Obama headed to Iowa after The House passes Health Care bill

You may find the following Monday, March 22, 2010 article was published in The Washington Post. titled, "A look at the health care overhaul bill" of interest.

The Public Interest Institute suggests the following on the ideology of reform, read: "Let the Market Work, Government Won't."

President Obama heading to Iowa City to promote Health Care Reform.

Obama To Speak About Health Care In Iowa City‎ - WCCO - Mike Glover
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) ― President Barack Obama will speak about health care Thursday in Iowa City, marking passage of the historic legislation by returning ...

As National Write Your Congressman Reports on Monday, March 22, 2010 ...

Health Care Overhaul Bill: Democratic leaders in the House have promoted legislation designed to remake the nation's health care system. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) posted a preliminary $940 billion cost estimate for the bill. President Obama canceled a planned trip to Asia to help push through the legislation. The House voted and passed the health care package on Sunday, March 21, with floor action to follow in the Senate as early as this week.Republicans were thwarted in a bid to bar Democrats from using a rule that allowed them to clear the Senate-passed health care overhaul and to pass a reconciliation bill after making changes to that measure. (H.R.4872)

Budget Math Hinders Health Care Bill: House Democrats had difficulties crafting a final health care bill that would achieve a five-year deficit reduction of more than $100 billion. The problem delayed what party leaders hope will be a final vote on the measure to Sunday.Under the little-known rules for budget reconciliation, a bill passed through the expedited parliamentary process must produce a greater deficit reduction than the legislation it amends. Since the Senate health care bill would produce $104 billion in deficit savings in its first five years, according to the CBO, the final bill — which will include changes to the Senate bill — must provide more savings. (H.R.3590) (H.R.2847)

Hammering home reform - The Economist
Barack Obama’s health reforms cross the most important threshold

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It's Time to Push Back on the Expansion of the Federal Government in America

We believe in Limited Government and Limited Spending in our country! We believe that our country needs to focus again on Liberty! That Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness is important to Americans. Equality and Property Rights cannot be forgotten, but Liberty and Personal Responsibility are crucial for our Republic. Our President and Elected Officials need to get the financial house in order for our Country.

Today's article is from the Monday, January 4, 2010 edition of The Wall Street Journal is titled, Deficit, Budget Woes Need Solutions as U.S. Nears the Precipice. For more on this issue, read: Institute Brief: Cutting Federal Spending Must Be a Top Priority.

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Happy New Year and Peace to all ...

Have a safe and enjoyable New Year's Eve in Cedar Rapids or wherever you may be ...

Thank you for visiting our blog throughout the year and we look forward to a better 2010!

Today's article from Thursday, December 31, 2009 edition of The Washington Times is an article titled, Dems tout year of wins but wait for more Obama priorities. For more on political philosophy of the Obama administration, read: The fourth wave of progressivism.

Let's make 2010 a year of:

• Limited Government
• Limited Spending
• Life
• Liberty
• Pursuit of Happiness

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Did you catch the Heritage Foundation update on Senate Finance Committee Health Care Bill?

This was a note on October 1, 2009 on Facebook from the Heritage Foundation on Obamacare: Day Six In The Senate Finance Committee

The Senate Finance Committee continued its mark-up of the America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009 on Wednesday, September 30, 2009.

President Barack Obama made a couple of very high-profile promises concerning key issues that have emerged during the August recess and in contentious congressional town hall meetings. In his September 9, 2009 address to Congress and the nation in a special session of Congress, the President said that Americans could be assured that in his version of health care reform, there would be no federal funding of abortion nor the use of taxpayer funds to cover illegal immigrants.

In the key policy decisions of the Senate Finance Committee, those promises counted for little.

Protection of the Rights of Conscience (Hatch Amendment C13)

As noted, President Obama told Congress and the nation that, “no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place”. In that spirit, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) presented two amendments to remove any uncertainty and reinforce the President’s very public commitment. Sen. Hatch’s first amendment would have protected federal conscience laws; it would have prohibited discrimination against medical professionals who did not want to practice or participate in abortion and protect the right of conscience of physicians and other health care professionals, as well as officials of health care facilities, organizations, and insurance plans. Countering Senate Democrats who declared the amendment unnecessary, Sen. Hatch said the bill’s language was ambiguous, and he sought to erase all doubt in the Committee’s intentions regarding the issue. The Committee voted against Sen. Hatch’s amendment 10-13. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) voted with Senate Democrats against the amendment, while Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) voted with Hatch and Senate Republicans for the amendment.

