29 Jan 2014

Attorney General Holder Testifies Before the Judiciary Committee-Grassley Opening Statement

By Grassley Press

Prepared Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Ranking Member, Senate Committee on the Judiciary

Hearing on "Oversight of the Department of Justice"

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding today's oversight hearing focusing on the Justice Department.  I welcome Attorney General Holder.  There are many issues to discuss about the department's ongoing and important work.

I have to start by pointing out to the Chairman that we still haven't received answers to our questions for the record from the last oversight hearing with the Attorney General almost eleven months ago.  This is simply unacceptable.  The department should show sufficient respect for this committee to answer its questions?AT LEAST prior to its next oversight hearing. We also haven't received replies to questions directed to other department officials who testified at various hearings over the past year.

Mr. Attorney General, this hearing also affords me the opportunity to call to your attention the many letters the department hasn't yet answered.  It is unfortunate that we always have to start department oversight hearings with this same request to respond to unanswered questions from Congress.

For instance, back in early November I wrote you about the Justice Department's counsel to Health and Human Services on the Affordable Care Act.  HHS says that in consultation with your department, it's decided not to apply the anti-kickback statute to the Affordable Care Act.  This is a clear violation of Congress's move to strengthen anti-fraud laws.  Since I haven't received an answer to my letter, I'll ask you about this today.

I've also written you about the department's handling of cases in which National Security Agency employees abused their signals intelligence authorities.

In August, after news reports about these cases, I wrote to the NSA Inspector General about them.  In response, the Inspector General indicated that since 2003, there were twelve documented instances of NSA employees abusing these authorities, in many cases by spying on loved ones.  It's good the number of cases was small, but even one case is too many.  According to the Inspector General, at least six of these cases were referred to your department for prosecution.

In October, I wrote to you to request information about how the department handled these cases.  I asked for a response by December 1st.  I haven't received one.

It's important for the public to know whether the department is taking these cases seriously.  We need to deter this kind of behavior in the future, given the NSA's powerful capabilities.

In addition, this committee has spent a considerable amount of time over the past six months considering various reforms to the NSA.  In his speech on this a few weeks ago, the President directed you to work with the intelligence community to develop "options for a new approach" to the bulk collection of telephone metadata.  I'll be interested in hearing how you are proceeding with this task.

The President has also asked you to do a review of the FBI's whistleblower protections and recommend changes on how to improve them.  The assignment was contained in Presidential Policy Directive 19, which claimed to create protections for whistleblowers with access to classified information.  The President gave you 180 days to complete the review, and it's now ten months overdue.  There is a lot of lip service to whistleblower protection, but this is another example of how the actions don't match the rhetoric.

I'm concerned about the President's Directive. I recently had a whistleblower from the Central Intelligence Agency contact my office.  He was seeking to report alleged violations of the whistleblower protections in the President's Directive, false statements to Congress, and concerns related to qui tam litigation.  He tried to get permission to share the classified details with me.  Yet a CIA lawyer wrote a letter denying permission, claiming Judiciary Committee members aren't authorized to receive classified information about the CIA?which is of course false.  But it scares whistleblowers and intimidates them into silence.  This is one of several things that suggests to me that even with the President's Directive, we need stronger legislative protections for national security whistleblowers.

Another topic I'd like to discuss is the department's non-enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act.  In August, the department announced that it wouldn't challenge laws in Colorado and Washington that legalize the trafficking of marijuana.

The department apparently believed that so long as these states created effective regulatory schemes, key federal enforcement priorities wouldn't be undermined.  Those priorities include the diversion of marijuana into other states, increased use among minors, and more drugged driving fatalities.

However, I am concerned that in many ways this policy is based on willful ignorance of the realities in these states.  For example, as a result of its failure to adequately regulate medical marijuana, Colorado has seen a sharp increase in public health and law enforcement problems related to these federal priorities over the past few years.  Just a few weeks ago, a senior Drug Enforcement Administration official told the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control that what was happening in these states is "reckless and irresponsible."

At a minimum, it's important that the department set firm criteria to measure whether - or when - its federal priorities are harmed so much that the decision not to challenge these state laws is revisited.

This is all the more important now that I  understand you will soon announce additional guidance that will permit marijuana distributors in these states to use the banking system to engage in what is, under federal law, money laundering.

