WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley will hold 11 meetings in Iowa during the week of January 20 as part of his 99-county tour.

Grassley has held at least one meeting in each of Iowa's 99 counties every year since he was first elected to the U.S. Senate. He started this year's series on Jan. 3 in Floyd and Chickasaw counties.

On Jan. 20, 21, 22, and 24, Grassley will hold meetings in Clarksville, Ackley, Conrad, Waverly, Independence, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Ankeny, Boone, Nevada and State Center.

"Representative government is a two-way street.  It's strengthened by dialogue between elected officials and the people we represent," Grassley said.  "I appreciate the opportunity to go directly to Iowans in their workplaces and where they're gathered for civic group meetings for question and answer sessions.  I also enjoy meeting with high school students as they study current affairs and government."

Grassley will be available for 15 minutes after each meeting to answer questions from local reporters.  Members of the media should contact the individual organization about attending each event, as Grassley is a guest of the organization.

In addition to the county meetings, on Jan. 22 Grassley will give a speech on whistleblowing and government accountability at the University of Northern Iowa following a Q&A with an Iowa politics class.  On Jan. 23, Grassley will speak at "Hearing in the Heartland:  Supporting the Renewable Fuels Standard," hosted by Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds.  More information about this event is available here.

 

Grassley's schedule for the week of January 20 is as follows:­

 

Monday, January 20

9-10 a.m.

Q&A with students at Clarksville High School

318 North Mather

Clarksville

*Grassley will be available for 15 minutes after the meeting to answer questions from local reporters.

 

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Q&A with the Ackley Chamber of Commerce

Presbyterian Village

502 Butler Street

Ackley

*Grassley will be available for 15 minutes after the meeting to answer questions from local reporters.

 

1:45-2:45 p.m.

Tour and Q&A with employees at Ritchie Industries, Inc.

120 South Main Street

Conrad

*Grassley will be available for 15 minutes after the meeting to answer questions from local reporters.

 

Tuesday, January 21

9:45-10:45 a.m.

Tour and Q&A with employees at Terex Cranes
106 12th St SE

Waverly
*Grassley will be available for 15 minutes after the meeting to answer questions from local reporters.

 

Noon-1 p.m.

Q&A with the Rotary Club of Independence

Bill's Pizza

201 1st Street West

Independence

*Grassley will be available for 15 minutes after the meeting to answer questions from local reporters.

 

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Tour and Q&A with employees at TrueNorth Transportation Division

500 1st Street Southeast

Cedar Rapids

*Grassley will be available for 15 minutes after the meeting to answer questions from local reporters.

 

Wednesday, January 22

2-3 p.m.

Q&A with Iowa politics class

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls

 

3:15-4:15 p.m.

Speech and Q&A on Whistleblowing and Government Accountability

Maucker Union, University Room

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls

*This event is free and open to the public.  Grassley will be available to 15 minutes after the meeting to answer questions from local media.

 

Thursday, January 23

3-4 p.m.

"Hearing in the Heartland:  Supporting the Renewable Fuels Standard"

Hall of Laureates

100 Locust Street

Des Moines

 

Friday, January 24

8:30-9:30 a.m.

Tour and Q&A with employees at Lorenz & Jones Marine Distributor

3402 SE Convenience Boulevard

Ankeny

*Grassley will be available for 15 minutes after the meeting to answer questions from local reporters.

 

11 a.m.-Noon

Tour and Q&A with employees at Rolfes @ Boone

1773 219th Lane

Boone

*Grassley will be available for 15 minutes after the meeting to answer questions from local reporters.

 

1-2 p.m.

Q&A with students at Nevada High School
1001 15th Street

Nevada

*Grassley will be available for 15 minutes after the meeting to answer questions from local reporters.

 

2:45-3:30 p.m.

Q&A with students at West Marshall High School
601 3rd Street NW

State Center

*Grassley will be available for 15 minutes after the meeting to answer questions from local reporters.

 

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Hosts Meet and Greet events in Boone, Algona, Garner, and Forest City

DES MOINES, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley took his campaign for US Senate in 2014 to four North Iowa communities today to host informal "Meet and Greet" events with local residents. The events in Boone, Algona, Garner, and Forest City marks his first campaign events in these communities since announcing his candidacy for Senate.

Braley said, "Today in Iowa, the middle class struggles with rising costs and shrinking opportunities. Politicians in Washington ignore the real problems and often make things worse. I'm running for Senate to fight for the things that matter most to Iowans.

"I grew up in Brooklyn, Iowa, and I've never forgotten where I come from. My parents taught me the value of hard work, and I worked hard in jobs like road construction to help put myself through college. In the Senate, I'll work for Iowa to create jobs, help small businesses succeed, and protect Social Security and Medicare. I'll fight for middle class Iowans, because that's where I come from."

