15 Aug 2012

American Lung Association Report Aims to Reduce Tobacco Use in Rural Communities

By Dona Wininsky

Des Moines, IA, (August, 15, 2012) –The American Lung Association's latest health disparity report, "Cutting Tobacco's Rural Roots:  Tobacco Use in Rural Communities," examines tobacco addiction and exposure to secondhand smoke in rural America, particularly among rural youth.

Tobacco use is higher in rural communities than in suburban and urban communities, and smokeless tobacco use is shockingly twice as common.  Rural youth are more likely to use tobacco and to start earlier than urban youth, perpetuating the cycle of tobacco addiction and death and disease.

"Tobacco use is often more socially acceptable in rural areas, especially chewing tobacco, making it more likely that kids living in these communities will also start to use tobacco," said Janice Jensen, Executive Director with Dallas County Public Health. "Dallas County and other rural community leaders and residents need to take a stand against the culture of tobacco use as part of life and empower our future generations to have healthy, tobacco-free lives."

There are a number of environmental and social factors that contribute to this generational cycle of tobacco use among youth and adults in rural America.

Increased tobacco use is associated with lower education levels and lower income, which are both common in rural areas where there may be fewer opportunities for educational and economic advancement.  Exposure to secondhand smoke is also higher as rural communities are less likely to have smokefree air laws in place and residents are less likely to refuse to allow smoking in their homes or other indoor places.

For decades, the tobacco industry has used rural imagery, such as the Marlboro Man, to promote its products and appeal to rural audiences.  Over the past several years, the tobacco industry's marketing of smokeless tobacco products has skyrocketed. Sadly as the tobacco industry spends millions of dollars targeting rural youth, these youth are less likely to be exposed to tobacco counter-marketing campaigns.  Rural tobacco users are also less likely to have access to tobacco cessation programs and services to get the help they need to quit.

Many rural states have low tobacco taxes.  Raising tobacco prices is a proven strategy to reduce tobacco use.  In Iowa, the tobacco tax is $1.36 which is lower than the current average state cigarette tax of $1.46 per pack.  Promotion of the availability of state quit-smoking counseling services by phone and online resources also lags.

The American Lung Association in Iowa is calling on government agencies, the research and funding community, health systems and insurers, community leaders, schools and families to take steps now to cut tobacco's rural roots.  "The rural community clearly requires special attention if we hope to end the epidemic of tobacco use in this country.  We must all work together as neighbors to overcome this health disparity," said Kimberly Horn, Ed. D., Associate Dean of Research, The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.

The American Lung Association offers smoking cessation resources to help people quit smoking for good.

  • Freedom From Smoking® is a program that teaches the skills and techniques that have been proven to help hundreds of thousands of adults quit smoking. Freedom From Smoking is available as a group clinic, an online program and a self-help book.
  • Not-On-Tobacco® (N-O-T) is a group program designed to help 14 to 19 year old smokers end their addiction to nicotine. The curriculum consists of ten 50-minute sessions that typically occur once a week for 10 weeks.
  • The Lung HelpLine, 1-800-LUNG-USA, offers one-on-one support from registered nurses and respiratory therapists.  Individuals have the opportunity to seek guidance on lung health and find out how to participate in and join the Lung Association smoking cessation programs.

In addition to expanding the Lung Association's capability to provide its programs and services to the rural community, there are also several other action steps to reduce rural tobacco use.  These steps are detailed in the full report, and include that state and federal tobacco control programs must make a concerted effort and dedicate funding to reach rural communities; the research community should focus attention and resources on identifying effective cessation treatments for smokeless tobacco use; and school, health and employment systems in rural areas must all implement effective tobacco control strategies including smokefree air policies and access to cessation services.

Micki Sandquist, Micki.Sandquist@LungIA.org. To download a copy of the report, visit:

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About the American Lung Association: Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is "Fighting for Air" through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.lungia.org. 
15 Aug 2012

2012 IOWA FARM BUREAU COOKOUT CHAMPION CROWNED AT STATE FAIR

By Heather Lilienthal, Iowa Farm Bureau

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Aug. 14, 2012- Daryl Witt of Warren County was crowned the 2012 Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest winner with his 'Slap Yo' Daddy' Ribs recipe. Witt beat out 45 other grillers, representing counties from around the state, to win the 49th annual competition.