I'm also concerned that this Administration hasn't been faithful to the Constitution in a number of other areas by unilaterally changing or ignoring laws passed by Congress.  In my view, many of these actions are inconsistent with the Constitution's requirement that the President "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed."

However, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel should provide an independent check on the executive's actions.  The Office of Legal Counsel is responsible for advising the executive branch on constitutional questions.  Moreover, it reviews the constitutionality of all proposed Executive Orders.

Last night during the State of the Union address, the President signaled that he will use Executive Orders aggressively to advance his agenda this year.  Transparency should be brought to the Office of Legal Counsel's analysis of proposed Executive Orders, so that the American people can see whether they are subjected to a rigorous constitutional review.

I look forward to discussing these and a variety of other issues, time permitting.  Thank you.
29 Jan 2014

Lt. Governor Simon to attend annual State of the State address

By Ted Nelson

SPRINGFIELD - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will join state officials for Governor Pat Quinn's 2014 State of the State address in Springfield.

DATE: Wednesday, Jan. 29

TIME: 12 p.m.

LOCATION: Illinois House of Representatives' chamber, Illinois State Capitol, Springfield, 62706

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29 Jan 2014

Reactions to the President's State of the Union address

By Randy Stalsberg

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa tonight made the following comment on President Obama's State of the Union address.

"The Constitution created three branches of the federal government and checks and balances among the branches that are fundamental to our strength as a nation.  Based on that, the President should use his pen and phone to build coalitions on Capitol Hill and sign legislation into law, not issue executive orders that Congress and the American people don't support.

"The President spoke about inequality.  Congress and the President should find common ground and create economic growth that builds people up.  We ought to reform the tax code to close loopholes and give job creators the certainty and confidence to expand, hire and raise wages.  We can't tax and spend our way to prosperity through government.

"The President should work with Congress to renew Trade Promotion Authority so we have more places around the world to export what we make and grow in Iowa and other states.

"The President should promote energy independence and new jobs by approving the Keystone Pipeline and faithfully executing the 2007 federal law that created the Renewable Fuel Standard.

"Together, we should strengthen the patent system to clear the way for entrepreneurs and inventors to create, innovate and grow minus the patent trolls who abuse the system with frivolous lawsuits.

"Washington should first try to get the most bang for the buck out of existing programs before rushing to create more.  For example, too many housing dollars go to executives and bureaucrats instead of people in need.  The IRS whistleblower office is limping along, when it could be helping to collect billions of tax dollars that are already due.  The Justice Department could criminally prosecute Wall Street executives who defraud consumers instead of settling for pennies on the dollar.  The IRS could make public disclosures from colleges and other major tax-exempt groups more readily available or maybe even require more disclosure in exchange for their tax exemption so executive perks and other spending that contributes to college costs receives scrutiny.

"If the President is willing to work with Congress, there are a number of areas where we can work together to create economic growth and get more from the taxpayer dollars already in the U.S. treasury."

 

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after President Obama delivered the State of the Union address.

"My number one priority and the heart of what I have always fought for is to create jobs and grow the economy.  The middle class, and those looking to join the middle class, must have the tools and opportunity to pull themselves up and fulfill the American dream. As someone who grew up in poverty, I know the hard work and determination it takes to succeed.  I also know that without ladders of opportunity, hardworking families will continue to fall behind and young kids growing up like I did will watch the American Dream slip farther out of their reach. One way we can immediately help working families is by raising the minimum wage and I applaud the President for making it a priority, as I have been calling for.

"I also strongly back the President's focus on expanding education, skills training and high-tech manufacturing. I have long pushed to ensure workers can receive the training they need to secure good jobs and employers have access to a workforce with the skills that are needed for them to expand, boost our economy, and out-compete the global competition. To get our country moving again, we have to work to reinvigorate our manufacturing base. We must put Iowans to work while maintaining and investing in the infrastructure that is critical to our communities' well-being and economic development.

"What was not discussed enough tonight was the need to advance our rural communities and our renewable energy sector. Far too often these are left behind by Washington. Our rural economy and renewable energy sector have created good jobs and brought economic development to rural Iowa. Washington must also work to serve our veterans with the dignity and honor they deserve, including securing a good job when they return home after serving our country.