Braley is continuing to travel the state to discuss his background and his campaign to create jobs, help small businesses succeed, and strengthen the middle class. 

Bruce Braley was born in Grinnell and grew up in nearby Brooklyn, Iowa. His father, a Marine who fought on Iwo Jima in World War II, and his mother, a teacher, taught him the value of hard work. Braley worked jobs like road construction and truck driving to help pay his way through college and law school. As an attorney in Waterloo, Braley represented Iowans who took on powerful interests and big corporations. Elected to the US House in 2006, Braley has worked to create Iowa jobs, protect farms, strengthen small businesses, and stand up for veterans. Bruce Braley is running for Senate to fight for the things that matter most to Iowans. He'll fight for middle class families, because that's where he comes from.

Braley lives in Waterloo with his wife, Carolyn. They have three children: Lisa, David, and Paul.
# # #
West Des Moines, Iowa - Jacobs for Iowa today announced that U.S. Senate candidate Mark Jacobs raised over $400,000 in the fourth quarter of 2013 from contributors.

Fundraising highlights include :

  • Widespread support from Iowans, with contributions received from 57 Iowa counties.
  • Jacobs raised more in six weeks than Joni Ernst, Matt Whitaker, Sam Clovis, and Scott Schaben raised combined in the entire third quarter.
  • Mark has raised more money from Iowans than any other candidate has reported to date.

"Today's fundraising report is another indicator of the support Mark has received because of his jobs and opportunity message since entering the race for U.S. Senate," said campaign manager Brian Dumas.

Dumas added, "When you look at the fact that Mark was able to raise this amount of money in only a six week period, truncated further by two major holidays, it is a strong signal that Mark is running a first-rate campaign, the kind of campaign it will take to defeat Bruce Braley."

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  To learn more about Mark Jacobs, please visit: www.jacobsforiowa.com

Strong education leaders needed in 2014 elections

By Jeanne Allen & Kara Kerwin

Thanks to assessments of educational progress, we know where our children stand compared to other communities, states, and even nations. Now that the holidays are behind us, it's time to take stock of how we are doing, and set resolutions for the New Year.

According to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), U.S. students are lagging behind. 2012 results show the U.S. is on a rapid decline, ranking 36th in math, 24th in reading, and 28th in science. On the Nation's Report Card (NAEP), only 34% of 8th graders are proficient in reading and math.

Where have we gone wrong? Quite simply, we've elected the wrong people.

In response to children demonstrating less proficiency, the Governors of the 1980s started a movement that reduced federal meddling in state policy and united both parties over issues of choice and accountability. Then-Governors Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Bill Clinton of Arkansas embraced transformative changes, coalesced other state leaders into an outspoken force, and brought their efforts to national prominence at a groundbreaking policy-making summit in Charlottesville, VA.  Governor Tommy Thompson partnered with Democratic and African-American lawmaker Polly Williams to enact the nation's first voucher program for the neediest children.

Bold leadership in the 1990s saw then-Michigan Governor John Engler buck his own party to equalize school funding, permit parent choices, and enact a charter school law that remains a national model today. Standards and accountability were heresy when Virginia Governor George Allen decided his state needed uniform measures to elevate outcomes. Pennsylvania's Tom Ridge created a tax credit program to fund school choice scholarships and secured a hard-fought charter school law. And Jeb Bush of Florida oversaw some of the deepest education policy changes the nation has ever seen.

That fervor ignited a movement of educators, parents, and community leaders who started schools, turned around existing ones, became legislators, and created innovations in learning and school delivery, including digital learning. What was once a fast and furious run for school reform from the ground up has come to a steady crawl, incapable of reversing educational decline.

When governors are strong, they counter special interests - teachers unions, school boards associations, and the like - that inhibit progress. When governors are weak, policies emanate from "above" to supplant state programs. Apathetic or timid governors wait for bills to reach their desks, allow special interests to organize, and govern by favorability ratings. The result is a lack of commitment to executing much needed changes.

For example, charter schools are known to be hotbeds of innovation or providers of quality education. Despite numerous studies attesting to their progress in closing the achievement gap, charter schools are still expanding in low numbers in some states, and exist with policies that hamstring those who wish to open them in others. It sounds dramatic that 42 states and D.C. have charter laws, but only half that number have any vibrant charter environment that can help a small number of students. State leaders are key to creating more options, yet laws that need to be improved are compromised from the first discussions.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Bashear recently remarked that his state didn't need charter schools because the education system was improving, despite evidence to the contrary. He was confusing activity and effort with results, a common problem among today's leaders.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett once declared education a top priority but has achieved little reform despite his party's full control of the state legislature. Even with Chris Christie, New Jersey moved forward in requiring teachers be evaluated as a condition of employment, yet the final compromise with unions resulted in more ways to skirt the system.

