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Grassley not apprehensive about health care town hall meetings

August 11, 2009 By

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he has no apprehension whatsoever about launching into a string of town hall meetings in Iowa about health care. A town meeting hosted by Senator Tom Harkin on Saturday in Des Moines spiraled into a shouting match involving people on both sides of the issue.

Though uniformed police had to step into the center of Harkin’s meeting to keep the peace, Grassley says he’s doesn’t think people will get out of hand and start yelling at his gatherings.

"I’ve found the town meetings, whether people that agree or disagree with me come, as very, very important instruments in the process of representative government," Grassley says. "I’m one half of that process. My constituents are the other one half. We have to have dialogue if we’re going to have representative government."

Grassley, a Republican, says he makes every effort to stay in good communication with the Iowans who elected him, through telephone town meetings, regular mail and email, Twitter, YouTube, blogging and through hosting a weekly talk show that’s available over the Internet.

"Town meetings are maybe the original way and probably the best way because you’ve got a chance to look each other in the eye," Grassley says. "I welcome all points of view and particularly for people who feel that maybe I shouldn’t be involved in health care issues at all."

Grassley disagrees and says his participation in this debate is helping steer proceedings into more of a bi-partisan package, instead of letting the Democrats dominate all discussion.

Iowa Congressman Steve King says he believes the health care package may be killed when members of Congress return if enough people voice opinions against it during the recess town hall meetings. Grassley says King may have at least part of the equation right. Grassley says, "I think what he’s saying, that maybe under some circumstances it could die but I think that what it’s going to open up the possibility of doing things in a different way than Democrats want to do it in a partisan way."

Grassley’s scheduled to hold his first four town hall meetings tomorrow in Winterset, Afton, Panora and Adel.

The group, Iowans for Tax Relief, is urging people to speak out against the health care reform proposal at Grassley’s town hall meetings. The group’s news release says to: "respectfully and politely share your concerns about a single-payer health care system. Americans want health care reform to address problems; not reform which continues to erode away our freedoms." 

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

"Tea Party" organizers hope to send Grassley a message

August 11, 2009 By

One of the organizers of last spring’s "Tea Party" in Des Moines is encouraging like-minded Iowans to flood one of Senator Chuck Grassley’s "town hall meetings" tomorrow.

Ryan Rhodes of Clive, a Des Moines suburb, says they chose the meeting Grassley will hold in Adel as their target because it’s closest to Des Moines and it starts at 4:30 p.m., making it easier for people to leave work a bit early and still get to the event.

"Mostly we just want to be able to voice our opinions across the range of whatever somebody decides that they don’t like certain pieces of the health care bill, " Rhodes says. "…Some people are more fired up about one portion. Some people are more fired up about another, but overall there’s a consensus of a strong desire that this is not the way anyone wants to go."

Rhodes expects "hundreds" of people to show up in Adel and Rhodes hopes Grassley, a Republican, will see that as a signal he should quit working with Democrats on a bipartisan health care reform package.

"We want to remind him that he’s representing us and we don’t want (health care reform) and we’ll remember come November," Rhodes says.

Rhodes predicts Grassley will face a primary challenge from another Republican next June if Grassley doesn’t do an about face on health care.

"From what I’ve personally been hearing…(Grassley) would face a very, very strong primary if he were to vote (yes) on this health care legislation or basically reach a compromise that people would feel is a sell-out with the Democrats or…the couple of Democrats with an ‘R’ behind their name as well," Rhodes says.

Rhodes, by the way, cannot run for the U.S. Senate as he’s too young to be a senator. Rhodes, who has become the chief organizer of the Iowa Tea Party movement, has posted information online at www.desmoinesteaparty.com .

 

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

Lottery says $200,000 ticket sold in Council Bluffs unclaimed

August 11, 2009 By

Iowa Lottery officials say a Powerball ticket worth $200,000 was sold in Council Bluffs several months ago and the prize still has not been claimed. Mary Neubauer, vice president for external relations at the lottery, says people need to check their wallets and purses.

Neubauer says it’s pretty unusual for a ticket of this size to still be out there for so long. The drawing was on Saturday, May 9th, so it’s been more than three months and no one’s come forward. Lottery officials are in Council Bluffs today to call attention to the unclaimed ticket.

She says the winner may be aware they’re a winner and they’re just taking their time about coming in to claim it, but it’s more likely the person has the ticket sitting on a dresser or in their glove box. Neubauer urges people to look around and see if they may have a ticket they never had checked, as "they might be a big winner." She says the ticket holder came very close to winning the multi-million dollar jackpot.

The ticket matched the first five numbers but not the Powerball — 4, 15, 32, 49, 58 and Powerball 21. The $200,000 ticket was sold at Eddy’s convenience store at 3434 Nebraska Avenue in Council Bluffs. The Iowa Lottery is placing a banner at the store that will remind ticketholders to check their numbers. The winner does have a full year to come forward.

Filed Under: Recreation & Entertainment Tagged With:

Cedar Rapids police investigate dogs found dead at lake

August 11, 2009 By

Police in Cedar Rapids are investigating the discovery of several dead dogs. The animals were discovered last night at 6:30 along the shore of Cedar Lake. The carcasses of at least two older dogs and two puppies were wrapped in separate plastic bags. Police Sergeant Cristy Hamblin says the remains were taken to the city animal shelter for examination.