"Of course, none of these priorities will be possible if Congress doesn't put aside the partisan gridlock and ideological divisions that have threatened our economy time and again. Iowans know how to work together to get things done. It's far past time for Washington to learn from our great state and get to work on the real priorities of Iowa families and job creators. I look forward to working with the President and people on both sides of the aisle to move our country forward."

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28 Jan 2014

Governor Quinn Statement on Tragic Monday Evening Accident on I-88

By Grant Klinzman

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today issued the following statement regarding the Monday evening accident on the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88) in Aurora that killed Tollway employee Vincent Petrella and seriously injured an Illinois State Trooper:

"Vincent Petrella is a hero. Both he and the injured State Trooper were doing heroic work - assisting their fellow citizens in an emergency. Both men were committed to keeping our roads safe and to helping those in need.

"Vincent was a selfless man, dedicated to his family and his job. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fellow employees during this difficult time.

"I am ordering the state's flags to be flown at half-staff so all Illinois citizens can be reminded of Vincent's life of service and sacrifice.

"We also offer our wishes for a full recovery for the injured Illinois State Trooper, and thank him for bravely going above and beyond the call of duty."

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28 Jan 2014

Grassley Comments on the President's State of the Union Address

By Randy Stalsberg

 

                WASHINGTON ? A comment from Sen. Chuck Grassley regarding President Obama's State of the Union Address will be available tonight for television and radio.  A written comment will also be sent later this evening.  

                An audio comment is expected to be available after 9 p.m. (CST) on Grassley's website, Grassley.senate.gov. 

                Video comments will be available by satellite between 9:15 and 9:45 p.m. (CST) at the following coordinates:     

SD Coordinates

AMC 1

Transponder C22 Slot A (9MHz)

Downlink 4126.50 Vertical

FEC ¾

Symbol Rate 6.1113

Data Rate 8.448

MPEG-2

DVB-S QPSK

4:2:0

SD 4:3 NTSC

 

HD Coordinates

AMC 1

Transponder C24 Slot A (18MHz)

Downlink 4171.00 Vertical

FEC ¾

Symbol Rate 13.235

MPEG-2

DVB-S QPSK

4:2:0

HD 16x9 1080i

Please call the control room at 202-224-9203 if there are problems during the feed. 

 

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28 Jan 2014

HUD fails to oversee federal money to local housing authorities

By Nicholas Depew

Floor Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley

Before the United States Senate

Oversight at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Delivered Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Recently, the Obama administration has been talking a lot about income inequality and poverty.

The U.S. has spent trillions of dollars in the last fifty years fighting the so-called "War on Poverty."

The results have been marginal.

Yet, this administration wants to spend more money on more programs.

That doesn't fix the problems.

If you just hand this money out with no strings and no oversight, it gets diverted and misused.

Wasted money doesn't help the poor.

There are a lot of people who make a nice profit from the poverty of others.  And, the Obama administration has been helping a number of these profiteers, while the poor suffer.

Through my oversight work, I have seen this happen over and over again.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development hands out $4 billion in federal money every year to local housing authorities.

This money is supposed to help provide clean, affordable housing to the poor.

But, while no one is watching, so much of the money gets spent on high salaries and perks for the people who run the housing authorities.

These housing authorities have other sources of money, but for most of them, up to 90 percent of their total funding comes from that $4 billion contributed by federal taxpayers.

HUD argues that because housing authorities are state and local government entities, there is no reason to scrutinize them from Washington.

As far as I'm concerned, HUD is missing about four billion reasons.

Taxpayer money should come with federal oversight.

I have been conducting oversight of wasteful spending at housing authorities for almost four years.

I have been urging the Obama administration to look at what is happening and take action.

But, there is little, if any, interest in oversight of these federal dollars by the folks writing the checks in Washington.

They just want to send the check and pat themselves on the back.

They don't want to talk about what actually happens to the money.

Federal funds end up feathering the nests of local housing authority bureaucrats instead of housing the poor.

Here are some of the most egregious examples of how ineffective the Department of Housing and Urban Development has been at policing local housing authorities:

Bradenton, Florida, is an area of the country that was hit extremely hard during the foreclosure crisis.

But, employees at the Bradenton Housing Authority only have to work four days a week.

They get two weeks off at Christmas, bonuses in June and December, and the option to cash out up to a month of sick leave twice per year.

They get free use of a car purchased by the housing authority.

