President Bush is proposing a major overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws today — giving thousands of illegal workers more time in the U.S. Iowa Congressman Steve King, a republican from Kiron, says we don’t need changes. King says his view is based on the seven immigration reforms Congress has passed since 1986. He says none of the reforms have worked and have done nothing but increase the amount of illegal immigration. King says until we enforce the laws we have, we’ll continue to have more illegal immigration. He says the change moves us backwards, not forwards. King says it’s not a matter of trying to end immigration. He says he likes immigrants and is descended from immigrants, and he reminds everyone there is no nation that wasn’t built by immigrants. He says its part of his responsibility in Congress to establish immigration policy designed to enhance the economic, social and cultural well being of the U.S. He says we cannot be the safety valve for poverty in Mexico. King says those who argue for the changes says the illegal workers are paying taxes. King says that’s misleading. He says he gets check stubs sent to him that show social security is taken out, but there are so many defendants declared that there is not state or local tax taken out of the check. Some also says that products and services would cost more without illegal aliens doing the low-wage jobs. King says the studies show that’s not so. He says on balance there’s a net cost to society from the burden on taxpayers to pay the medical and social services of all kinds. King says giving illegal aliens a free pass won’t help. He says he’s concerned about the rule of law and says we should enforce the laws we have before granting amnesty to the people that break them.
Federal, state, local officials discuss Homeland Security
State and local officials met in Des Moines today (Wednesday) for a forum with Iowa Congressman Leonard Boswell to discuss homeland security. The Des Moines Democrat says there’s nothing new from Washington to report on the issue — but the effort continues to keep information flowing from the top to the bottom. He says if the chief of police doesn’t have information, if the fire chief and medical personnel don’t have information, then it’s not where it needs to be. The latest warnings about potential trouble have thus far not resulted in any trouble. Boswell though says federal officials are still in a “Danged if you do, danged if you don’t” position.He says if they hear information and there’s “traffic” on the intelligence side, it can cause us to take action that’s costly, but he says they’d be very much in error if they didn’t respond and something happened. Boswell says the effort of the government to keep people informed can actually be used by terrorist to cause trouble. He says one of the ways “they can be very ornery to us is talk about doing something, but not really intend to.” Boswell says sorting out the real from the fake talk and threats is the big challenge. Immigration and the way we defend our borders is a big part of homeland security. Boswell says he hasn’t seen enough of President Bush’s latest immigration plan to know how it will impact the economy or national security. Boswell says there’s merit to parts of it and he says he needs to see what the president means by parts of it. Boswell says it is appropriate to address the issue. The state homeland security advisor attended the forum along with other state and local officials.
Former Waterloo Mayor dies
A political legend from Black Hawk County has died. Leo Rooff left his mark on northeast Iowa while serving as mayor of Waterloo from 1974 to 1984. Rooff is credited with developing plans that led to reconstruction of the entire Cedar Valley Highway system, including the building of an elevated expressway through downtown Waterloo that now bears his name. During Rooff’s tenure, the city built the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center. While mayor, Rooff was also instrumental in working with John Deere on the construction of many of its present-day facilities. After leaving office, Rooff remained active in several community endeavors and continued to lend his support and guidance on many projects. Rooff died of natural causes yesterday at 81. A public visitation will be held tomorrow morning in Waterloo. Funeral services are scheduled on Friday.
Search underway for Northeast Iowa woman
A police chase through two northeast Iowa counties has authorities searching for a missing woman. The chase started east of Waterloo last night when authorities discovered a strange vehicle parked at a convenience store in Raymond. The driver — later identified as Lynn LaMmasters — took off and was chased by sheriff’s deputies into Bremer County. Authorities say LaMasters stopped the car near Readlyn and jumped into a ditch. When deputies caught up with LaMasters, they found him armed with a knife and suffering from self-inflicted stab wounds. LaMasters is being treated today at a Waterloo hospital. Officials say the car LaMasters was driving belonged to his girlfriend — 43-year-old Patricia Rapacki of Jesup, who had some personal belongings inside. Authorities say Rapacki hasn’t been seen by her family since December 26th. The search for her is now underway.
Iowa gets low grades from Lung Association
Iowa’s new report card from the American Lung Association contains three “Fs” and one “C.” The organization gave Iowa a failing grade overall for its efforts, or lack thereof, to prevent smoking. Kathy Drea, spokeswoman for the association’s Iowa chapter, says state lawmakers have drastically cut the amount of money that should be pumped into antismoking efforts. The C-D-C recommends Iowa spend 19-million dollars statewide every year on comprehensive tobacco prevention programs and Iowa’s only spending six-million. Drea says that earned Iowa an “F” for spending, along with “F’s” for the categories of smokefree air and cigarette taxes. She expands on the tax situation.She says Iowa ranks 40th in the U.S. for its per-pack tax of 36-cents. The highest tax in the U.S. is New Jersey which charges two-dollars and five-cents per pack of cigarettes. Iowa’s only passing grade was the “C” in youth access, which Drea says could stand some improvements.Iowa is among 38 states to receive a failing grade from the Lung Association for its efforts to stop people from smoking. More than 440-thousand people die from tobacco-related illnesses each year. Drea says the latest survey finds about 23-percent of Iowa adults smoke as do nearly 33-percent of Iowa high school students and almost 12-percent of middle schoolers.
Sac County voters say "NO" to gambling
Voters in Sac County yesterday (Tuesday) turned down an effort to bring riverboat gambling to their northwest Iowa locale. The vote on the gambling proposal was 14-hundred-75 “yes” and two-thousand-seven “no.” Organizers of the vote had hoped a riverboat casino could be placed in Hallet’s Pit — a gravel pit — between Lake View and Wall Lake. A statewide moratorium on new gambling licenses is in place and had the Sac County proposal been approved, state officials would also need to remove the moratorium and then approve a license for Sac County. Last month, voters in Clay County turned down a proposed gambling venture for the Spencer area. Gambling questions have also lost in Dickinson, Cerro Gordo, and Linn counties.
Man injured in fire
One man was injured in a fire early this morning in the small Dallas County town of Redfield. Dallas County Sheriff’s Department dispatcher Bob Coffin. Coffin says the fire was reported shortly after five this morning and three fire departments from the area had to be dispatched to knock the blaze down. Coffin says he does not have a condition report on the injured man. But Coffin can describe the structure that burned. Coffin says it was a some type of storage unit with antique cars inside. There was a small apartment above it. The structure and all its contents were destroyed by the fire, according to Coffin. Fire fighters wrapped up their work at about 8:15 this morning and fire investigators have begun probing the ruins to search for a cause.
