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Braley to hold "invitation-only" discussion in Dubuque about energy policy

May 8, 2009 By

Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat from Waterloo, was among a group that went to the White House this week to meet with President Obama about energy policy.

Braley and the other Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee emerged with agreement on just one detail: giving rebates to Americans who trade in a "clunker" and buy a newer, more fuel-efficient car or truck. Braley, though, calls it a "productive" session.

"One of the things that was very important was that we get all of the Democrats on the committee in a room because, if you look at the members of the committee, we represent very diverse geographic areas," Braley says. "Some of the states don’t have the same potential for renewable energy growth that Iowa has demonstrated and so there’s obvious concerns…that need to be addressed."

The president is pushing Braley and the rest of the House Energy Committee to draft a comprehensive energy bill by Memorial Day. Braley says it’s important to give industries some "certainty" about what may be required to meet new carbon emission standards, for example.

"Many of the industries (that) are going to be impacted by this legislation are at the table and wanting to work with us," Braley says. "And that’s why we used the U.S. Climate Action Partnership which includes many of those industries, includling some in the first district like Alcoa and Deere & Company, who want to know the rules of the game so they can plan for their energy future going forward and be prepared to make the necessary investments."

According to Braley, it’s important to put "triggers" in the legislation so that American companies can remain competitive with those based in growing countries like India and China, although exactly what those triggers might be is unclear at this point.

Braley plans to host an invitation-only "workshop" in eatern Iowa today to discuss the "American Clean Energy and Security Act." It will be held this afternoon at 2:30 in Dubuque at the future home of an I.B.M. operation. The facility is being renovated with so-called "green building" techniques that improve energy usage and water conservation.

Filed Under: Agriculture, Business, Environment & Conservation, Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

Court costs could be going up

May 8, 2009 By

Iowans will be paying more for a divorce, the filing of a small claims case and other court proceedings if Governor Culver signs a bill into law. The measure, approved by lawmakers during the final hours of the legislative session, would increase the cost of filing a petition for divorce from $100 to $185.

Fees for a host of other common court activities would double. Iowa Bar Association President Dan Moore says the courts need the added funds to avoid more furlough days and restrictions on travel for judges. “No one likes to see an increase of any kind, but the thing that was hurting the citizens of Iowa the greatest was not having access to justice,” Moore said.

The fee increases would also put Iowa more in line with the court costs paid in neighboring states. Moore says, currently, Iowa’s filing fees are lower than those in Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The last increase in Iowa’s court costs was approved in 2002. The change in fees would likely raise between 15 and 16 million dollars a year.

Moore says the judicial branch would receive up to $12.5 million, while 2.1 million dollars would be directed at the drug courts. The remaining revenue would finance victims assistance grants and benefit public safety agencies. A spokesperson for Chet Culver says the governor is still reviewing the bill.

The final day he can sign the bill is May 26th. Moore, who works as a lawyer in Sioux City, says the increased fees would take effect immediately after the bill becomes law. 

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Politics & Government

Pella Tulip Festival underway

May 8, 2009 By

The Pella Tulip Festival got underway Thursday as the central Iowa town celebrates its Dutch heritage. Pella Historic Village director, Patsy Sadler, says the periodic rain and cool weather haven’t hurt the flowers — just the opposite has happened.

Sadler says it made the flowers grow as the tulips think it’s weather just like in Holland. Sadler says the tulips won’t disappoint.She says "they’re looking good."

When it comes to how many tulips are in bloom — Sadler doesn’t nail it down to a single number. Sadler says there’s in excess of 100,000 tulips, "tulips every place." Sadler expects more people to visit the festival this year as people look for shorter trips to save money.

Sadler says most of the events are free to the public. The festival runs through Saturday. You can find out a complete schedule of events here .

 

Filed Under: Recreation & Entertainment

AARP highlights plight of uninsured 50-to-64 year olds

May 8, 2009 By

The AARP is calling for special attention to the plight of Americans between the ages of 50 and 64, as a growing number of them are finding themselves among the ranks of the uninsured.

"This group is not always thought of as one of the main groups having problems with health coverage, but it is an important group because it’s grown so much with the aging of the Baby Boomers," says Geri Smolka of the AARP’s Public Policy Institute.

According to the AARP, 11 percent of Iowans who are over 50 but not yet 65 — and eligible for Medicare — are uninsured. That’s just over 63,000 middle-aged Iowans who are not covered by insurance for a variety of reasons.

AARP spokesman Jim Dau says too many people between the ages of 50 and 64 find themselves in a "no-man’s land" when it comes to getting health insurance as they’re turned down because of "preexisting conditions" or just because they’re in that age group.

"Frankly, this is the central reason why AARP was founded 50 years ago and here in 2009 we’re looking at what should be a once-in-every-other-generation opportunity to reform our health care system and we’re still struggling with the same problem," Dau says.

The AARP’s data suggests that since the year 2000, there’s been a 36 percent increase in the number of 50-to-64 year olds who are uninsured. David Certner of the AARP says state legislatures and congress should pass laws which would prohibit insurers from denying health insurance policies to consumers based on their age or health.

"It’s very difficult for these folks to find insurance," Certner says. "Right now, roughly one-in-four to one-in-five people can’t even get insurance in this marketplace. They are simply rejected out of hand for some preexisting condition, so getting coverage to the 50-to-64s is one of AARP’s critical asks in health care reform."

Just under 10 percent of Nebraskans who are between the ages of 50 and 64 are uninsured according to the AARP. The group’s statistics for other neighboring states indicate Kansas has the most uninsured 50-to-64 year olds, as 14 percent of Kansas residents in that age group do not have health insurance. In Illinois, nearly 12 percent of residents in that age group lack health coverage. In Missouri, 8.8 percent of 50-to-64 year olds are uninsured; 8.4 percent of South Dakotans in the 50-to-64-year-old category do not have health insurance.

Middle-aged residents in states to the north and northeast of Iowa, however, have a much better change of being covered. In Wisconsin, only 6.4 percent of 50-to-64 year olds lack health insurance and in Minnesota, it’s even lower at 5.8 percent.

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,
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