September 2009 Archives

Mike Lillis of The Washington Independent filed this report from the late-night happenings of the Senate Finance Committee:

The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday night approved an amendment providing tens of millions of dollars to fund abstinence education programs for teens.

The proposal, offered by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), would provide $50 million per year through 2014 exclusively for abstinence education programs. The measure would effectively reinstate the controversial Title V program, which offered $50 million per year to states for abstinence education, but prohibited them from tapping the funds for other sex-ed subjects like contraception. The same prohibition would accompany the Hatch amendment. "Abstinence education works," the Utah Republican said...

I know a great many people are down on U.S. Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) for his boondoggle of potential health care reform legislation, as well as for the ignorant reasoning he expressed yesterday for not including a public option in his committee's bill. But more than anything, I believe, this report shows that he is significantly lacking in the leadership necessary to serve as chairman of this committee -- and perhaps any Senate committee.

The proposal's success caught Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) off guard. The Finance Chairman had offered an alternative to Hatch's proposal, which would provide funding to a broader swath of teen wellness programs, including those addressing contraception, HIV/AIDS, healthy relationships and financial literacy.

More government money has been spent on the cause of sexual abstinence in Texas than any other state, but it still has the third-highest teen birth rate in the country and the highest percentage of teen mothers giving birth more than once.

What else do you need to know? Abstinence-only sexual education has failed our young people.

The abstinence-only approach to sex education, which has cost U.S. taxpayers at least $1.3 billion since 1996, has fallen out of favor in many parts of the country. Half the states had withdrawn from Title V by the time it ended in June. In other recent developments:

• The American Medical Association adopted a report that found that sex education programs based on promoting abstinence produced "no delay of initiating sexual activity, no reduction in the number of sexual partners and no increase in abstinence." The AMA recommended schools use comprehensive sex education instead.
• A study released by Columbia University found that earlier progress in increasing contraceptive use among teens has stalled. Another troubling trend: The CDC reported that birth rates among adolescents ages 15-19 are continuing to increase after years of decline; so are rates of gonorrhea and syphilis infection.

You might think that between health care reform, banking regulation reform, possible cap-and-trade legislation and tweeting that U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley's dance card is filled. Well, think again.

A press release sent out tonight by his office provides the prepared text of a floor statement offered today in which Grassley takes on a Time Magazine cover article on sustainable agriculture and "cheap food." In the title of the speech Grassley gets to the heart of the matter, describing the article as "skewed."


"I rise today in response to Bryan Walsh's recent article published on August 31, 2009 in TIME Magazine titled 'The Real Cost of Cheap Food.' Unfortunately this is one of the most skewed and one sided articles I've ever had the opportunity to read, particularly in the main stream media. This report was far from objective journalism," reads the first paragraph of the prepared statement.

While I do not 100 percent agree with Grassley's assessment of Walsh's report, I do agree with quite a bit of it. There continues to be a disconnect between consumers and producers of food. That is, a lot of light has been shown on certain agricultural practices that seem unnecessarily cruel to those who don't understand why they are done. For instance, many people are upset that hogs are castrated. Those who are summarily against larger hog operations frequently cite the reason for this practice as a way to quell aggression. The fact is, however, that even "free range" hogs are castrated to prevent "boar taint," or an unpleasant taste that can develop in the meat.

Likewise, ringing of hogs -- placing metal rings in hog snouts to discourage rooting -- is a practice that often occurs with "free range" hogs as well as those in confinement facilities.

What we need is an honest and open conversation about agricultural practices and the hows and whys those practices were developed. It could be that society is willing to pay more for pork that they can verify is produced on a farm that does not practice ringing. It could be that they don't want to pay more. Until we have an honest conversation, however, we'll never know. 

Take the jump to read the full Grassley statement.

So, the announcement has been made: Vice Pres. Joe Biden is the keynote at Iowa's 2009 Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner.

Biden -- in fact, the entire Biden clan -- are not strangers to Iowans. When he was chosen by Pres. Barack Obama as a running mate, I put together a round-up of all of my Biden-related coverage.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have the Vice President back in Iowa," Michael Kiernan, chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party. "There is a great deal of admiration for Joe Biden among Iowa Democrats."

