renewruraliowa.com.

The workshops will be held

  • June 15, Iowa Central Community College, Fort Dodge.
  • June 21, Northeast Iowa Community College, Dubuque.
  • June 23, Eastern Iowa Community College, Clinton.
  • June 28, Iowa Western Community College, Council Bluffs.
  • June 30, Iowa Lakes Community College, Spencer.

-30 -

10 Jun 2011

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Announces Opportunity for Midwest Small Business Owners to Learn How to Partner with Federal Departments

By USDA Office of Communications
Event in Kansas is Co-Hosted by the Department of Commerce and Supports the White House Initiative on Small Business Contracting

WASHINGTON, June 8, 2011-- Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced that Midwest small business owners will have an opportunity at a day-long conference later this month to learn how to grow and support their businesses by partnering with USDA, the Department of Commerce (DOC) and other Federal agencies. The meeting, in Kansas, supports the White House Initiative on Small Business Contracting.

Conference attendees will have an opportunity to participate in a full day of workshops and panel discussions led by program and small business procurement officials. Topics include acquisition needs and opportunities, procurement methods, subcontracting opportunities, business development resources, and more. As part of a continuing effort to increase small business contracting participation by enhancing the competitive posture of small businesses and small farmer-owned cooperatives, there will also be a workshop dedicated to contracting opportunities in rural America. Additionally, there will be an opportunity to meet one-on-one with USDA and DOC small business contracting specialists during a half-day "matchmaking" event.

The conference, hosted by the Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Department of Commerce will be held Tuesday, June 28, 2011, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel, 6100 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS 66211.

There is no conference fee. Pre-registration is preferred with onsite registration available. To register: fax your name, company name, full address, telephone number and email address to (202) 720-3001, or email to Janet.Baylor@dm.usda.gov by June 24, 2011. For further information please call 202-720-7117 or visitwww.usda.gov/osdbu.
06 Jun 2011

Q&A: Debt Ceiling Debate Should Force Fiscal Responsibility

By Grassley Press

Q.  What is the debt ceiling?

A.  The debt ceiling is a cap set by Congress on the amount of debt the federal government can legally borrow from both the public (such as anyone who buys bonds) and government trust funds (including the Social Security Trust Fund).  The Treasury Department cannot issue any debt above the amount approved by Congress.  The first such debt limit was set in 1917.  In 2010, the debt ceiling was raised by $1.9 trillion to make the current limit $14.294 trillion.  The Treasury Secretary has said that Congress must act to raise the debt ceiling this year by August 2, or risk defaulting on U.S. borrowing obligations.  Until very recently, President Obama argued for raising the debt ceiling by $2.4 trillion without any accompanying conditions for reducing government spending.  The debate then shifted, and in May, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 318 to 97 against such a no-strings-attached increase in the debt ceiling.  Having to consider the debt limit should help Congress control spending and force Congress and the President to take stock of the country's fiscal situation.

Q.  Why shouldn't the debt ceiling be raised without spending cuts?

A.  Today, the federal debt and deficits are at record levels.  These obligations inhibit the ability of the U.S. economy to grow and create private-sector jobs.  It also is morally wrong to make the next generation pay the bills for the way we live today.  Americans sent a clear message in the last election that they want government spending reined in.  Today, the need to make sure the federal government doesn't default by increasing the debt limit should serve as a positive impetus for Congress and the President to commit to meaningful deficit reduction measures.  In fact, continuing to raise the debt ceiling without concrete plans to reduce spending is itself a recipe for disaster.  The inability of Washington to chart a course to bring down federal deficits already resulted in Standard & Poor's lowering its outlook for America's long-term credit rating from "stable" to "negative," for the first time ever, earlier this year.  Serious spending reforms are needed for the sake of America's fiscal well-being.  Negotiations now are under way between congressional leaders and the White House on an agreement for spending reductions along with an increase in the debt ceiling.  This debate provides a major opportunity to bring fiscal responsibility and accountability to Washington.

06 Jun 2011

Applications for Internships with Grassley Due on June 15

By Grassley Press

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.

Application forms are available on Grassley's Senate website, in the placement offices of many Iowa colleges and universities, and in Grassley's offices in Iowa. Due to security-related delays in postal mail delivery to U.S. Senate office buildings, internship applications should be faxed to 202-224-5136 or emailed to intern_applications@grassley.senate.gov.  For more information, send messages tointern_applications@grassley.senate.gov or call 202-224-3744.

-30-

02 Jun 2011

Bettendorf Architecture Firm Receives Design Award

By Teresa Tobat

Downing Architects Receives Honorable Mention Award and National Recognition for Innovative Educational Facility Design

 

Alexandria, VA - April 22, 2011 - Downing Architects (Bettendorf, IA) has received an Honorable Mention Award for outstanding educational facility design in the 20th Anniversary Spring 2011 edition of LEARNING BY DESIGN, the premier biannual guide that showcases innovative school and university design and construction projects. Recognized for the innovative design of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management at Scott Community College (Bettendorf, IA), Downing Architects is one of only seven firms to receive an Honorable Mention Award in the Spring 2011 design competition.

