15 Jul 2010

Federal Agency sees the Big picture

By Dan McNeil

Figge outreach program is awarded grant from the NEA

The Figge Art Museum received announcement this week that its arts education initiative, The Big Picture, has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.  "Receiving NEA support is a huge victory for the Figge, as well as for the Quad Cities Area. This grant confirms that the Figge's arts-integration initiatives can compete at the national level and it shows that Washington recognizes the Quad Cities as a community that values keeping art in its schools." - Melissa Hueting, outreach coordinator

The Big Picture connects K-12 curriculum topics with art to teach "big picture" ideas from a visual perspective.  Figge staff members visit classrooms to deliver 45-minute PowerPoint presentations that are focused on Iowa and Illinois curriculum requirements in math, science, language arts, social studies and visual arts.  Each of these presentations includes guided student discussion and, in some cases, art objects are brought to the classroom for a hands-on experience.

During its first two years, The Big Picture reached nearly 20,000 students and this number is expected to increase during the 2010-2011 academic year as more and more teachers spread the word. "As an art educator, I am so grateful to The Big Picture for providing such a wonderful learning opportunity for our community and I extend my highest recommendation for this program. This is a great opportunity to bring the art world to thousands of students." - Craig Lennon, art instructor, Bettendorf Middle School.

-end-

15 Jul 2010

Upcoming Grassley Staff Office Hours in Scott County

By Jacqueline Boggess

Senator Chuck Grassley's regional director, Penny Vacek, will be holding open office hours in Scott and Clinton counties on Tuesday, July 20. These office hours provide an opportunity for Iowans to obtain casework assistance or to express views.

Vacek's schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

1 - 2 p.m.

Scott County

Eldridge

Eldridge City Hall

Council Chambers

305 N. 3rd St.


Grassley's offices in Iowa regularly help constituents contact federal agencies to sort through problems with Social Security payments, military service matters and immigration cases.  His state offices are located in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Sioux City and Waterloo.

Here is a comment from Grassley about his staff's upcoming office hours:

"These open office hours are designed to help more Iowans access the assistance that is available from the office of their United States Senator.  I hope any Iowan with federal agency-related casework will take advantage of Penny's visits."

Should constituents have any questions please contact Grassley's Davenport office at 563/322-4331.

12 Jul 2010

GOV. PAT QUINN APPROVES RED LIGHT CAMERAS

By Margo O’Hara

The use of red light cameras is now more effective, thanks to Governor Pat Quinn's signature on Friday.

A new law allows the continued use of red light cameras in the Chicago and St. Louis metropolitan areas. Cameras are triggered only when a car enters the intersection illegally and anyone who is ticketed is allowed to review the footage online.

"Red light cameras are a traffic safety measure that effectively reduces the number of crashes in our communities." said Melody Geraci, interim executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance. "This law will make red light cameras more effective tools in making our roadways safer for even the most vulnerable roadway users - children, seniors, bicyclists, pedestrians and the disabled."

A person is injured in a red light-running crash every two seconds in the United States. That results in 165,000 injuries and 800 deaths per year, according to a 2009 report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Red light cameras are proven to effectively reduce speeding and the number of crashes. The City of Naperville, for example, showed a 33% reduction in injury crashes, 75% reduction in angle/turning crashes, 19% reduction in total crashes and an 8% reduction in rear-end crashes (6 months of data compared with 3-year previous average) as a result of red light camera technology.

The Active Transportation Alliance was heavily involved in the dialogue around red light cameras. Active Trans is Chicagoland's voice for better biking, walking and transit. One of the organization's goals is to reduce crashes in the Chicagoland area by 50%.

The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that works to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. The organization builds a movement around active transportation, encourages physical activity, increases safety and builds a world-class transportation network. Formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Active Transportation Alliance is North America's largest transportation advocacy organization, supported by more than 6,000 members, 1,000 volunteers and 35 full-time staff. For more information on the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.

12 Jul 2010

National Award Given to Local Davenport Museum

By Angela Osborn

Davenport, IA?July 6, 2010?The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) proudly announces that The German American Heritage Center is the recipient of an Award of Merit from the AASLH Leadership in History Awards for the exhibit The German Immigrant Experience: 1845-1925.  The AASLH Leadership in History Award is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.