It is always worth noting that Biden has been, and continues to be, someone who fights for women's equality. He was instrumental in the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, and has always been ready to go to bat for working families. Too often his work in this area is over-shadowed by his foreign relations experience.

The Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner, which is typically the party's largest fundraising event, is slated for Nov. 21 in Des Moines. More information, including ticket ordering, is available on the state party's Web site.

I have been forwarded the text of a letter that was allegedly sent from the Rockford, Illinois legal department to the head of the Catholic League. The letter, which I will print in full once I have verified that it is legitimate, states that staff from the city has been in contact with the Northwest Illinois Women's Center building operator and that he has agreed to remove the cartoon depiction some found offensive.

For those who have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, please read my earlier post.

Christian Fong, who I believe is the youngest of the Republican hopefuls set for a 2010 gubernatorial primary, issued a press release about an upcoming 17-city tour. While that in and of itself is typical campaign fare, a note at the bottom of the announcement was unusual.

Fong will be making himself available to members of the press prior to each event, but will not be allowing press to attend the actual events.

Todd Dorman, columnist for The Gazette, asked Fong about the decision.

Fong says it's not for his protection, but for his audience.

"If people in the room know that press is sitting there, does it inhibit them from sharing freely with me because they're afraid they're going to get quoted in their local paper?" Fong said.

As Dorman notes, and I feel compelled to reiterate, "Uhmmm... This is Iowa, the first-in-the-nation caucus state."

If there is one thing residents of Iowa (and New Hampshire) are well versed in doing it is attending campaign events, cutting through the noise and developing an opinion based on the policy expressed. For the record, we are also not so dense as to believe that with cameras and tape recorders whirling in the background that what we say is private. Further, if we are compelled to ask a private question of a candidate, we know how to do that as well.

When I first read the sentence, I thought it might be a publicity stunt of sorts. You know, an effort to build a momentum around the tour by painting it with a shroud of mystery. But in this day and age of "citizen journalists," building publicity by way of a traditional press ban has inherent risks. Journalists with ethics, having been informed that they are not welcome, will not attend. They will find other, more productive ways to spend their time -- probably with another statewide candidate that feels he/she can benefit from the message distribution services the press provides.

Those who do attend Fong's closed door events will be the types of reporters who never intended to file a balanced report. Video they shoot or recordings they make will be spliced, information removed from context, and their "reporting" will be the resulting press coverage from the event(s). And, without other, more balanced news reports available, the pieces distributed by the unethical will be afforded more value than their actual worth. 

So, upon a second look, I really have no idea why the Fong campaign has chosen this route. It places a wedge between a little-known candidate for statewide office and the members of the press most likely to provide him a fair public viewing. It alerts residents that the campaign, and possibly the Governor's Office (if he should win it), has already settled on a less-than-transparent mode of operation.

Here's your Sunday earworm: Iowa's own Leslie Hall & LY's, "How We Go Out, Version 2"

The glittery treasure from Ames was also recently featured on CNN and in Salon.

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A piece ran last Saturday in the the WaPo that described how the Obama administration is seeking to provide more transparency in U.S. citizen surveillance programs. Several things of interest in this one.

U.S. citizens need to know that that it does not matter if they as individuals have consented to government monitoring. If they write to any government employee, and that e-mail is opened on a government computer, one-party consent (that given by the employee) is enough for monitoring of the message.

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Blog for Iowa announced that the AFL-CIO convention in Pittsburgh elected its first woman (and youngest ever) secretary-treasurer. Congratulations to Liz Shuler, who was elected by unanimous consent.

Congratulations also to Arlene Holt-Baker, who was elected as the organization's second female executive vice president.

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The Gazette has a list of the individuals who filed for seats on the Cedar Rapids City Council. The most important part of the report is in paragraph four:

Kathy Potts, a candidate in the five-candidate field in council District 3 that includes two current council members, is the only woman among the 17 candidates.

Well, on the bright side, I guess Cedar Rapids women won't have to divide their support between a bunch of candidates. Congratulations, Kathy, and best wishes for the election!