Federal Funding for Abortion (c-14)

Sen. Hatch’s second amendment would have prohibited federal funds from being used for elective abortions or to subsidize insurance plans that cover abortions. Hatch provided that nothing would stop insurers from offering supplemental policies for abortion—but plans funded or subsidized by the federal government could not provide abortion. Sen. Hatch’s amendment also provided exceptions to this law in the cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mother. Hatch’s rationale was to codify official promises made on both sides of the aisle that taxpayer dollars would not fund abortions. Though the Hyde Amendment already provides for such a restriction on the use of taxpayers’ money, it must be passed every year. Sen. Hatch’s amendment would have also written the President’s promise into law. The Hatch amendment failed in the Senate Finance Committee 10-13. Senators Snowe and Conrad also crossed party lines again in their votes.

Using Taxpayers Dollars to Cover Illegal Immigrants (Grassley Amendment C8 )

In his address on health care, President Obama also stated that, “…there are those who claim that our reform efforts would insure illegal immigrants. This, too, is false. The reforms…I’m proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally.” This statement ignited South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson’s controversial outburst.

To secure the President’s commitment, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced an amendment that would require proof of citizenship in order to access federal health programs. Sen. Grassley’s amendment would have required proper identification in applying for Medicaid benefits: Medicaid applicants, or the guardian of an applicant under the age of 18, would present government-issued identification at the time of application for Medicaid or CHIP benefits. Sen. Grassley’s amendment failed by a vote of 10-13. It was a party line vote, with Senate Democrats voting against the Grassley amendment.

Increased Consumer Costs. (Enzi Amendment C4, Grassley Amendment F1, and Hatch Amendment F17)

The President has said repeatedly that he would oppose middle class tax increases, and that, as a result of health reform, the typical American family would see a $2500 annual reduction in their health premium costs. Nonetheless, the Senate Finance Committee “mark” contains various taxes, which would be tantamount to middle class tax increases. These include taxes on insurance companies based on their market shares, taxes on drug manufacturers, taxes on medical device manufacturers, and taxes on clinical laboratories. Economists know, of course, that such additional taxes are passed on to consumers through higher insurance premiums and higher costs for drugs and medical devices. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY), Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) proposed amendments to protect Americans against these proposed tax increases.

Sen. Enzi’s amendment would have required that- before implementing the bill’s new insurance rating rules, each state’s State Insurance Commissioner would have to certify that insurance premiums would not rise for a majority of residents. This amendment failed by a vote of 10-13 along a party line.

Sen. Grassley’s offered an amendment to strike the bill’s additional fees on health insurance plans. Title VI of the Chairman’s mark imposes a fee of $60 billion on insurance providers, which would be apportioned among all health insurance providers based on their market shares. The Grassley amendment was also defeated on a party line vote.

Finally, Sen. Hatch offered up an amendment that would have required the Government Accountability Office to certify that consumers would not pay the higher taxes imposed on health insurers, manufacturers of drugs and medical devices, and clinical laboratories. During the debate , Chairman Baucus expressed the novel belief that such annual fees would be borne by companies, and that they would not be passed onto the consumers. In that spirit, Sen. Hatch’s amendment would have codified the Chairman’s good intentions. The Committee nonetheless voted, along party lines, against the Hatch Amendment by a 10 to 13 vote.

The Senate Finance Committee, once again, has given ordinary Americans another insight into the gap between official Washington’s promises and the reality of the health care legislation being developed in Congress. Based on the President’s clearly stated intentions, on such matters as illegal immigration and taxpayer funding of abortion, it is obvious that the White House Office of Congressional Relations needs to do a better job communicating them to the Senate.

Other links on the Senate Finance Health Care discussion:

A look at the Senate Finance health care bill -The Associated Press
The Senate Finance Committee pushed ahead Wednesday on a comprehensive health care bill. The panel hopes to finish the legislation by week's end. ...
Senate Panel Expects to Finish Thursday on Health-Care Bill - Washington Post
America Wants to See Health Care Bill - FOXNews
US Sen Panel Approves State Health Insurance Plan Measure - Wall Street Journal

Point of Information: Two Paths to a Public Option in Health-Care ... - Washington Post
Two amendments considered, and defeated, Tuesday by the Senate Finance Committee both aimed to get to the same place -- creating a government-sponsored ...
Senate Dems will push public option - Politico
Rockefeller: Time for Insurance Companies to Spend Money on Actual ... - Daily Kos (blog)
An Attempt to Force Insurance Companies to Dedicate More Cash to Care - The Washington Independent

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Pass the Ketchup and Mustard, but can we please hold and stop the Rationing of Health Care path

"Although administration officials are eager to deny it, rationing health care
is central to President Barack Obama’s health plan. The Obama strategy is to
reduce health costs by rationing the services that we and future generations of
patients will receive." - Martin Feldstein

The Wednesday, August 19, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal features a story titled, ObamaCare Is All About Rationing. For more on health care reform, read Institute Brief: A Healthcare Prescription for Iowa.