After 15 years of employment, they get to keep the car when they leave, or take $10,000 instead.  It's their choice.

Those are generous fringe benefits.

But, many housing authorities also provide very lucrative salaries.

These salaries far exceed the salaries of the federal employees who hand out taxpayer money to the housing authorities.

The biggest salary jackpot winners I've encountered so far are at the Atlanta Housing Authority.

At least 22 employees there earn between $150,000 and $303,000 per year.

The Atlanta Housing Authority benefits from a special HUD designation called Moving to Work.

That program exempts designated housing authorities from certain requirements including salary justifications.

This is not just an isolated example.

The executive director of the Raleigh, North Carolina, housing authority receives about $280,000 in salary and benefits, plus up to 30 vacation days.

He also accumulates comp-time for any hours he works over seven and a half hours per day.

He has used over 20 days of comp time per year since 2009.

Add that to his regular vacation time, and he was out of the office nearly three months per year.

Nine months of work for $280,000 is an annualized salary of nearly $375,000 per year.

Very few taxpayer funded jobs pay anything close to that amount.

What is the justification for such high salaries?

After years of ignoring the issue, HUD finally capped federal funding for executive salaries at $155,500 per employee.  Of course, this was only after various local media and I exposed deep-rooted problems and pushed HUD to act.

But now, housing authority executives have turned to creative accounting tricks to get around the limit.

Since some of their money comes from other sources, the housing authorities simply claim that any salary over the federal limit comes from one of those other sources.

Because of my oversight letters on this subject, HUD recently notified the housing authorities that they must document the original source of the funding used to pay salaries over the federal limit.

That's good news, but there are still larger problems.

The Department is still not making this salary data public in a reasonable timeframe.

For example, the Obama administration refused to release the 2010 set of data for almost a year.   I hope we don't have to wait a year to get the new data.

Like many of our federal agencies, some housing authorities spend large amounts of money on travel for conferences and training.

Staff and board members often attend the same conferences throughout the United States, year after year.

They often attend multiple conferences in a single year.

In addition to travel costs, housing authorities must pay a conference fee for each attendee they send, often ranging between $400 and $1,000 per employee.

That money could easily be used to improve conditions and make needed repairs in public housing facilities, but instead it is frittered away on conferences.

The Tampa Housing Authority has spent more than $860,000 since 2009 for staff and board members to attend various conferences, seminars and training programs.

Tampa has been sending 20 or more employees per year to conferences sponsored by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials.

That alone costs more than $177,000 per year.

The Atlanta Housing Authority has spent more than $480,000 since 2009 for employees to attend conferences and training sessions.

In fact, the housing authority paid over $68,000 in conference fees to a software company after giving them a multi-million dollar contract for a new computer system.

I wonder if the housing authority executive director thought to ask for a discount.

Many of the housing authorities with questionable spending don't limit the abuses to salaries or travel.

The Tampa Housing Authority purchased a new $7 million administrative office that includes nearly $3 million in renovations and upgrades. That could have helped hundreds, if not thousands, of poor people needing housing.

They are also paying nearly $800,000 in salary and benefits for a public relations department while paying an employee another $170,369 as a PR consultant.

Other housing authorities are also spending exorbitant amounts for outside consultants.

Some of these consultants are former employees of the local housing authority.

In 2013, the Pittsburgh Housing Authority retained 10 law firms for a total of $3.5 million over three years.

One law firm has been representing the housing authority during inquiries by the HUD Office of Inspector General and the city Controller.

Think about that.

It's bad enough that taxpayer money meant to help the poor is wasted.

But then the taxpayer also pays the lawyers to defend the very organization from scrutiny about whether the taxpayer money was wasted.

That just adds insult to injury.

In Philadelphia, outside lawyers blocked the Inspector General's office from accessing spending data for months, costing the taxpayers millions.

The Pittsburgh Housing Authority also paid an outside consulting firm $1.25 million for 2012.

The vice president at the consulting company billed the housing authority $404,000 for 2,400 hours of work.

That's 48 hours a week for a year.

It is more than double the $168,000 salary of the housing authority executive director.

Harris County, Texas, is one of the most egregious examples of out of control spending.

In 2013, the HUD Inspector General questioned the mismanagement of over $27 million in federal funding in Harris County.