The museum includes nearly 4,000 feet of state-of-the-art interactive exhibits including a new trivia video game, wired antique party phone lines to listen to, and the audio-visual experience, "Step into My Shoes." The new interactive video game let's visitors choose a character who portrays a German Immigrant of the mid- 1800's.  They then answer questions that lead to a reward of two fun video games.   The "Step into my Shoes" exhibit allows section visitors to step onto footprints of a child, female and male.  This triggers the corresponding character to appear before them on a screen and talk about their personal experience as an immigrant.  For more information about this award winning exhibit, go to our website at www.gahc.org.  Here you can watch video of the exhibit and explore out exhibit photo gallery.

Awards for 2010 represent 49 organizations and individuals from across the United States.  Contribution from The History Channel will once again help underwrite the cost of the awards banquet which will honor the award winners at a special banquet during the 2009 AASLH Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on Friday, September 24.

The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States.  The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievement in the field of state and local history, but also

brings public recognition of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions, and programs to make contributions in this arena.

For more information on the museum's exhibits, programs, events, classes, and workshops, visit www.gahc.org or call 563-322-8844.  General Admissions is: Adults: $5; Seniors: $4; Children (5-17 years old): $3; Free for children under 5.  Museums members are free.  Hours are Tuesdays through Saturday open 10 am- 4 pm; Sunday open 12 pm- 4 pm.  For more information about the Leadership in History Awards, contact AASLH at 615-320-3203, or go to www.aaslh.org.

-End-

06 Jul 2010

Neighbors to protest St. Ambrose development

By M. McNeil
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE UPSET ABOUT A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF THE ST. AMBROSE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AND THEY PLAN TO SPEAK OUT TO THE DAVENPORT CITY COUNCIL ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS

(Davenport, IA)  Dozens of concerned neighbors are planning to attend the July 7, 2010 meeting of the Davenport Zoning Board of Adjustment.  The meeting is scheduled for 4:00 pm in the City Council Chambers at Davenport City Hall.  The neighbors are opposed to St. Ambrose's request for two parking lots and a dorm.  Of primary concern is the parking lot planned for the St. Vincent's property as it is felt that it signals the first step in a comprehensive plan for that property.

The plans for the property include a 5,000 seat spectator stadium with athletic offices and weight training facilities.  Also included are several lighted practice fields, softball, baseball and soccer fields, tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts as well as track and field facilities.  Neighbors living between the campus as well as those surrounding the St. Vincent's property, are concerned about safety, quality of life issues, decreases in property values, traffic, parking, noise and light pollution, loss of green space and increase storm water run-off and flooding problems.  Many of the neighbors plan to speak out about the new development in an attempt to block the passage.
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22 Jun 2010

Senators Question Possible Administration Plans to Defer Action on Millions of Illegal Aliens

By Grassley Press
 

WASHINGTON - Several U.S. senators today questioned possible plans by the administration to unilaterally extend either deferred action or parole to millions of illegal immigrants in the United States.  Senator Chuck Grassley was joined by Senators Orrin Hatch of Utah, Jim Bunning of Ky., Saxby Chambliss of Ga., Jim Inhofe of Okla., Johnny Isakson of Ga., Thad Cochran of Miss., and David Vitter of La.

"There's a lot we can agree on when it comes to dealing with the immigration problems in the United States, but this appears to be amnesty in disguise, and is simply an attempt to circumvent Congress," Grassley said.

Here's a copy of the text of the letter to President Barack Obama.


June 21, 2010

President Barack H. Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, D.C.  20500

Dear President Obama:

We understand that there's a push for your Administration to develop a plan to unilaterally extend either deferred action or parole to millions of illegal aliens in the United States.  We understand that the Administration may include aliens who have willfully overstayed their visas or filed for benefits knowing that they will not be eligible for a status for years to come.  We understand that deferred action and parole are discretionary actions reserved for individual cases that present unusual, emergent or humanitarian circumstances.  Deferred action and parole were not intended to be used to confer a status or offer protection to large groups of illegal aliens, even if the agency claims that they look at each case on a "case-by-case" basis.

While we agree our immigration laws need to be fixed, we are deeply concerned about the potential expansion of deferred action or parole for a large illegal alien population.   While deferred action and parole are Executive Branch authorities, they should not be used to circumvent Congress' constitutional authority to legislate immigration policy, particularly as it relates to the illegal population in the United States.

