Essential Estrogen

There's always a bit of jostling when a member of a political party decides to enter into a primary contest against an incumbent, but the race in Iowa's 3rd District only began a few weeks ago and candidates are already exchanging blows.

On Tuesday, challenger Ed Fallon pledged to support the winning 3rd District candidate following the Democratic primary. He also went one step further by issuing a press release and challenging incumbent Leonard Boswell to make a similar pledge.

"Fallon believes it's crucial to have a strong united Democratic Party behind the June 3 nominee," read the press release. The release also indicated that Fallon has "a long history of commitment to working hard for Democrats and will continue his efforts to build a Democratic Party more in sync with its historic populist tradition." Highlighted in the notice to the press were Fallon's support of Sen. John Kerry and Congressman Dennis Kucinich during the 2004 presidential campaign, his support of Gov. Chet Culver following his own unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in 2006, and his work in 2007 on behalf of numerous Democratic candidates.

Notably absent were Fallon's well-known actions during the 2000 presidential contest, a sin of omission quickly highlighted by the Boswell's campaign.

"Leonard Boswell has always had a solid history of supporting Democrats and does not believe his history and record within the party is the one in question," said JoDee Winterhof, senior adviser to the Boswell for Congress campaign. "Ed Fallon publicly supported Ralph Nader and we know who our president has been for the last seven years in part because of Ralph Nader."

In October of 2000, Fallon, a Democratic member of the Iowa Legislature at the time, was quoted by the New York Times as saying the presidential choice offered by the two major political parties was "between George W. Bush and a Democrat who is to the right of Bill Clinton."

As a result of his support for Nader, Fallon was ousted from his seat on the Polk County Democratic Central Committee. Later, in 2002, Fallon refused to sign a pledge stating he would support Democrats who won primaries in the county. He went on record, comparing the Polk County Democratic Party's loyalty pledge -- a document quite similar to the one he asked Boswell to sign -- to those used by the Nazi Party, the Soviets and the British during the American Revolution.

"I'm looking forward to a spirited race during the next few months," Fallon wrote in his letter that urged Boswell to sign the loyalty pledge.

When the state's newest task force on nursing meets for the first time today, the vast majority of those in the room will be female. Women currently hold 26 seats on the 30-member commission.

While the percentage may seem high, only about 6 percent of all nurses nationally are male. Iowa's percentage of male nurses ranks below the national average. Call it gender stereotyping with an unusual twist. Also call it something the commission, charged with addressing the many challenges facing Iowa's nurses, may very well discuss in the coming weeks.

The commission will be chaired by Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, a former nurse, and is scheduled to provide recommendations in early March. In addition to discussing the obvious gender bias currently in the profession, the commission will also tackle such challenges as low wages and an overall declining workforce.

"As a former nurse, I know the difficulties that direct care workers face," Judge said. "I am looking forward to working with my fellow task force members from across the state, and providing a report that outlines the problem and presents some short term steps and also long term solutions for some of the challenges our nurses currently face."

The commission, something Gov. Chet Culver called for in his Condition of the State Address in mid-January, is comprised of 22 organizational representatives, four state legislators and four gubernatorial appointees.

Members of the new task force and their affiliations are:

• Jennifer Steenblock of Des Moines, Department of Human Services
• Michelle Ficken of Independence, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
• Lorinda Inman of Des Moines, Nursing Examiners Board
• Cindy Baddeloo of Des Moines, Iowa Health Care Association
• Rachel Setz of Ames, Nursing Student Association
• Aaron Pierson of Urbandale, recent graduate of a four-year program
• Sara Swisher of Iowa City, Service Employees International Union
• Cheryl Jones of Bloomfield, Iowa Board of Public Health
• Connie Boyd of Fort Dodge, Iowa Community Colleges
• Julie McMahon of Des Moines, Iowa Department of Public Health
• Laura Malone of Des Moines, Iowa Hospital Association
• Ginny Wangerin of Des Moines, Iowa Nursing Association
• Barb Decker of Des Moines, Iowa Private Colleges
• Rita Franz of Iowa City, University of Iowa College of Nursing
• Beverly Zylstra of Des Moines, Department of Inspections and Appeals
• Di Findley of Peosta, direct care worker
• Dr. Brian Mehlhaus of Boone, Iowa Academy of Family Physicians
• Heidi Goodman of West Des Moines, Iowa Medical Association
• Kim Cisna of Ankeny, Iowa School Nurse Association
• Mary O'Brien of Tiffin, Iowa Association of Nurse Anesthetists
• Linda McCabe of Burlington, Iowa Association of Nurse Practitioners
• Mary Ann Osborn of Cedar Rapids, gubernatorial appointee
• Sheryl Barnes of Des Moines, gubernatorial appointee
• Teri Murphy of Dubuque, gubernatorial appointee
• Michele Kelly of Spencer, gubernatorial appointee
• Mary Mascher of Iowa City, Iowa House of Representatives
• Linda Upmeyer of Garner, Iowa House of Representatives
• Amanda Ragan of Mason City, Iowa Senate
• James Seymour of Woodbine, Iowa Senate