The annual Iowa Farm Bureau-sponsored contest featured outdoor chefs using their best grilling, roasting and smoking techniques.  "Every year, we are amazed at the creativity of Iowa's grillers. Each recipe has been tested and tasted and each one brings out the different traits of each type of meat," said Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill.  "Our livestock farmers are so proud to raise healthy livestock that provide important sources of protein and inspiration for cooks like the ones at our annual contest."

Cookout champion Witt won first place in the pork category before being selected by the judges as the overall winner.  He received $200 and a permanent trophy as the cookout champion.

Other first place winners and their categories were William Hoffman, Jr., of Tama County, beef;  Michelle Bruce of Benton County, lamb/goat; Jason Cronk of Tama County, poultry; and Nate Miller of Scott County, combo/specialty.  All winners received $75.

Second place winners and their categories were Bruce Campbell of Hardin County, beef; Mike Vroom of Marion County, combo/specialty; Andy Wilson of Lee County, pork; and Tracy Christensen of Audubon County, poultry.  All second place winners received $50.

Winners in special categories were youth first place - Lance Henrichs of Clarke County and youth second place - Amber Westemeier of Linn County; showmanship - Phil Cummings of Benton County; and team - Jason Kula and Alvin Westemeier of Linn County.  The youth winner received a gas grill and $75 and second place received $50 from the Iowa Propane Association.  The showmanship winner received $100.  The team winners received $150.

Prize sponsors for the Cookout Contest include the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Bureau Financial Services, GROWMARK, Inc., Iowa Propane Gas Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the Iowa Turkey Federation and the Iowa Poultry Association.  The Iowa Sheep and Wool Promotion Board is also a sponsor of the contest.

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15 Aug 2012

EPA's hazy outlook threatens to bankrupt coal-fired power plants

By By Rebekah Rast

The nearly five million visitors to the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona each year stare in awe at the canyon's long 277 river miles that can be up to 18 miles wide and about a mile deep.

However, even amidst this beauty, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is focused on the haze in the national park and says it is coming from a very important electricity source in the area.

The Navajo Generating Station (NGS), a coal-fired power plant that supplies electricity for the 14 pumping stations required to move water to southern Arizona?to about 80 percent of the state's population?is being blamed for creating poor air quality in the national park.

Currently, this power plant meets all federal clean air guidelines?except the EPA's interpretation of the Regional Haze Rule.

The goal of the EPA's Regional Haze Rule is the "remedying of any existing impairment of visibility" at 156 National Park and Wilderness areas throughout the U.S.  Congress approved of this amendment to the Clean Air Act in 1977, however, power to set standards of emissions was left to the states?not the EPA.  The EPA's role was to simply provide support.

Now the EPA seems to be trampling on the state's authority to control emissions standards by creating its own set of standards.  Is the EPA really that concerned about cleaning up haze or is this just another aggressive move to push out the coal industry?

If the EPA decides that the NGS power plant needs additional emissions control technology, owners of the power plant can expect to invest $1.1 billion, with no promise of improved air quality in the national park.

Furthermore, the plant is located on land owned by the Navajo Nation.  Its long-term lease with the tribe expires in 2019.  If the power plant operators can't guarantee a renewed lease beyond 2019, investing more than $1 billion into the plant isn't a viable option.  Depending on the EPA ruling, NGS might shutdown?costing 1,000 jobs, 90 percent of them belonging to the Navajo tribe.

Not only would this hurt the local economy, already plagued with high unemployment, but it would effectively destroy the water source to southern Arizona?leading to skyrocketing water rates.

How does the EPA get away with destroying communities like this one?