"Right now, we don’t even know how the dogs died, whether there was foul play involved or if they died of disease or natural causes" Hamblin said. At least one of the dogs was wearing a collar, but Hamblin wasn’t sure if there was a tag attached. She says police are hoping to find some piece of evidence that will lead them to the owners of the dogs.

"Right now, we don’t have any charges filed because we don’t know what the dogs died of," Hamblin said. Animal control officers said advanced decomposition made it impossible to immediately determine the dogs’ breed or gender, or even exactly how many dogs might be in the bags.

 

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Iowa National Guard to hold major training exercise

August 11, 2009 By

The Iowa Air National Guard is launching a major training exercise this week that’ll feature squadrons of F-16 fighter jets zooming overhead, practicing maneuvers they’ll use in Iraq and Afghanistan. Guard spokesman Major Mike Wunn says Operation Badger Denial will run about four weeks over several sections of the state.

"There’s going to be some aircraft operating in the Des Moines area as they move up to northwestern Iowa," Wunn says. "It’ll be in the area from Rockwell City around Carroll, Charter Oak and Ida Grove." He says those warplanes will be flying between ten-thousand and 18-thousand feet, but may also be as low as three-thousand feet. Some missions will involve the aircraft whooshing around as late as midnight and they may be dropping bright red flares.

Wunn says there will be a host of military vehicles on the ground, too, including convoys of tractor trailers, cargo trucks and humvees. The exercise is scheduled to run through September 4th. "What we want to do is make sure the public understands that this training is going on and that they have an idea of what it is," Wunn says.

"Really, it’s an opportunity for this unit, the 132nd Fighter Wing, to prepare for overseas missions as they come, and they’re able to do some of that training right here in Iowa and get ready for those overseas deployments." Wunn says the reconnaissance and combat support missions will involve sophisticated optics and communications equipment, including night vision equipment and laser technology.

He says the lasers won’t be detectable by the naked eye as they’re used more by the personnel in the aircraft to target things on the ground. He says KC-135 tanker aircraft from the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City will be operating in areas from Spencer to Estherville.

He says all aircraft and vehicles taking part in Badger Denial will be clearly marked, vehicles will have U.S. Government license plates and all personnel will be in uniform.

 

Filed Under: Military Tagged With:

DOT issues report on aviation impact

August 11, 2009 By

The state Department of Transportation’s Office of Aviation has released a report that shows the impact of aviation on Iowa. Tim McClung, the planning and outreach manager for the aviation office, says the impact totals $5.4-billion.

McClung says the direct and indirect impact on the state comes out to 47,000 jobs. Those jobs bring a $2.7-billion payroll. Most Iowan’s direct connection to aviation is through flying on a commercial airline for a vacation or business trip.

But McClug says the commercial service makes up a small portion of the industry. He says about 88% of the aviation activity is general aviation, or anything other than military and commercial aviation. General aviation consists of things like air cargo, medial flights, aerial spraying and personal airplane flights.

McClung says the report will help show the importance the aviation industry. McClug says it will be used at the state and federal level and he says there has been a request from people at the local level for the information. McClug says local governments will find the report a useful tool in analyzing their future decisions.

He says it helps decision makers and communities understand the impact of airports and aviation on the business community and the quality of life in the state. McClug says it will help in making investment decisions for airport facilities and the types of services offered at airports.

There are 101 publicly  owned general aviation airports and 14 privately owned general aviation airports in Iowa. There are 10 commercial airports in the state. The report says there are military units at four commercial airports and two general aviation airports that generate over 2,200 jobs and $278-million in economic impact.

You can see the entire report here .

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:

Storm forces state to close Pine Lake State Park

August 11, 2009 By

The storm that ripped through Hardin County Sunday has altered vacation plans for dozens of families. Large hail and strong winds damaged nearly every home and business in Eldora and has forced the closure of a popular state park just northeast of town.

Mick Klemesrud with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says it may take a couple of weeks to repair all the damage done at Pine Lake State Park . "Basically, when that storm came through, it just stripped the trees of bark, leaves and limbs," Klemesrud said.

"It caused a lot of damage to the campgrounds and to the units themselves. People that were in there, they’re trying to get (their recreational vehicles) out." The hail knocked out windows on all four of Pine Lake’s rental cabins and also punctured the ceilings of the park’s lodge and the home of the park manager.

Klemesrud says golf ball to baseball sized hail pounded the area for nearly 15 minutes. The Pine Lake campground has 130 sites and most of them were occupied at the time the storm hit. "Anybody that had a vehicle on the campground had their windows knocked out," Klemesrud said. "There’s glass everywhere."

The D.N.R. is contacting individuals who had reservations for Pine Lake campsites, cabins and the lodge through August 21st. Klemesrud says it’ll be a monumental task to get the park back open before that time. Staff from Big Creek, Brushy Creek, George Wyth and Union Grove State Parks are helping with the Pine Lake clean up.

 

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters, Recreation & Entertainment Tagged With:
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