In the suburb of Marion, there are three council seats available -- At Large, Ward 2 and Ward 4 -- and not a single woman among the candidates.

If you want to check out the rest of Linn County, the Auditor's Office has a complete list of seats up for election and candidates that have filed.  

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Gazette columnist Todd Dorman has a list of the flood consultants hired by Cedar Rapids -- something he requested about a month ago. Dorman notes that the city narrowly defined the word consultant and did not include "contractors, monitors and inspectors" on the list he was provided. Nonetheless, it is quite interesting.

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The Safeguard Iowa Partnership has a new Web site that the organization believes will provide easier access to disaster-related information and news.

The group is a coalition of the state's business and government leaders, working together to "prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from catastrophic events in Iowa." It was created in 2007 by the Iowa Business Council and representatives from state agencies.

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Lawyers USA has a post about converting tweets into clients that features Des Moines intellectual property attorney Brett Trout (@bretttrout), who has pulled six clients from twitter in the past 18 months.

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The fact that Iowans should not be sending photos, even when asked to do so, of an erect penis made USA Today. 

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The Mason City Globe Gazette ran an article on how state budget cuts are incentives for local 4-H groups to "urbanize."

The head of the Catholic League has sent a letter to city officials in Rockford, Illinois concerning signs and pictures that hang (or have hung) in the windows of the Northern Illinois Women's Center, a physician-owned freestanding outpatient family planning clinic that provides a multitude of services including abortion. (It is also worth noting here that the Center is the only provider of abortions in northwestern Illinois.)

If you have seen the photos I took of the demonstrations outside of Dr. Carhart's clinic in Nebraska, or probably any other photos of anti-abortion demonstrators, then you no doubt already have a hint of the hypocrisy at work. 

The letter sent by Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, takes specific issue with a graphic of a long-haired man extending his middle finger. Under the drawing the caption reads: "Even Jesus Hates You." In the letter Donohue complains that "this graphic is currently being displayed in the window of the Center, in full view of adults and children; it has also been displayed, at various times, in the past." 

Earlier this month, in Rockford, anti-abortion activists were interviewed by the local paper and defended their right to use and display graphic images -- even ones that others found offensive. (The local paper also reports that area Catholics were given pre-printed postcards to send to federal lawmakers to urge them to vote against the Freedom of Choice Act, but that's probably best left to another post.) In 2008, anti-abortion activists in Rockford enlisted the help of the Thomas More Society to file a lawsuit against the city and clinic officials to call attention to alleged violations of the right of free speech.

Obviously, anti-abortion activists believe that the right to free speech -- or even to place potentially offensive graphics in front of children -- is only appropriate when they exercise it. 

Anti-abortion activists are encouraging the like-minded to attend the Rockford City Council Meeting on Monday, Sept. 28, when one of their own will discuss the signs in the windows of The Center. (The notice to attend includes information that those coming to the meeting should bring no signs larger than a 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper!)

Never mind that it is probably the first time anyone on FOX News has acknowledged that women pay out the "wazoo" for feminine hygiene products. Too bad they didn't also note that such expenditures don't come with medical reimbursement.

And, since I can't describe this mental leap-frog any better than Jodi at RH Reality Check, I'm going to link directly to her commentary.

...In it's ongoing "fact-based" coverage (as in, "we make up the facts and we report 'em"), Fox News has managed to equate the following: tampons, taxes, the deficit and....freedom.

Now, in my many years experience with tampons, I have never seen any interest by any major network in the fact that women pay out-of-pocket for tampons, sanitary pads and other related items every month, without, mind you, any reimbursement from any health insurance plan.  We're just supposed to deal with menstruation for roughly 35 to 40 years, and in between get pregnant and birth the babies, without complaining about our periods, our pregnancies or our uncovered maternity care...

More thoughts on the impending tamponated tea parties at Feminist Peace Network and The Political Carnival. Did I mention there was video?

I wish I had the full video from the live stream of this event, but I've only been able to locate a small segment.

Earlier today in Washington, D.C. Michelle Obama spoke publicly about how the nation's current health care insurance system holds women and families back.