Ketchup / Catsup History
Original ketchup contained no tomatoes

"But do Americans really want government bureaucrats
dictating access to care based on their perception of one's worth to society?
This question goes to the heart of the problem with rationing: A stranger far
from the scene decides who gets care and who doesn't. The person making these
decisions knows neither the patient nor the health care provider, yet he or she
is charged with the responsibility of allocating scarce resources among a
demanding population rather than providing the best possible care." - Ken
Connor

Ken Connor: Elderly should keep a close eye on health debate - Tallahassee Democrat

A Washington Times editorial on Aug. 18 criticized the claim that private
insurers “ration” care: “There
is no more rationing by private insurance companies than there is rationing at
the grocery store. In a private system, consumers can buy more
expensive health insurance plans if they want better benefits. Similarly, in a
grocery store, if you want more food, you pay more money. There is no rationing
in either case.”

CNN Devotes Six Minutes to Health Care 'Rationing' Proponent -Business Media Institute
At one point in the segment, Roberts asked why rationing is a “dirty word” in the health care debate when it already “goes on all the time in the corporate ...

A key component in a quality health care system is choice. Here are recommendations from the Mayo Clinic Health Policy Center:

• Create Value
  Improve patient health outcomes and satisfaction with U.S. health care. Decrease medical errors, costs and waste. Read details.


• Coordinate Care
  To increase value, patient care services must be coordinated across people, functions, activities, locations and time. Patients must actively participate in this process. Read details.


• Reform the Payment System
  Change the way providers are paid in order to improve health and minimize waste. Read details.


• Provide Health Insurance for All
  Provide guaranteed, portable health insurance for all individuals, giving them choice, control and peace of mind. Read details.

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Good News ... Obama steps back on Public Option in discussion in Health Care Reform

The Monday, August 17, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal features a story titled, Chances Dim for a Public Plan. For more on health care reform, read Institute Brief: More Government Is Not The Answer.

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Enjoying the Dog Days of Summer in Iowa

It's nice to be back, after taking a little over 10 days off our blog.

There is plenty of Health Care talk around the State, with Rotary Clubs, legislative town meetings and other events around the State.
Despite President Barack Obama's retreat away from a public option, there are still concerns for many retirees regarding the pending Federal legislation in Washington D.C. H.R. 3200 needs to be cleaned up.

Providers, academics, medical industry leaders, businesspeople, insurers, political leaders and patients — recommend four areas of focus per the Mayo Clinic Health Policy Center.

• Create Value
  Improve patient health outcomes and satisfaction with U.S. health care. Decrease medical errors, costs and waste. Read details.
• Coordinate Care
  To increase value, patient care services must be coordinated across people, functions, activities, locations and time. Patients must actively participate in this process. Read details.
• Reform the Payment System
  Change the way providers are paid in order to improve health and minimize waste. Read details.
• Provide Health Insurance for All
  Provide guaranteed, portable health insurance for all individuals, giving them choice, control and peace of mind. Read details.
  
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We need Health Care in America that is Sustatinable and Market Driven

“You come in and you’ve got a bad sore throat, or your child has a bad sore
throat or has repeated sore throats. The doctor may look at the reimbursement
system and say to himself, ‘You know what? I make a lot more money if I take
this kid’s tonsils out.'" - President Barack Obama at Wednesday's press
conference

Today's article is from the Monday, July 27, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal newspaper features an article titled, Dr. Obama’s Tonsillectomy. For more on health care reform, read the Public Interest Institute's Brief: A Healthcare Prescription for Iowa.

There's a better direction for the U.S. Congress to proceed with Health Care Reform. Reject Pelosi-ObamaCare and embrace ideas like the Mayo Clinic Health Policy Center:

• Create Value
  Improve patient health outcomes and satisfaction with U.S. health care. Decrease medical errors, costs and waste. Read details.
• Coordinate Care
  To increase value, patient care services must be coordinated across people, functions, activities, locations and time. Patients must actively participate in this process. Read details.
• Reform the Payment System
  Change the way providers are paid in order to improve health and minimize waste. Read details.
• Provide Health Insurance for All
  Provide guaranteed, portable health insurance for all individuals, giving them choice, control and peace of mind. Read details.

