Washington, DC - Congressman Dave Loebsack along with Congressmen Tom Latham, Steve King, and Bruce Braley released the following statements after sending a letter to Chairwoman Edith Ramirez of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requesting the FTC review the current spike in propane costs in the Midwest:

Congressman Dave Loebsack: "The sudden increase in the price of propane, combined with an extremely cold winter is wreaking havoc on many Iowans' pocketbooks this winter.  I am very concerned about the surge in prices and the reason for such a great disparity in propane prices across the country. This is another expense Iowans cannot afford and I'm doing everything I can to remove barriers to allow more propane supply to reach Iowa that will help lower prices."

Congressman Steve King: "The sudden surge in the cost of propane has forced families, farmers, and businesses into a tough spot. I am pleased the entire Iowa House delegation could come together in the interests of all Iowans. Each of us will closely monitor this situation and look for other opportunities to help."

Congressman Tom Latham: "Hardworking Iowa families, farmers and small businesses are feeling the real economic pain of the skyrocketing costs of propane.  It is hitting everyone's bottom line and there must be assurances that no additional burden is being passed onto Iowans through influences other than true free market forces."

Congressman Bruce Braley: "While enduring frigid temperatures, skyrocketing propane costs are forcing some Iowa families to decide between warming their homes and paying other critical bills. A thorough investigation of these extreme price increases by the FTC is essential to ensure Iowa families are not being unjustly burdened due to market manipulation or other unfair practices."

The letter to the FTC is available here.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today won approval of several provisions that would ensure tougher sentences on perpetrators of sexual assaults and domestic violence, as well as arms suppliers of terrorists.

Grassley's amendments were adopted by the Senate Judiciary Committee during the committee's consideration of the "Smarter Sentencing Act of 2013."

"Sexual abuse and domestic assault are some of the most heinous crimes.  These are areas where mandatory minimum sentences are very much needed.  I'm very concerned that the absence of mandatory minimum sentences is causing serious problems in deterring these terrible acts," Grassley said.  "The absence of mandatory minimums plays a key role in giving sex offenders an incentive to go to trial which in turn gives judges discretion to give sentences as low as probation to convicted sexual assault offenders.  This is an appalling practice that needs to be stopped."

Grassley's first amendment was adopted by a vote of 15-3 and would impose mandatory minimum sentences for various sexual abuse offenses.

Grassley's second amendment was adopted by a vote of 15-3 and would impose a mandatory minimum sentence where death occurs as a result of the commission of the crime of interstate domestic violence.

Grassley's third amendment that was adopted by voice vote enacts a mandatory minimum sentence for defendants convicted of willfully providing armaments, war materials and other goods and services to State sponsors of international terrorism or specially designated foreign terrorists and proliferators of weapons of mass destruction, as well as for defendants convicted of willfully and illegally exporting goods and services in connection with a chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons program or a missile program.

"The export control laws are vital to national security.  Their criminal provisions help keep rogue nations and terrorist groups from gaining access to various technologies that could inflict catastrophic damage," Grassley said.  "The administration has been clear that federal judges regularly abuse their discretion in imposing sentences that fail to reflect the importance of these cases."

The final bill cleared the committee by a vote of 13-5 and will now be sent to the full Senate for consideration.

MERMAID THEATRE OF NOVA SCOTIA'S THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR AND OTHER ERIC CARLE FAVOURITES IN CORALVILLE FEBRUARY 20 & 21

Public Performance at 6:30pm on Thursday, February 20

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia will visit the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, February 20 and Friday, February 21 with three performances of their signature production, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favourites. The engagement includes two sold-out school performances at 10:30am on February 20 and 21, and a public performance at 6:30pm on Thursday, February 20.  This one-hour production is recommended for ages three through second grade, and anyone who loves Eric Carle stories.  The performance brings three of Carle's beloved stories to life through the magic of black light and fanciful puppets.  The production was adapted, designed, and directed by Jim Morrow, with music by Steven Naylor and narration by Gordon Pinsent.

Tickets for the public performance are $14 for adults and $10 for children and are available online at coralvillearts.org, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in person at the CCPA box office and Coralville Recreation Center.

About The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favourites:
On tour continuously since 1999, Mermaid's compilations of five Eric Carle stories have generated remarkable statistics and earned considerable praise from audiences on several continents. Featuring innovative black-light puppetry and evocative original music, the fifty-minute production includes three beloved stories: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Little Cloud and The Mixed-Up Chameleon.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar follows the wonderful adventures of a very tiny and very hungry caterpillar as he eats his way through an amazing variety of foods on his path to becoming a beautiful butterfly.