"There's a reason why we've invited the leaders not only from family advocacy groups and health care advocacy groups, but for so many organization that have been fighting for decades for empowerment for women," Michelle Obama said. "And that's because when it comes to health care, as the Secretary said, as well all know, women play a unique and increasingly significant role in our families. We know the pain, because we are usually the ones dealing with it."

In short, the First Lady presented one of the most strong cases I've ever heard as to why reform is critical, but especially critical for women.

"If we want to achieve true equality for women, if that is our goal; if we want to ensure that women have opportunities that they deserve, if that is our goal; if we want women to be able to care for their families and pursue things that they could never imagine, then we have to reform the system," she said. "We have to reform the system. The status quo is unacceptable. It is holding women and families back, and we know it."

The full text of Michelle Obama's remarks is included following the jump.

A Des Moines man phoned emergency services at 5:15 a.m. this morning to let them know that he had accidentally beaten his girlfriend to death.

KCCI reporter Keri Gavin said police have told her the body of a woman was found at the scene in the back of a pickup truck. The truck is parked near the pay phone and crime scene tape is surrounding the vehicle.

Police said a man is in custody for questioning.

In addition to the first scene, where the body was found, near SW 9th St. and McKinley Ave. in Des Moines, police have set up a secondary crime scene within the Fort Des Moines trailer park, Army Post Rd and SW 7th St.

No charges have been filed yet in the case.

A total of 180 Iowans have died as result of domestic abuse since 1995.

The Iowa Democratic Party has taken issue with an advertisement being circulated by the Draft Terry Branstad Committee, and have released the following point-by-point critique:

Two of the best known (as well as most well preserved) examples of Southern American quilting were created by Harriet Powers, an African American woman who was born in October 1837 and lived a portion of her life as a Georgia slave.

One, an 1886 Bible quilt, is kept by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The second pictorial quilt, although not currently on display, is a part of the collection at the Museum of Fine Art, Boston.

Because of Powers' life in slavery as well as her detailed depictions on her quilts, most historians believed she was illiterate. Prior to this year, the only known descriptions relating to her two well-known quilts were written by another person, apparently writing as Powers described with her voice the stories told on the quilt squares.

Because of the diligent historical forensics of author Kyra Hicks, who is an accomplished quilter of her own right, we now know for certain that Powers was able to both read and write. In addition, it is also known that at least two other quilts were produced by the artist -- one of which depicted The Last Supper.

The newly discovered information about Powers was courtesy of a letter she wrote in 1896 to Lorene Curtis Diver, a resident of Keokuk, Iowa. In the letter Powers wrote about how she learned to read as a child, and about her quilts. Because of Hicks' research, it is now believed that Powers produced at least five quilts.

Hicks' book -- This I Accomplish: Harriet Powers' Bible Quilt and Other Pieces -- published in July and is available at Prairie Lights Books in Iowa City as well as other independent booksellers.

Dr. Norman Borlaug, a son of immigrants who fled to the U.S. when faced with famine in Norway and a man who taught people throughout the world how to increase crop production, died late Saturday night in Texas from complications of cancer. The Iowa native, who is credited as being the father of the Green Revolution, was 95.

Borlaug was raised in Iowa, on a family farm near Cresco, and later attended the University of Minnesota. He was an avid wrestler and incredible agricultural scientist.

The Nobel committee honored Borlaug in 1970 for his contributions to high-yield crop varieties (primarily wheat and rice) and his contributions to developing countries. He is believed to have averted a global famine following WWII by helping create and promote high-yield wheat in India and Pakistan -- his process for development being later applied to rice and other crops throughout the Middle East and Asia. Because of his stewardship and guidance, food production more than doubled between 1960 and 1990, a remarkable accomplishment that is credited with saving more than one billion lives.

It was through Dr. Borlaug's vision that The World Food Prize was developed and founded to honor those who improve the quality, quantity or availability of food. The organization's site offers a very detailed biography, written by Kenneth Quinn, president of The World Food Prize Foundation.

Several of Iowa's political leaders, many of whom have worked to honor Borlaug and his work, offered their statements and comments on the doctor's passing. All are located below the fold.

Dolores Huerta, president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation and lifetime champion for social justice, will speak Monday, Sept. 14, in Des Moines at Trinity United Methodist Church. The event is free and open to the public.