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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 Fathers Day - June 21, 2009

A guest article by Deborah Thornton in the Iowa City Press-Citizen on June 21, 2009

Here's a salute to that special person called "Dad"

Our President is a father of two daughters, here is Barack Obama's Official Fathers Day Proclamation and the Los Angeles Times article on his proclamation today, June 21, 2009 - Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to everyone!

"I am proud to be the father of three children. Happy Father's Day to my Dad and
all those dads out there!" - cidsports

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What direction is Health Care Reform heading and where should it head in the USA?

Today's post comes from the article in the Friday June 19, 2009 edition of the Washington Post. The paper features an article titled: "Senate's Health-Care Draft Calls for Most to Buy Insurance, Nixes Obama's 'Public Option.'" For more on the issue read the Public Interest Institutes's Brief: "A Healthcare Prescription for Iowa."

"A draft proposal in the Senate to overhaul the nation's
health-care system would require most people to buy health insurance, authorize
an expansion of Medicaid coverage and create consumer-owned cooperative plans instead of the government coverage that President Obama is seeking." - Washington Post

On Thursday June 18, 2009, the Washington Post article reported that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) met with four Republicans, including Iowa's Sen. Charles Grassley, the ranking GOP member on the panel, along with two Democratic colleagues in an attempt to find bipartisan consensus. Baucus dubbed the group "the coalition of the willing."

The Economist has an interesting article dated April 23, 2008 titled "Health Care Around the World: Switzerland." Google's highlight of the Apr 23, 2008 article ...

"Still of all the countries with universal health care, Switzerland's is the
most market-oriented and merits discussion. Switzerland's health" ... - Google

Movement towards the President's government health care system has raised concerns with many that it could have an impact on innovation. Today, the United States ranks number one as The Economist article dated June 8, 2009 titled "Top Countries for Biotechnology Innovation" points out.

Overall the Top 5 Countries for Biotechnology Innovation (source: The Economist):

1. U.S.
2. Singapore
3. Denmark
4. Israel
5. Sweden
   

You can see the full list of rankings here. More discussion on these rankings can be found here.

The health care debate in Washington D.C. is extremely important. We need to keep health care costs at the consumer level. As was mentioned in one of the articles, "When patients are paying for health care costs directly, they are more sensitive to what those cost are."

We need to empower the public. Why are consumers restricted to purchase health insurance beyond their state? Congress prohibits basically interstate commerce when it comes to health care insurance. Wouldn't increasing competition have a positive results on controlling premium costs and care?

Like with housing and food subsidies, we do need to help those disadvantaged in our society. We do need to make sure the consumer has some responsibility and stake in the system. We need to encourage prudence in our society. When it comes to discussing health care and other public policy issues... remember, Character Counts!

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America: Optimism and Limited Government go hand and hand ...

We would encourage you to take a look at the Wednesday June 3, 2009 edition of The Washington Times that features an article titled Obama boosts Reagan legacy.

"President Reagan helped as much as any president to restore a sense of
optimism in our country, a spirit that transcended politics - that transcended
even the most heated arguments of the day," - President Barack Obama

For more on ideas that President Reagan advocated , read the Public Policy Institutes's:

Iowa Economic Scorecard: Is limited government a serious idea?

"Limited government not only has produced unlimited opportunity, it has
brought unparalleled prosperity, and it has also helped strengthen the
inherent values that Americans brought from the Old World. It has helped to
strengthen self-reliance, individual responsibility, and authentic
compassion." - former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm

We need to promote the Entrepreneur tradition of our country again. The past twenty years of both Republican and Democrat executives have stepped away from our Entrepreneur and Small Business traditions in our Country. Just look at the lack of respect towards: "Joe the Plumber. We have grown dependent on Fortune 500 companies and our new non-traditional non-profits that in many ways promote the "nanny state" agenda. Both groups are getting big handouts today from the Federal Government, who are forgetting their role in the U.S. Constitution.