A political game.  It is no secret that many environmental groups ally with the EPA.  But what if these groups don't think the EPA is doing its job or going far enough? They sue.  The EPA then settles agreeing to fix the problem. Therefore a court-imposed deadline on the EPA leaves it with no other option but to override the state's regulations and enforce its own controls.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in a report titled, "EPA's New Regulatory Front: Regional Haze and the Takeover of State Programs," highlights how the EPA, along with court-mandated deadlines, has wheedled its way into state territory by delaying state plans for emission control.

"By combining this tactic of delaying approval of the state plans with Sue and Settle and a court-imposed deadline to act, EPA has manufactured a loophole to provide itself with the ability to reach into the state haze decision-making process and supplant the state as decision maker. EPA has, effectively, engineered a way to get around the protections of state primacy built into the Regional Haze statute by Congress."

Get full story here.

15 Aug 2012

Muscatine Man Sentenced to 32 Years for Child Exploitation

By Val Quast

DAVENPORT, IA - On August 14, 2012, Brian Edward Reynolds, age 44, from Muscatine, Iowa, was sentenced to 384 months imprisonment after having been convicted at trial for Enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct, 180 months for Production of Child Pornography, and 120 months for receipt of child pornography, all sentences to run concurrently, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. United States District Judge Robert W. Pratt also ordered Reynolds to serve fifteen years on supervised release following imprisonment and pay $300 towards the Crime Victims Fund.

From December of 2008 to January of 2009, Reynolds communicated on-line with a thirteen-year-old minor female for the purpose of enticing her to engage in sexual conduct. Near the end of January of 2009, Reynolds lured the minor out of her home and met with her on the street in Muscatine. Reynolds used force to get the minor to submit to his sexual advances. Later the Federal Bureau of Investigation seized Reynolds's cellular telephone and determined that he had received pornographic images of another minor female that Reynolds had requested from her.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muscatine Iowa Police Department. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

15 Aug 2012

Sprouts Selected for Semi-Finals in State Fair Talent Search

By Lori Chappell

DES MOINES, IA (08/14/2012)(readMedia)-- Six talented Sprout division acts (ages 2-12) have advanced to the semi-final round in Bill Riley's 53rd annual Iowa State Fair Talent Search. Each act will perform again on August 16 or 18.

The names, ages, hometowns and routines of the acts are:

Emma Destigter, 9, Moville; Taylor Knaack, 10, Correctionville, Tap Dance

Colby Fiscella, 10, Norwalk, Vocal/Guitar Solo

Alissa Marie Girsch, 12, Davenport, Vocal Solo

Jacie Hawthorne, 12, Scranton, Vocal Solo

Olivia Reiter, 10, Waterloo, Vocal Solo

Sammy Campero, 9, Des Moines, Comedian

Bill Riley, Jr. is once again hosting the competition. Two Sprout acts will be crowned champions every day of the semi-finals. The six winning acts will perform in the talent-packed championship set for Sunday, August 19 at 1:30 p.m. on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage sponsored by Pepsi.

Each of the six Sprout Champions will receive a prize of $250 after the Championship Show. More than $15,000 will be awarded to the Senior and Sprout divisions combined.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2012 Iowa State Fair, August 9-19. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines, and are open 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. each day of the Fair. Exhibit hours may vary. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

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15 Aug 2012

Governor Quinn Signs Laws to Celebrate Agriculture Day at State Fair

By Erin Wilson

Laws Support State's Strong Agriculture Industry Currently Facing Drought

SPRINGFIELD - August 14, 2012.  Governor Pat Quinn today celebrated Illinois' agriculture heritage by signing five new laws to support the state's agriculture industry, which is currently facing record drought conditions. The governor signed the new laws on Agriculture Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, where agriculture producers from throughout the state are gathered to showcase livestock and other products made and grown in Illinois.

"As Illinois faces the worst drought in recent history, it is important that we do everything possible to support our farmers and support our agriculture industry," Governor Quinn said.

House Bill 5540, sponsored by Rep. Donald Moffitt (R-Gilson) and Sen. Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap), formally names the Illinois Department of Agriculture's (Ag) administration building the John. R. Block building in honor of the Illinois native's distinguished service. It passed the General Assembly unanimously.