Huerta was born in New Mexico in 1930 and grew up in a California, where she learned early in life about the plights of farmworkers.

In 1960 she co-founded the Agricultural Workers Association, and, in 1962, she co-founded the National Farm Workers Association with Cesar Chavez. It was mostly due to this organization's hard work that farmworkers in California were successfully able to enter into collective bargaining for the first time.

An incredibly politically active person, Huerta has been arrested more than 20 times for non-violent civil disobedience. During one such protest in San Francisco in 1988 -- she was protesting the platform of George H.W. Bush -- she was physically assaulted and brutally beaten by members of the local police department. She won a civil lawsuit associated with the incident, and then used proceeds from her court victory to further push for farmworkers' rights.

She has been the recipient of numerous honors and her foundation -- which was formed with proceeds from an award -- has a mission of developing community leaders who advocate for the working poor, women and children.

The Des Moines event is organized by I'M for Iowa and the Iowa chapter of Marriage Equality USA, and is sponsored by numerous organizations. Huerta will provide a Latina perspective on civil-marriage equality.

The church is located at 1548 8th St. in Des Moines and the event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

The Iowa Democratic Party plans to offer a live internet video stream of U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin's annual steak fry fundraiser that is scheduled for this Sunday in Indianola. Keynote speaker at the event will be the junior U.S. Senator from Minnesota, Al Franken.

"We are excited to launch a new way of including our supporters who can't be a part of an important event like the Harkin Steak Fry," said Michael Kiernan, chairman of the IDP. "There is a lot of interest in Sen. Franken, and I think Iowa Democrats are looking forward to a chance to get to know this new neighbor-state senator better."

The event, which is set to take place this year at the Warren County Fairgrounds, typically draws Democrats from across the state. It will mark Franken's first cross into Iowa since he was elected to the U.S. Senate.

"This year's event has an added sense of celebration because of Sen. Harkin's appointment to be chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee this week," Kiernan added.

Portions of the event, including Franken's speech, will be broadcast over the internet via the Iowa Democratic Party's Web site. The video stream is being offered in conjunction with a live-blogging feature that will provide updates and summaries in real time.

The 2007 Harkin Steak Fry featured nearly every Democratic presidential candidate. (See photo below.) The year before, then-Sen. Barack Obama made his first trip into Iowa in order to provide the keynote address at the event.

U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, a Democrat who has represented Iowa since the mid-1970s, made the following statement on the floor of the U.S. Senate this morning in relation to U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat who lost his battle with cancer a few weeks ago:

"Mr. President, I look around this chamber, and I see men and women of remarkable talents and abilities. But I also have a strong sense -we all do - that there is a tremendous void in our midst. A very special Senator, a member who played a unique role within this body for nearly a half century, is no longer with us.

"We have heard many glowing and richly earned tributes to Senator Ted Kennedy over the last couple weeks. He was not only the most accomplished and effective Senator of the last 50 years, he was truly one of the towering figures in the entire history of the United States Senate.

"Yet for all his accomplishments, for all the historic bills that he authored and shepherded into law, for all the titanic battles that he fought, I will remember Ted Kennedy, first and foremost, as a good and descent human being. I will remember his extraordinary generosity, his courage, his passion, his capacity for friendship and caring.

"Of course, Ted came from a remarkable family, with so many tough breaks, so many triumphs, so many contributions to our nation, both in war and peace.

"Ted and his siblings were born to great wealth. They could have lived lives of luxury and leisure. But they chose, instead, to devote themselves to public service. They devoted themselves to making the world a better place for others, especially those in the shadows of life.

"With the death of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics, on August 11, and the death of Ted Kennedy on August 25, people with disabilities in this country lost two great champions. Their sister, Rosemary, lived 86 years with a severe intellectual disability. The entire Kennedy family is well acquainted with the joys and struggles of those with disabilities.