One slot on the commission, reserved for a recent graduate of a two-year program, remains vacant. The commission will meet for the first time today at 9 a.m. at the State Capitol. Comments from the public will be taken between 12:30 and 1 p.m.

One of Iowa's congressmen is continuing to raise eyebrows in Washington. Bruce Braley, a Democrat elected in 2006 to represent the 1st District, was recently named as one of three chairpersons to lead the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red to Blue Program for the 2008 cycle.

Braley will co-chair the program with Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Arthur Davis of Alabama. The appointment marks only the second time a freshman member of Congress has been invited to serve on the board. Schultz, who was elected to Congress in 2004, was the first freshman member to serve in this capacity.

"Congressman Braley will serve as a mentor to the many Democratic candidates nationwide who are running for Congress to change the direction of our country," said Carrie James, Northeast Regional Press Secretary for the DCCC. "As a former member of Red to Blue, he brings firsthand knowledge that will serve our candidates well this cycle."

Chairman Chris Van Hollen selected Braley because he is a "well-respected leader" in the freshman class who has "proved he knows how to win tough elections" and will "be a helpful resource" to Democratic challengers.

"I think the fact that Congressman Braley was named co-chair of the Red to Blue Program is a reflection of his growing reputation among his colleagues in Congress as an effective legislator and campaigner, especially given that he's the only freshman congressman named to a leadership position at the DCCC," said Jeff Giertz, spokesman for Braley. "Congressman Braley bring experience in close, tough races and brings a familiarity with the Midwest. There are a considerable number of open seats and top races here in the Midwest, and Mr. Braley's understanding of Midwestern politics could be of particular benefit to these candidates."

The Red to Blue Program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, grassroots and strategic support. The effort helped raise over $22.6 million for 56 Democratic candidates last cycle.

The first slate of Red to Blue open seat and special election candidates were recently announced by the DCCC. The targeted candidates are seeking to represent a total of 11 congressional districts located in New Jersey, Ohio, California, Illinois, New York, Wyoming, Indiana and Louisiana.

Sandwiched between two of Iowa's more rural counties, the Louisa-Muscatine Community School District and its centralized campus, nuzzling Highway 61 and currently barren crop fields, may not seem like the type of educational facility that would gain international notice for technological advances. Looks, however, can be deceiving.

Next week, when elementary students in the district sit down to take the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, some will have the added assistance of an Apple iPod at their side. The event will be a technological breakthrough in standardized testing that will likely produce ripple effects throughout the state and nation.

The district's iPod Project began in 2005 when the district's technology team, facing a very basic problem, came up with a very innovative solution. Special-education students, mainstreamed into traditional classrooms, needed help taking tests. Often, the students were being pulled from their classrooms to have tests read to them or entire classes were being forced to work at a slower pace as teachers read questions aloud. While brainstorming possible technology projects for upcoming grants on a conference call, Scott Grimes, the elementary school principal at the time, recalled hearing about a new media player from Apple that could handle video. The team came up with the idea of recording test questions for playback on the device, allowing the district's special-education students to remain in the classroom while continuing to work at their own pace.

"At that time, the idea was more centered around using a laptop for access for students and communications with parents," said Grimes, who now serves as superintendent of schools. "But as we started talking about the idea, it just didn't gel. We also felt it wouldn't be adequate for the state grant -- that it wasn't far enough out-of-the-box."

