Local Health Care Reform forums scheduled, while Washington discusses Health co-ops

"I've heard more positives than negatives on co-ops from Republicans, if
it's one and the same (government-run plan), it would be problematic, definitely." - Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

The Friday, July 10, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal features an article titled, Democrats Open to Idea of Forming Health Co-Op. For more on health care reform, read the Public Interest Institutes's brief titled The Missouri Plan: A Free Market Approach to Health Care.

Consumer-Driven
Health-Care Policy
Public Input Tour
Co-Sponsored by Patients United Now and Public Interest Institute

July 13 - Des Moines

July 14 - Cedar Rapids/Iowa City

July 15 - Davenport/Bettendorf

For more information, click HERE

To RSVP, call 319-385-3462

Read background on
health-care policy issues

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Governor Chet Culver likely will have to tap State's Cash Reserves to balance budget

"I would say that it's highly unlikely that he wouldn't have to tap the cash
reserves for his authority at least to balance the budget for '09." - State
Auditor David Vaudt

Governor Chet Culver will likely tap cash reserves. Culver and the Democrat controlled Iowa Legislature unveiled a strategy of bonding to help fund Iowa's record budget.

"The rating agencies also gave Aaa credit ratings to Enron, Freddie Mac and
Fanny Mae, and we know what happened to them. So I don't place a great deal of
reliance on what the credit agencies are doing from a due diligence standpoint."
- David Vaudt

The Thursday, July 9, 2009 edition of The Quad City Times features an article titled, "Reserves likely needed to balance Iowa's budget." For more on this issue, read Public Interest Institutes's brief titled "Iowa's State Budget: Spending Our Way to a Crisis Again."

“The governor is acting like this was an accident or an oversight. That
is not what happened. The governor and Legislative Democrats made a
calculated decision to not couple with federal law and force Iowans to
payback tax returns because they needed the money for their spending plans.
House Republicans stand ready to correct this error.” - Iowa Minority
Leader Kraig Paulsen

Democrats Made Calculated Decision to Tax Iowans - Iowa House Republicans

Governor Chet Culver and the Democrat controlled Iowa Legislature unveiled the a strategy of bonding to help fund Iowa's record budget.

"The rating agencies also gave Aaa credit ratings to Enron, Freddie Mac and
Fanny Mae, and we know what happened to them. So I don't place a great
deal of reliance on what the credit agencies are doing from a due diligence
standpoint." - David Vaudt

Plunging revenue causes new problems -Stateline.org - Stephen C. Fehr
The Legislature already cut spending 7 percent for the budget year that started July 1. Iowa finished the 2009 budget year as much as $161 million in the ...

Budget tsunami warning - Denver Daily News

State Tax Surprise: Some Have to Pay Back Refund -KCRG - Rod Boshart
“It was a hit to the budget that, frankly, was not an option. “ he said. Sen. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, who tried unsuccessfully to raise the issue in floor ...

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"And if there are going to be limits, who . . . is going to enforce the rules for a system like that?"

"President Obama called it the "right question" -- then failed to answer it.
This was not surprising: The query is emerging as the ultimate challenge in reining in health-care costs that now consume $2.5 trillion per year, or 16 percent of the economy. How will tough decisions be made about what to spend money on? In a country where "rationing" is a dirty word, who will say no?" - The Washington Post

The Wednesday, July 8, 2009 edition of The Washington Post features an article titled, "In Retooled Health-Care System, Who Will Say No?" For more on this issue, read the Public Interest Institutes's brief titled "A Health Care Prescription for Iowa."

We need Health Care Reform, but we can certainly argue what that reform should be and consist of.

Health Care Reform Will Succeed This Time, Say Experts -Talk Radio News Service - Laura Woodhead
Speaking at a discussion on health care reform at the Campus Progress National Convention, the experts argued that the mood within the US makes this year ...

