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Top Democrat says there is no deal with unions for concessions

December 4, 2009 By

The top Democrat in the Iowa House says there is no “secret deal” with the two state worker labor unions who’ve agreed to pay and benefit concessions. Some Republicans charge Democrats have promised to pass bills long-sought by union leaders. House Speaker Pat Murphy, a Democrat from Dubuque, says that’s not the case.

“There isn’t such an agreement,” Murphy says. “…There is no quid pro quo. There is not.” Murphy does praise the members of the two state worker unions who have accepted pay reductions in order to avoid layoffs. “They did the same thing that every family is doing in this state. They made tought decisions. I know a lot of them are not happy about it,” Murphy says.

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Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Harkin has “serious qualms” about Obama war plan

December 4, 2009 By

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin says he has “serious qualms” about President Obama’s latest war plans for Afghanistan. In a Tuesday night address, the president outlined how he’s ordering a new surge of 30,000 soldiers into Afghanistan, while setting a troop withdrawal date of mid-2011. Harkin, a Democrat, says he has “severe reservations” about our current military strategy and how it’s putting the nation’s finances into a tailspin.

“I’m just not totally convinced that the process we’re on right now is going to accomplish a great deal,” Harkin says. “I mean, I’m going to continue to have reservations about this. I still think it’s gotta’ be paid for. That was one thing that was left unsaid the other day.”

Harkin says he’s troubled by what he characterizes as “mixed signals” the Obama administration is sending on the war. Just this morning, Harkin says he was watching a televised interview with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as she discussed the date the president proposes U.S. troops pull out of Afghanistan.

“I got the clear impression that the July 2011 date is just sort of a ‘maybe’ kind of thing, we’ll reassess it as we go along,” Harkin says. “This could be an open-ended thing. I mean, how many years are we going to spend in Afghanistan?” Harkin served as a Navy jet pilot during the Vietnam era of the mid-1960s and says he’s concerned America’s current path is far too familiar.

“This has eerie echoes of things I’ve heard in the past,” Harkin says. “We just never came to grips with the facts of Vietnam and I don’t know if we’ve come to grips with the facts of Afghanistan either. I think we’re ignoring a lot of history.” Harkin says the president is also trying to ignore the tremendous costs of the conflicts.

“These wars are going to have to be paid for,” Harkin says. “We’re approaching almost a trillion dollars now in the cost of both the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, one trillion dollars, all basically paid or most of it paid for by deficits.” He says that’s “irresponsible” to continue piling billions of dollars in debt onto the backs of future generations.

Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson is proposing the selling of war bonds, harkening back to the World War Two era, while Wisconsin Representative David Obey has introduced a bill to create a “war surtax” on anyone earning at least $30,000 a year. Harkin says if our country is going to commit itself to the wars, it must also commit to a way to pay for them.

Filed Under: Military, Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Search underway for suspect in Dubuque police shooting

December 4, 2009 By

Police in Dubuque continue to search for a second suspect involved in a robbery and shooting of a police office Thursday. The incident was reported just before 1 p.m. at Knicker’s Saloon. A customer called 9-1-1 to report two men in ski masks, carry shotguns, were robbing the bar. Dubuque Assistant Police Chief Terry Tobin says Lieutenant Scott Baxter was the first officer on the scene.

“The officer parked his vehicle…and then approached the bar on foot. He observed the two suspects exiting the front door, both armed with long guns,” Tobin said. One of the suspects ran from the scene, while the other suspect exchanged gunfire with Baxter. Samantha Billmeyer lives near the bar.

“It sounded like big firecrackers…loud. I looked out the window because I thought there was a car accident or something and I saw sheriff’s vehicles pulling up,” Billmeyer said. Baxter and one of the suspects were wounded. Lt. Baxter is listed good condition this morning (Friday).

“My understanding is he did receive some wounds to the leg, the torso, and also his hand and arm,” Tobin said. The unnamed suspect who was shot underwent surgery and remains hospitalized. A condition report was not available. Police are looking for the second suspect. He’s described as a 20-to-30 year old black male who was wearing dark jeans with stitching or a pattern on the pockets and white or light tennis shoes.

No employees or customers in Knickers were injured during the robbery. Police recovered some of the cash taken in the robbery from a car parked near the bar. Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the Dubuque Police Department at 563-589-4415.

Contributed by Claire Kellett, KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Christmas tree grower says economy hasn’t hurt sales

December 4, 2009 By
Iowa Christmas trees

Iowa Christmas trees

Economists predict people will scale back their spending this holiday season, but Iowa growers say people are still cutting down and not cutting out their Christmas trees. Jan Pacovsky is the executive director of the Iowa Christmas Tree Growers Association, and says so far the economy hasn’t seemed to impact those who like a real tree.