Escaping the Box

Grimes said that when the idea of using the iPods to assist the special-education students was formed, the entire group had an "ah-ha" moment. Although other school districts around the nation had dabbled with using iPods for language fluency purposes and for students learning English as a second language, the idea of using them as assistive technology for special-education students was new.

The district initially purchased two iPods for a pilot project while the grant was submitted to the Iowa Department of Education. Unfortunately, the state agency declined grant money for the project.

"We were told at that time that the project wasn't innovative enough," said Andy Crozier, elementary technology instructor. "We were shocked by the response. No one had ever done this before. It was a new idea on how to use technology in education and it was very practical."

Because the pilot project had been such a great success, the district's board of education appropriated $10,000 from general funds for the purchase of 32 iPods and other needed items (devoted laptop, software, USB ports, headphones, etc.) to set the project in motion. The district began by serving special-education students in third through sixth grades.

"If we can keep the students in their classrooms with their peers -- whether test scores shoot up or stay the same -- the iPod Project is being effective," Crozier explained.

Providing students with what they need to reach their personal potential while within a core classroom environment, said Grimes, has always been the focus of the program. The added bonus, which hasn't gone unnoticed as students have progressed from grade to grade within the district, has been an increase in self-esteem and self-confidence.

"The students' confidence levels have definitely gone up," he said. "They don't feel as isolated. They don't feel like they're different. A lot of the feedback we've received is from people who have already graduated, who went through school as a special-education student. They are very supportive and express how they wish they would have had a similar option when they were in school."

Taking the Next Step

Grimes says he is asked frequently how he anticipates test scores, especially those from the ITBS, to change now that the students have more self-confidence and are able to work more independently.

"In my mind, it's not about raising the test scores," he said. "I mean, yes, we hope that's going to happen because we want to use tools that enhance students' lives so they can make larger gains and they can hopefully get the skills they need so they no longer require special-ed services. But the ultimate goal is to provide students a less restrictive environment.

"Right now, we are going to have 35 students take [the ITBS] independently. That's really what all the other students have been doing. They sit at their desk and they take the test. The special-education students have never had opportunity to do it that way. This will be the first time that they do."

Although the district is contacted weekly by educational institutions throughout the nation and overseas that want to learn more about the iPod Project and the district has been featured on the Apple website, the ITBS testing has brought even more excitement and scrutiny to the project. Grimes said he initially contacted the University of Iowa's College of Education to assure them that the district was not currently using the iPods for standardized testing.

"There were some who thought we were," he said. "Of course, that wasn't the case, because you can't do that without special permission."

It wasn't until after David Frisbie, director of the Iowa Statewide Testing Program, visited the district and learned more about the program that Grimes, Crozier and special education teacher Michelle Ryan were given permission to allow the school's special-education students to use the iPods during the test.

"The students were engaged in the testing process, and they seemed comfortable using the iPod and headphones for this purpose," Frisbie wrote in his approval letter. "Using this approach will allow for a more standard administration of the tests and will allow students who work at different rates to complete the test without being hurried." Frisbie added that he hoped the work being done by Louisa-Muscatine would benefit other school districts.

The district has since worked with Frisbie and his office to ensure the existing high standards of security for the test have been maintained while the information is prepared for upload to the iPods.

While the primary focus of the iPod Project has been and continues to be with the special-education students, the district has found opportunities for broader use of the technology -- an option made possible when the board of education elected to fund the project with money not specifically earmarked for special-education. A video shown to a class of 20 or more students, for instance, can be uploaded onto the iPods so that each student in the class can have his or her own unit and work at his or her own pace.

"We're always looking for new ideas," Crozier said. "There's no one use for any single piece of technology we have in our district. If there is multiple uses, and if it is beneficial to our students, we'll use it."

Funding for many domestic programs is on the chopping block as President George W. Bush's 2009 federal budget proposes increased military spending and permanent status for earlier tax cuts. The budgetary cuts take aim at Child Care and Development Block Grants, Community Development Block Grants, Improving Teacher Quality State Grants, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance, Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and the Social Services Block Grants.

Congressman Dave Loebsack, a Democrat representing Iowa's 2nd District, announced his disapproval this morning at Bush's attempt to slash funding for Iowa's law enforcement and drug prevention efforts in the recently released fiscal year 2009 budget. Included in the $3.1 trillion budget was a severe cut in Edwards Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funding and the complete elimination of Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) funding.

