Iowa Congressman Leonard Boswell is calling for a new tax break to help cover the cost of health insurance. Boswell, a democrat, is proposing a two -thousand dollar health-insurance tax deduction for any family or individual filing a tax return. Businesses, meanwhile, would get a two-thousand dollar tax credit for each employee covered by health insurance. Boswell says he hears from people “constantly” about concerns over healthcare coverage or the lack of it, saying more than 40-million nationwide are uninsured and many more “kinda under-insured” because their deductibles are already maxed out. Boswell presented his proposal during a stop at Carter printing in Des Moines. Congressman Boswell says owner Ron Hoyt has seen the cost of providing health insurance to his sixteen employees increase by 62-percent in the last four years. Boswell says it’s costing the boss 220-dollars a month for each worker, “hittin’ him really hard,” and he doesn’t want to lose workers who like working there and have been partners in his success. Boswell says the plan would let Hoyt deduct two-thousand dollars of the 20-thousand in income tax for each employee he insures. Boswell says providing the business a tax credit will give them an incentive to keep covering their employees.It’ll be costly, he acknowledges, but says Polk County’s three major hospitals tell him it costs millions in taxpayer money to care for uninsured patients. Boswell says he won’t have a price tag for his bill until he introduces it to congress when they reconvene. His proposal does not cover the self-insured because they can already deduct the cost of their health insurance from their taxes. Boswell is running for a fifth term in Iowa’s third congressional district and faces a rematch with republican challenger Stan Thompson.
Red Cross says help needed in Floriday, but not people in person
A new tropical storm’s bearing down on Florida, showing signs of being worse than the hurricane that hit a couple weeks ago. Midwestern Red Cross spokesman Randy Jones says Iowans interested in helping can call a local Red Cross chapter, check a website, write a check…but should hold off on any ideas of heading down to try and offer a hand. He says they sometimes call that “the second disaster,” because relief workers aren’t prepared for it and have to work right now on evacuating millions of Floridians from targeted areas. Jones says unexpected visitors are one of the biggest problems for disaster-relief workers. If they have to find safe housing for all the unplanned arrivals, it can “bottleneck” relief services. Jones adds that it’s not enough to just show up hoping you might be able to do something. Trained Red Cross workers have been in Florida for weeks helping with the aftermath of Hurricane Charlie, and new ones are being trained for Hurricane Frances’ arrival, readied to provide help in shelters and financial assistance. Jones says the nine-state Midwestern region is sending volunteers who’ll arrive trained specifically for this emergency. The Red Cross is gearing up for a response that exceeds anything they’ve done in the past, he says, since Frances is heading for an area hit hard by Hurricane Charlie just a few weeks ago. The Red Cross is advising Iowans who have loved ones in Florida to call them today, find out ahead of time what their plans are and where they’ll go to stay if they evacuate the area…pointing out it’s likely phone lines will be down and once the storm’s hit, they could be left to worry for days about what’s happened to their relatives.
People already lining up for flu shots
Some county health departments are seeing dramatic increases in the number of companies scheduling flu shot clinics for this fall. Kris Kusik, an occupational health nurse, says companies are planning ahead because so many of their employees got badly sick from the flu last winter. Kusik says a certain amount of doses were already reserved but her office has been able to increase its order, though that hadn’t been allowed in the past. Kusik says just about everyone could benefit from having a flu shot but some people in particular should always get them. High risk people include those with breathing problems, those with immune system deficiencies and the elderly. Kusik says the C-D-C predicts the peak time for companies to schedule flu shots is between mid-October and December.The Centers for Disease Control estimates ten to 20-percent of U.S. residents get the flu, and about 36-thousand Americans die each year from influenza complications.
Cedar Rapids kicks off Thursday football
The high school football weekend gets an early start tonight in Cedar Rapids where Xavier matches up with Kennedy. Xavier went 7-2 a year ago and qualified for the playoffs. They return many of the linemen, but lost their backfield. Kennedy is looking to rebound from a 4-5 season and bring back top rusher Curtis Meyer.
Meyer set to take the reins of ISU offense
Last year Bret Meyer was helping the Iowa State defense get ready for the season opener against U-N-I. This time the focus for Meyer is offense. The redshirt freshman will be the starting quarterback when the Cyclones and the Panthers open the season this Saturday in Ames. Last year he was impersonating the UNI quarterback to try and give his defense a look at what they bring to the table.Meyer says being prepared will help limit the anxiety of a season opener. He says the more you know of your offense the more relaxed you are. Meyer says he is ready for the season to start and feels confident about every aspect of the team.
Pakistani man sentenced for fraudulent marriage
A 24-year-old Pakistani man who’s been living in Waterloo has been sentenced for marriage fraud. Hamid Bashir was sentenced to time already served, which was 89 days in jail. He was also given two years of supervised release. Bashir was indicted in June on a charge of fraudulently entering into a marriage with a U-S citizen to obtain lawful immigration status. Bashir had worked in Waterloo for Mohammed Anwar, the owner of several convenience stores. Anwar was convicted in February for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and aiding and abetting Bashir’s fraudulent marriage. Anwar has not yet been sentenced. Bashir has been turned over to immigration officials to await deportation.
Old Thresher’s Reunion opens in Mount Pleasant
Iowans can learn about the state’s agricultural heritage at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, which opened this morning in the southeastern Iowa town of Mount Pleasant. Terry McWilliams is spokesman for the 54th annual event which he says features an unmatched collection of working farm implements from decades past. The show features steam engines, antique gas tractors, gas engines, cars and trucks, steam-powered trains, an electric trolley system and horse and buggy. One of the big draws is the namesake — steam-powered threshing machines that are still very much operable. McWilliams says it’s a place where the old folks gather to reminisce and where the young are educated. McWilliams says it’s important that this way of life is preserved for future generations. He says the ag heritage has change tremendously over the years and they want everyone to remember what it was like doing it the old fashioned way. The reunion runs daily through Labor Day. For more information, surf to “www.oldthreshers.com”.