The IG provided the following examples of fraud and abuse:

·           Over $1.7 million in excessive payroll expenses;

·           $190,000 for statues and monuments;

·           $66,000 for employee shirts embossed with logos;

·           $27,000 for trophies, plaques and awards;

·           $14,500 for a helicopter, a chartered bus and golf cart rentals for a grand opening; and

·           $18,000 for letters written by Abraham Lincoln

I continue to send my oversight letters to the Senate appropriators and the Senate Banking committee.

These committees have jurisdiction over the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

They have the authority to do something about these abuses.

My colleagues need to know the extent of the problems and that I am ready to work with members of this body to address these issues.

I would like to have these letters placed into the record.

Employment at a public housing authority should be about public service.

It's supposed to be about providing clean, safe, and affordable housing for those in need ? not helping bureaucrats live large on the taxpayers' dime.

If the Obama administration is truly serious about income inequality, and not just using it for political purposes, it would stop shoveling taxpayer money out the door with practically no oversight, no controls, and no limits.

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28 Jan 2014

Former Iowa State Professor Pleads Guilty to False Statements

By Val Quast

Dr. Palaniappa Molian made false statements to the National Science Foundationto procure grant payments.

DES MOINES, IA - United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt announced thatDr. Palaniappa Molian, of Ames, pled guilty on January 24, 2014, to two felony counts relating to false statements made to the National Science Foundation.

According to the written plea agreement, in December of 2009, Dr. Molian, as a principal investigator on a National Science Foundation grant to Iowa State University, submitted a reimbursement expense voucher that contained false statements. Dr. Molian claimed in a requested reimbursement that he traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, to work on an Iowa State University National Science Foundation grant research experiment. Dr. Molian admitted in the plea agreement that he did not perform any work on the grant research experiment in Boston, and that he traveled to Boston for unrelated reasons.

The plea agreement also provides that Dr. Molian, in his capacity as president of Photon Energy Technology, submitted a Small Business Innovation Research Program Report to the National Science Foundation on July 1, 2010, that contained false statements. Dr. Molian claimed and sought payment for approximately $20,000 in laser rental costs, when he had access to a laser at no cost. Dr. Molian spent the excess grant funds he was awarded on unrelated personal expenses.

Dr. Molian will be sentenced on April 25, 2014, before the Honorable James E. Gritzner.Making a false statement to a federal agency carries a maximum sentence of imprisonment of up to five years and a maximum fine of $250,000.

This case was investigated by the National Science Foundation Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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28 Jan 2014

Heritage Analyzes the State of the Union Address

By Corrine Williams

featuring Heritage Foundation foreign and domestic policy experts  

   

WHAT: Heritage Foundation experts available all day and night for analysis of the State of the  Union  Address  

   

WHEN: Today, January 28, starting this afternoon with a Twitter chat (2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST) and continuing through the address at 9 p.m. EST

   

BACKGROUND: Heritage Foundation scholars will live blog (www.foundry.org) and Tweet (Twitter handles noted for experts participating below) leading up to and during President Obama's State of the Union Address. Below are some of the topics we expect to be addressed, and the analysts who will be available for interviews.  

Overview

·         Genevieve Wood?(@genevievewood) Senior Contributor, The Foundry

·         Cameron Seward?(@sewardct) Program Manager, Impact Teams & Policy Services

Income Inequality & Economic Mobility

·         David Azerrad?Director, B. Kenneth Simon Center for Principles and Politics

·         Donald Schneider?(@donfschneider) Research Assistant, Center for Policy Innovation

·         Salim Furth?(@salimfurth) Senior Policy Analyst, Macroeconomics, Center for Data Analysis

Minimum Wage

·         James Sherk?Senior Policy Analyst in Labor Economics, Center for Data Analysis

Health Care

·         Alyene Senger?Research Associate, Center for Health Policy Studies

National Security, Foreign Affairs

·         James Carafano?(@jjcarafano) Vice President, Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, E.W. Richardson Fellow, and Director of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Institute for International Studies

·         Steven Bucci?(@sbucci) Director, Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies

Energy

·         Nicolas Loris?Herbert and Joyce Morgan Fellow, Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies

Education/ Universal Pre-K

·         Lindsey Burke?(@lindseymburke) Will Skillman Fellow in Education

Immigration

·         Derrick Morgan?(@ddmorganindc) Vice President, Domestic & Economic Policy

Farm Bill

·         Daren Bakst?(@darenbakst) Research Fellow in Agriculture Policy, Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies

The Heritage Foundation is the nation's most broadly supported public policy research institute, with hundreds of thousands of donors. Founded in 1973, it develops and promotes public policy solutions that advance free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional values and a strong national defense.