"The President's proposed cuts in law enforcement funding are simply not acceptable; they will decimate Iowa's local law enforcement and halt our state's drug prevention efforts," Loebsack said. "To ensure the safety of our communities, we must given local law enforcement every tool necessary to protect our families. Instead the president is cutting the very funding our state relies upon to protect our neighborhoods, families and children."

The funding allows law enforcement and local drug task forces to locate and close meth labs, take drug dealers off the streets and help prosecute those charged. The proposed 2009 federal budget eliminates all formula funding for the grants, and replaces it with $200 million in the form of competitive grants. This funding level, said Loebsack, is $174 million below the needed level to maintain services at the 2008 level, which was also a decrease from previous years. He added that Iowa stands to lose $1.6 million in law enforcement funds, resulting in the loss of 39 police officers across the state.

COPS, a component of the Department of Justice, advances the practice of community policing as an effective way to improve public safety. The grants are awarded to local law enforcement agencies to "hire and train community policing professionals, acquire and deploy cutting-edge crime-fighting technologies, and develop and test innovative policing strategies." In the 2008 budget, Loebsack secured $423,000 in COPS funding for Henry, Lee, Linn and Wapello counties. All such funding has been eliminated from the proposed 2009 budget.

If the proposed budget stands, Iowa's law enforcement won't be the only organization facing difficult choices. The budget, according to analysis done by the Massachusetts-based National Priorities Project, slashes $386,000 in Child Care and Development Block Grants, nearly $10.5 million in Community Development Block Grants, over $1 million in Improving Teacher Quality State Grants, nearly $6 million in the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, over $2 million from Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, and $5.3 million from Social Services Block Grant. And those are only the cuts that will have a direct impact on Iowa. Overall, the proposed budget cuts discretionary domestic programs not related to security by $2.4 billion.

In other funding, the White House proposes $70 billion in war-related spending -- on top of the $102.4 billion the administration continues to pursue for 2008. Thus far, the Iraq ware has cost taxpayers $522 billion.

The non-war military budget is also slated for a 5 percent increase from 2008, reaching $541 billion. This includes funding for nuclear weapons under the Department of Energy budget.

Finally, the budget request makes permanent the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003. According to the Center on Budget Policy Priorities, the wealthiest 1 percent would receive 31 percent of the windfall over the next 10 years, the top 20 percent would receive 74 percent, and those in the lowest 60 percent of households would receive 12 percent.

The University of Northern Iowa V-Day Committee is seeking pieces of artwork relating to women's empowerment, gender equality and prevention of violence against women. The pieces will be auctioned off during V-Week with profits going to the V-Day Program and its beneficiary, Violence Prevention Services.

The program, along with Violence Prevention Services, is working to end violence against women of all ages and create connections between men and women to advocate that violence against women isn't just a women's issue.

The auction will be held on Friday, Feb. 22, during the V-Day performance of the Vagina Monologues in the Bertha Martin Theatre on campus. The performance, written by Eve Ensler, compiles real women's stories of intimacy, vulnerability and sexual self-discovery. Ensler premiered her work in a solo performance of the monologues in 1997.

All artwork for the auction must be submitted to Jessica Lieb, project coordinator, by Tuesday, Feb. 15. All genres are accepted. For more information, contact Lieb at (563) 580-3422.

Google and Twitter have partnered to provide this map of real time Super Tuesday commentary and reactions throughout the world. Enjoy!

A statewide smoking ban was approved Tuesday by the Iowa House Commerce Committee. The bill, managed by Rep. Tyler Olson of Cedar Rapids, was approved with two additional exemptions -- casinos and federally chartered veterans organization that are closed to the public.

"Secondhand smoke contains 60 chemicals that cause cancer, asthma and other respiratory diseases," said Olson, a Democrat. "There is no risk-free secondhand smoke exposure for Iowans or workers. This creation of smoke-free places will protect Iowans in 99 percent of public places and workplaces, including bars and restaurants."

The bill, House Study Bill 537, creates smoke-free areas in public places such as workplaces, outdoor sports arenas, stadiums, bars and restaurants, public transit stations and within 50 feet of school grounds. Private residences are not required to be smoke-free.