Block, a Galesburg-area native and West Point graduate, served as Illinois agriculture director from 1977 to 1981. He was appointed U.S. secretary of Agriculture in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and played an instrumental role in the development of the 1985 Farm Bill, legislation credited with restoring economic stability to the American farming industry. Governor Quinn recently urged Congress to renew the Farm Bill, which would provide vital aid to farmers in drought-stricken areas.

The governor also signed House Bill 5539, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Dugan (D-Bradley) and Sen. Michael Frerichs (D-Champaign). The law creates the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC), a program dedicated to enhancing the use of fertilizers and protecting water quality from losing nutrients. The new law will support important fertilizer regulatory programs and is designed to revitalize nutrient research through Illinois' universities and apply this knowledge in the farm field.

Governor Quinn also signed House Bill 5115, sponsored by Rep. Kay Hatcher (R-Yorkville) and Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal Lake). The law is designed to protect cattle pastures from damage caused by wildlife. The new law amends the Wildlife Code to include cattle pastures specifically as a type of property that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) may investigate. In addition, it allows DNR to determine whether the wildlife causing the damage needs to be removed, and clarifies that DNR will issue a permit to address the species responsible for causing the damage.

In order to prevent the pollution of Illinois waterways, Governor Quinn signed House Bill 5642, sponsored by Rep. Michael Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) and Sen. Michael Frerichs (D-Champaign). The legislation establishes fees on livestock producers that will help the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency administer the federally-mandated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. The law is supported by the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Pork Producers Association, the Illinois Beef Association and the Illinois Dairyman's Association.

House Bill 4598, sponsored by Rep. Patrick Verschoore (D-Rock Island) and Sen. David Koehler (D-Pekin), was also signed today. The law is designed to increase traffic safety by requiring certain vehicles to display a slow-moving vehicle emblem before traveling on Illinois roadways. The new law requires all farm implements and tractors, non-highway vehicles, and special mobile equipment or animal-drawn vehicles to display the slow-moving vehicle emblem.

All of the laws signed today are effective immediately. Following the signings, Governor Quinn will preside over the annual Governor's Sale of Champions taking place at the State Fair, during which champion livestock raised by youths interested in the agriculture industry will be auctioned. Proceeds will benefit agriculture education programs as well as the young producers.

For more information about the Illinois State Fair, please visit StateFair.Illinois.gov. To learn more about the state's efforts to combat drought conditions, visit Drought.Illinois.gov.

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15 Aug 2012

Local Students to Attend Creighton University in the Fall

By Deborah Daley

OMAHA, NE (08/14/2012)(readMedia)-- Local students will be attending Creighton University along with almost 1,000 other freshmen this fall. They will be part of a freshman class that is academically strong, diverse and engaged in community and service activities.

The academic profile of the 2012 freshman class places Creighton among the top six private universities in the Midwest with more than 4,000 undergraduates. Move-in for freshmen is Saturday, Aug. 18, and marks the beginning of a weeklong schedule of activities for the new students.

Michael Holdsworth of Sherrard, Ill., a Sherrard High School graduate entering the College of Arts & Sciences

Katherine Huiskamp of Davenport, Iowa, a Davenport Assumption Catholic High School graduate entering the College of Business

Christina Laubenthal of Davenport, Iowa, a Davenport Assumption Catholic High School graduate entering the College of Business

Ellie Simpson of Davenport, Iowa, a Davenport Assumption Catholic High School graduate entering the School of Nursing

Andrew Wilson of Eldridge, Iowa, a North Scott High School graduate entering the College of Arts & Sciences

About Creighton University: Creighton University, a Catholic, Jesuit institution located in Omaha, Neb., enrolls more than 4,200 undergraduate and 3,500 professional school and graduate students. No other university its size offers students such a comprehensive academic environment coupled with personal attention from faculty-mentors.With nine colleges and schools on the same campus, Creighton affords incomparable interdisciplinary learning and unique opportunities for collaborative research among arts and sciences, business, health sciences and law. Creighton has been a top-ranked Midwestern regional university in the college edition of U.S. News & World Report magazine for more than 20 years. For more information, visit our website at: www.creighton.edu.