Some state officials show promise of becoming tomorrow's reform leaders. Wisconsin's Scott Walker looked unions in the eye and didn't blink. Louisiana's Bobby Jindal has set records for positive education reform lawmaking in a state where a devastating storm served as a catalyst for a new public education landscape. Both have state legislatures excited to join them in fighting the status quo.

Make no mistake - the U.S. education system remains in crisis and the achievement gap between poor and minority students and the rest of society remains wide. Most people are aware that the solution is not more money or superficial changes. The key to solving the crisis is electing governors who understand that they have the power to change a system, and holding them accountable to do so. With 36 gubernatorial elections underway in 2014, we should all resolve to make education our top priority when we take to the polls in November.

###

Jeanne Allen founded the Center for Education Reform (CER) in 1993. Today she serves as senior fellow and president-emeritus. She is President of The Allen Company and currently writes and speaks regularly all over the country on education and cultural issues.

Kara Kerwin is Allen's successor as president. CER, based in the Washington, DC metro-area, is the leading national voice and advocate for lasting, substantive and structural education reform in the U.S. For more information or to join CER and its thousands of members, visit our website at www.edreform.com.

Giertz will serve as campaign spokesperson effective Monday, January 6

DES MOINES, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley announced today that Jeff Giertz will serve as communications director for his 2014 US Senate campaign, effective Monday, January 6, 2014.

"Jeff is a smart and capable communicator with deep Iowa roots and years of campaign experience," Braley said. "He's a terrific addition to my campaign team as we work to spread our message of creating jobs, helping small businesses succeed, and fighting for middle class Iowans."

Giertz, a native of the Quad Cities, first worked for Braley during his successful 2006 Congressional campaign and then served as Braley's communications director during his first two terms in Congress until October 2009.  After his departure, Giertz worked for US Rep. Charlie Melancon's 2010 bid for US Senate in Louisiana and for the North Carolina Senate Democratic Caucus before returning to work as Braley's communications director in September 2011. Giertz also managed Braley's successful 2012 re-election campaign. 

He is a 2005 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Giertz can be reached at jeff@brucebraley.com and (319) 830-6666 (cell).

Bruce Braley was born in Grinnell and grew up in nearby Brooklyn, Iowa. His father, a Marine, fought on Iwo Jima in World War II; his mother was a teacher. Braley worked his way through college and law school building roads and bridges with the Poweshiek County Roads Department and working other jobs. He worked as an attorney for 23 years before being elected to Congress. He knows what it means to be a kid from a working family who just wants the opportunity to succeed. That's why he's running for Senate - to fight to strengthen the middle class, stand up for veterans, provide educational opportunities, and protect the American dream. Braley lives in Waterloo with his wife, Carolyn. They have three children: Lisa, David, and Paul.
# # #
ROCK ISLAND - Republican candidate for U.S. Congress, Eric Reyes, released the following statement concerning his choice to withdraw from the 17th District Congressional race:

"I owe a special thank you to my friends, family, campaign staff & volunteers, and ardent supporters everywhere for their time and effort put into spreading the message of liberty in Illinois. I am eternally grateful to the people of the 17th District for giving us their time, wherever we met them," Reyes went on to say.

"This campaign has never been about me. It has always been about getting America back on the path our founders intended. As a party, we Republicans need to be united in our efforts and therefore, rather than continue to divide the party and waste precious time and resources of all involved, I have chosen to withdraw my candidacy and focus on advancing the principles of freedom, liberty, and limited Constitutional government by other means."

"The fact is, as bad as the situation in Washington is, the situation here at home is even worse.  We live in a state that is taxing itself out of competition for businesses. We have a budget and pension system that was recently 'reformed' by kicking the can down the road for the umpteenth time and hoping things will just magically get better. We also still live in the state with the most restrictive gun laws that infringe upon law abiding citizens' Constitutional rights and that have allowed increasing crime to continue to plague our society. I have no intention of standing by and watching our great state go the way of Detroit." Reyes said.

Eric Reyes is a Constitutional Lawyer from Rock Island, Illinois. More information about Eric Reyes and his plans to restore America can be found at www.EricReyes.us

##

WEST DES MOINES - U.S. Senate candidate Mark Jacobs today submitted the following comment to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the proposed changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS):

Subject: Protect the RFS, economic growth, consumer choice, and enhance national security: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0479

Dear President Obama and EPA Administrator McCarthy:

I am deeply concerned that the proposal to reduce the amount of renewable fuel we use under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) will negatively impact jobs and economic growth in my home state of Iowa as well as other states.