"I think that over the last 40 years, as government has
become ever more dominant in American society, as government has created
programs to meet our every need, to indemnify our every mistake, our social
safety net has become a hammock, Government programs, with all the good
intentions in the world, were established to help people and have changed the
way people behave. They have corrupted our values, and we have looked more and
more to government to take care of us, we have become what Margaret Thatcher
called a “nanny state.” And as we have turned to government to be our keeper, to
be our indemnifier, we have turned away from our family and our faith. As we
have rendered unto Caesar, we have stopped rendering unto God." - Sen.
Gramm

We need to get back to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. We need to promote a climate of Limited Government and our pro-Entrepreneur spirit that this great national was build on. We all should be more entrepreneur in our daily life and remember that family and our faith play a very important role in our individual pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.

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Is Washington going the right direction on Stimulus?

The Thursday, February 5, 2009 edition of The Washington Times features a story, Obama prods senators on stimulus.

It's interesting to see other cities wanting stimulus, while Cedar Rapids waits for Federal aid due to the Flood of 2008, reflecting on our City Manager's comments regarding the first 90 days for Grand Forks compared to relief received for Cedar Rapids.

The size of the House plan and the pork elements in the plan give cause for concern in the Heartland? For more on economic reform read the Public Interest Institute Brief: Ryan's roadmap.

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Is a Big Government Bailout the right direction... how are things going locally?

Is the Government the right solution or is government the problem?

The Gazette reports Culver drops Iowa Lottery lease idea, which should be good news for the taxpayers of the State of Iowa.

The January 23, 2009 edition of The Des Moines Register online features an article titled Federal road money may save 'a lot of jobs' in Iowa. For more on this issue, read Public Interest Institute Brief: Spending Our Transportation Dollars Wisely.

The Gazette's article reports U.S. 30, I-80 make stimulus funding list this week. Further, another article reports Harkin: $800 million for Iowa in stimulus bill

How much of the Federal Government stimulus plan will include rebuilding infrastructure and housing impacted by the Floods of 2008 and other natural disasters in 2008? We did hear a little from the White House about Katrina and New Orleans on Inauguration Day.

Katrina
President Obama will keep the broken promises made by President
Bush to rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. He and Vice President Biden will
take steps to ensure that the federal government will never again allow such
catastrophic failures in emergency planning and response to occur.
President
Obama swiftly responded to Hurricane Katrina. Citing the Bush Administration's
"unconscionable ineptitude" in responding to Hurricane Katrina, then-Senator
Obama introduced legislation requiring disaster planners to take into account
the specific needs of low-income hurricane victims. Obama visited thousands of
Hurricane survivors in the Houston Convention Center and later took three more
trips to the region. He worked with members of the Congressional Black Caucus to
introduce legislation to address the immediate income, employment, business, and
housing needs of Gulf Coast communities.
President Barack Obama will partner
with the people of the Gulf Coast to rebuild now, stronger than ever.

What about the past year's disasters, Mr. President? What about the City of Cedar Rapids, the State of Iowa and elsewhere impacted by Flood or other natural disaster, Mr. President?

Will President Barack Obama be a partner with the people of Iowa to rebuild now, stronger than ever?

We have five members of Congress, two U.S. Senators and of course Governor Chet Culver... what are they doing to help encourage our President to partner with the people of Iowa to rebuild now?

Cedar Rapids historic buildings make 'most endangered' list, reports The Gazette and properties impacted by the Flood of 2008.

The Gazette's article had another article on State agency overseeing disaster rebuilding efforts: Rebuild Iowa Office to face lawmakers' scrutiny.

A 20 percent Gas Tax increase proposal for the State of Iowa? What? Key lawmakers see debate on gas tax hike an article this past week in The Gazette reported. An eight cent increase represents a 20 percent tax increase.

And, what about the City of Cedar Rapids and plans to increase taxes soon?

Ten percent residential property tax increase proposal for the City of Cedar Rapids, including 7 percent and 6-7 percent for industrial and commercial properties, respectively!

Further, our city's leaders and the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce are working right now to propose an one percent local option sales tax for flood recovery. Will a local city sales tax include property tax relief for property owners, as the recent school sales tax did? Local option tax bill may mean C.R. vote in March, reports The Gazette.

How will Linn County get involved?

Will the State of Iowa make any future city sales tax permanent, like the State Legislature did with the school tax that was recently approved by Linn County and Johnson County voters in 2008?

Due to the impact of the local, state and national recession we are in, is any tax increase at this time good for our communities?

Another article of interest by The Gazette: Who owns Cedar Rapids City Hall?

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January 20, 2009 - Congratulations to our new President on Inauguration Day 2009

We celebrate a new president as our 44Th President of the United States takes office today. It's a brand new day: Spring in the views of many people within our community today.

