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Harkin disagrees with plan to send National Guard troops to Mexican border

May 27, 2010 By

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin disagrees with President Obama’s plan to send 1,200 National Guard troops to the U.S. border with Mexico. Harkin, a Democrat, says he understands the concerns about immigration and border security and he’s supported previous efforts, but says he doesn’t see how the latest gesture will be of any help.

“The National Guard’s already stretched out,” Harkin says. “We already have 3,200 Iowa Guard troops being deployed to Afghanistan and quite frankly, 1,200 National Guard troops along the border with Mexico at a cost of a half-billion dollars, I just don’t think that’s going to be effective.” While the Guard troops will be tasked with helping to battle illegal immigration and drug smuggling, Harkin says the situation demands much more attention.

“We’ve gotta’ do two things,” Harkin says. “We’ve gotta’ do more security along the border but we also have to get immigration reform passed. I keep saying, we passed immigration reform in 2005 in the Senate, with Republican and Democratic support and the support of President Bush. I don’t know why we can’t get that job done again now.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. House could vote as soon as today (Wednesday) on legislation that would repeal what’s known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Repealing the 1993 law would allow gays to openly serve in the military. Harkin says a similar measure is before a Senate committee and he’s encouraged.

“I co-sponsored Senator Lieberman’s bill to overturn this,” Harkin says. “I think it’s discriminatory. Gay and lesbian individuals deserve the same employment rights as everyone else, including the right to be open about their lives while serving their country. I’m hopeful we can get this done this year.”

Harkin says the policy has resulted in thousands of men and women being kicked out of the service “when we need their skills and productivity.”

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

West Union man dies after motorcyle hits farm machinery

May 27, 2010 By
Sheriff's Department phot of accident scene in Fayette County.

Sheriff's Department photo of accident scene in Fayette County.

A man was killed and his wife critically injured when their motorcycle collided with a piece of farm machinery in northeast Iowa’s Fayette County. The crash was reported at 5 p.m. Wednesday on Highway 56 three miles southeast of West Union.

Authorities say 52-year-old Martin Johnson of West Union was driving a motorcycle and attempted to pass a pickup pulling a grain vac. The motorcycle hit the grain vac and Johnson and his wife were both thrown off the bike. They were taken to a hospital in West Union before being airlifted to a hospital in Waterloo.

Martin Johnson died at the hospital last night. His wife, 44-year-old Dawn Johnson, is reported in critical condition. They were not wearing helmets. The driver of the pickup, 29-year-old Andrew Meyer of West Union, was not injured.

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters

Republican candidates for 2nd district speak at forum

May 27, 2010 By

The four Republicans who hope to win the G.O.P.’s second congressional district nomination were at a forum just outside Mount Pleasant last night.

Rob Gettemy of Marion said his three rivals had all “lost big time” in the past and he is the only candidate who could offer the G.O.P. a “fresh face” to oppose Democratic Congressman Dave Loebsack in November. ”I think I contrast very well with Dave Loebsack. He’s taught government his whole life and now he’s in government. I’ve been an entrepreneur, worked for an entrepreneur and now I teach entrepreneurship at the University of Iowa,” Gettemy said.  “When Dave Loebsack sees a problem, he thinks government is the answer. When Rob Gettemy sees a problem, I see individual responsibility, entrepreneurship and job creation as the answer.”

Marianette Miller-Meeks, an eye doctor from Ottumwa, ran against Loebsack in 2008 and lost and she’s seeking a rematch in 2010.  She, too, accuses Loebsack of seeking big government solutions to every problem. ”I’d like less government where people are empowered to unleash their potential.  I would like everyone to have the opportunity that I had as a child with no money to achieve what many people would call the pinnacle of success,” Miller-Meeks said. “I want everyone to be small enough to succeed, not too big to fail.”

The other two candidates — Christopher Reed of Marion and Steve Rathje of Cedar Rapids — ran for the U.S. Senate in 2008. Reed won the G.O.P.”s nomination for the U.S. Senate, but he lost to Tom Harkin in the General Election.  Reed said he’s the congressional candidate who can get “crossover” votes from Independents and some Democrats who have “buyer’s remorse” when it comes to Loebsack.

“Because I am a small business owner, I know what it means to meet a payroll, create jobs and employ Iowans. Dave has no idea, so I’m going to get some of those Democrat votes,” Reed said.  “But the independents can look at me as someone who is going to stand up for their children and their grandchildren. It is high time that people go to Washington and understand that if we don’t take care of our children and get them out of debt, get the trouble that they’re going down right now, then it’s all over.” 

Rathje touts his business experience, too. ”For more than 20 years I’ve been working with companies all across the U.S. in effort to eliminate waste, control spending, improve bottom lines and bring these jobs back home to America,” Rathje said. “It’s going to be the blue-collar worker that elects the next congressman and I believe that my history resonates best with them.” Rathje runs two companies, International Procurement Systems and the Genesis Group. 

About 100 people attended last night’s forum for the four congressional candidates.