"In 1975, Senator Kennedy helped to pass what is now called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In 1978, he passed legislation expanding the jurisdiction of the Civil Rights Commission to protect people from discrimination on the basis of disability. In 1980, he introduced the Civil Rights for Institutionalized Persons Act, protecting the rights of people in government institutions, including the elderly, and people with intellectual and mental disabilities. And, 18 years ago, he was one of my most important partners in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"I'll never forget that, when I first came to the Senate after the 1984 election, Ted wanted me on his education and health committee. I told him that I'd be honored to serve on the committee, and that I would like to be assigned to chair the disability subcommittee. He readily agreed. And I have always appreciated this as an act of great generosity on his part. He already had an extensive record on disability issues, yet he let me take the lead.

"Likewise, back in 1990, as chair of the HELP Committee, he could have insisted on managing the Americans with Disabilities Act. But he let me do it, despite the fact that I was still a freshman Senator. He was an indispensible partner in my effort to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act in this body.

"Ted always insisted that our focus should be not on disability but on ability, and that people with disabilities must be fully included in our American family. Americans with disabilities had no better friend, no tougher fighter, no more relentless champion than Senator Ted Kennedy.

"Yesterday, I accepted the chairmanship of the Senate HELP Committee. My aim in that capacity is to carry on the legacy of Senator Ted Kennedy. He dedicated his life to making our economy works for all Americans, to securing a quality education for every child, and, of course, to securing quality, affordable health care for every citizen - as a right not a privilege.

"We have heard many eloquent tributes to Senator Kennedy. But the tribute that would matter most to him would be for his colleagues to come together, on a bipartisan basis, to pass a strong comprehensive health reform bill this year.

"So we say farewell to our beloved colleague. He is no longer with us, but his work continues and, as he said, 'the cause endures.'

"May Ted Kennedy rest in peace. But may we not rest until we have completed the cause of his life - the cause he fought for until his last breath: ensuring quality, affordable health care for every American."

Michael Duvall, a conservative, "family-values" Republican who serves in the California legislature, didn't have enough sense to stop talking about his sexual exploits when he was sitting in chambers in front of a live microphone.

An added bonus prize to beleaguered California taxpapers? The two women he is discussing are believed to be lobbyists from the industry most closely affiliated with his state committee assignments.

Much more (if you can stomach it) available at TPM and OC Weekly.

The Linn County Auditor's office has the unofficial school board election results available.

The most interesting of tonight's results happened in the Marion Independent School District where voters were asked to select three at-large members from a group of five candidates. While both Diane Bys and Alan Tribble won clear majorities, two of the three remaining candidates tied. According to The Gazette, the decision may be resolved by drawing the name of either Shelly Pearson or Bill Huntoon from a hat.

The auditor's office should know more following a canvass on Friday in which the currently unofficial vote totals will be made official.

One of my favorite political cartoonists is R.J. Matson, and here's his gem about the Obama school speech controversy:


There has been a lot written about the school speech and I won't attempt to rehash it all here. But I do think that the population that has taken the most grief and garnered the least fanfare in all of this is the directly impacted school children.

When we speak to our children about what they want to be when they grow up, we encourage them to reach for the stars. We tell them that if they work hard enough and that if they study diligently enough that they can accomplish anything in this world that they set their minds to -- even becoming president of the United States.

In a way, we've built the presidency up as the Holy Grail of lifetime achievements. But how are children supposed to reconcile the fact that "the president" wanted to talk to them, but their parents seem less than enthusiastic about the nation's highest office?

If and when we place our children in private or public schools, we need to come to grips with the fact that we may have personal or political disagreements with what happens while they are there. We must also, then, make an effort not to give in to knee jerk reactions and take a more thoughtful approach.

For instance, how many parents were willing to watch Obama's address themselves and then invest 10-15 minutes before bedtime talking about what was said and why the parent did or did not agree with it? Approaching a disagreement with logic and calm allows our children to see that while we may have political differences with a specific office holder, we still uphold and respect the office itself.

BTW, more of the great cartoons by R.J. Matson are available online, including his Wizard of Oz-inspired take on health care reform. 

It's school board election day. Eleven Linn County school districts and Kirkwood Community College in Linn County will be heading to the voting booth, and there are also public measures at play in Cedar Rapids, Mount Vernon and North Linn schools.