We wish our 44Th President the very best. It is truly an historical occasion for our country today. Our thoughts and prayers are with our new President and our country as we work to overcome the challenges ahead.

It is pleasing to hear that the Inauguration Day appears to be going well in Washington D.C. today. A massive crowd and little news, if any, of any conflicts.

We need hope. We need to move on from the challenges over the past twenty years and work together neighbor to neighbor... state to state... as Americans throughout the country.

Unlike Dana Delany, the actor... I would prefer to see Limited Government ahead of lifting gag orders. Yes, it may be tough to picture Limited Government in an Obama administration, but if as the head line in today's Wall Street Journal states is true... "Obama to Call for a New Era of Responsibility"... then, the government needs reign in it's excessive practices as well.

Barack Obama wasn't my choice. But, today, he is our President and I wish him the very best.

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Today's Topic: Tax Cuts and Taxes

The Thursday, January 8, 2009 edition of Real Clear Politics. It features an article, "Obama Shouldn't Cave to the Right on Tax Cuts."

Heritage Foundation has a new policy paper: Economic Recovery: How Best to End the Recession http://tinyurl.com/9vvftt

The Heritage Foundation's new Foundry post: CAP: The Country Needs More Bush/Obamaism http://tinyurl.com/a49u2p

For more on taxes, read Facts and Opinions, "How Taxes Corrupt" from the Public Interest Institute.

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Today's Topic: Earmarks and Pork Barrel Spending

The Wednesday, January 7, 2009 edition of the Washington Times features an article, Obama bans bill pork, warns of deficits.

CNN reports in a story titled, Obama to make case for 'urgent action' on economic recovery plan.

• Banning earmarks
• Oversight board

"We are going to ban all earmarks, the process by which individual members
insert pet projects without review," - President-elect Barack Obama

WSJ Wall Street Journal reports Obama Taps Killefer for New Post http://tinyurl.com/8tgszd

nytimes New York Times headline: $1.2 Trillion Deficit Forecast as Obama Weighs Options http://tinyurl.com/9crg97

usnews Story from US News & World Report titled Obama's Trillion Dollar Deficits and Taxes http://tinyurl.com/7fon29

For more on earmarks, read Public Interest Institute Brief, "Pork, Politics Gone Bad."

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How far will they go: Massive Economic Stimulus plans in Washington DC?

The Monday, January 5, 2009 edition of the Washington Times features an article, Dems pursue ambitious agenda on Hill. For more on public policy solutions for Congress, read the Institute Brief: Ryan's roadmap from the Public Interest Institute.

The April 21, 2008, edition of U.S. News & World Report featured a cover
story titled, "Big Government: It’s back — no matter who wins. Americans want
Uncle Sam to solve their problems…" The Monday, May 19, 2008, edition of USA
Today featured a headline, "Bill for taxpayers swells by trillions: Deficit far
bigger than government estimate."

Fast forward to January 5, 2009.

• RedState Why the Obama Stimulus Will Fail, Chapter 217 http://tinyurl.com/7nxbx7
• WSJ Frugal Families Aggravate Nation's Economic Woes http://tinyurl.com/9ov5xb
• USATODAY Gas prices rise for the first time in 16 weeks http://tinyurl.com/7ejbaj
• techRepublican Proposed Stimulus Plan Could Embrace Better Transparency in Spending http://twurl.nl/b3x5el
• WSJ A Happy Lesson on Lending http://tinyurl.com/8x6dyk
• nytimes Obama Pushes for Stimulus on Capitol Hill http://tinyurl.com/8rghdv

Happy New Year... the 111Th Congress is getting ready to rock and roll in Washington DC.

cidsports

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Do the Ends justify the Means in Illinois?

President-elect Barack Obama has said the following about Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's appointment of former state comptroller and attorney general Roland Burris to Obama's vacating senate position on Tuesday.

"Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate
Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat," Obama said in a
statement. "The best resolution would be for the governor to resign his office
and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession."

It has been reported by the Chicago Sun-Times that Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) joined Blagojevich and Burris at their joint news conference Tuesday. He asked in an impassioned plea to his Senate counterparts to let Burris take office so at least one member is African American.

"He will be a great United States senator," Blagojevich said of Burris.
"Please don't let the allegations against me taint this good and honest
man."

As President-elect Obama indicated no person can be acceptable, after the accusations brought up against the Governor of Illinois. The governor needs to step aside. But, it appears some in Illinois feel the ends do justify the means. It appears race could become an issue in an attempt to trump ethics.

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