25 Jun 2012

Loebsack, Cole Applaud Senate Passage of Language to Strip National Political Convention Funding

By Joe Hand

Washington, D.C. - Congressmen Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and Tom Cole (OK-04) today applauded the Senate passage of language that would strip tax payer funding for this fall's political party conventions. Cole introduced similar legislation in the House and Loebsack recently became the first Democrat to cosponsor the bill.  The Senate attached this language as an amendment to the Farm Bill by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 95-4.

"I applaud the Senate for including language to strip this unnecessary funding.  Both Democrats and Republicans are fully capable of funding their own party conventions and do not need to have this tax payer subsidy," said Loebsack.  "I am hopeful the House will move on Congressman Cole's legislation after such a strong, bipartisan vote in the Senate."

"The overwhelming Senate vote in favor of ending taxpayer funding of political conventions is proof that it's time to terminate this outrageous waste of taxpayer dollars," said Cole. "After 40 straight months of 8 percent unemployment and massive budget deficits, it would be an embarrassment to go into this year's conventions with this policy still in place.  The House has already voted to end funding once.  With passage of the Senate amendment, I'm hopeful that we can build on the growing bipartisan support to sign this commonsense reform into law before another dollar of taxpayer money is wasted on conventions."

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25 Jun 2012

Vice President Biden to Travel to Iowa, Highlight President Obama's Record on Strengthening the Middle Class

By Randy Stalsberg

Two-day tour will include stops in Waterloo, Dubuque and Clinton

DES MOINES - This week, June 26-27, Vice President Biden will travel to Eastern Iowa on the Strengthening the Middle Class Tour to highlight President Obama's ongoing efforts to grow Iowa's rural economy and bolster middle-class security for Iowa's workers. The two-day tour will include stops in Waterloo, Dubuque and Clinton, Iowa.

In remarks during the tour, the Vice President will discuss how President Obama is helping create an economy built to last - one focused on reclaiming the security of the rural middle class and restoring the basic values of hard work and fair play that made our country great. Under President Obama, Iowa's economy is improving and benefiting from record national farm incomes and exports, with nearly 20,000 additional manufacturing jobs created and a growing renewable energy sector.

Vice President Biden will also lay out the clear economic choice in this election--between the President's vision for moving our country forward, ensuring an economy built to last and economic security for the middle class, and Mitt Romney's vision, which would take us back to the same failed economic policies that brought on the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Additional details are forthcoming.

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20 Jun 2012

Obama for America Releases New Television Ads: "Mosaic" and "Come and Go"

By Rick Martin

DES MOINES -- As Mitt Romney continues to evade his record as governor of Massachusetts, Obama for America today released two new television advertisements - "Mosaic" and "Come and Go" - as part of its continuing effort to highlight the reality of his failed economic policies.

When Romney ran for governor, he promised that he wouldn't raise taxes and that he would use the values he learned in business to create jobs. But today's ads make clear that he broke those promises and left Massachusetts worse off.

As highlighted in "Mosaic," Romney raised more than 1,000 taxes and fees totaling more than $1.5 billion.  He raised each resident's tax burden by $1,200 per person, an increase of 30 percent. Romney increased fees for everything from milk to nursing homes, from school bus rides to poultry inspections. Fees also increased for gun owners and electricians.

And as highlighted in "Come and Go," Mitt Romney brought the same values he learned in the private sector to the state house, outsourcing call center jobs to India instead of hiring workers from his own state.

Even today, as he runs for president, Mitt Romney still doesn't have a jobs plan -- instead relying on the same failed ideas that he implemented in Massachusetts. They didn't work then, and they won't work now.

"Mosaic" and "Come and Go" are airing in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Colorado, and Nevada.

Please click HERE to watch "Mosaic" and HERE to read the backup.

Please click HERE to watch "Come and Go" and HERE to read the backup.

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20 Jun 2012

20,000 YOUNG ADULTS IN IOWA BENEFITTING FROM OBAMACARE

By Obama for America Press Office

Department of Health and Human Services today releases new data; nationwide 3.1 million have benefitted

DES MOINES --- Today, the Department of Health and Human Services published new data that shows 20,000 young adults in Iowa who would otherwise be uninsured remained covered on their family's plan, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Nationwide, approximately 3.1 million young people have benefitted from the law, passed in March, 2010, which allows young adults under 26 to stay on their parents' health insurance plan.

Before Obamacare, adult children would usually be kicked off the family plan when they turned 18 or graduated from school, but young adults often have entry level jobs that don't provide health insurance.  As a result, young people were the age group most likely to be uninsured.  Under the health care law, that's changing.  Obamacare requires insurance companies to allow young people to stay on their family health insurance until they turn 26, which has provided a critical bridge for millions of young people across the country.