Here are links to the sample ballots for each district (and broken down by Kirkwood District for those in Cedar Rapids), courtesy of the Linn County Auditor's Office:

• Alburnett Community Schools
• Cedar Rapids Community Schools with Kirkwood Director District 1
• Cedar Rapids Community Schools with Kirkwood Director District 6
• Cedar Rapids Community Schools with Kirkwood Director District 7
• Cedar Rapids Community Schools with Kirkwood Director District 8
• Cedar Rapids Community Schools with Kirkwood Director District 9
• Center Point - Urbana Community Schools
• Central City Community Schools
• College Community Schools
• Linn-Mar Community Schools
• Lisbon Community Schools
• Marion Independent
• Mount Vernon Community Schools
• North Linn Community Schools
• Springville Community Schools

Public Measure Information -- all three "Revenue Purpose Statements" related to the advanced vision for education fund for school infrastructure:

• Cedar Rapids Schools Public Measure Y
• Mount Vernon schools Public Measure Z
• North Linn Schools Public Measure AA

The measures are in response to a change in state law that changed the school infrastructure penny sale tax from a local county tax to a statewide tax. The school districts need voter approval for the new plans, which replace ones that were built county-wide when those referendums passed. Approving the revised statements will not result in a tax increase. The statements were placed on the same ballot as the school board elections as a cost-savings measure so that a special election would not be needed, and they only require a simple majority to be passed.

An important item of note regarding the school board elections is that every ballot in Linn County except Lisbon and Mount Vernon provides an opportunity to vote for a woman.

In Lisbon, there is one woman already serving on the school board: Connie Sproston. She and her husband are both graduates of Lisbon High School.

In Mount Vernon, two women serve currently on the board: Deb Herrmann and Ann Stoner. Herrmann has had children in the district for more than a decade and is serving her first time. Stoner is on her third term and serves as the organization's legislative representative.

The Iowa Women's Foundation has selected three finalists in three categories for this year's 50% Solution Awards. Voting is open through Sept. 15, and winners will be announced at the 13th annual awards luncheon on Friday, Oct. 16, in Coralville.

The awards, according to the organization's Web site, "recognize exceptional contributions made to advance women and girls throughout the state of Iowa."

Women finalists in the individual category are:

• Elizabeth Daley, Bankers Trust Corporation, Cedar Rapids
• Dianne Dillon-Ridgley, Plains Justice, Iowa City
• Col. Joan M. Gouge, Iowa Army National Guard, Johnston

Finalists in the business category are:

• Nolte Academy of Dance, Coralville
• Pearson Educational Measurement Group, Iowa City
• Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids

Nonprofit category finalists are:

• Iowa American Legion Auxiliary, statewide
• Iowa Women's Archives, statewide
• University of Iowa Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Program, Iowa City

Reservations are currently being accepted for the awards luncheon.

Iowa women make up over 50 percent of the state population, 47.5 percent of the workforce, 22.7 percent of the Iowa Legislature and 0 percent of Iowa's federal delegation. Despite higher educational attainment, women's wages lag behind men's wages at every level and in every Iowa industry.

The Iowa Women's Foundation was created on the belief that strategic grant investments will promote positive social change.

Since 1994, grants have been awarded annually to programs operating in nearly two-thirds of Iowa's 99 counties in the following areas:

• Advocacy
• Girls' Enrichment
• Girls' Intervention
• Health
• Homelessness
• Immigration
• Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence
• Women & Agriculture
• Women & Community Building
• Women & Girls in the Criminal Justice System
• Women & Girls in the Arts
• Women's History
• Women's Skill Building

A former female member of the Iowa House has launched a movement to "draft" former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad into the upcoming Republican gubernatorial primary.

The announcement, which I found on facebook, quotes Greiner as saying, "Everywhere I go, everyone asks me how can we get Terry Branstad to run for Governor? Like so many Iowans, I desire experienced leadership in these challenging times our state faces. Therefore, I decided to organize an effort to encourage Governor Branstad to run."

A video, primarily comprised of photos of the younger Branstad, is available on the newly launched Web site, and there is also a twitter account for the movement.