In addition, the proposed changes will result in reduced consumer choices and higher prices at the pump across the country. Ethanol has demonstrated that it can compete head-to-head with petroleum products on an economic basis. Today, however, the oil industry exerts significant influence and control over the distribution of transportation fuels, and the RFS is essential to help level the playing field for alternative sources of energy.

We need reliable, affordable energy that is developed in an environmentally responsible way. Increased energy production in America can add thousands of new jobs and help keep energy prices low for all Americans. Low energy prices, in turn, help drive growth in other sectors of the economy. Renewable energy sources can continue to play an important role in this regard. The development of the renewable fuels industry has been one of the great success stories in America, and it has helped us reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

In Iowa alone, the renewable fuel industry supports 60,000 direct and indirect jobs. Most of these jobs are located in our rural communities. Reducing the amount of renewable fuels means replacing it with more oil. Studies have shown that this proposal would result in several billion dollars of additional cost for consumers. Moreover, the U.S. has a stated policy of enhancing our national security by reducing our dependence on the Middle East. Over the last seven years, our dependence on foreign oil has dropped from over 60% to just over 40%. The development of the renewable fuel industry has played a significant role in this improvement.

The RFS has been under attack recently. I would encourage our policymakers to look beyond the rhetoric and carefully consider the facts. Without the RFS, our nation's transportation fuels market will be left as a petroleum monopoly, with prices subject to the whims of geopolitical events. American families will be denied sensible fuel alternatives and our economy will be denied precious, good-paying jobs. We must protect the RFS. In the case of renewable fuel, what's good for Iowa is also good for American consumers.

Mr. President and Administrator McCarthy, I respectfully ask that you do what's right and stand up for everyday Americans and protect the current RFS.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Mark Jacobs

###

To learn more about Mark Jacobs, please visit: www.jacobsforiowa.com

Ms. Hunter:

The Des Moines Register's coverage of the exploratory announcement of Sen. Jack Hatch and the exploratory announcement of Jonathan Narcisse for the Democratic Party nomination raises grave concerns about both The Des Moines Register's agenda and continued bias.

The Des Moines Register states in your December 21st article: "Narcisse is best known for his contentious two years on the Des Moines school board. He faced censure from his peers following his string of stinging public criticisms about fellow board and school leaders."

Before I ask you why Sen. Hatch's controversies, including his formal Statehouse Press conference apology for his n-word tirade, were not mentioned in his announcement article on May 28th I have some questions for you:

Why does your publication call Narcisse controversial?

As a member of the Des Moines School Board Jonathan Narcisse always backed up his concerns with hard data and facts beyond refutation. For years your publication has labeled him even while ignoring so many of the very important data driven issues he raised.

How was Narcisse contentious?

Des Moines School Board meetings exist on tape - audio and video. An examination of the archived record proves he did not initiate conflict as a board member.

Does The Des Moines Register call him contentious because he said things his fellow board members didn't approve of despite their inability to factually dispute his statements.

One of the more prominent challenges to Narcisse came when he raised questions about security in the Des Moines School District following the shooting at Cleveland Tech. The response from board officers was that they were tired of hearing about school violence every time a kid got shot in America.

Another challenge to Narcisse was frustration with articles he published and radio commentaries advocating an end to social promotion in the Des Moines School District. At a board meeting a frustrated member said to Narcisse she was tired of him bringing up social promotion, asked what it is and stated it should be discussed once and never again.

Are those the contentious actions you are referencing?

One thing that was identified as contentious was when Narcisse emailed staff and conducted a survey asking them for their top academic reform priorities. Despite more than 2,000 staff responding to the survey it was reported a misuse of the District's email system by Superintendent Nancy Sebring and board members who later covered up her use of the District's email system to engage in inappropriate sexual activity.

At the board meeting where a vote was taken to ban Narcisse from emailing staff in the future the chair of the board stated "Mr. Narcisse may understand this technology but the rest of us do not."

Even your own editorial board encouraged the board not to vote on this item.

Another thing Narcisse did that was called contentious was conduct public hearings to listen to the concerns and priorities of his constituents even though he invited other board members to attend and participate in the well-attended hearings.

Again, are these the type of contentious activities you are referencing?

If not please state what his contentious actions were based on your article's pronouncement.

Ms. Hunter, Narcisse why is a non-existent censure mentioned in the article announcing Narcisse is exploring a run for Governor?

Again, JONATHAN NARCISSE WAS NEVER CENSURED!

Why does The Des Moines Register make reference to a non-existent censure?

Finally, why do you state the controversy, contentiousness and censure are the things he is best known for?

This characterization of Narcisse ignores the local, state and national recognition he has earned through three decades of activism that began with his election as Co-chair of the Polk County Democratic Party in the early 1980s to the present.

Narcisse earned national recognition for his statewide advocacy on urban affairs and for leading groundbreaking education and health hearings. This recognition included national media reports and a weeklong profile of Narcisse and his work on BET.