"Food service workers have a 50 percent greater chance of dying from lung cancer than the general population," said Rep. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines and chairwoman of the House Commerce Committee. "This is about protecting the health of Iowans visiting public places and workers who often don't have a choice where to work."

The bill was approved on a bi-partisan 16 to 6 vote and now goes to the House floor for consideration.

The Iowa Legislature has begun what will prove to be a very exciting year for health care reform in the state. This Tuesday legislators presented a health care bill that would bring universal coverage to Iowa's approximately 45,000 uninsured children.

This would be accomplished by expanding already existing programs to afford covering 25,000 more eligible kids, and providing subsidies to cover a remaining 19,000 in private plans.

This goal is to be reached within three years, but in order for it to reach the Governor's desk it will need legislative support. SEIU and Iowa for Health Care are setting out to assure this support by holding its 5th Annual Lobby Day at the Capitol on February 14th. Here our Union Members and Health Care Voters will be urging state legislators to support this landmark bill and stand up for the children of this state that go everyday without the access to health care they need and deserve.

In 2007, the U.S. Congress failed to override Bush's veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP, or HAWK-I as it's known in Iowa). This is just further proof that the people of this county cannot rely on the current administration to reform our broken health care system. If Iowa wants to see a positive future for its children, it must act on this bill. For just one child to not have access to a doctor when s/he is sick is too many, and the longer we wait, the worse it's going to get.

Beyond this necessary health care bill, SEIU and Iowa for Health Care will also lobbying for nurse-friendly legislation.

Currently, many nurses in Iowa have no protection from employer retaliation when they speak out against actions or conditions in the workplace that are unsafe or illegal. Nurses should not be punished for advocating in the best interest of their patients, this is why we'll be pushing for a Whistleblower Protection Bill that has been introduced by Rep. Mary Mascher.

Another major issue facing this state is nurse wages, where we rank 50th in the nation. Ranking last in nurse pay is unacceptable and action much be taken immediately to bring these valued bedside workers up to a competitive average wage. Governor Culver vowed to push for legislation to boost these wages in his Condition of the State address, after SEIU expressed its concern for this issue. We can except a bill to be presented by March 1st.

So, with our help, 2008 should turn out to be the year of health care reform, and the year of the nurse for the state of Iowa. And, like everything in politics, there is power in numbers. So if you'd be interested in helping make 2008 a landmark year for these issues by joining our Lobby Day, please give us a call at 319.338.0353, or email us at iowaforhealthcare@gmail.com.

Sarah Swisher is a Registered Nurse, Political Director of SEIU Local 199, Director of Iowa for Health Care, and currently sits as a member on Iowa's Nursing Taskforce and Legislative Commission on Affordable Health Care for Small Businesses and Families, working to bring much needed health care reform to the state of Iowa.

An Ames man was arrested today and will face charges of possession and receipt of child pornography.

Karl Ronald Kluender, 40, was taken into custody by officials with the U.S. Marshals' Service and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation after a federal indictment was issued against him. The indictment, obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa, resulted from a join investigation of the IDCI, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the 2nd Judicial District for the Iowa Department of Corrections.

Pornographic images of children were located on computers owned by Kluender, who was on probation for an April 2006 conviction of indecent contact with a child. The images were discovered by a probation officer as part of a routine home check on June 8, 2007. No information has been provided regarding the time span between discovery of the images and today's arrest.

Kluender was arrested at 509 Main St. in Ames late this morning and transported to Des Moines. He is scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate this afternoon.

When it comes to making family planning services available and accessible to low-income women, Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa has a question for Iowa officials and taxpayers: "Do you want to pay $1 now or $4 later?"

Iowa has roughly 100,000 low-income women -- 12.3 percent of all women of childbearing age -- who need, but are not receiving, publicly assisted family planning services. The lack of access has been costly to Iowa, a state where half of all pregnancies are unintended. Planned Parenthood is advocating for the development of a state fund that would be used in conjunction with Medicaid, the Medicaid Waiver, Title 10 and other federal funding streams to provide low-income women with the birth control they need.

Kyle Carlson, staff attorney for PPGI, says that creation of the fund is the agency's No. 1 legislative priority.