# # #

27 Jan 2014

Branstad, Reynolds send letter to President Obama urging action on propane shortage

By Randy Stalsberg

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging the administration to take action to help ease the burden the propane shortage is putting on Iowans and other Midwesterners.

Branstad and Reynolds write, "We write to share our concern regarding the shortage of propane fuel across the Midwest, including Iowa.  With the lack of supply and increased demand during recent cold weather, propane prices have drastically increased. This has negatively impacted Iowa families, businesses, and agricultural producers across the State of Iowa."

The letter continues, "We urge the U.S. Department of Transportation to expand the exemption to the hours-of-service regulations to ease the movement of propane fuel to customers in states facing shortages.  We would also welcome actions by the U.S. Department of Energy to reduce regulatory barriers to expedite the shipments of propane via all modes of transportation, including rail and pipeline. In addition, we urge you and your Administration to examine current propane market forces and consider exercising your authority outlined in 42 U.S.C. § 6212 to ensure there is a sufficient domestic supply."

The letter sent to President Obama comes after Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds worked with Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst to ease restrictions in Texas, allowing for greater propane supply to be shipped to states in need.

Iowans who may need aid from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) should contact their local LIHEAP community action agency or the Iowa Department of Human Rights at 515-281-0859. Eligibility requirements for LIHEAP can be found here.

The full text of the letter to President Obama is below.

January 27, 2014

The Honorable Barack Obama                      

President of the United States                       

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, DC  20500           

   

Dear President Obama:  

We write to express our concern regarding the shortage of propane fuel across Iowa, the entire Midwest, and expanding to other parts of the United States.  With the lack of supply and increased demand due to recent cold weather, propane prices have drastically increased. This has negatively impacted Iowa families, businesses, and agricultural producers across the State of Iowa.  Prices in some Midwest locations have now exceeded $5 per gallon.  Such prices are unsustainable for families, farmers, and businesses. Iowa, like many states across the nation, have taken actions to address the situation and now your Administration's leadership is needed to ensure that the necessary propane fuel is available for our fellow citizens to heat their homes, livestock producers to warm their animals, and businesses to fuel their operations.   

We urge the U.S. Department of Transportation to expand the exemption to the hours-of-service regulations to ease the movement of propane fuel to customers in states facing shortages.  We would also welcome actions by the U.S. Department of Energy to reduce regulatory barriers to expedite the shipments of propane via all modes of transportation, including rail and pipeline. In addition, we urge you and your Administration to examine current propane market forces and consider exercising your authority outlined in 42 U.S.C. § 6212 to ensure there is a sufficient domestic supply.  We are closely monitoring needs of communities throughout the state.  If emergency deliveries of propane are deemed necessary, we would ask for your Administration's help in addressing such an emergency situation through close coordination and adequate Federal resources.  Further, if propane prices do not return to sustainable levels in the very near future, it will be necessary to explore the adequacy of current resource allocations in Federal programs such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Rural Energy for America (REAP) programs. Finally, we would echo requests for the Federal Trade Commission to remain vigilant in its oversight responsibility to prevent anti-competitive behavior or illegal manipulation.  

Iowa leaders are actively working to mitigate the current shortage in various ways.  State of Iowa actions include : 

  • ·         Easing of State Transport Regulations and Active Monitoring: The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Governor's office are actively monitoring propane supplies and prices.  Working in conjunction with the Iowa Homeland Security Emergency Management Department (HSEMD) and the Iowa Department of Transportation, the Governor issued an emergency declaration to ease propane transport within the State of Iowa on Oct. 25, 2013 - the declaration has been and will be extended further as needed. State officials have been coordinating with our counterparts in other states, including seeking regulatory relief for licensing, permitting and certification requirements regarding liquefied petroleum gas trucks and operators in states that can help expedite the supply of propane - for example, Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds reached out to Texas officials and asked for regulatory transport relief which was granted on January 22, 2014.  Last week, the Governor's Office asked the Midwest Governor's Association to drive collaboration across state lines.  The HSEMD is actively monitoring propane issues in other states across the country to assist relevant planning scenarios.  In addition, HSEMD is in contact with local emergency managers to actively monitor the situation in counties and communities across the State, especially rural Iowa.