Your characterization ignores Narcisse's longstanding impact on education that pre-dated his joining the Des Moines School Board. It also ignores his activism on education issues after he left the board including his presence last year representing Iowa at a national education conference in Washington, D.C., where he was elected Chair of the Small States Caucus.

Narcisse is the youngest member of the Iowa African American Hall of Fame, a fraternity of less than 75 members that includes the likes of George Washington Carver, Alexander G. Clark and Dr. Simon Estes. It was not his so-called controversy or contentiousness that earned him induction in 2009 to the prestigious hall his final year on the Des Moines School Board.

Narcisse was a weekly fixture on television and radio in Des Moines, including WHO 1040 AM and also hosted various weekly radio shows in Waterloo including the Weekly Legislative Wrap. He has published various periodicals statewide, not just the Iowa Bystander and El Comunicador but Cyclone Nation and Hawkeye Times.

Narcisse has received more than 400 awards and honors including being recognized by the Bush, Clinton and Bush administrations and the Branstad, Vilsack and Culver administrations. Two of his more prestigious national awards include The Washington Times Youth Service Award and The SBA Region VII Minority Business Advocate of the Year Award. He was also a national finalist for the SBA Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year award, nominated by the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce.

Also in 2009, the time you describe as controversial and contentious, Narcisse received the Pinnacle Award for outstanding community service from the Culver Administration. Lt. Governor Patty Judge personally presented him the award.

Despite The Des Moines Register's misrepresentation Narcisse is clearly known at the local, state and national levels for many things beyond his so-called "controversy, contentiousness and non-existent censure."

Even before his election to the Des Moines School Board the Clinton Administration sought a collaboration with him, as did the Bush Administration, a fact your publication reported on. The Obama Administration's Department of Education also contacted Narcisse to tap into his insights and data regarding the state of education in Iowa.

Staff at the Register, including you, are aware of these facts yet the Des Moines Register not only went out of its way to dismiss his long list of accomplishments in its December 21st article it went out of its way to cast his time on the board in a negative light despite the evidence documenting the many positive changes that took place as a result of his service on the board.

Ms. Hunter please explain "controversial, contentious and the non-existent censure" and why they are part of this story.

The Des Moines Register's blatant attempts to diminish Narcisse, are not only unfair and unwarranted but they have the potential to detract from the very important points he is making about poverty, justice, education, and accountability.

Meanwhile The Des Moines Register is glowing in its coverage of Sen. Hatch's consideration of running in your May 28th article: "Why not Jack Hatch for governor...Bringing real business experience to Terrace Hill," "a governor who knows how to grow Iowa communities," "a nationally recognized leader in health care," "a leader who walks the walk in public service," "a leader with a distinguished legislative career," "a leader who fights for Democratic priorities."

What isn't in the article is mention of Hatch's controversies especially the Statehouse press conference he was forced to hold to apologize for his racist n-word rant. Senator Hatch did not spew his comments during a drunken rage, Mel Gibson style caught on a hidden smart phone. His n-word tirade took place during the legislative session, at the Statehouse, on the floor of the legislature. He was sober, he didn't hesitate, he wasn't remorseful, he meant every word he said when, out of frustration for stalled legislation he walked up to an African American legislator and said, as a part of his diatribe: "They are treating us like n-word up here, like masters and slaves..."

His comments were so vile and offensive an African American legislative staffer reported the incident to local community leadership whose subsequent outrage eventually forced Sen. Hatch to make his Statehouse Mea Culpa.

Ms. Hunter, please explain how a non-existent censure warrants mention in an exploratory announcement for Narcisse yet Sen. Hatch's official Statehouse press conference apology for his racist and incendiary rant didn't warrant a single mention?

Ms. Hunter, are we to believe had a Republican leader in the legislature, instead of a so-called liberal/progressive Des Moines Register favorite, gone into an n-word tirade he or she would have gotten off as easy as Jack Hatch?

Would Republican Senators such as Brad Zaun or Jack Whitver been pardoned so quickly by Des Moines Register editors and the editorial board had they flew into the rage Sen. Hatch did and started using the n-word and other racist imagery out of frustration? Or would they have been the subject of sustained editorial condemnation calling for a formal censure using such hateful language while in session?

Is your biased coverage confirmation of candidate preference? If The Des Moines Register is committed to Sen. Hatch winning the nomination just be upfront about it.

Or is an angry, racist rant in a formal setting such as the floor of the legislature by a so-called liberal/progressive favorite of your publication not considered "controversial and contentious" by the editors and editorial board at The Des Moines Register?

Please explain Ms. Hunter!