"Iowa ranks 39th in terms of state assistance and 48th in terms of access to birth control for low-income women," he said. "As we've known for a while, that just isn't good enough."

The legislative priority received a boost at the beginning of the legislative session when Gov. Chet Culver tentatively earmarked $1 million for the fund. With legislators poised to tighten the state's belt, the climate in Des Moines is not necessarily conducive to new appropriations.

"We looked at other states around us and found many of them already had these types of state funds," Carlson said. "The interesting thing about this program, and the programs we've modeled it after, is that they are showing a significant return on investment."

Neighboring Minnesota, according to Carlson, has determined that for every dollar placed in the family planning fund, the state experiences a $4 Medicaid cost savings. Similar programs have also met with success in Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois.

"Whenever I'm approached and told that the state has a really tight budget, I say that the governor has given us $1 million to help make this fund happen, and, if we're successful, we're going to get you four back," Carlson said. "It's actually a cost-saving mechanism for the state. It's just a question of whether we want to pay a $1 now or $4 later. We know we could significantly save a lot of Medicaid spending by putting this money into prevention."

The hope is that the family planning fund, once created, would be a pool that would grow over time. With the initial $1 million from the governor, an additional 2,500 Iowa women could be served -- $6 million could serve 15,000 women.

"Our goal is to progressively increase the fund over time as much as we can," Carlson said. "For now, however, getting the fund created is a step in the right direction."

Planned Parenthood is also advocating on behalf of a bill that would require health insurance companies to provide coverage for the human papilloma virus vaccine.

"We are incredibly optimistic about the HPV insurance language because it is moving in the House and it is moving fast," Carlson said. "It came through the House Human Resources Committee before Feb. 1. I believe that is very telling about the type of support behind this."

For the most part, insurance companies have remained neutral about the bill. Carlson says this stems from the fact that most insurers who cover vaccinations have already included the HPV vaccine.

"Really this is about the state making a long-term commitment to women," he said. "This is the state saying that it is going to prevent cervical cancer as a matter of policy rather than leaving it to market forces."

While other states have used such measures as one stop along a path to mandating the vaccine for girls attending school, Carlson said that is not the case in Iowa.

"I know that there are some other places where that approach has been taken," he said. "That has never been an approach for us."

A 31-year-old Iowa man was arrested in Minnesota tonight while his 6-day-old infant remained in an intensive care unit there.

On Tuesday, Nashua law enforcement officials were contacted by security personnel at Covenant Hospital in Waterloo. Police were advised that an infant suffering injuries consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome had been transferred there from Floyd County Memorial Hospital.

The infant, daughter of Randy Blanchard and Annette Eilderts of Nashua, was subsequently transferred to Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester, where she continues to be treated in the intensive care unit.

At roughly 5:30 p.m. Blanchard was arrested in Rochester. He was transported to the Olmstead County Sheriff's Office, pending his return to Iowa.

The Nashua Police Department was assisted by the Chickasaw County Sheriff's Office, the Chickasaw County Attorney and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Two of Iowa's federal lawmakers, working on opposite sides of the aisle and in different houses of Congress, are taking steps to help ensure stability in the federal tax policy affecting wind energy.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, authored the Wind Energy Incentives Act of 1993, which established the first wind energy production tax credit. Although the production tax credit has come under scrutiny by Congress, especially in recent years, the program has been reauthorized -- mostly in one or two year increments. It is currently funded through Dec. 31 and provides a 2 cent-per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) credit.

On Wednesday, a Senate vote on an amendment to the economic stimulus bill (HR 5140) that would have extended the production tax credit for an additional year fell one vote short of the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster. Both Grassley and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-IA, voted in favor of the extension. Before the final count was taken, Sen. Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, switched his vote from yea to nay in order to maintain the option of reintroducing the proposed legislation.

Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat representing Iowa's 1st District, is hoping his newly introduced bill will once again provide longterm stability for those considering an investment in wind as an alternative energy source.

"One of the things this bill will do is to provide a more predictable market for producers and investors who know that there's going to be a longer term tax credit," Braley said during a conference call on Thursday.

Braley's Clean Energy Investment Act of 2008 would extend the production tax credit for seven years, providing wind energy producers with the incentive to expand their operations.

