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Six GOP candidates court Iowa conservatives

June 30, 2007 By

During a weekend forum in Des Moines, six Republican presidential candidates courted Christian conservatives and those who advocate significant changes in the federal tax code.

The forum was co-sponsored by Iowans for Tax Relief and the Iowa Christian Alliance. Each candidate was given half an hour behind the microphone. They were asked to address issues like gay marriage and stem cell research and to outline their philosophies on taxes and spending.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee fully embraced the so-called "Fair Tax" which would be a national sales tax to replace the federal income tax. "Any one of us…would be far better for you and the wallets and the homes and families of America than any one of the Democrats that you might have to choose from," Huckabee told the crowd.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was the only one of the six GOP candidates to offer kind words about the current Republican president. "This president has done some great things. I know it’s very popular these days to criticize President Bush. Don’t forget, following 9/11, he has kept us safe and that’s a great accomplishment," Romney said, to applause from the audience. "He has appointed two great justices, Justice Alito and Justice Roberts, and they have kept us safe."

The candidates focused a portion of their remarks on immigration reform.

Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo  drew loud and prolonged applause his criticism of illegal immigration and he drew laughter with his poke at Democrat Hillary Clinton’s famous husband. "With Bill Clinton already measuring the drapes in the White House, conservatives cannot afford to sit this one out," Tancredo said. "…The conservative movement is not supposed to choose a candidate, it’s supposed to produce a candidate."

Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson said a secure border between the U.S. and Mexico would be a top priority if he’s elected. "I will begin in the first day in office and will have that barrier completed within the first 100 days of my presidency," Thompson said.

California Congressman Duncan Hunter pledged to have a fence completed along the border within six months of taking office.

Each of the six GOP candidates issued a sort of "no new taxes" pledge, including Kansas Senator Sam Brownback. "No tax increases. I have always opposed raising taxes. I think we’re taxed to the max," Brownback said. "…We need to cut spending."

Texas Congressman Ron Paul, a Republican who is running for president, held a barbeque for supporters next door to the forum. Paul was not invited to speak at the Iowans for Tax Relief/Iowa Christian Alliance event.

Paul was nominated in 1988 as the Libertarian Party’s presidential candidate and he received just less than one-half-of-one percent of the vote.

To learn more about what the six candidates said at the forum, click on The Blog.

AUDIO: Henderson report (mp3 runs 2 min 18 sec)

Filed Under: Politics & Government

Romney responds to criticism of his Mormon faith & his treatment of family dog

June 30, 2007 By

A story about the Romney family’s pet Irish setter has dogged the campaign of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney over the past few days.

The Boston Globe reported that Romney strapped their family’s pet dog, Seamus, in a carrier atop a station wagon for a 12-hour family trip back in 1983. This weekend during a news conference in Iowa, Romney scoffed at those who’ve accused him of animal cruelty.

"Sometimes when the stories come out in the media they don’t quite get it accurate," Romney said. "The kennel that my family pet used to ride in is enclosed. It’s not an open air kennel. It’s enclosed and there are air vents, of course, at the back and my family pet used to climb up there and lie down on his own and we love our family pets, have always loved our family pets and have nothing but honor and pride in taking care of great dogs. We’ve had quite a few."

During a campaign appearance in Pella on Saturday, a woman in the crowd asked Romney if he would turn to the Bible or the Book of Mormon during times of crisis. Romney, who is Mormon, calls it a "fair question."

"Any voter that wants to ask their (question) on a topic is free to do so," Romney said during that news conference later in the afternoon. "I’m happy to respond as I think is best."

Romney oftentimes tells crowds that Republicans "share the same values, and that he considers the Bible to be the "word of God" and Jesus Christ his "savior."

Romney suggested on Saturday that he may decide to deliver an entire speech focused directly on questions about his Mormon faith.  "A couple of campaigns have raised this issue and that may lead me to give an address on it at some point, but I don’t have any current plan or a time table for that," Romney said.

During the 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy responded to critics of his Catholic faith by declaring that the pope would not tell him how to act as president. The head of the Mormon church holds the title of president of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

AUDIO: Henderson report (mp3 runs 48 sec)

Filed Under: Politics & Government

Increase in ticks leads to more illnesses

June 30, 2007 By

Health officials say its shaping up to be a good year for ticks — and a bad year for Iowans who get nibbled by them. Several cases of tick-related illnesses are already reported in the region this year. Veterinarian Dr. Annette Bradthauer, says besides being annoying pests, ticks also carry diseases.

Dr. Bradthauer says, "Ticks should be avoided because they are carriers of viral diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia." She says Iowans who are spending time outdoors, whether it’s camping, hiking or just mowing the lawn, need to take precautions to avoid tick bites.

Bradthauer says: "First of all, staying out of tick-infested areas. Secondly, wearing long pants and closed shoes. Also, using insect repellent." One of the most common tick-borne diseases is Lyme disease. Symptoms can include: a rash and flu-like symptoms like fatigue, muscle and joint pain, headache, fever, chills, swollen glands, sore throat and stiff neck.