Bobby Young

President of the Iowa Urban Initiative

 

About Bobby Young

Bobby Young, President of the Iowa Urban Initiative, is also the President of the Pastor and Minister's Alliance of Greater Des Moines and Pastor of Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist Church. He will also keynote the Annual MLK program on January 19th at Open Bible Church located at the corner of Beaver and Hickman in Des Moines.

About The Iowa Urban Initiative

The Iowa Urban Initiative is a grassroots organization focused on urban community empowerment focusing on voter education, political action, education, economics, health, family, faith, justice and leadership training and development.

Narcisse Article:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20131222/NEWS09/312220060/Narcisse-sets-sights-on-another-run-for-governor?Frontpage

Hatch Article: http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/05/28/democrat-jack-hatch-on-running-for-governor-its-really-likely/article

Iowans are a good, decent and honorable people. They work hard and will sacrifice for their friends, their neighbors or when leadership asks them to give more.

Unfortunately, the political classes from both parties have exploited Iowans' goodness.
Iowans are more vulnerable now than ever before. The guardians of state, our legislators and the governor, have not protected our working families, our taxpayers, our children. Instead government, at the state and local levels, has become a trough from which special and vested interests feed – while the rest of us pay for it.

Our families, our taxpayers, and our children need a champion in government.

I understand working Iowans' pains and passions. As a child of working class America, as a former co-chair of the Polk County Democratic Party, as a former Chair of a State Commission, and as a former Des Moines School Board Director, I have fought for working class Iowans. And, I want to continue to protect our families and our children.

The 2014 gubernatorial debate cannot be reduced to speeding troopers driving the governor and tired party clichés like "let's raise taxes." It must be about real solutions to Iowa's challenges based on the hard data and the hard truths facing our state.

On January 3, 1993, Iowans woke up to Terry Branstad as Governor, Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin as our U.S. Senators and Jim Leach, Jim Nussle, Dave Nagle, Neal Smith, Jim Ross Lightfoot, and Fred Grandy as Iowa's U.S. House Representatives delegation.

On January 3, 2013, Iowans, exactly 20 years to the date, went to bed with Terry Branstad as Governor, Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin as our U.S. Senators and Bruce Braley, David Loebsack, Tom Latham and Steve King as Iowa's U.S House Representatives delegation.

Beyond all the magazine articles, media reports, chamber and political propaganda, this 1.5 million population stagnation, resulting in the loss of two Congressional seats and two electoral votes, speaks to the need for not just meaningful conversations, but timely, relevant and impactful action.

Iowa is in trouble and those most able to speak to the challenges we face, from both parties, have failed.

So, I am forming an exploratory committee for a possible candidacy in the Democratic Gubernatorial Primary, which occurs on June 3, 2014.



Branstad 2.0 Fail
Four years ago Terry Branstad returned to Iowa politics making four promises to the voters of this state:
He'd create 200,000 jobs
He'd raise personal family income by 20%
He'd cut government by 15%
He'd make Iowa's public education system world class, once again

He has not kept those promises. More important, the day he uttered them we knew he would not, we knew he could not keep his promises.

Poverty, especially in our urban and rural areas is higher than ever before. State government spending, based on his administration's data, is greater than during the Culver years. And education in Iowa, evidenced again by his administration's data, is in worse condition than any point in recent history.

Governor Branstad had an opportunity to set things right following the debacle of the Culver years.

And he has done a better job than Gov. Culver.

Unfortunately candidate Branstad over promised and Gov. Branstad has under delivered.

Governor Branstad had an opportunity to restore integrity to governance. Instead too many of his key department, board and commission appointments went to his contributors and supporters rather than those best qualified to serve Iowans.

Governor Branstad has ignored much of the waste, inefficiency and cronyism within state government. And, he has ignored much of the waste, inefficiency and cronyism within Iowa's county, municipal and school district bureaucracies.

Governor Branstad has ignored his administration's hard data regarding staggering urban and rural poverty. More than 70% of the families with children in the Des Moines School District cannot feed them. And these numbers are not too far behind in several rural communities like Washington, Iowa, where approximately 70% of the families with children in those schools cannot feed them either. According to the Branstad Administration's data, approximately one million or 30% of Iowans are now clients of DHS. Those are non-duplicated numbers.

Governor Branstad has ignored the hard data regarding the disparity of justice between those "afflicted with affluenza" and those lacking the means to access equity in the courts.

Justice in Iowa should not be based on the size of your wallet. Yet, an objective analysis shows that Iowa's judicial system, like that in Texas, determines both the crime and punishment based on personal means and social status.

Governor Branstad has ignored the hard data regarding the explosion of urban violence in Des Moines, Waterloo, Davenport, etc...and the contributing factors that suggest the problem will get worse before it gets better.

Governor Branstad has ignored his own administration's data and warnings regarding the devastating consequences of not opting out of No Child Left Behind and as a result Iowa's public education system is in serious trouble.

