04 Apr 2007

Senior Citizens, Big Business, & a Labor Union Walk Into a Presidential Campaign...: Divided We Fall

By Randy Stalsberg

The numbers behind the "Divided We Fail" send a clear message to presidential candidates: Ignore us at your peril.

AARP has 38 million members nationwide. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) represents 1.8 million workers and is the country's largest labor union. And Business Roundtable has roughly 160 member companies with a combined workforce of 10 million people and annual revenues of $4.5 trillion.

Those are the core organizations behind Divided We Fail, an initiative that aims to make health care and long-term financial security (an umbrella covering Social Security) the primary issues in the 2008 presidential campaign. The effort, which was launched earlier this year (and was announced in the Quad Cities last week), will focus initially on four states with early influence on the presidential nominating process: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina.

04 Apr 2007

The Seven Project Means Hope for Teens

By Administrator

Because many of us were once teenagers, we rely on those past experiences to help us understand and cope with the behavior of today's teens. That works only to a point. While many of the problems that plagued our post-pubescent years are similar to those of our children, the scope, depth, and intensity varies significantly with the times.

The times greatly contribute to the evolution of common issues that often overwhelm, confuse, and misdirect young people - more today than ever before.

04 Apr 2007

Preschool Bill Has Problems

By administrator

Within the next two weeks, the Iowa Senate will be debating early-childhood-education legislation (HF877) to create new programs that will provide voluntary preschool education for four-year-olds. The concept is a good one, but the current proposal has some problems.

04 Apr 2007

Poll Suggests an Uphill Battle for Gross-Receipts-Tax Plan

By Joel Knutsen

Governor Rod Blagojevich insists that his proposed gross-receipts tax on business doesn't break his campaign promise last year not to raise income or sales taxes, but a recent poll finds voters think otherwise.

The very last question of the 45-question poll, in which voters were told both positive and negative aspects of the proposal, asks this: "Now, during the campaign, Governor Blagojevich promised not to raise income or sales taxes. By increasing business taxes, do you think he is keeping his promise or not?"

28 Mar 2007

Competing Tax Proposals Face Difficult Legislative Road

By Rich Miller

There are two major tax-increase proposals competing for support in the Illinois General Assembly. You've probably read about both, but you may not know the whole story.

The governor has a huge tax-hike proposal on the agenda. It's called a "gross receipts" tax, and it basically means that every dollar a business brings in the door is subject to taxation without regard for whether the business is actually profitable. (See cover story in this issue.)

21 Mar 2007

Here Come the Red Berets: The Guardian Angels Are Poised to Start Street Patrols in Davenport

By Administrator

625-cover-thumb.jpg Sixteen years ago, Jeremy Boots heard about the Guardian Angels, did some research on the public-safety organization, and wrote to its New York City headquarters. The group, best known for patrolling neighborhoods and public-transportation systems with teams of unarmed volunteers, sent him its newsletter and then tried to recruit him.

"They were wanting me to start a chapter up" in Davenport, he said.

21 Mar 2007

Another Historic Opportunity

By Administrator

On Monday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m. on the second floor of the River Music Experience, the City of Davenport is hosting a "kickoff" meeting that will commence a "public process to design the expansion of LeClaire Park." The city's news release reads: "With the pending departure of the Isle of Capri's Rhythm City gaming operation away from the riverfront, a historic opportunity exists for the community to gather and collectively share ideas to transform the soon-to-be vacated property to uses everyone can enjoy and be proud of." The city claims that no design consultants will be used to "develop the conceptual plans" to expand LeClaire Park. The staff will introduce the project and provide background information and a schedule of upcoming input sessions. The city states: "The project's focus will be to use a community-based, grassroots approach to help the city take the next step in the evolution of its magnificent Mississippi riverfront."

21 Mar 2007

Quiet Legislative Leader Delivers a Loud Message

By Rich Miller

Illinois House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie usually hangs back and lets others make news. Since getting the number-two job in the House Democratic caucus in 1997, she hasn't been known for being way out front on major issues. And as far as I can remember, she's never once publicly criticized Governor Rod Blagojevich.

14 Mar 2007

Iowa Film Incentives Are Likely, But Are They Worth It?

By Administrator

Film incentives in Iowa are likely to become law this legislative session after being approved by a house committee last week.

But it remains an open question how much of a boost House File 411 - which would create three types of incentives for film production in Iowa - would provide to the state's motion-picture industry, and whether the state would benefit financially from the incentives.

14 Mar 2007

Tax Issue Adds New Wrinkle to Debate Over Governor's Plans

By Administrator

Governor Rod Blagojevich proposed no direct property-tax relief during his annual budget address at the Statehouse last week, but afterwards he told me in an interview that he would back the idea if a crucial Senate Democrat demanded it.

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