Abill that sets the school start date no earlier than the fourth Monday in August passed the House with a 54-44 vote. Many parents, citizens, and tourism groups have supported the bill as well but its fate isn't certain in the Senate. As it stands, state law says the earliest schools can open is the week that includes September 1st but the majority of districts request, and are granted, waivers to start earlier. The Governor has hinted at preventing the Dept. of Education from granting those waivers and forcing the schools to honor the current code if the Senate fails to act.

Tax increment financing (TIF) is an economic growth tool that many areas of the state have used wisely, but there have been blatant abuses by some that brought the TIF Reform bill to the House Floor. TIF Reform relates to the city and county authority to address slum and blight and economic development by modifying Iowa's urban renewal law, providing for future repeal of Iowa's urban renewal law, authorizing cities and counties to establish project development areas to utilize tax increment financing for certain projects. A highlight of the bill, in most cases, states the three taxing entities; city, county, and school governments need to have a majority agreement on the need for TIF enactment. There are too many more topics related to TIF that are covered in the bill to mention in this article.

With the only the budget left to come across the House Floor, Health and Human Services, I would anticipate conference committee assignments on all of the other budgets yet this week. I believe this signals the end of session is near, possible by April 20th.

If you have concerns or questions I can be reached at the Capitol by emailing steven.olson@legis.state.ia.us.

Unfortunately this was another week of not much progress on our priority issues.  The Iowa House still has not taken up the Health & Human Services appropriations bill, so now it looks like the Senate will move a bill first next week. The good news in this development is that the Senate bill contains $5.3 million for tobacco prevention and cessation programs compared to $0 in the House bill and $2.8 million this year.

The Iowa House passed a bill this week that usually gets little attention - the annual Insurance Division bill, made up of changes to the law that the state Insurance Commissioner recommends. This year a number of amendments to the bill made it controversial. One, dealing with navigators in the health insurance Exchange (which has not yet been established by the Legislature), is of particular concern to us.

This amendment is plainly bad public policy, and here's why:

• It creates the potential to raise the cost of the navigators, thereby resulting in higher than necessary consumer out-of-pocket or premium costs.

• The new federal regulations allow the states to set up a licensure process for navigators, but the process in this amendment would be very similar to that of insurance agents and brokers, essentially making them de facto agents and brokers.

• The licensure process, fees and bond requirements in the amendment, none of which are required by federal law, will be a barrier for nonprofit organizations and individuals other than agents and brokers who may want to become navigators.

• The core function of the navigators is supposed to be to help consumers understand the range of options for which they are eligible within the Exchange, including public programs like Medicaid and S-CHIP. Navigators are also required to offer assistance with the tax credits available for anyone with an income below 400 percent of the federal poverty level. There is no mention in the amendment of these duties, nor the training required to carry them out.

• The amendment is an unnecessary, backdoor way of tying the hands of an Exchange in Iowa without creating a state Exchange.  The Exchange is the entity that has the obligation to establish the navigator system, train them, contract with them, and fund them.

• If this amendment becomes law, Iowa would be the first and only state to create a navigator licensure provision without having first established an Exchange.

In summary, this amendment could result in higher health insurance premiums, limit access to free navigator services, and potentially violate federal law. There is no question that it violates the principles agreed to by the Iowa Health Advocates, a coalition of patient and consumer groups of which the Cancer Society is a part.

We will be working to get this objectionable amendment removed from the bill or add language to make it more advantageous for patients and consumers. Stay tuned for an Action Alert early next week.

As always, feel free to contact me directly with any questions or concerns - peggy.huppert@cancer.org.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (04/05/2012)(readMedia)-- For only the third time since 2010 the country officially recognizes the contributions, dedication and sacrifices of military widows with "Gold Star Wives Day" April 5.

Passed in December 2010, a Senate resolution designated Dec. 18, 2010 as a day to honor and recognize the contributions of the members of the Gold Star Wives of America, an organization of widows and widowers whose spouses died while on active duty or as the result of military service. The day has been honored April 5 in both 2011 and 2012.

"It's nice to be recognized and remembered in that way, but I don't want to be put on a pedestal. Living in the small community I'm from, it's not just one day," said Larissa Melton of Germantown, and widow of Staff Sgt. Joshua Melton. "They know who I am and what he did. That's all I ask is for people to remember the sacrifice he made. It means a lot to me that people still remember his name."

Larissa said she felt it was important to give their daughter, Aubrey, who was 8 months old when Melton died, strong memories of him before his death.

"Every night after Joshua left for Afghanistan, I would show her a picture of the three of us and point to her dad. She would look at the picture and say 'good night daddy, I love you,'" Larissa said. "I would point out things to her like his favorite color, and still today she will see something and say 'that's what daddy likes'. She still remembers."

Melton, 26 and assigned to Illinois Army National Guard's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry based in Marion, was killed in action June 19, 2009 in Afghanistan.