15 Aug 2012

WQPT's THE CITIES WITH JIM MERTENS NOW AIRING ON WVIK

By Rick Martin

MOLINE, ILLINOIS --  WQPT's local public affairs program "The Cities with Jim Mertens," which airs on the public television station on Thursday at 6:30 pm and Sunday at 5:30 pm is now airing on our area's local public radio station, WVIK.

"We've been talking with WQPT about partnering on projects and like us they are committed to producing and airing more local programming. This was a great opportunity to expand the reach of 'The Cities' to the WVIK audience and to be able to work with our public television partners," said WVIK General Manager, Jay Pearce.   "We have changed our schedule to include a variety of public affairs and special interest programs each evening at 7:00.  On Fridays we pair 'The Cities' with 'Illinois State Week in Review'," said Mr. Pearce.

"At the present time 'The Cities' can be seen on WQPT Thursdays and Sundays, on the WQPT website which links to YouTube, on iTunes and now on WVIK on Fridays at 7 pm. It's great to be able to have our local public affairs program have the kind of reach 'The Cities' is enjoying," said WQPT Director of Local Content, Lora Adams.

"The Cities with Jim Mertens" began production in November 2010 and airs weekly. The program is taped in Davenport, Iowa at Stratus Broadcasting and Lora Adams and Jim Mertens serve as the programs producers. The two local public broadcasters are currently looking at other opportunities for partnership.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University in Moline, Illinois and WVIK is a media service of Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois.

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15 Aug 2012

Lt. Gov. Simon names Kati Phillips new chief of staff

By Justin Stofferahn

CHICAGO - August 14, 2012. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today announced that Kati Phillips will serve as her new chief of staff effective August 15. Phillips has served as the deputy chief of staff for communications in Simon's office since January 2011 and will continue to fulfill that role. She replaces DK Hirner who plans to work in Missouri.

As chief of staff and communications director, Phillips will work as a senior policy advisor, manage office operations and execute the administration's internal and external communications. She replaces DK Hirner who resigned after successfully re-establishing the office that had been vacant since 2009.

"Kati Phillips shares my commitment to transparency and accountability, and she will serve taxpayers well in this expanded role," Simon said. "I thank DK Hirner for her leadership in starting the office from scratch, and look forward to working with Kati to move our office and state forward."

Phillips formerly served as deputy director of communications for State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. Prior to entering public service, she was an education and news reporter at the Daily Southtown and Star Newspapers in the south suburbs of Chicago and Elmira Star-Gazette in upstate New York. Her watchdog coverage of school districts in Calumet Park and Sauk Village received local and national awards. Born and raised in Bloomington-Normal, Phillips graduated from the University of Iowa and resides in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago.

"I appreciate this opportunity to serve as chief of staff and maintain continuity in our leadership," Phillips said. "I have great respect for Lt. Governor Simon and am excited to pursue meaningful education and ethics reforms that will make a difference for Illinois students and taxpayers."

Among her accomplishments as chief of staff, Hirner lists the Lt. Governor's Complete College tour of the state's 48 community colleges and the resulting policy report, "Focus on the Finish." As a result of Simon's attention to education reform, Illinois was chosen by the Lumina Foundation to participate in its Postsecondary Productivity Strategy Labs, a network that is providing guidance on performance funding for community colleges and universities and higher education affordability and completion issues.

"Now that the office is fully operational and positioned to make a difference in the education of Illinois children, I feel my work in the Illinois Lt. Governor's office is complete," said Hirner, who previously served as the chief of staff and policy director for former Missouri Lt. Governor Mel Carnahan and deputy chief of staff for former Missouri Governor Bob Holden. "I plan to put my experience to good use in helping my friend of 33 years, Mary Still, in her run for the Missouri Senate. It has been a pleasure serving Illinois, and I wish Lt. Governor Simon and her staff all the best and continued success in the remainder of her term."