Pacovsky says live trees are one of those things that are a tradition and don’t seem to be impacted. Pacovsky says selecting a live tree is an experience the many families view as an important part of the holiday. Pacovsky says most of the Iowa growers are “chose and cut” family operations and they have a lot of families who bring their kids out and pick out their tree and cut it down and take it home.

She runs Pine Acres farm in New Hampton, and says locally grown trees give you the advantage of knowing where and when they were cut.

She says they don’t cut down trees until they are chosen, while she says trees on lots can be cut down in October and put in cold storage. Pacovsky says the trees on the lots can become dry much quicker if they are not properly taken care of.

Pacovsky says the trees that are on lots sometimes give local growers a bad reputation. She says people will not want a live tree because they are afraid they will start a fire. Pacovsky says if you take care of your tree, it will not start a fire. While the wet weather set back corn and bean farmers, Pacovsky says the trees did well in the weather. Twenty-seven growers recently donated 125 Iowa trees to be sent to soldiers in the “Trees for Troops” operation.

Filed Under: Agriculture, Business

Culver says budget process needs to be changed

December 4, 2009 By

Governor Chet Culver is hoping to get legislators to agree to revamp the way the state budget is developed. “The key is that we have to look at reforming the way that we put our budgets together,” Culver says. “And I’m really looking forward to talking with legislators about how we can make some of those changes.”

By law, Iowa’s governor is to submit a spending plan to legislators in January. That budget outline is based on an estimate of state tax revenue which comes from the three-member Revenue Estimating Conference meeting in December. However, legislators often wait ’til that three-member panel of experts meets again in March to start drafting a final version of the state budget.

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Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Cedar Rapids ready to install red light cameras

December 4, 2009 By

The city of Cedar Rapids is preparing to install video cameras that will take pictures of people running red lights or speeding. Sergeant Cory McGarvey says a police panel that included the city engineering department and state D.O.T. helped select the 10 locations for the cameras.

McGarvey says the placement is all based on accident data, and what they looked for were intersections with a high number of right angle crashes. He says the right angle crashes are what they are trying to prevent. The department will also use a patrol car that is fitted with a camera along with the stationary cameras.

He says when an officer has to stop a car and issue a ticket and then go back and get set up again, that all takes time. McGarvey says the photo car allows the officer to take pictures of violators and the pictures are then sent in and reviewed and then sent back to the department. McGarvey says the camera company will review all pictures and then send the possible violations to the police department. Officers will then decide if they will write a ticket.

McGarvey says each violation is approved by a police officer and is not decided by a civilian sitting at a computer. McGarvey says they will be letting motorists know the locations of the cameras and the photo car because the goal is to prevent accidents. He says the hope is the cameras work as a deterrent, then don’t have to issue any tickets.

“I hope we have no business, I hope we don’t get a single one,” McGarvey says. The cameras are getting ready to be installed and McGarvey says there will be a 30-day notification period for the public before the police department begins using the system. Two of the cameras will be set up on the northbound and southbound lanes of I-380 and will take pictures of speeding cars only. The other cameras will be on city streets.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

DNR program seeks to increase recycling, reduce waste

December 4, 2009 By

A new pilot program launched by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is designed to help the environment and expand services to the public. The D.N.R’s Leslie Goldsmith says six solid waste service agencies from around the state will participate in the year long project. She says the goal is to “raise the bar” in terms of recycling services and waste and greenhouse gas reduction.

“Presently, we have a comprehensive planning system where once every three years they turn in a report card (explaining) what they’ve been doing for the environment. This will require annual reports and they’ll have to demonstrate they’re improving,” Goldsmith said. The Environmental Management System (EMS) designation pilot program stems from 2008 legislation that set aside roughly $600,000. Goldsmith says each participating agency will come up with their own ideas to improve their programs. The plans could involve reducing water runoff from landfills or expanding yard waste recycling efforts.

“They might have a composting facility, so they might start doing food composting at their site,” Goldsmith said. There are 44 solid waste planning agencies in the state. Goldsmith is hoping all of them can get involved in the effort once the pilot project is complete next October.

“We’re hoping that sooner or later, nearly all of the 44 solid waste planning areas jump on board,” Goldsmith said. The six areas selected to participate in the EMS pilot program include; Cass County Environmental Control Agency, Cedar Rapids-Linn County Landfill Service Area, Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency, Metro Waste Authority Landfill Service Area in Perry, Rathbun Area Solid Waste Management Commission and Waste Commission of Scott County.

See more information on the program here.

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation Tagged With:
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