The Administration would be wise to abandon any plans for deferred action or parole for the illegal population.  Such a move would further erode the American public's confidence in the federal government and its commitment to securing the borders and enforcing the laws already on the books.

We would appreciate receiving a commitment that the Administration has no plans to use either authority to change the current position of a large group of illegal aliens already in the United States, and ask that you respond to us about this matter as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Chuck Grassley

Orrin Hatch

Jim Bunning

Saxby Chambliss

Jim Inhofe

Johnny Isakson

Thad Cochran

David Vitter

22 Jun 2010

Quinn and Durbin Joint Statement on DOJ Plans to Fully Utilize Thomson Correctional Center

By Andrew Mason
Facility will be purchased by the end of the year

CHICAGO - June 21, 2010. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced today that the Department of Justice (DOJ) intends to acquire the Thomson Correctional Center by the end of the year and fully utilize the entire facility.

In a letter (attached) to Durbin, Quinn and Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL), a DOJ official explained that the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) plans to make modifications to the prison and hire and train a full complement of staff while the Defense Department and Congress continue to work on authorizing and funding a portion of the Thomson facility for housing Guantanamo detainees.

Durbin and Governor Quinn issued the following statement:

"With this letter today, the Bureau of Prisons has reaffirmed the commitment it made earlier this year to fully utilize Thomson Correction Center and upgrade the facility to make it the safest prison in the nation.

The agency has already begun the process of recruiting for positions at the prison, so having the facility operating at full capacity could result in more jobs for residents of Thomson and surrounding areas.

As we have said many times, this move will have an enormous impact on our state -generating thousands of good paying jobs and potentially injecting more than $1 billion into the regional economy. This is an opportunity to dramatically reduce unemployment, create thousands of good-paying jobs and breathe new economic life into a part of Illinois that desperately needs this."

The purchase, activation and operation of Thomson Correctional Center is expected to generate more than 3,000 jobs - roughly half of which are expected to be given to local applicants - and inject more than $1 billion into the regional economy.  Currently, there is a critical need for a facility to address federal prison overcrowding problems nationwide and a particularly urgent need for supermax-type bed space.  More than 209,000 inmates are in the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons, up sharply from 202,000 last year.

The Thomson facility was built in 2001 by the State of Illinois as a state-of-the-art, maximum-security prison to house the most severe criminal offenders.  The facility was never occupied, however, and is sitting vacant.  The facility was constructed on a 146-acre reservation has 1,600 beds with eight compartmentalized units designed for maximum inmate supervision and control.  Security features include :

  • Dual-sided electrical stun fencing capable of carrying 7,000 volts;
  • 312 Cameras on a fiber optic surveillance network with motion detection/remote monitoring capabilities;
  • Armed outer and inner perimeter towers.
    •
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21 Jun 2010

Senate Panel Approves Measure to Penalize Drug Dealers Who Market Candy-Flavored Drugs to Children

By Grassley Press

WASHINGTON - June 18, 2010 - The Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday approved a measure sponsored by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) that would increase federal criminal penalties for drug dealers who entice children with candy-flavored methamphetamine, marijuana and other dangerous drugs.

According to law enforcement officers and drug treatment officials, methamphetamine and other illegal drugs are being colored, packaged and flavored in ways designed to attract children and minors.  Some have child-friendly names like Pot Tarts - named after the popular Pop-Tarts snacks.

"This bill sends a strong and clear message to drug dealers - if you target our children by peddling candy-flavored drugs, there will be a heavy price to pay," Feinstein said. "The legislation increases criminal penalties for anyone who markets candy-flavored drugs in an effort to hook our young people.  New techniques and gimmicks to lure our kids into addiction are around every corner.  We must do everything we can to end the practice of purposely altering illegal drugs to make them more appealing to our youth."

"Drug dealers who target children by flavoring drugs to taste like candy have sunk to a new low.  These dealers need to know that when you prey on our youth, you risk serious prison time.  This legislation should make drug dealers think twice about selling candy flavored drugs to our kids," Grassley said.

The bill also has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police and the National Narcotics Officers' Associations' Coalition.