LEARNING BY DESIGN judges recognized Downing Architects for designing an authentic culinary classroom for future food service professionals in a modest-sized space, all while staying on budget.

Judges praised the attractive, well-proportioned massing of the 10,400-square-foot facility's brick-and-metal exterior. Inside, they commended the very economical plan, which combines instructional space for the college's growing culinary arts and hospitality management programs. Included are instructional labs, hot cooking and baking labs, a hotel-style lobby lounge and bedroom suite, supportive utilities such as a laundry room, and a multipurpose classroom space that can be opened up to seat 80 diners.

This $2.6 million project exemplifies the idea that "you could do a great design on a small budget and a small scale," said the judges. "To be able to provide that level of design in such a small package is impressive."

 LEARNING BY DESIGN, published in the Spring and Fall each year, circulates to more than 65,000+ leaders and decision makers at all levels of education?from early childhood and elementary schools to career-technical, college, and university-level institutions. For details and to access the magazine's digital edition, visit www.learningbydesign.biz.

 In October, LEARNING BY DESIGN will publish its Fall 2011 edition, part of LEARNING BY DESIGN's 20th Anniversary celebration. This commemorative issue will showcase educational design excellence in pre-K to 12 and college/universities with special focuses on renovations, adaptive reuse, sustainability and more. Go to www.learningbydesign.biz for details.

###

 

ABOUT LEARNING BY DESIGN: LEARNING BY DESIGN is published twice annually by Stratton Publishing & Marketing Inc. and the National School Boards Association, with support from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), APPA?Leadership in Educational Facilities, Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI), and the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities.

 

02 Jun 2011

Braley Works to Give Americans Choice, Lower Prices at the Gas Pump

By Alexandra Krasov

Introduces bill that would require county of origin labeling at gas stations

Washington, DC - June 1, 2011 - Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) introduced a bill that would require "country of origin labeling" (COOL) at gas pumps. The COOL for Fuels bill would let American consumers see where their gasoline is coming from and would help create more jobs by encouraging consumption of American-made fuels and alternatives.

"Most Americans fill up their cars with gas a few times a week, but they have no idea where that gas is coming from," said Rep. Braley. "This bill would give American consumers more information at the pump and the choice to vote with their wallets. By showing people exactly where their gas is coming from, we can lower costs, increase demand for American-made fuel and create more jobs in this country instead of overseas."

The COOL for Fuels bill will require the Department of Energy to conduct a study and implement its recommendations to ensure American consumers have the ability to decide at the gas pump whether they want to purchase domestic fuels, such as biofuels produced in Iowa, or gasoline produced in foreign, hostile nations.

Earlier today, General Wesley Clark joined Rep. Braley on a press call to express his support for the legislation.

"Our addiction to foreign oil is one of, if not the greatest, immediate and long-term threats to America's national security," said General Clark. "And without incremental steps toward breaking our addiction to foreign oil, we'll not only be pumping billions of dollars to foreign nations that are known to sponsor terrorism, but also taking a huge step away from building a strong and sustainable green economy. Americans need to know what this addiction is costing us in real terms, and Congressman Braley's country-of-origin labeling legislation is a commonsense way to get that message across."

Currently, 11 percent of America's oil imports come from Saudi Arabia, 10 percent from Nigeria and another 10 percent from Venezuela. By giving Americans a chance to see where their gas comes from and support homegrown products, the COOL for Fuels bill will help create jobs in Iowa and across the country. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that for every one billion gallons of ethanol produced, 10,000 to 20,000 jobs will be created.

###

02 Jun 2011

STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR ON THE PASSAGE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION REFORM

By Andrew Mason

Months ago, the Governor called for a major overhaul of Illinois' broken workers compensation system. Reforms to this overwhelming burden on our businesses were crucial to maintain Illinois' economic competitiveness, which is why he made it one of his top legislative priorities this session. The Governor brought everyone to the table with a proposal to save our business over $500 million, while protecting injured workers. And today, after months of work, we have seen these reforms come to fruition.

The legislation approved by the General Assembly today will also achieve significant saving for the State of Illinois, as well as attacking fraud and abuse. We have fundamentally changed our system, allowing Illinois to become more competitive and a better place to do business.

We want to thank the members of the General Assembly - especially sponsors Rep. Bradley and Sen. Raoul - for their commitment to Illinois' businesses and workers. They have passed a package of true reforms that will have a profound effect on our state.  We also express our appreciation to Director McRaith for his tireless work on this reform.  This is a proud day for the State of Illinois, and, especially, for Illinois' business community and workers. The Governor looks forward to signing it into law.

###

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

    

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.