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14 Aug 2012

Taxpayer money to faltering battery manufacturer

By Grassley Press

Thune, Grassley Question Obama Administration on Taxpayer Funding of Faltering Battery Manufacturer Following Planned Chinese Investment

WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to the Obama administration's Department of Energy (DOE) questioning the use of taxpayer dollars to shore up another faltering stimulus-funded company, A123 Systems Inc. Last week, a Chinese-based company, Wanxiang Group Corp., announced a substantial investment in the U.S. battery manufacturer, which could result in Chinese ownership of the company that could still receive over $100 million in U.S. taxpayer funds.

Thune and Grassley sent a letter to the DOE on June 25th requesting more information on Stimulus money transferred to A123 as it related to the taxpayer-backed loan guarantee to the troubled auto company Fisker. The Obama administration failed to address the senators' questions in a response letter.

The text of the senators' letter sent today is included below.

 

August 14, 2012

 

Dr. Stephen Chu

Secretary

Department of Energy

1000 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20585

 

Dear Secretary Chu:

We write today in regards to the Department of Energy (DOE) grant to A123 Systems, Inc., and the recent announcement of Wanxiang Group Corp, a China-based company, to heavily invest in the U.S. battery manufacturer.

In 2009, A123 was awarded a $249.1 million grant through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).  In a letter dated June 25, 2012, we asked you how much of this grant has yet to be transferred to A123.  Although you failed to answer this straightforward question, media reports indicate that A123 has approximately $120 million of the $249.1 million grant currently outstanding.

Recently, A123 and the China-based Wanxiang announced a $450 million deal to save the struggling battery manufacturer.  According to media reports, Wanxiang will purchase $200 million of A123's secured debt and provide up to an additional $250 million in financing.  A key part of this transaction gives Wanxiang the option to transfer some of this debt into ownership of the company, which could result in Wanxiang owing 80 percent of A123.

Billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars have flowed to foreign companies through the Recovery Act, and we are concerned that the recent announcement could lead to even more taxpayer dollars going overseas.  Given that A123 could soon be owned by a Chinese company, please answer the following questions with regards to this transaction and A123's outstanding Recovery Act grant:

1.         How much of A123's $249.1 million Recovery Act grant is still outstanding?

2.         Considering that A123 has already received millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars and could potentially receive up to $450 million from a foreign company, does A123 need additional taxpayer dollars to continue its operations?

3.         If the A123-Wanxiang transaction is approved, how will that impact future distributions of A123's Recovery Act grant, if at all?

4.         If the A123-Wanxiang transaction is approved and Wanxiang exercises its option to convert A123's debt into equity, does DOE still plan to distribute the unused portion of A123's Recovery Act grant?  If so, why?

5.         What assurances does DOE have that Wanxiang will not simply wait until the additional grant money is awarded and then exercise its option to convert A123's debt into ownership of the U.S.-subsidized company?  Would DOE view that as an appropriate outcome?  If so, why?

6.         What assurances, if any, does DOE have that the A123-Wanxiang transaction and additional DOE funding through the Recovery Act will not lead to a transfer of taxpayer-funded intellectual property to a China-based company, or that the taxpayer funded manufacturing jobs will remain in the United States?

7.         With the recent announcement that Wanxiang will be investing in A123, will the DOE place additional milestones on A123's progress before awarding the additional Recovery Act grant dollars, and if so, what would those be?   What assurances does DOE have, if any, that A123 has solved its technical problems and that A123 will become profitable in the near future?

8.         In an August 3, 2012, letter to us, Acting Executive Director of DOE's Loan Program Office David Frantz wrote that, "(t)he Department is in constant dialogue with A123 to stay abreast of progress, challenges, plans and developments to assure that the project is meeting the objectives as defined in the grant.  DOE is also continually monitoring risk and financial conditions.  As part of this "continual monitoring" when did DOE become aware of A123's pending transaction with Wanxiang?

9.         Did DOE raise any objection to this transaction?  If so, when?  Please provide documents supporting any objection raised by DOE to this transaction.

Thank you for your cooperation and attention in this matter.  We would appreciate a response by August 21, 2012.

Sincerely,

 

John Thune

Charles Grassley

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