"Iowa has the potential to be the wind energy capital of the Midwest," he said. "Wind energy is good for the economy, good for the environment and good for farmers. That's why we need to do more to encourage the development of Iowa's wind energy industry."

On Friday, after reading the press release on the proposed legislation, Grassley wrote a letter of appreciation and caution to Braley.

"I'm sending this letter today because of news reports this morning indicating that House leaders may schedule action -- both in committee and on the floor -- next week on an energy tax package," Grassley wrote. "I'd rather sit down and talk with you about these issues, but there's so little time that I wanted to get word to you and others in the Iowa delegation right away about what's at stake with this legislative debate for wind energy in particular."

Grassley, who also expressed his doubts that the production tax credit could be extended for more that a couple years due to "House rules requiring paygo," explained how he was able to diffuse an attempt last year to cap the wind energy credit and his concern that such a cap might be proposed again.

"I want to do everything possible to make sure another effort to cap this credit is stopped," he continued. "Although I believe our Senate action was heard loud and clear over in the House and another attempt to limit the wind energy production credit is unlikely, I urge you to make your views known direction to Ways and Means Committee Chairman [Chuck] Rangel. ... Wind energy tax policy has been one of my most successful initiatives, and I look forward to your continued support for proven tax policies that help to develop wind and other home-grown sources of alternative energy.

Iowa's wind energy production currently ranks fourth in the nation. According to the American Wind Energy Association, however, Iowa could product over 62,000 megawatts of wind-generated electricity. Currently the state is producing 1,273 megawatts -- or roughly enough to power 315,000 homes. Braley's bill does not call for an increase of the 2-cent credit, and, in a press release, Braley explained that since a wind farm produces electricity at about 7.6 cents per kWh, the existing credit "helps make wind competitive with convention production" such as coal plants, which produce at about 5.4 cents per kWh.

Hawkeye Labor Council, a coalition of unions in seven Iowa counties, has suspended both members of its two-person staff and requested a government investigation of its finances.

Alan Bernard, 54, has served as the council's executive director since 2005. Lin Chavez, 21, has been the council's administrative assistant. Both were suspended last Wednesday, but the action was not made public until a news release late Monday.

In the news release, Justin Shields, labor council president and Cedar Rapids city councilman, was portrayed as confronting Bernard about "payments made by the staff on behalf of the council" immediately prior to the suspensions. Shields, a man who many perceived as being a close friend as well as working colleague with Bernard, would not offer further comment except to say that the matter is under investigation.

The matter, like most internal union conflicts, might have remained out of the public eye, except that Bernard was refused a United Airlines commercial flight on Monday from Cedar Rapids to Chicago. Bernard, prior to his suspension, had been scheduled on the flight as a part of the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City corridor lobbying delegation to Washington, D.C. He was no longer part of the delegation and, amid concerns from members of Hawkeye Labor Council that he was leaving the area during an investigation, Bernard was asked by the airline to leave the plane. A United Airlines spokesperson has not yet responded to an information request as to the exact reason for Bernard being asked to leave the plane.

Bernard, who also owns and operates a political consulting firm, has not responded to a request for comment. Labor interests held a special meeting Monday night that was not open to the press. At this time, no actions or discussions from that meeting have been made public.

Hawkeye Labor Council, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, is the official organization of the national American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations of East Central Iowa. The council represents union employees in Linn, Iowa, Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Delaware and Jones counties.

Randy Lee Blanchard, originally charged with child endangerment in an alleged shaking incident involving his infant daughter, is now being charged with first degree murder.

The 12-day-old infant, Aliya Blanchard, died Monday while being treated in the intensive care unit of Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn. She was the child of Blanchard and Annette Eilderts, both residents of Nashua.

On Tuesday, Feb. 5, law enforcement responded to a call from Covenant Hospital in Waterloo. Hospital security reported that an infant had been transferred there from Floyd County Memorial Hospital with injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome. The infant was immediately transferred from Covenant to the medical facility in Rochester, where she remained until her death. An autopsy is being conducted today in Rochester.

Blanchard, 31, was arrested on Feb. 8 in Rochester and charged with felony child endangerment causing serious injury. He was transported to the Olmstead County Sheriff's Office. This morning, he was additionally charged with first degree murder. He waived extradition back to Iowa.