To learn more about this announcement, visit: http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2012/06/young-adults06192012a.html

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18 Jun 2012

Lt. Gov. Reynolds named to 100 Women Leaders in STEM

By Iowa Governor's Office

(DES MOINES) - Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds was named one of the 100 Women Leaders in STEM by STEMconnector™.

"I am deeply honored to be named one of the top 100 women leaders in STEM," said Reynolds. "As I travel across Iowa and meet with local businesses and schools, STEM becomes an increasingly important topic of the future of Iowa's economy."

Reynolds serves as the co-chair, with University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen, of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council, which created by Executive Order 74 to grow Iowa's commitment to bolstering STEM education, STEM innovation and to better position Iowa's young people and the state's economy for the future.

"As part of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council, we want to target young Iowans and give them the tools necessary to prepare for STEM careers. We want to have both the schools and businesses at the table working together and collaborating in a public-private partnership that creates solutions for Iowa's unemployment rate and ignites opportunities for students," said Reynolds.

STEMconnector™ publishes an annual publication called the 100 Women Leaders in STEM to honor the initiatives and careers of women promoting STEM education, business practices and workforce development across the United States. The mission of STEMconnector™ is to provide information and resources that increase communication, encourages collaboration and promotes sustainable and replicable approaches to STEM education interventions.

For more information, visit www.STEMconnector.org.

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18 Jun 2012

Washington Politician Ben Lange Dances When Pressed for Social Security Straight-Talk

By Molly Scherrman

Ben Lange says he's a straight-talker on tough issues, but if you listen to him, all you hear is another Washington politician.  It's obvious Lange learned a few things from his years working in Congress.
Just take his comments on Social Security on Friday.
Social Security ensures Iowa seniors have a secure retirement after working their whole lives.  The program also provides critical benefits to people with disabilities and widows with dependent children.
Workers pay into Social Security and in return get a guaranteed income at retirement age and the peace of mind knowing if they're disabled and can't work, or if they pass away unexpectedly, their families will have a safety net to fall back on.
Bruce Braley is working to protect and preserve Social Security for future generations, but Ben Lange wants to radically alter the program in ways that will endanger its very survival.
During Friday's taping of Iowa Press, Lange reiterated his support for ending Social Security as we know it, telling voters he supports a two-tiered system that replaces Social Security for middle-aged workers and replaces it with retirement accounts that are gambled in the stock market.
Yet, when pressed for details on his Social Security privatization plan, Lange began dancing a Washington two-step worthy of Fred Astaire.  

It must have been awkward with IA-02 GOP nominee John Archer sitting next to him, who had just candidly discussed his own plan to raise the Social Security retirement age and end Social Security completely for some retirees.
Watch for yourself: http://youtu.be/vTuQkqusMIw

Lange is apparently incapable of giving a straight, yes-or-no answer to tough questions about his Social Security plan, but Iowans deserve to know details about his radical ideas.  Will Lange give a straight answer to these questions, or will he keep sounding like a seasoned Washington politician?
  1. Does Ben Lange agree with John Archer that the Social Security retirement age needs to be raised?
  2. How would Ben Lange's plan to privatize Social Security affect Social Security disability benefits and benefits for widows with dependent children?
  3. What's the cutoff age for Social Security benefits under Lange's plan?  How old does Lange think you need to be to continue to receive Social Security benefits as promised?
  4. Does Lange agree with John Archer that Social Security should be a "means-tested" program and should be cut off altogether for some middle class workers?
WHERE THEY STAND: SOCIAL SECURITY

Bruce Braley Ben Lange
Wants to maintain Social Security benefits.

Opposes privatizing Social Security.

Opposes raising the Social Security retirement age.

Supports maintaining Social Security benefits for workers who have paid into the system.
Wants to "change" Social Security.

Supports privatizing Social Security.

Wants to take Social Security funds of some middle age workers and gamble them in the stock market.

We don't know if he supports raising the retirement age.

We don't know if he supports making Social Security means-tested.

# # #
18 Jun 2012

Loebsack to Host Telephone Town Hall

By Joe Hand

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that he will host a Telephone Town Hall meeting on TUESDAY, June 19th at 7pm CDT.  Loebsack will take questions and talk with Iowans about the issues that matter to them.  People interested in participating in the call are urged to visit http://Loebsack.house.gov to sign up.

"Hearing directly from constituents is critical to my job," said Loebsack.  "Please join me for a conversation about the issues that matter most to you and your family."