High up in the sky, Little Cloud playfully transforms himself into various creatures, including a sheep, and an airplane, a shark and more.

The Mixed-Up Chameleon is bored with his life, sitting about predictably changing color all day. Following an adventurous trip to the zoo, he attempts to emulate the beautiful animals he sees before coming to the conclusion that there is value in his own unique self.

To date over 3000 performances have been presented to nearly 2 million spectators throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Singapore, Japan, Holland, Vietnam, Ireland, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. To date, presentations have been offered in Dutch, English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and French.

About Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia ranks among North America's most respected theatres for the young, and plays an important ambassadorial role for Nova Scotia and for Canada. The company regularly crosses the continent, and has represented Canada in the United States, Japan, Mexico, Australia, England, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Holland, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan. Mermaid Theatre has earned Export Excellence awards from both the Governments of Canada and of Nova Scotia. Based in the town of Windsor, Nova Scotia, Mermaid has performed for more than five million spectators on four continents. The company was founded in 1972.

Eric Carle, Author
Eric Carle, internationally acclaimed author and designer, has written and illustrated more than seventy books for young children. Born in Syracuse, NY, he spent his youth in Germany where he studied fine art in Stuttgart prior to returning to the US in 1952 to work as a graphic designer for The New York Times and later as art director of an international advertising agency. His delightful books, which combine stunning collage artwork with an imaginative approach to learning, have sold more than 110 million copies worldwide.  Eric and his wife Barbara divide their time between the Florida Keys and the hills of North Carolina.  In 2002, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art opened to the public in Amherst, MA.  For more information, visit eric-carle.com and carlemuseum.org.

Jim Morrow, Director/Production Designer
Jim creates puppets for stage, television and film. He's directed numerous shows for the Theatre, including Very Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites, Guess How Much I Love You, I Love My Little Storybook, Swimmy, Frederick, Inch by Inch, Goodnight Moon & The Runaway Bunny as well as designed many others. A gifted performer, Jim has toured extensively in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan. He serves as director of puppetry for Symphony Nova Scotia's production of The Nutcracker, and frequently conducts master classes in puppetry in North America and abroad. Jim is Mermaid Theatre's Artistic Director.

Steven Naylor, Composer
Steven has created the music for more than a dozen Mermaid shows, including Very Eric Carle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites, Guess How Much I Love You , I Love My Little Storybook, Swimmy, Frederick, Inch by Inch, Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. His many other professional activities include original film and television scores; contemporary music and 'musique actuelle' performance; university teaching and curriculum development; and a long-term international involvement with electroacoustic concert music. Steven is Mermaid Theatre's Artistic Consultant for Music and Sound Design.

Gordon Pinsent, Narrator
Born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, Gordon is an actor, director, writer and singer of great versatility, and one of Canada's most beloved artists. His work for more than three decades in theatre, film, radio and television has earned him international recognition, as well as honorary doctorates from three universities. In 1999 he was named a Companion of the Order of Canada, the country's highest award of merit.

Owned and operated by the City of Coralville, the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts is dedicated to enriching the community and contributing to the vitality of Coralville by offering an accessible, affordable venue for a variety of performances, presentations, and public and private events.  The 472 seat theater opened August 26, 2011 and has hosted performances from City Circle Acting Company, Orchestra Iowa, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Dan Knight, Lola Astanova, Lorie Line, Judy Carmichael, Jim McDonough, Nolte Academy of Dance, and many others.  Coralville schools are also able to use the Center free of charge up to three times per year; 16 school events took place at the Center in the 2012-2013 school year. The Center was named 2012 Member of the Year by the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

This Saturday hundreds of musicians of all ages will fill the Adler Theatre as the professional musicians of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra perform side-by-side with the Quad City Symphony Youth Ensembles for the first time ever. All four youth orchestras will have their moment to shine as they perform music by Dvorák, Strauss, Schubert, Saint-Saëns, and Shostakovich.

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 The concert also features a performance by Robert Spurgeon, the 2014 Quad City Symphony Youth Ensembles Concerto Competition winner. While the Concerto Competition is over 50 years old, this is the first time that the winner has the honor of performing with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. Spurgeon is performing Saint-Saëns' Concerto No. 1 for Cello.

Tickets for this concert start at $10, with 50% off for student tickets.

The concert is at the Adler Theatre on February 1 at 4:00 p.m. This concert is sponsored by UnityPoint-Trinity, with additional funding from The Hubbell-Waterman Foundation.