His own former Chief of Education, Jason Glass, issued an ominous warning November 1, 2011, regarding the dire condition of education in Iowa. Gov. Branstad failed to act upon the warnings, Jason Glass is gone, and the precipitous decline in achievement in Iowa, based on his administration's data, has accelerated.

Yet, Governor Branstad's administration does not stand alone as the culprit.

Democrats have controlled the Iowa Senate during his administration as they did during a portion of the disastrous Culver Administration.

They have co-signed his major policies, co-signed his appointments and co-signed his practices as they did the major policies, appointments and practices of the failed Culver Administration.

While styles and rhetoric have been different, Democrats in the Senate own a full and vested share of Branstad 2.0 Fail just as they owned a full and vested share of Gov. Culver's failed administration.

Instead of fighting to protect Iowans from an administration weighted to the affluent and blind to working class Iowans, Senate Democrats personally prospered, some becoming very wealthy, while they collaborated in the unrelenting assault on working class Iowans and the most vulnerable first during the Culver years and now during the Branstad years.



I am a Democrat

Most of my life I've been a Democrat. I can't say in recent years I've been a proud member of the Iowa Democratic Party.

A wealthy, powerful and out-of-touch cabal transformed the party I was elected an officer of as a 20 year from a champion of the people, justice, fairness and opportunity into a lobbying firm for vested, powerful and special interests and their agendas.

My party has forsaken its principles and allowed justice to fall by the way side; allowed an assault on our once great public education system; and joined in the breaking of basic promises to those we ought to have protected instead.

I am a child of working class America. I understand the impact labor had on my life. It meant my father could put food on the table, pay his bills, and yet earn enough that my mother was a part of my life growing up.

He was able to earn a living working 40 hours per week, coach little league and serve as the President of the Callanan Junior High School PTA because of labor.

And his involvement in education inspired my concerns about it.

As a Democrat I understand that those individuals who taught our children, who ran into burning buildings without hesitation, who patrolled our streets and made them safe need us to protect them in the twilight of their lives.

Public pensions in Iowa are now in peril and IPERS is in grave danger due to the mismanagement of indifferent politicians and bureaucrats, from both parties, who grew their personal and political fortunes, while neglecting the promises we made to the men and women who served our state and our citizens honorably.

I do not know all the answers to this complex problem but I know that day one, as governor, I would pull together those best able to fix this problem and fix it.

And fix it responsibly!

Leaders from both parties have advocated raising taxes, especially the gas tax.

Such a tax increase would be devastating to Iowans struggling to make it to work, struggling to get their children to childcare and after school activities, struggling to put food on the table without the assistance of government, struggling to survive paycheck to paycheck.

Instead of discounting taxes for working Iowans in these harsh economic times, which is what we should be doing, leaders from both parties want to further strip working Iowans of the means to care for themselves and their families.

Recently I had a conversation with an elected Democratic official who said: "I want to take care of people."

I responded: "I don't, I want to empower Iowans to take care of themselves and their families."

Long overdue in our state is action to move Iowans from dependency to self-sufficiency. Long overdue is the call for the restoration of personal responsibility and dignity.

Pets, children, the gravely ill, lacking the ability to provide for themselves are cared for - not able bodied adults. We absolutely need to show compassion for those in a hard way yet that compassion should not look like it does now. Poverty exploitation in Iowa has grown into a more lucrative industry than pornography in America, and it has fostered a perpetual dependency.

So-called compassion resulting in bad public policy neither helps the poor or protects taxpayers.

For example, politicians from both parties have defended the decision not to require identification in order to use Food Stamp cards even while those same politicians require a receipt to return an empty five gallon jug of water.

They have argued such a law would hurt the poor.

The truth is by not requiring identification to use a Food Stamp card we not only allow massive fraud and corruption to thrive but we make taxpayers and the government a major funder of the purchase of alcohol, tobacco, gambling and illegal drugs by those we claim we are helping.

These acquisitions not only contribute to poorer health for the poor, resulting in increased costs for line items such as Medicaid, but in the case of illegal drugs taxpayers and the government are financing the single most powerful agent leading to the destruction of poor families in Iowa, out of control urban violence and the escalation of costs related to incarceration.

But that's what happens when out of touch politicians make easy and ill-informed public policy decisions.

Leaders from both parties own a full share in this taxpayer financed havoc and devastation.

Iowans do not want or need a hand out - they need a hand up.

The time has come for fiscally responsible and sound decisions to be made in reducing the excess, waste and inefficiencies of state and local government. By all accounts government at the state and local level is bloated, wasteful, inefficient and often ineffective.

By restoring integrity to governance in this state we not only end the need for painful regressive tax hikes but we are then able to return money to Iowans they and their families will then use to grow our state's economy versus giving it to bureaucrats, developers, contractors, contributors and cronies who have squandered the public treasure.



