Rides train with business leaders to promote Iowa jobs and partnerships

Fairfax, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today boarded a Union Pacific Train in Fairfax headed to Marshalltown to promote and support enhancements to Iowa's infrastructure. Braley was joined by representatives from Union Pacific and Cargill to discuss the importance infrastructure plays in Iowa's economy.

"Investing in infrastructure is one of the best ways to get Iowa's economy back on track," Braley said. "Iowa businesses rely on strong infrastructure to make sure that goods and services are delivered as promised, whether it's across town or across the country.

 

"By working with businesses in our communities, we are able to create strong partnerships that not only create good jobs for Iowans, but make more substantial improvements to our infrastructure than we ever could working alone."

Braley has been an effective leader in contributing to enhancements in infrastructure. Braley secured the funding to rebuild Waterloo and Cedar Rapids rail bridges after the devastating 2008 floods. These projects were completed through a public-private partnership, which highlights how government and business can successfully work together on projects that impact entire communities, like improving railways, roads, and airports, among others.

Cargill and Union Pacific each have a significant presence in Iowa. Cargill employs 4,095 at 29 locations across Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, that produce and market food products across the world, and depends on strong infrastructure. Union Pacific Corporation is an American rail transportation company covering 23 states across the western two-thirds of the United States.

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CHICAGO - August 16, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

 

Bill No.: HB 3969

An Act Concerning: Public Employee Benefits

Changes the entity responsible for paying the difference in annuity attributable to a former General Assembly Retirement System (GARS) participant's higher final average salary if the employee works for a reciprocal employer for less than two years after ending participation in GARS; allows individuals who became GARS participants prior to Aug. 22, 1994 to make themselves subject to the final average salary limitations that took effect for new GARS participants on that date.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.:  HB 4996

An Act Concerning: Public Employee Benefits

Creates a return to work policy for State University Retirement System (SURS) affected annuitants and requires employers to make contributions to SURS for the retirement annuities of affected annuitants.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5337

An Act Concerning: State Government

Amends the State Comptroller Act by requiring itemized vouchers under $5 to be processed electronically.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 180

An Act Concerning: Government

Includes circuit court clerks among entities that can apply to the comptroller for the offset of claims.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 679

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Allows individuals previously diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders to remain eligible for insurance coverage even if diagnostic criteria are changed in the future.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3629

An Act Concerning: Public Employee Benefits

Amends the Illinois Pension Code to align the fiscal year of the Chicago Park District pension fund with the fiscal year of the Chicago Park District.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

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Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that five Iowa counties will receive a total of more than $124,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP)  Counties receiving the grants include Appanoose, Des Moines, Johnson, Scott, and Wapello.  This funding will help Iowa's social service agencies feed and shelter those who are hungry and homeless.  EFSP funds are used to supplement food, shelter, rent, mortgage, and utility assistance programs for people with non-disaster related emergencies.

"Far too many Iowans are trying to get back on their feet, and many still find themselves in need during these difficult times," said Loebsack.  "It is important to assist those who are struggling, and this funding will better equip our local social service agencies to do so."

Details of the funding are below:

  • Appanoose County       $4,236
  • Des Moines County      $14,232
  • Johnson County            $33,106
  • Scott County                $59,087
  • Wapello County           $13,520
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SPRINGFIELD - August 15, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

 

Bill No.: HB 4022

An Act Concerning: Transportation

Includes Class II rail carriers in the requirement that a counseling or trauma program be filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) and be updated every three years.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5212

An Act Concerning: Wages

Requires public bodies or other entities to Illinois Department of Labor revises the prevailing hourly wage rate applicable to the contract.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3279

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Adds additional protections for consumers and licensed roofing contractors by making changes to the roofing licensing and permitting process.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3792

An Act Concerning: Civil Law

Extends the timeframe for obtaining a mechanics lien under the Mechanics Lien Act in connection with any type of property other than residential property.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

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(DES MOINES) -  The Office of Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced a meeting of the Iowa Public Information Board on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012 at 1 p.m.

Members of the media are encouraged to visit the Iowa Public Information Board webpage: https://governor.iowa.gov/news/iowa-public-information-board/ for future information, agendas, meeting notices, and minutes of the board.

The meeting is open to the public and media.

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012

 

1 p.m. Iowa Public Information Board Meeting

Governor's Office - Large Conference Room

State Capitol

Des Moines, IA

 

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Moline, IL ... Rep. Rich Morthland (R-Cordova) and Rep. Jim Sacia (R-Freeport) delivered a letter yesterday to Governor Quinn and his staff requesting he work to give the Thomson Correctional Center from the state of Illinois to the Federal Bureau of Prisons in exchange for their commitment to pay off the remaining mortgage of $61 million and open the facility.

