The heads of America’s top automakers are in Washington D.C. to appeal directly to members of Congress for a massive financial boost as their companies are hemorrhaging millions. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says from what he’s heard so far, the multimillionaire CEOs of Ford, G-M and Chrysler don’t have their attitudes in check. “What we need from them is a little bit of contrition on the part of management that they have not run the company well and have not been on top of things,” Grassley says. “I think they need to take the Lee Iacocca approach, take a one-dollar salary.” For example, Rick Wagoner, the head of G-M, got bonuses last year of nearly 16-million dollars. Grassley is doubtful the Detroit execs would consider hacking their own salaries to benefit their faltering companies. “I don’t see that they’re willing to do it, in fact, just the opposite,” Grassley says. “I’ve seen some of the CEOs say that if they expect us to change our job or resign or not run the company the way we have, then they don’t want the federal help.” Grassley says he heard an earful from Iowans about the 700-billion dollar Wall Street bailout package that passed congress a few weeks ago, and this automaker proposal is viewed as just more of the same. “I think people see the request for money from the bailout or other money for the Big Three as being further money down a rat hole.” While some in Congress propose a 25-billion dollar bailout for the automakers, Grassley says if they get it and don’t change their ways, “They’ll be back in March for another 50-billion.”
Senator says automakers need to be more contrite
Grassley says Vilsack could be Ag Secretary
Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack is reportedly on the short list of names being considered for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture by the incoming Obama administration. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican who calls himself a working family farmer, says Vilsack, a Democrat and a lawyer, would be fantastic in the top job at U.S.D.A. Grassley says, "He comes from a state that is the number-one agricultural state in the nation. He was the governor of that state for eight years and I think he’d be a high-class Secretary of Agriculture, understanding the problems of farming. What he didn’t understand, he’d be a quick learner of." Grassley says Vilsack would be a "good spokesman" for Iowa and for family farmers.
Cedar Rapids inspectors worried fix up projects are to big for residents
City inspectors in Cedar Rapids say they’re worried home owners are taking on flood fix-up projects that are too big to handle. Last weekend, city inspectors told a Cedar Rapids man he needed to hire professionals to fix his home, as the house had slipped off its foundation.
Ronald O’Brien says his home is structurally safe. City officials in Cedar Rapids say O’Brien didn’t have a permit to work on the foundation of his home. One of the concrete blocks he’d used to raise the home from the foundation apparently broke, the house slipped off the supports and twisted. Rich Goodwin of Goodwin House Movers say there are tricks to raising a house off its foundation.
"A lot of them can get by just fine and it’s just like these guys. They were getting by fine. Everything was going good," Goodwin says. "All’s it took was one little thing missed and then its all over with." O’Brien had been working on his home last week when the brick broke and the house shifted on its supports. On Saturday, the city served O’Brien with a notice that he had to hire a professional to do the job. Goodwin, the professional house mover, says the home should be realligned by tonight.
Simpson College professor wins Iowa History Prize
A Simpson College professor is the first winner of the Iowa History Prize and an award of 90-thousand dollars. The award was created by Humanities Iowa to honor an Iowa history scholar and promote general public conversation on Iowa History. The first winner, William Friedricks, says Simpson has projects underway to promote state history.
Friedricks says they have a speakers program underway at the school that he says have brought in big crowds. They are also providing grants to elementary schools through their Iowa history center to take students on Iowa oriented field trips. Friedricks says the school will also offer on-line courses in Iowa history.
Friedricks says he did a survey and found only seven of the colleges and universities in the state had Iowa history courses, so they will offer the courses on-line. Humanities Iowa says the prize is modeled on the Iowa Poet Laureate program. The award will be given out every two years.
Author includes Cedar Rapids among places not to visit over smell
Long before the floods hit this summer, Cedar Rapids had a reputation for strong odors. Now, a best selling author claims it stinks so bad that people should completely avoid the eastern Iowa city. Most residents of Cedar Rapids are honest when asked about why the city of five seasons is also referred to as the city of five smells.
"It stinks. That’s how I describe it. It smells," Rochelle Boyer said. Tia Sallis said, "You do have days where it’s horrible…just like ewww." "It’s the cost of doing business here," Tom Newport said. Becky Bateman said, "It’s an acquired smell." Locals may ignore or try to adjust to the odors from factories, but Peter Greenberg says the city stinks so bad – people should avoid going there. His new book, titled "Don’t Go There," includes an entire page about Cedar Rapids.
Greenberg describes the aroma as a mix of burnt corn, stale, rotting garbage and over-cooked oatmeal. "It’s true, sure, but it’s not that big of a deal," Newport said. Sallis said, "It’s not that bad, just bring your clothespin things."
Bateman said, "I think that’s a little harsh." Greenberg’s list of other stinky cities includes New Bern, North Carolina, Lewiston, Idaho and Williamsburg, Michigan.
Iowa basketball survives second half rally
The Iowa Hawkeyes survived a second half rally by Texas-San Antonio to post a 73-67 win last night in college basketball action in Iowa City. The Hawks controlled the opening half and led 42-28 at the break but the Roadrunners roared back in the second half and even held a brief two point lead late in the contest.
Iowa coach Todd Lickliter says that was a real key to the game when his team rallied. He says there were some great lessons to be learned from the game, and doing it with a win is better then taking a loss.
For the second straight game the Hawks shot better than 50 percent from the floor but they committed 19 turnovers. Lickliter says it’s a shame to shoot that well and then turn the ball over too much, as cutting the turnovers would made it a bigger margin.
Iowa is 2-0 and visits the Citadel on Thursday.
Greene is Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week
University of Iowa running back Shonn Greene has been named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. The announcement came Monday from Big Ten officials following Greene’s play in Iowa’s win over Purdue last Saturday.
Greene, a 5-11, 235-pound junior from Sicklerville, New Jersey broke the century mark for the 11th time in as many games with 211 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a 22-17 win over the Boilermakers.
The junior running back is the only player in the country to eclipse 100 rushing yards in every game this season.