Lessons Learned

Four years ago I made the decision to not primary Gov. Chet Culver, a man I endorsed and worked to elect governor in 2006 and Secretary of State in 2002 and 1998.

Instead I ran as an independent. I was well intentioned, but naïve.

I should have stayed and fought to rescue my party. I both regret that decision and have learned from it.

Nevertheless, I gained a mastery of what ails Iowa, and still possess the solutions to cure her acquired during my first gubernatorial bid.

I believe in and have fought for the best of what being a Democrat has always meant - justice, integrity, accountability, opportunity, dignity and protection of our most vulnerable - our children, our elderly, our mentally ill, our taxpayers.

My record speaks for itself even if my party's leadership has, at times, abandoned these foundational tenets.

I want to take back our party from those that have not fought for justice, that have not sought to end poverty, that have turned a blind eye to Iowa's urban crisis including the explosion of violence and addiction, that have not protected Iowans from the avarice of the political class, that have not fought to end the travesty of a No Child Left Behind that has brutalized our schools, our teachers and our children.

I want to make terms like accountability, integrity and dignity mean something again when an elected leader in the Iowa Democratic party speaks them.

Blue collar Democrats, who I have always done very well with, deserved better from the men and women they elected to protect the public trust, to protect their families and to protect their children.

Iowans deserved better from Democrats in the Senate who sat in the majority but co-signed the devastating policies and practices of first the Culver Administration and now the Branstad Administration.

I have come to know Iowans in all 99 counties. I received support from Iowans in all 99 counties and nearly every precinct in this state.

Iowans are an amazing people.

I believes in us. I understand how much we are able to accomplish and how strong we are when we are united under caring, committed and accountable leadership.

I have proven I can bring Republicans, even from the far right, and Democrats, even from the far left, to the very same table and unite them in action for a common cause just as I brought Jack Hatch, a State Representative and liberal Democrat together with Chuck Larson, Jr., a conservative Republican legislator and Chair of the Republican Party of Iowa together to fight for education reforms I sponsored; just as I brought two very liberal legislators - Deb Berry of Waterloo and Ako Abdul Samad of Des Moines - together with two very conservative legislators - Brad Zaun of Urbandale and Kevin Koester of Ankeny - to advance economic empowerment reforms I sponsored.

Again, and again, and again I've brought sincere Iowans coming from differing ideologies together to focus on solutions. If I run and if I win, I will do it again.

I will especially base my key appointments of both Democrats and Republicans on merit and not cronyism.



Results Matter

I get results!

On September 10, 2007, The day before I was elected to the Des Moines School Board - Iowa's most powerful, entrenched and protected division of local government - a local radio show host made a list of what I said I would get done if I were elected. On July 3, 2009, I went back on that host's show, he produced the list from 2007 and every item on it was checked off.

As the nominee of the Democratic party I will restore the dignity and integrity of my party. I will return us to the core tenets that inspired me to be a Democrat. I will energize the base by focusing on our strengths and our virtues. And, I will defeat Terry Branstad in the arena of ideas and solutions for our state.

The ultimate decision to run for governor will be based on three key factors - FUNDRAISING, early grass roots support, and the ability to WIN the primary.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL I RUN AS AN INDEPENDENT IN 2014!

I will analyze these three factors over the holiday season, including fundraising, although I will not start raising money until after the holiday season ends.

I will then announce my final decision mid-January.

Whether I run or not, however, I will be releasing next month a solution oriented vision of governance in Iowa titled: "Guardian of State."

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley will begin holding meetings with Iowans in every county again next year with meetings in Floyd and Chickasaw counties on Friday, Jan. 3.

"Representative government is a two-way street, and it's strengthened by dialogue between elected officials and the people we represent," Grassley said.  "I look forward to events and meetings where I listen to comments, hear concerns and respond directly to questions.  I'm committed to keeping in touch with Iowans."

Grassley has held at least one meeting with Iowans in each of the state's 99 counties every year since he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980.

Grassley will be available for 15 minutes before the meeting at Nashua-Plainfield High School and 15 minutes after the meeting at Mitas Tires to answer questions from local reporters.  Otherwise, members of the media should contact the individual host about each event, as Grassley is a guest of each organization.

Here are the details of Grassley's schedule for Friday, Jan. 3:

 

12:45-1:45 p.m.

Q&A with students at Nashua-Plainfield High School

612 Greeley Street

Nashua

*The press availability from 12:30-12:45 p.m. will be in the main office.

2:15-3:15 p.m.

Tour and Q&A with employees at Mitas Tires North America, Inc.

1200 Rove Avenue

Charles City

*The press availability from 3:15-3:30 p.m. will be in the conference room.

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