Bradthauer says it’s a good idea to check yourself over carefully after being outside. She says, "Remember that some ticks are very, very small, about the side of a poppyseed. They should also check their pets to make sure the pets are not bringing ticks indoors." For more information, visit www.iowalymedisease.com .

Filed Under: Health & Medicine

Impact of more corn acres on price uncertain

June 30, 2007 By

The USDA report issued this week shows the number of corn acres planted nationally is up — including in Iowa, where a record 14-million acres has been planted. The increase corn acres are in response to increased prices and demand caused by ethanol use. Iowa Corn Promotions Board member, and corn farmer Darrel Alexander of Sidney, isn’t sure what impact the increase in corn acres will have on the price.

Alexander says he can’t answer that question, as last year he said he never thought corn would go over three-dollars a bushel. Alexander says he thinks corn with stay in the three to three-dollars-and 50 cents a bushel range.

Anamosa farmer Gary Edwards agrees. Edwards says the price may go down a little bit in the short term, but in the long term go back up to the three to three-dollars-and 50 cents a bushel range. He says they’re still going to need to build capacity as ethanol plants come on-line, and are not out of the woods for growing too much corn.

Alexander says ethanol isn’t the only factor driving demand. Alexander says he raises a lot of white corn, and there’s been an increased demand for it, so the fuel market isn’t the only driving force. And both say the export market remains strong too.

Filed Under: Agriculture Tagged With:

Iowa sees lower E-R wait times as more have own doctor

June 30, 2007 By

A national study released this week claims Iowa is the quickest place in the country to get emergency medical attention. The report from Press Ganey Associates says the average visit to an Iowa E-R lasts two hours, 18 minutes.

Scott McIntyre, with the Iowa Hospital Association, says if Iowans need medical attention, they usually see their own doctor. He says people in other states don’t always have their own doctor, so they just go to the E-R, "Most Iowans don’t use the E-R for routine care, they only use it in an emergency." McIntyre says Iowa also has a lot of small hospitals that just don’t see much emergency room traffic.

"We have a culture here, that we don’t turn people away," McIntyre says, "when people need care, they get it at these clinics and that keeps people out of the E-R." The study shows the longest average E-R visit, at four hours, 57 minutes, is in Arizona. Iowa has the shortest wait, followed by Nebraska, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wisconsin. 

Filed Under: Health & Medicine

New state law will require lead testing

June 30, 2007 By

Starting in the fall of 2008, kids enrolled in Iowa schools will have to show proof they’ve had a blood test to check for lead poisoning. A state law which goes into effect this Sunday sets out the new requirement. Rita Gergeley of the Iowa Department of Public Health is working on implementation of the law.

Gergeley says it’ll take a while for the agency to develop the rules for enforcing the new blood test requirement for Iowa six-year-olds, as well as a system for providing state funds to poor Iowa parents who can’t afford the tests for their kids.

"It’s a good idea in Iowa to test all children because we have a very high prevalence of older housing stock that is what causes lead poisoning in most children," Gergeley. "The prevalence of lead poisoning in the children that have been tested in Iowa is running at about 7 percent compared to the last national average of 1.6 percent."

The new law will require proof of one test of kids age six and under, but Gergeley urges parents to consider yearly testing. "We do recommend that children get tested yearly up to the age of six because their behavior, the season of the year, whether they move — those things can all affect whether or not they’re lead poisoned," Gergeley says. "If they were tested at one year in the middle of the winter in a new house when they weren’t very mobile, they could very easily be lead poisoned at the age of two under different conditions."

Gergeley cautions parents to consider not only their own home, but other places where their child spends time — like a day care or relative’s home — where there might be lead paint that could pose a hazard. Until 1978, lead paint was commonly used in the U.S. and the federal government estimates 38 million homes still contain some lead paint.

Children,  and adults, can get lead poisoning from other sources, too, like ceramics that contain lead paint and even dirt that’s been contaminated with lead. Young children under the age of six are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning because their brains are still forming. 

Filed Under: Education, Health & Medicine

All types of planes on display today at Des Moines airport

June 30, 2007 By

All sorts of airplanes, from decades-old bi-planes to modern fighter jets, are on display in central Iowa today, marking the 75th anniversary of Des Moines International Airport. Spokesman Roy Criss says dozens of vintage and historic aircraft will be lined up alongside sleek new turbojets.

Criss says the south cargo area will be covered with antique, military and modern aircraft, including the very first airplane that ever landed at Des Moines International in 1932 — a fully restored Waco bi-plane. He says the day’s events are -not- considered an air show, but there’ll be plenty of air traffic to watch.

Criss says the FAA won’t allow the airport to be shut down for a full airshow but the Iowa Air National Guard F-16s, based at the airport, are having an active training weekend, so they’ll be doing fly-bys, formation flying, touch and goes and more. He says the open house runs from 9 AM to 5 P.M. today only.

Criss calls the weekend the crowning jewel of the airport’s celebration for the year. It’s a “Fly Iowa” event which aims to educate the community and to promote the importance of aviation. For more details, visit “dsmairport.com”.

 

Filed Under: Recreation & Entertainment
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