Greiner, a resident of Keota who represented Washington County and portions of Johnson and Jefferson counties during her term in the legislature, chose not to seek re-election in 2008 and her seat was taken by Democrat Larry Marek. The new organization founded by Greiner is a Political Action Committee: Draft Branstad PAC, 8805 Chambery Blvd., Suite 300 PMB #271, Johnston, IA 50131. (A box at a UPS Store within a suburban strip mall - Westfield Plaza - that offers both mail receiving and forwarding services.)

Greiner, who supported Fred Thompson during the Iowa caucuses, is also a former national committee representative from Iowa to the Republican National Convention also ran for one of the 2008 Iowa slots on the Republican National Committee. Although she sought another term in that capacity, she was stripped of the position during a state convention in 2008. Convention attendees chose instead to elect Kim Lehman, president of Iowa Right to Life -- a decision that hasn't been without controversy. (Thanks to a helpful commenter for pointing out my error!)

The movement to draft Branstad appears to be mostly about the internal rumblings with the Republican Party of Iowa as it continues to search for its spokesman (note that they are not -- at least not as of yet -- searching for a spokeswoman) and overall ideology in the wake of numerous state-level defeats.   

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver issued the following statement on Curt Hanson's victory in the special election for Iowa House District 90:

"Lieutenant Governor [Patty] Judge and I want to congratulate Curt Hanson on his win tonight, and we look forward to working with him in the legislature in 2010.

"This election was important because voters in District 90 saw through attempts by outside organizations to spread misinformation about our state. That's because Iowans know the facts: even though many families are struggling due to the recession, we have much to build upon - our state budget is balanced; Iowa's fiscal health is strong; our cash reserves are high; we are the 4th best state in which to do business; and we have the 8th fastest growing economy. I'm glad voters in Southeast Iowa are sending Curt Hanson to Des Moines to work with legislative leaders and me in our effort to create good jobs, strengthen our economy, and keep moving Iowa forward.

"We also want to recognize Stephen Burgmeier and his local supporters for running a strong campaign."

Statement issued by Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan upon learning that Curt Hanson had maintained Democratic control of Iowa House District 90 in a special election:

FAIRFIELD, IA - "I congratulate Curt Hanson on a successful campaign. His was a local campaign about local issues, and it is not surprising he was successful. Curt will make an excellent addition to the Democratic majority in the Iowa House. Congratulations to Speaker Murphy, Majority Leader McCarthy and the staff of the Iowa Democratic Party, for their outstanding effort and teamwork, and the victory that has followed.

"Democrats have been successful in the last two election cycles and tonight because we have recruited great candidates, followed through on the promises we've made and are governing the state responsibly.

"We will continue to build upon this strong organization and team approach as we prepare for statewide elections next fall. Tonight's results don't change our strategy for 2010. Tomorrow we will get back to work on candidate recruitment, fundraising and organizing. We have every reason to expect continued success."

While it is true that Washington-based Burgerville isn't your typical fast food joint, it is also true that its experiences with providing employees affordable health care coverage is something that should make others in the industry stand up and take notice.

The Wall Street Journal reports:

...Four years ago, executives of Burgerville, a regional restaurant chain, agreed to pay at least 90% of health-care premiums for hourly employees who work at least 20 hours a week. Today, the executives say the unusual move has saved money by cutting turnover, boosting sales and improving productivity...

In absorbing more of the costs, Burgerville's annual health-care bill nearly doubled, to $4.1 million from $2.1 million. But company leaders figured the move would boost recruiting and retention...

Executives say the plan paid for itself, and more. Turnover in 2006 plunged to 54%, from 128% in 2005. That's a big deal when it costs an average of $1,700 to replace and train a restaurant worker, according to People Report.

Mr. Harvey believes part-time hourly employees work harder to qualify for more hours, which are assigned on a priority system based on performance. Employees must work 20 hours a week to qualify for the health plan. "As soon as employees realized the value of the health-care benefit, they started to work to win the 20 hours," Mr. Harvey said.

Burgerville says that work ethic translates into higher revenue. Sales rose 11% in 2006 after the plan was implemented, with the average check rising to $7.41 from $6.90. Last year, the average check reached $8.50, and employee turnover fell to 52%. Annual revenue at the chain is about $70 million...