Video: Biden Announces White House Deal With Hospitals - The Associated Press
Health Care vs. Rationing - Washington Post
White House, hospitals reach deal on health care - The Associated Press

CQPolitics.com - Chiropractic Economics

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Rising unemployment, mixed views on the Federal Stimulus spending

"This was supposed to be about jobs, jobs, and jobs. And the fact is, it
turned into nothing more than spending, spending, and more spending on a lot of
big government bureaucracy." - House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Oh)

The Monday, July 6, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal features an article titled, Calls grow to increase stimulus spending. For more on this issue, read Public Interest Institutes's Follow the Constitution rather than Keynes.

More misreading? - Dallas Morning News
Any chance they've misread the hoped-for stimulus results? Any chance they've misread what taking over GM is going to mean? Any chance they've misread what ...

Biden: Administration "Misread" Economy - U.S. News & World Report

Cantor open to second stimulus with tax cuts - The Hill

Cantor: Stimulus Isn't Working - RealClearPolitics

"I don't think anybody can honestly say that we're satisfied with the results so
far of the stimulus. But we believe the stimulus was absolutely
essential." - House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md)

Hoyer: Stimulus Slow to Create Jobs, But Time is Not Ripe for New ... - FOX News

2 Democrat said Sunday that he is not satisfied with the results of the stimulus so far, but it's too soon to consider a second package since not all of the ...

The Stimulus: Six Months Later -National Ledger - Jon Kyl
With some now suggesting a second stimulus package, it's a good time to look at some preliminary results of the first package. In January, the president's ...

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Happy Birthday America!

Today in History - July 4 -The Associated Press
Today is Saturday, July 4, the 185Th day of 2009. There are 180 days left in the year. This is Independence Day. Today's Highlight in History: On July 4, ...

Fourth of July fun facts - Southtown Star

Americans need to wake up to liberty - Tulsa Beacon

What does Freedom mean Anyway? - Canada Free Press

Life - Liberty - Pursuit of Happiness America!

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College Football moves to Capitol Hill next week in the Senate

"I don't think a more accurate description of what the BCS does exists." He
noted that six conferences get automatic bids to participate in series, while
others do not. The system, he argued, "intentionally and explicitly favors
certain participants." - Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

Senate to hold hearing on college football's BCS - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Hopefully, we will see the BCS and the NCAA move to a +1 system and return the bowl system to original tie-ins. The BCS is supposed to be about getting the #1 and #2 teams in college football into the BCS Title Game.

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City Council takes right approach on Sugar Creek development of Darryl High

Council member Chuck Wieneke said most of the High Corp. proposal seemed to
be that the city was being asked to subsidize a typical, market-rate housing
development. He said it would be a terrible precedent to set and might open up
the council to paying for infrastructure and other help for every new housing
development that comes along. - The Gazette

Cedar Rapids not ready to assist housing project - The Gazette
The City Council has set aside a proposal for an 81-home development across...

Other Local News as we enter the Independence Day holiday weekend ...

Public Safety News:

Woman charged with prostitution during covert operation - The Gazette

UPDATE: Police detained six people tonight in what they called a
methamphetamine investigation after they were called to a house at 1552 Seventh
Ave. SE on a report of a chemical smell. - The Gazette

Six detained in Cedar Rapids meth investigation - The Gazette

Tax concerns and other governmental news:

This is going to be downtown, at the Tree Of Five Season, (that weird steel
tree thing, next to the river) Parking will be on street parking, on first Ave,
2nd, 3rd the parkades, or whatever is close. We are planning on having speakers
so far we have 5 speakers. You can participate by attending, you can bring signs
(anything related to the topic at hand, less taxes, smaller government, less
waste.... - Tim Pugh

Anti-spending Tea Parties gear up for July 4 - The Gazette

Cedar Rapids will study new downtown energy system - The Gazette

Cedar Rapids hiring private firm to manage downtown parking - The Gazette

Q&A with new Cedar Rapids superintendent Dave Benson - The Gazette

Cedar Rapids schools start shaping flood-recovery plan - The Gazette

Cedar Rapids’ Fong running for governor, blasts Culver's leadership - The Gazette

Happy Independence Day Holiday weekend everyone!

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