Rasa Stream of Mattoon, widow of Sgt. Scott Stream, has found being a Gold Star Wife challenging.

"My life changed completely. I moved here from Europe to be with Scott, and then he got deployed and was killed. I came here with a husband and then I was all by myself," Rasa said. "With Scott's family in Kentucky, me living in Illinois, and my family still in Europe, it's difficult for me because I don't want to be a burden on them - I know it's hard for everyone."

Their daughter Laura, who was 6 at the time of Scott's death, struggles even three years later.

"Laura is 9 years old now, but the more she grows, the more I think she suffers from the loss of her father. There is an empty place where her daddy used to be," said Rasa. "We have a house full of pictures, and we talk about him a lot. But she sometime will say to me 'please tell me more about daddy, I feel like I'm forgetting.'"

Rasa, too, feels the importance of honoring Gold Star Wives.

"It is important to have this day. As time goes by, I think regular people forget about us and our struggle," she said.

Stream, 39 and assigned to Illinois Army National Guard's Company B, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry based in Effingham, was killed in action Feb. 24, 2009 in Afghanistan.

For Kim Smith of East Peoria, widow of Sgt. Paul Smith, the hardest part of being a Gold Star Wife is moving on with life.

"I have felt a lot of heartache going through the transition. It's an everyday struggle. Life continues, and there is some happiness, but it's just not the same," she said. "I was an older wife when I lost my husband of over 20 years. If I'm struggling how are the younger wives handling it?"

Kim also thinks honoring Gold Star Wives is important, but wishes more emphasis is given to the day in the future.

"It's a great honor, but I think the Gold Star Moms get more recognition, more so than the wives. I know the moms have lost a son, but we lost our husbands. I don't think there is as much attention given to the Gold Star Wives," she said.

Smith, 43 and assigned to Troop C, 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry based in Aurora, was killed in action June 19, 2009 in Afghanistan.

Maj. Gen. William Enyart of Belleville, Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard shared his admiration of the Gold Star Wives.

"While these brave Soldiers gave the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our great nation, it is the wives they left behind who have endured the tragedy of losing a loved one to war," he said. "The Illinois Gold Star Wives hold a special place in my heart and will always be part of our military family."

Formed during World War II, the Gold Star Wives of America is a congressionally chartered, non-profit veteran's service organization that provides support for the spouses and children of those who lost their lives while serving in the Armed Forces. Eleanor Roosevelt was a member and one of the original 15 signers when the organization was incorporated in New York in 1945.

For more information on the Gold Star Wives of America visit http://www.goldstarwives.org/.

For more information, please contact the Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office at ngilstaffpao@ng.army.mil

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Hawkeye Fans Invited to Help Replenish Johnson County Crisis Center and Statewide Food Banks by Bringing Donations to April 14 Spring Practice

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA -- April 4, 2012 -- As farmers begin the 2012 planting season in Iowa, the growing problem of hunger in Iowa is on their minds.

"Iowa farmers lead the nation in livestock and crop production and they're proud that their hard work and innovation brings more food and more choices for all Americans; that's why it's unacceptable to have a 30 percent increase in the number of families who visit food banks," says Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) President Craig Hill.

The Johnson County Crisis Center distributes 60,000 pounds of food a month and they're facing a critical shortage in both food and donations.  The Iowa Food Bank Association, a collaboration of the eight food banks which collects, coordinates and distributes food and essential supplies across the state, sees similar shortages.

"That's why IFBF is proud to support the ANF/ Food Bank Drive April 14 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City when fans of the UI football team get their first look at the 2012 Iowa football team.  We hope Hawkeye fans and all Iowans will show that they believe in taking care of their neighbors and friends in need," says Hill, a fourth generation livestock farmer from Milo.

Those who work with food banks in this state are grateful for the donations and the chance to spotlight a growing problem of hunger in Iowa.  "The current economy has brought higher mortgage rates, medical and fuel costs to more Iowans at a time when they're finding it tough to find a full-time job with benefits. It all adds to the problem of hunger in Iowa," says Jordan Vernoy, director of the Iowa Food Bank Association.  Many food banks are seeing a critical shortfall. "But, we want Iowans to know that it's so easy to help our neighbors in need; every one dollar donated can help us gather $15 of food donations," says Vernoy.

To encourage donations, the first 1,000 Iowa Hawkeye fans who bring a donation of cash or canned food to the Hawkeyes' open-to-the-public practice can receive ANF items.   There is no admission charge to attend the scrimmage and the gates open at 11 a.m.

ANF was first launched in 1985 during the height of the Farm Crisis, by legendary Hawkeye coach Hayden Fry, who wanted to show an increasingly urban nation why agriculture matters.  For more information about the Iowa Farm Bureau/U of I ANF partnership, click on www.americaneedsfarmers.org.

To learn more about the growing number of Iowans in need and ways to help, click on http://iowafba.org/.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online Newsroom page at www.iowafarmbureau.com.