(Reporting by Theresa Rose, KILJ, Mt Pleasant)

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

Waterloo man shot by his sister

May 27, 2010 By

A Waterloo man is in the hospital and his sister is in jail following a shooting Wednesday afternoon. Waterloo police were called out about four p.m. to a residence on West Second Street, where they were flagged down by the victim — Warren Jefferson-Bey. He was apparently shot in the mouth by his sister, 48-year-old Anna Bunch.

Bey was taken to Covenant hospital in Waterloo, then transferred to Iowa City. Authorities say his wound is not life threatening. Police tracked bunch to her home several blocks away where a standoff began. Bunch surrendered about two hours later. Charges are still pending the outcome of the investigation.

By Roger King, KOEL, Oelwein

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Gingrich calls administration response to oil spill “appalling”

May 27, 2010 By

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says the Obama Administration’s response to the Gulf oil spill has been “appalling.” Gingrich was in Iowa Wednesday, serving as the keynoter at two Republican Party fundraisers. He held a news conference last night in Des Moines.

“The lack of initiative and the lack of using modern technology and the lack of aggressiveness, both by B.P. and by the United States government, is pretty appalling,” Gingrich said. According to Gingrich, Obama has failed to respond in a “sophisticated way” to the oil spill.

“This is five weeks into this and the president’s had time to go raise money. He’s had time to go campaign. He’s had time to do a wide range of things,” Gingrich said, “except worry about the largest single environmental problem in the United States.” Gingrich is credited with coming up with the “Contract with America” which was revealed just before the 1994 election and helped Gingrich and his fellow Republicans regain control of the U.S. House.

Gingrich said Republicans need to focus on winning this year’s elections, but during yesterday’s news conference, Gingrich hinted that he and his wife are giving serious thought to a “Gingrich for President” campaign for 2012.

“Callista and I will decide in February or March of next year,” Gingrich said. “Obviously, since she went to Luther College in Decorah, she is reasonable familiar with Iowa and she likes being in Iowa and it’s very possible that she’ll spend a lot of time in Iowa.” Both political parties have indicated Iowa’s Caucuses will be the kick-off event of the 2012 presidential race.

Filed Under: Campaign Countdown, Fires/Accidents/Disasters, Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

National Veterans Golden Age Games underway in Des Moines

May 27, 2010 By

Veterans from 41 states are in the Des Moines area the next four days to compete in the National Veterans Golden Age Games. Event director Dewayne Vaughan says it’s an annual competition. Vaughan says it’s an “adaptive sporting event for veterans ages 55 and up.” He says they will have a little over 800 veterans competing, which will be a record for the fifth straight year in a row.

Vaughan says the veterans compete against each other in a variety of events. Vaughan says they have 14 different events from checkers and dominoes, to swimming, cycling, horseshoes, shuffleboard, 10-meter air rifle, shot put, discus, table tennis, golf. Vaughan says the purpose is to get the veterans to stay active.

Vaughan says keeping the veterans active extends their lives, as the physical training to prepare keeps their minds and bodies active and helps them live longer. He says they have several veterans participating that are over 90, with one that is 99 and one that is 98. Vaughan says some of the participants in the games in Iowa will move on to another competition.

He says they are competing for gold, silver and bronze medals and this year those who finish first, second or third, qualify in some sports to move on to the national senior games next year in Houston, Texas.

The opening ceremony for the National Veterans Golden Age Games was last night (Wednesday) at Veterans Auditorium in Des Moines. The events are taking place at various sites throughout the Des Moines metro area, including Hoover and Southeast Polk High schools. For more information, go on-line to: www.veteransgoldenagegames.va.gov.

Filed Under: Military, Recreation & Entertainment

Iowa Ag Secretary to tour Gulf of Mexico

May 27, 2010 By

A group of Iowa farmers and ag leaders leave for Mississippi today to study efforts to curb the effects of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. The so-called dead zone is believed to be the result of chemicals that washed off farm fields across the Midwest. Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey is leading the delegation and says they’re touring conservation sites to learn more about hypoxia.

“What we’re doing, what they’re doing, what the impact of water quality is as far as the nitrogen and phosphorus going down the Mississippi River,” Northey says. “We’re taking a group of farmers down there to talk to some of their farmers and actually get out into the Gulf as well.”

This trip has been in the planning stages for some time, long before the recent oil rig explosion and spill in the Gulf. Northey says he’s not sure how the B-P disaster will impact the Iowa group’s fact-finding mission. “The plan was to see hypoxic areas in the Gulf,” Northey says. “We’ll see whether we see that or we’ll see oil or what. Then also, bringing some of those folks up to Iowa to show them what we’re doing on water quality wetlands and other water quality techniques back here.”

Northey says the goal of the Farmer to Farmer Exchange is to share information and promote conservation practices that help address hypoxia in the Gulf. The Iowa delegation will be in Mississippi through Sunday. A group of Mississippi farmers and ag leaders will visit Iowa in July.

By Dan Skelton, KICD, Spencer

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