"There is great potential by putting this prison to use, and instead it sits idle." Morthland said. "Thomson Correctional Center has been unoccupied and unused for twelve years now and the sale has been on the table for more than 2 ½ years. This is unacceptable."

Estimates suggest that putting this prison facility to use will create an additional 1,100 direct and indirect new jobs, and will inject more than $200 million per year into the economy of Carroll County, Whiteside County, and surrounding counties.

"I appreciate the Governor and other legislators ongoing efforts to complete the sale and transfer of Thomson," said Morthland. "While this step is bold, Representative Sacia and I believe it is necessary."

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SPRINGFIELD - August 14, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

 

Bill No.: HB 1577

An Act Concerning: Insurance

Amends provisions of the Illinois Insurance Code pertaining to company action level events and surplus line insurers.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 3826

An Act Concerning: Service Dogs

Changes the name of the Guide Dog Access Act to the Service Animal Access Act, and expands and makes changes to the definition and use of a service animal in public facilities.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3727

An Act Concerning: Health Regulation

Expands the authority of the Department of Public Health (DPH) in order to increase the quality and safety of swimming facilities.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

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CHICAGO - August 13, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

 

Bill No.: HB 4029

An Act Concerning: Education

Expands the selection criteria for school boards in order to enable them to consider factors such as student safety and comfort, rather than just cost, when awarding transportation contracts.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 4615

An Act Concerning: Housing

Clarifies that existing caps on operating expenses for distributing Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) grants are annual caps, and establishes caps on operating expenses if grants are awarded for multiple years.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

Bill No.: HB 4665

An Act Concerning: Residential Construction

Creates the Radon Resistant Construction Act to mandate that all new residential construction in Illinois include passive radon resistant construction. The law also changes reporting requirements for the Task Force on Radon-Resistant Building Codes as outlined in the Radon Industry Licensing Act.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: June 1

Bill No.: HB 4689

An Act Concerning: Business

Changes the definition of "gift certificate" to include credit slips issued for returns.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

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Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz will inform Supervisors about the status-to-date of the recent allegations of possible voter fraud made by Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz. She has requested that Secretary Schultz release the names of up to 180 individuals from Scott County who are under state investigation so that her staff can begin the process of locally investigating the named individuals and retrieving voting records out of storage. As of Monday afternoon the Auditor's Office had not received any records from the Secretary's Office.

Moritz will also review the efforts of her office for maintaining accurate voting records and registration lists. She will highlight the balance between ensuring the right to vote and guaranteeing only those eligible to vote have access to the ballot.

Following her report to the Board of Supervisors she will be available for questions from the news media in the lobby of the Scott County Administrative Center.

MAIN STREET IOWA and HILLTOP CAMPUS VILLAGE PRESENT NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED RETAIL DEVELOPMENT EXPERT

 

Ms. Hilary Greenberg will speak at a luncheon on Thursday August 23 at the Fellows Room in the Vickie Anne Palmer Hall, 115 West 7th Street in Davenport. Her presentation topic will be Powering Up Your Downtown Business Mix: Business Retention and Recruitment Strategies.

greenberg work

Ms Greenberg is the president of Greenberg Development Services (GDS), a Charlotte North Carolina-based planning and economic development consulting firm. Ms. Greenberg is nationally recognized as a downtown development expert in the area of retail leasing and business development training programs for community volunteers. Her specific fields of consultation include market analyses, downtown plans, retail leasing strategies and development plans for downtown or neighborhood commercial districts. She has worked with various state and local governments as well as both private and non-profit organizations. She has been a consultant to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Main Street Center for over 20 years and has worked with over 30 State-affiliated Main Street programs.

"We are very fortunate to have a presenter of Ms. Greenberg's caliber to provide perspective and direction on this timely topic", acknowledged Hilltop Campus Village Board President Robert Lee. "With all the interest in downtown and commercial district activity we wanted to make this available to interested parties throughout the region."

Ms. Greenberg is a popular speaker on the topic of commercial redevelopment and has been the keynote speaker at conferences sponsored by the International Economic Development Council, the National League of Cities, the International Downtown Association and the National Main Street Center.

There is a $10.00 charge for each attendee to cover the cost of the lunch, and space is limited. People are asked to RSVP before August 21 by contacting the Hilltop Campus Village offices at 563-322-8293, or by emailing scott.tunnicliff@mchsi.com.

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