Congressman Loebsack Hosts Telephone Town Hall

 

Tuesday, June 19th

7pm CDT

To register, visit http://loebsack.house.gov/ and click the Teletown Halls sign up icon on the right hand side of the website.

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14 Jun 2012

Officer Thomas Hadden, Correctional Officer Tim Jacques and Teacher Doug Walter Respond to Romney's Economic Plan to Cut Jobs for Teachers, Police Officers and Firefighters

By Rick Martin

Press Conference Ahead of Romney Event in Davenport Monday

DES MOINES - Today, Davenport Police Officer Thomas Hadden, Correctional Officer Tim Jacques and Bettendorf Teacher Doug Walter will host a press conference to respond to Mitt Romney's comments from Friday in Council Bluffs when he revealed that he wants to cut jobs for teachers, police officers and firefighters. Romney will have to answer to these comments when his in Davenport Monday.

The Quad Citians will address Mitt Romney's record of Governor, when he put his beliefs into action. In his first year in office, Romney slashed investments in local aid, eliminating 14,500 jobs for teachers, cops, librarians and others.  He took 600 police officers off the streets of Massachusetts and vetoed millions of dollars for fire-safety equipment.

 

Romney's economic plans are in stark contrast to President Obama's efforts to get more Americans back to work, putting more money into the pockets of those who are working, and creating an economy that's built to last.

 

Thursday, June 14

11:00am

 

WHAT: Iowans to respond to Mitt Romney's comments in Council Bluffs when he revealed that he wants to cut jobs for teachers, police officers and firefighters.

WHO: Police Officer Thomas Hadden

Teacher Doug Walter

Correctional Officer Tim Jacques

 

WHERE: OFA Headquarters

1706 Brady St. #205

Davenport, IA 52803

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13 Jun 2012

Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to Hold Conference Call to Announce Rural Iowans for Obama Steering Committee

By Obama for America Press Office

DES MOINES - Today, former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack will host a conference call to announce the Rural Iowans for Obama Steering Committee.  Two members of the Rural Steering Committee, Bruce Rohwer, a corn farmer from Northwest Iowa and member of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and Cathy Lafrenz a small business owner, who runs Miss Effie's Country Flowers from rural Scott County, will join former Iowa Governor Vilsack on the call.

The call will focus on the work the Obama administration has done to support rural Iowans and grow new economic opportunities for small towns, farmers, and Iowans across the state. Since day one, President Obama has worked to build stronger and more diverse economies in rural Iowa through investments in renewable energy, manufacturing, education and agriculture.

The Rural Iowans for Obama Steering Committee Members will play a key role in organizing their communities, talking to friends and neighbors about President Obama's record to build an economy that is built to last and Mitt Romney's lack of experience in dealing with rural issues and agriculture. Rural Iowans and Iowans all across the state launched President Obama's campaign in 2008 and will be critical to this next election.

Members of the committee come from Alta, Ames, Birmingham, Chelsea, Clarinda, Clear Lake, Creston, Des Moines, Donahue, Emmetsburg, Fort Dodge, Graettinger, Indianola, Lacona, Mingo, Mt. Pleasant, New Vienna, Paullina, Polk City, Walnut and Waukee.

Wednesday, June 13

1:00 PM

WHAT: Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack will host a conference call to announce the Rural Iowans for Obama Steering Committee Members

WHO: Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack

Bruce Rohwer, of Paullina, corn farmer from Northwest Iowa and member of the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

Cathy Lafrenz, of Donahue, small business owner in rural Scott County, running Miss Effie's Country Flowers.

RSVP: Click here to RSVP 

Please note: Tom Vilsack will be speaking to press in his personal capacity on behalf of Obama for America.  Please refrain from using his official title at the event and in related press reports, and note that we will not be taking questions concerning his official responsibilities.


13 Jun 2012

Loebsack Calls for Ending Taxpayer Funding of Presidential Nominating Conventions

By Randy Stalsberg

Becomes first House Democrat to sign on to bill

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack recently became the first Democrat in the House to cosponsor legislation that would end the taxpayer provided subsidies for political party conventions.  The legislation, HR 5912, will prohibit the use of public funds for political party conventions and return the funds for deficit reduction.

"Under no circumstance does it make sense that the presidential nominating conventions held every four years by both Democrats and Republicans are paid for in part by the American taxpayers.  There is no question that each political party has the resources to privately fund each event and is not in need of public support.

"Working families sitting around their kitchen tables have had to make tough decisions about how to cut their budgets.  Eliminating this subsidy seems like a pretty easy decision for Congress to make to help get their own fiscal house in order. This is outdated and outrageous and needs to end."

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