Eagle Scout Candidate, Matt Budelier of Davenport, saw a need at The Salvation Army's Family Service Center. He had noticed that as he would travel down Harrison, the shelter's yard was lacking.

Matt raised over $2,000 to re-landscape the yard, add a flag pole and have a sign installed with the center's name.

Matt and his Boy Scout troop also donated hundreds of volunteer hours as they transformed the yard.

ACME Sign, who also donated much of the labor, will be installing the sign on Friday before 2pm.

By John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

The dawning of a new year is a time when most of us resolve to improve our lives in some way. This year, I resolve to dedicate myself to ensuring  rural America has a voice at the table as Americans grapple with the stern challenges that face our nation. There will never be a better time for rural Americans to raise up their voices as Congress debates a new farm bill and as the nation nominates Presidential candidates, chooses a President and elects a new Congress.

It is crucial that rural Americans ask tough questions of all our elected leaders. Will the farm bill finally include reforms that work for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities? Will such reforms ever be implemented, or will they be undermined when there is no longer an election on the horizon? Will efforts to stimulate the American economy include investments in proven strategies to revitalize rural communities? Will the farm bill include much needed investments in conservation, rural development and the next generation of family farmers and ranchers?

Rural voters will be vitally important in 2012. But we cannot expect candidates and elected leaders to fulfill their promises unless we are willing to take responsibility for ensuring they do. The role rural America plays in elections and policy debates this year will not be long remembered unless those of us who live here remind those candidates and elected officials, as many times as possible, that rural communities matter.

Fuel tax will generate funds to repair rural roads, bridges

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - January 4, 2012 -Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) supports the bipartisan legislative effort announced this week to fund the state's much-needed road and bridge repairs.

Iowa's largest grassroots farm organization announced support of a fuel tax back in October, when a Citizen Advisory Commission report concluded that raising fuel tax by 8 to 10 cents per gallon would be the most equitable, fairest way to fund Iowa's critical infrastructure needs.

"Senator Rielly and Representative Tjepkes both served on that task force and met with Iowans who told them that it's time to do something about Iowa's aging roads and bridges.  They are working together to address the long term challenges of providing adequate funding to repair our roads and bridges," said IFBF President Craig Hill.  "With rural roads making up nearly 90,000 miles of our state's 114,000-mile road system, our members know how critical those roads are for maintaining access to services across the state.  We believe a sound infrastructure is crucial for our state's current and future economic prosperity," said Hill.

"The Iowa Department of Transportation says we need $215 million a year to meet the critical needs of our transportation system.  Those needs will increase as our infrastructure ages and construction costs continue to climb.  We haven't raised fuel taxes since 1989 and our roads have deteriorated significantly since then.   An 8- to 10-cent per gallon fuel tax would generate $184 million to $230 million per year; it's the fairest way to assure all who drive on our roads help pay for the repairs," said Hill.

IFBF members have long supported a fuel tax to pay for road repairs.  In 2008 IFBF delegates passed policy calling for the fuel tax increase to repair the state's roads and bridges.

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CHICAGO - December 30, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

 

Bill No.: HB 355

An Act Concerning: Government

Makes numerous changes to the State Employee Health Savings Account Law to comply with the State Employee's Group Insurance Act and IRS Code.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 1602

An Act Concerning: Wildlife

Allows people with temporary disabilities to receive permits to use crossbows while hunting.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 3036

An Act Concerning: Public Utilities

Contains a number of changes to amend smart grid legislation (PA 97-0616). Changes pertain to consumer and regulatory protections.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 773

An Act Concerning: Public Aid

Allows the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to deposit federal Medicaid matching dollars into the Public Aid Recoveries Trust Fund (PARTF).

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 1226

An Act Concerning: Education

Increases the enrollment at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences from 600 to 720 students. Requires all students to reside within the city of Chicago, with at least 50 percent of the student population residing within a 2.5 mile radius of the school.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 1762

An Act Concerning: State Government

Allows HFS to exempt applicants for 20 senior level positions from education requirements, provided they have backgrounds in healthcare administration, healthcare finance, healthcare data analytics or healthcare information technology.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 1795

An Act Concerning: Education

Transfers Illinois business and vocational schools from the jurisdiction of ISBE to the IBHE, and makes changes to the school approval process and general procedures.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Feb. 1

 

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