-30-

21 Jun 2010

Grassley Questions Justice Department Nominee about Actions with AIG

By Sen. Charles Grassley
WASHINGTON - (June 16, 2010) - As part of his ongoing oversight of AIG, Senator Chuck Grassley is questioning the nominee to be Deputy Attorney General at the Justice Department, James Cole, about his involvement with the company.

Grassley's questions for the record center around the nominee's work as an independent consultant appointed by the Justice Department and the SEC to monitor activities at AIG following major fraud settlements in 2004 and 2006.  He continued this role as independent consultant at AIG in the years leading up to the financial crisis and the taxpayer bailout of AIG.

Grassley said that during his time monitoring AIG, it appears Cole issued several best practices documents regarding compliance with SEC rules and regulations.  While the documents related to Cole's work have not been made public by the Department of Justice, one document purported to be part of his work as an independent consultant specifically outlined best practices on derivative transactions. In the document, it appears that the nominee recommended establishing a derivatives committee to review derivative contracts entered into by AIG, but the recommendation expressly exempted derivative transactions entered into by the AIG financial products corporation, the subsidiary responsible for the 2008 meltdown at AIG that led to a $180 billion taxpayer bailout of AIG.  Instead, the recommendation said derivatives entered by AIG Financial Products would be independently reviewed by AIG Financial Products itself

"It looks to me like Mr. Cole let the fox guard the hen house.  He's been nominated for a very important position at the Justice Department, and I want to know why he allowed such an exemption as an independent monitor," Grassley said.

Grassley is also questioning Mr. Cole about allegations that he may have allowed AIG executives to amend, modify or review the reports before they were submitted to the SEC and the Justice Department, which raises questions about how independent his monitoring was.

Grassley has conducted some of the most aggressive oversight of the government's implementation of the financial bailout, including executive compensation, severance payouts, and documentation of how taxpayer dollars have been used.

-30-

17 Jun 2010

Governor Quinn Signs Bill to Modernize Illinois Telecommunications Act

By William Palmisano

New Law Will Help Create Jobs, Encourage Investment in New Technologies and Protect Consumers

CHICAGO - June 15, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill into law that overhauls and modernizes Illinois' outdated telecommunications law. The new law will continue protecting consumers, while creating jobs and encouraging private investment in new broadband and wireless technologies.

"Investment in broadband and wireless technology is a key to creating better jobs and providing unique educational opportunities across Illinois," said Governor Quinn. "I am proud to sign this law to encourage private investment in these critical technologies, which will put more people to work and protect consumers."

The Illinois Telecommunications Act was written in 1985 - well before the widespread use of cell phones and broadband Internet. Today, approximately 25 percent of Illinois households rely only on cell phones.

The new law eliminates obsolete regulatory standards, which will enable telecom companies to shift more investment to wireless and broadband technologies. In Illinois, a 1 to 3 percent increase in broadband penetration would create 13,000 to 39,000 non-farm jobs, according to the Brookings Institution.

Senate Bill 107, sponsored by Sen. Michael Bond (D-Grayslake) and Rep. Kevin A. McCarthy (D-Orland Park), allows telecommunications companies to opt-in to a new form of regulation that will promote more competition and encourage more investment in modern broadband and wireless technologies.

The new law also contains important consumer protections to ensure Illinois residents still have a variety of affordable phone service options. The law extends low-cost packages that are designed to protect consumers who still rely on landline service, but have varying communication needs. The low-cost package rates will be frozen for the next three years.

"One of the most important aspects of this legislation was that we have safeguards in place to protect consumers in Illinois," said Sen. Bond. "We wanted to ensure that residents who still rely heavily on land-line telephone service will have affordable options to choose from. As we make strides to boost investment in cutting-edge technology, we want to make sure we are providing security for those individuals who rely on land-line phone service."

"The signing of Senate Bill 107 considerably increases the possibility of greater private sector broadband investment in Illinois. The Legislature and the Governor's Office worked diligently to make sure this legislation is a winner for consumer, providers and employers across Illinois. The unanimous support of the General Assembly confirms the positive changes this legislation promises for our state," said Rep. McCarthy.

The Illinois Commerce Commission will retain the authority to impose penalties on providers who do not comply with general service quality requirements, which could amount to more than $200,000 per offense for a provider. This legislation takes effect immediately.                  

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