  • ·         Providing Flexibilities in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): The Iowa Department of Human Rights (DHR) has allocated an additional $600,000, now totaling $1.8 million, in Emergency Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) funds within LIHEAP to local agencies and raised the maximum ECIP payment from $500 to $650 for emergency propane delivery.  The DHR is working with local LIHEAP agencies and propane vendors to lower minimum delivery requirements to no more than 200 gallons and emphasizing to agencies that an allowable cost under ECIP includes the purchase of an electric portable heater. DHR has changed policy to allow a portion of a household's ECIP benefit to be applied to a secondary vendor to help cover the costs of electricity for the use of portable electric heaters and is actively coordinating with the Iowa Propane Gas Association.  DHR has actively encouraged families in need to contact their local community action agency to apply for LIHEAP.

We would welcome your Administration's active engagement on the propane shortage issue here in Iowa and throughout the Midwest.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Terry E. Branstad                       Kim Reynolds

Governor of Iowa                           Lt. Governor of Iowa

cc:        Bill Northey, Secretary, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

Paul Trombino III, Director, Iowa Department of Transportation

San Wong, Iowa Department of Human Rights

Mark Schouten, Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

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27 Jan 2014

Governor Quinn Names Arthur Bishop as Director of Department of Children and Family Services

By Brooke Anderson

Bishop Has Served as Director of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice Since 2011; Previously Served at DCFS for More than a Decade

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today appointed Arthur Bishop as the director of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Bishop has led the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) as director since 2011 and previously served DCFS for more than a decade. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to ensure the safety of all people and children in every community across Illinois. 

"Arthur Bishop is a long-standing public servant who has dedicated his professional career to helping Illinois families," Governor Quinn said. "I am confident that he will carry out the mission of the department by making the safety and well-being of children across the state priority number one. I thank acting Director Denise Gonzales for her commitment to protecting children and stepping up to ensure a smooth transition."

Arthur Bishop brings more than 35 years of experience in the fields of child welfare, community mental health and substance abuse with extensive work in human services administration. Bishop first joined DCFS in 1995 as a caseworker after working at several social service agencies in Chicago. While at DCFS, Bishop later served as a field service administrator and eventually moved up to Deputy Director of Field Operations. Bishop served in this role for ten years before being named Director of the IDJJ in August of 2010. 

"I appreciate this new undertaking from Governor Quinn and for the continued opportunity to serve our state," Bishop said. "Every child deserves a safe environment and there is no greater responsibility than keeping our children out of harm's way. I am eager to work with department staff to ensure we carry out the mission of protecting and serving the youngest residents of our state."

As Deputy Director of Field Operations at DCFS, Bishop had primary oversight and development of two of the department's major initiatives including Family Advocacy Centers and Fatherhood Programs. Bishop, an ordained minister, also represented DCFS on the Governor's Taskforce on the Condition of African American Males. Under Bishop's tenure as Director of the IDJJ, the population of youth in state facilities dropped to under 900 as of January 1, 2014. Historically, the average population was 1,500.

At the IDJJ Bishop championed partnerships with city and state resources. Under his leadership, the department was recognized by the MacArthur Foundation, receiving the "Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice" Champions for Change Award. He also co-chairs the Illinois Juvenile Justice Leadership Council.

Mr. Bishop holds a master's degree in Human Services Administration from Spertus College in Chicago, and an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights.

IDJJ Chief of Staff Era Laudermilk will become Acting Director effective immediately.

Governor Quinn today also made a number of key appointments to the state's boards and commissions, including Beth Fiorini of Rock Falls to the State Board of Health; Brad Cole of Carbondale to the Human Rights Commission; and Michael Perry of Wilmette to the Workforce Investment Board. Today's announcement continues the Governor's commitment to making Illinois government more accountable, transparent and effective.   

As a result of Governor Quinn's efforts to make the executive appointment process more accessible and transparent, residents who are interested in serving on boards and commissions can now apply online. For more information on all of the state's boards and commissions, or to apply to serve on a board, please visitAppointments.Illinois.gov.

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