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Braley says outburst may help move healthcare reform ahead

September 10, 2009 By

Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat from Waterloo, says a South Carolina Republican’s outburst during the president’s speech last night is a turning point in the debate on health care. President Obama said extending coverage to all Americans who seek it would not mean insuring illegal immigrants and Congressman Joe Wilson reacted.

“The reforms I’m proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally,” Obama said. Wilson, sitting with his Republican colleagues on the House floor, yelled: “You lie!” The House erupted in boos.

After the speech Wilson was criticized by both Democrats and Republicans and he issued an apology last night. Braley says everyone in the House was “offended” by Wilson’s outburst.

“It was a complete breach of protocol on the House floor,” Braley says. “It is the type of action that members can be sanctioned for and I was quite pleased that Congressman Wilson promptly apologized for remarks which were completely inappropriate and quite frankly a symbol of what’s been wrong about the national debate on health care.”

Braley says Wilson’s public apology may help the uproar it caused to “simmer down,” but Braley says it may also be the catalyst for calmer consideration of the issue.

“I’m hoping that based on the president’s invitation last night and based on some of the negative reaction to this comment that it will encourage members of the House and the Senate who have been very outspoken in their opposition to the bill to come to the table with ideas that meet the president’s framework for meaningful health care reform,” Braley says.

In a written statement, Wilson offered his “sincere apologies to the president for (his) lack of civility.” Senator John McCain — President Obama’s Republican opponent in 2008 — called his fellow Republican’s conduct during the speech “totally disrespectful.”

As Radio Iowa reported earlier this morning, Congressman Steve King, a Republican from Kiron who is an outspoken critic of illegal immigration, said he sympathized with Wilson and agrees with Wilson that what the president said was not “the truth.”

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Gold Star Museum moving into new building

September 10, 2009 By
Outside of new Goldstar Museum building.

Outside of new Gold Star Museum building.

Things are on the move at the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum located at Camp Dodge in Johnston. Museum director, Russ Bierl, says they are moving hundreds of items from their old building to the newly constructed building. Bierl says all of the current exhibit items, the archives and the things they weren’t able to exhibit in the past are moving into the new 18,000 square foot exhibit hall that includes a library and education center.

This move is a lot different than one undertaken by the average Iowan who needs help with the fridge and couch. There’s some big items that’ll require heavy lifting. There’s a U-H-1 Huey helicopter, an A-H-1 Cobra helicopter from the Vietnam era, and they also have P-40 flying tiger airplane coming in, as well as an armored personnel carrier — an M-one-one-three, and a World War Two era halftrack. The heavy equipment was figured into the move when the building was designed.

Bierl says the girders in the roof were reinforced to be able to hold the weight of a hanging the helicopter and airplane, and the floor has been reinforced to handle the personnel carrier and halftrack. A periscope from a cold-war era submarine was recently installed in the building. Visitors will be able to look through the periscope out through the top of the building. Bierow says the exhibits will be closed awhile as they make the move.

Bierl says the weapons room exhibit room will open October 12th and they will have the library open. The lobby and reception area will also be open. He says it will take a number of months to get the large gallery open. Bierl says they hope to have a grand opening for the new addition on April 8, 2010. For more information or questions about the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum, or call 515-252-4531.

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One dead in Nevada house fire

September 10, 2009 By

Authorities in Nevada are investigating the cause of a house fire Wednesday afternoon that claimed the life of a woman. The body was found by firefighters when they entered the residence.

The name of the victim is not being released until family members are notified. One person at the home did escape the blaze. No dollar estimate is available into the damage behind yesterday’s fire.

This story contributed by Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters

Iowa Democrats, Republicans differ on impact of Obama speech

September 10, 2009 By

The three Iowa Democrats serving in the U.S. congress argue President Obama’s speech on health care reform refocused and move the debate forward, while Republicans in the state’s congressional delegation continue to express doubts. Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat from Waterloo, says Obama helped set the tone for the work that lies ahead.

“I think we’re turning the page from some of the rhetoric and misinformation of August to a focus on facts, a focus on the enormous challenge we face in providing access to affordable, quality health care to all Americans and the common goals that we share about how we’re going to go about doing that,” Braley says.

Braley is a member of a House committee that passed a health care reform plan earlier this summer and Braley says Obama’s speech helped set the agenda for the next stage of the debate. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Politics & Government
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