In the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, many of us missed an important event -- Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Luckily, every month is a good time to spread the word about preventing cancer.

We often hear about breast cancer and prostate cancer, but one type of cancer that deserves some extra attention is lung cancer. I know it’s hard to believe, but this deadly disease claims the lives of more people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, and kidney cancers and melanoma combined!

Despite these sobering statistics, we’ve seen some good news in preventing lung cancer. Rates have started to decline among men and are now holding steady in women. Yet, the death toll from lung cancer remains alarmingly high. In Iowa alone, 2,290 people were diagnosed with lung cancer last year. This terrible disease also claimed the lives of 1,750 Iowans during that same time period.

Lung cancer is hard to detect, so it’s important we do what we can to prevent the disease. Healthy lifestyles that include exercise and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables are a good start. The most important prevention tactic is avoiding tobacco. Tobacco use is related to 80 percent of lung cancer cases.

Please allow me to share a story about a staff member of Chuck’s. Mary Jo was on the staff in Washington, D.C. before moving back to Iowa with her husband and children. Less than a year ago, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Although her father smoked as she was growing up, Mary Jo herself never did. Now, you can often hear her telling others to think about what they might be doing to their kids. Mary Jo has been fighting this horrible disease everyday since her diagnosis. Her positive attitude and faith is an inspiration to Chuck and me and her many friends and family. We know she’s going to beat this.

Mary Jo is one of the 13 percent of all cases who has never smoked. It’s why all of us should learn to recognize the symptoms. A nagging cough was the only symptom she had. Be sure to see your doctor if you’ve got a persistent cough; constant chest pain; shortness of breath; recurring pneumonia or bronchitis; unusual or unexplained fatigue; swelling and redness of the neck or face; or loss of appetite and loss of weight.

She’s permitted me to tell her story because she understands how important it is to spread the word and to remain vigilant in the fight against cancer. We can all make a difference.

Carrie Giddins, recently departed Iowa Democratic Party communications director, was named the top political operative to watch by the Politico. Giddins, 33, left the IDP after a year stint there where she coordinated press coverage for the Iowa caucus -- an endeavor that had her working with over 3,000 journalists from around the globe. She is currently heading into the beltway, where she plans to start her own political communications consulting firm.

...Giddins' role in Iowa wasn't strictly limited to communications. She also helped manage the three major political events in Iowa — the Hall of Fame dinner, the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner and the caucuses — all of which attracted a huge media presence.

"The burden all falls on the state party for the caucus," Giddins said. "From creating primers on how to run a caucus, to raising the money to put them on, to picking the site, to reporting the numbers — ... that's all something that happens with the 20 people in the state party here."

She also worked closely alongside the Iowa Republican Party's communications director, Mary Tiffany, and they jointly organized the press filing center at the Polk County Convention Complex, where thousands of reporters filed live on caucus night.

"We became friends and were able to vent to each other about our own jobs even though politically our views were different," Tiffany said.

"I've never seen someone who's so on top of everything. She's extremely detail-oriented," said Tiffany. "It was never competitive. Reporters would call me to ask if a candidate had come to Iowa; I would always tell them to talk to Carrie."

And after the Iowa caucuses, when many of the weary staff members just wanted to take a break, Giddins hopped on a flight to Las Vegas, where she helped the Nevada Democratic Party organize its own caucuses, acting as an assistant to the state party's communications director. ...

In all, the Politico listed 50 people in various areas of politics that are up-and-coming.

A wood shop teacher at Pocahontas Area Community High School was transported Tuesday afternoon to Pocahontas Hospital before being airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics following burns he received from a flash fire on school property.

Emergency services were called to the high school at nearly 2 p.m. Tuesday, responding to reports of a fire and an injury. Students had all been evacuated when fire fighters arrived. Heavy smoke was coming from the technical education building on the east side of the school. According to fire investigators, a spark from a hammer being sanded ignited sawdust in the shop area. The fire traveled into the sawdust collection unit. When the unit was opened by teacher Brian Blomker, 60, a flash fire resulted in burns to his hands and arms.

The fire was contained to the wood shop and smoke damage was minimal. The school opened on time today. There is currently no additional information on the status of Blomker or the severity of his burns.