Coralville Courier

SENIOR ADVISOR BEHIND IOWA CAUCUS VICTORY NAMED SANTORUM CAMPAIGN'S DEPUTY CAMPAIGN MANAGER

 Jill Latham Named Deputy Campaign Manager For The Rick Santorum For President Campaign

Verona, PA - The Rick Santorum for President campaign is proud to announce that Jill Latham has been named Deputy Campaign Manager.   Jill Latham said: "I am honored to take on this role with the Santorum campaign. Rick is not only the hardest working man in politics; he is the one candidate who has the conservative record to match his rhetoric. Rick won the Iowa caucuses the right way, traveling to all 99 counties, getting to know Iowans and understanding what they want in our next President - a man of conviction, honesty and the values we need in a President. I am proud to have the opportunity to join his national team as we work to defeat Barack Obama this fall."    Rick Santorum said: "When expanding our national team, there is no one who would better fit this role than Jill, because it was through her planning and diligence that we were able to craft the campaign to defeat both Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich in the Iowa Caucus. Jill's experience on several presidential campaigns will be a terrific asset to our growing national campaign, and the entire team looks forward to working with her as we advance toward the nomination and a victory this November."   Jill Latham served as the Senior Iowa Advisor to the Rick Santorum for President campaign's victorious Iowa Caucus campaign. Prior to joining the Santorum Team, Latham served as Iowa Political Director for Governor Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential campaign, Political Director for the Republican Party of Wisconsin, and as part of President George W. Bush's successful 2004 re-election campaign.   To learn more about former Senator Rick Santorum, please visit www.RickSantorum.com.

Allen West to Obama, Reid, Pelosi: ‘Get the Hell Out of the United States of America’

Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) had a strong message Saturday for President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz: “Get the hell out.”

West made the comments during a speech at a Palm Beach County GOP event in West Palm Beach.

Read On at theblaze.com

 

Texas/Oklahoma drought driving up the price of beef

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture reports, beef prices went up 9 percent in 2011.  The price of beef is estimated to go up another 5.5 percent in 2012.

Why?

Long-term drought in Texas and Oklahoma, fewer cows around as a result.  The number of cows in Texas alone decreased by about 600,000 in 2011 according to David Anderson, a livestock economist based in the Longhorn state.  The drop is a 12 percent reduction in herd numbers totaling 5 million cows.

Drought has caused feed prices to skyrocket and some cattle has died off from the lack of water.  Due to the conditions, ranchers have been forced to sell cattle and slaughter early to cut losses. 

Beat inflated prices with delicious, storable foods from GoFoods!

 

BEHN REPORT: Becoming Less Like New York City

Did you know Iowa’s commercial and industrial property taxes are on par with downtown New York City?

In fact, we have the second highest property taxes in the nation! 

Our property tax system has become a huge impediment to job creation and business growth in Iowa. 

The simple truth is that property tax reform is long overdue as substantial changes to our system have not been made in decades. 

Without action this year, hardworking Iowa taxpayers will experience a $1.3 billion dollar increase. 

I think you will agree, this is unacceptable. 

The good news is that legislative Democrats have finally joined legislative Republicans in the talking about property tax relief. 

Now we just need to take action. 

Both parties have proposals but most of the details are still being worked out. 

However, the chart below provides a brief overview of the philosophical differences between the two parties on property tax relief. 

Republican Philosophy	Democrat Philosophy
Aggressive broad based property tax relief that benefits all classes of property	Limited tax credits that allows for the picking of winners and losers
Gradual annual roll back so Iowans are consistently being taxed at a smaller percentage of their property valuations each year	Little or no focus on a property tax roll back will mean higher taxes as property valuations rise
Make tax relief automatic and provide fewer bureaucratic headaches	Require a handwritten application in order to receive consideration
Cap local government spending and provide some financial assistance to local governments over the next several years to help residential taxpayers from receiving a raw deal	No limit on the growth of local government spending and no approach to stop the anticipated growth of residential property taxes

Clearly, Iowans expect both parties to work together. 

Senate Republicans remain optimistic that a common sense solution can be found that will help re-open Iowa for job creation and career development. 

Our state is filled with unlimited potential and authentic and aggressive property tax reform would allow us to realize our opportunities sooner rather than later. 

We do not want to be like New York City.  We want to be competitive. 

We need property tax reform.  Let’s make it happen. 

As always, I welcome hearing from you and can be reached by phone at 515-281-3560 or by e-mail at Jerry.Behn@legis.iowa.gov

Jerry Behn
Senate Republican Leader
www.facebook.com/JerryBehn
www.twitter.com/JerryBehn

Rep. Kraig Paulsen: Making Progress on the Budget

From The Speaker Of The House

This week in the House we approved the first bill of the 2012 Legislative session, House File 2042, legislation to require all administrative rules created by state agencies to be accompanied by a ‘Jobs Impact Statement’.   During these difficult economic times, we must not let cumbersome bureaucratic rules create uncertainty and add unnecessary expenses on Iowa’s employers. 
 
HF 2042 is just one of many pro-job, pro-growth bills that the House is working on this year.  We are committed to creating policies that put Iowans back to work.  The best way to put Iowans back to work is to advance policies that create an environment that encourages employers to keep and create jobs right here in Iowa.
 
We are also making progress on the state budget as the budget subcommittees have begun the process of going through each budget, line by line.  House Republicans are committed to making sure state government is efficient and effective.  As we continue our work on the budget, there are a few important guidelines House Republicans will follow.

House Republicans rely on several commonsense budgeting principles:
We will align ongoing spending with ongoing revenue. Iowans cannot afford a government that spends more money than it takes in.  Anything less jeopardizes Iowa’s long-term economic health.
 
We will end the practice of using one-time money for ongoing expenses.  This is not how
Iowans balance their own checkbooks at home and it’s not how House Republicans will balance the state checkbook in Des Moines.
 
We will not intentionally underfund entitlement programs.  House Republicans will protect education and Medicaid by getting the budget under control.
 
The House Republican 2012 Budget Targets Will Reflect a Long-Term Approach
As House Republicans begin to construct budgets, we will be keeping the long-term future of Iowa in mind.  The past-practices of overspending in one budget year and then slashing budgets with across the board cuts the next year only leads to more uncertainty and instability, hurting Iowans and employers.
 
The General Assembly has a history of increasing government spending and using budget tricks to spend more than the state has in ongoing revenue.  Repeating this history means in a few years legislators will be dealing with the same problems.  House Republicans are committed to passing budgets that are fact-based and accountable to Iowans and not returning to the bad budgeting practices of the past.

The governor has constructed a budget which spends less than the state has in ongoing revenue.  House Republicans believe this is a good start but will continue to seek savings and efficiencies to provide Iowans with the certainty they need to plan for the long-term. 
 
Controlling Government Spending and Creating Jobs Go Hand in Hand:
Iowa’s employers need a commitment from the Legislature to keep government from spending more than it takes in.  Spending more than the state receives will lead to tax increases for Iowans and employers.  They need the certainty that this will not happen.
 
Our plan of action is to have a responsible state budget that contributes instead of takes away from economic, family and community health.  Hard-working Iowans want opportunities for quality jobs that will develop into careers.  They desire the peace of mind to plan for their futures.
 
I look forward to the progress being made on the budget and giving Iowans a budget they deserve and expect – one that uses their tax dollars wisely.
 
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at kraig.paulsen@legis.state.ia.us or my office at (515) 281-3521

Don't forget to visit the House Republicans' homepage for new updates.  www.iowahouserepublicans.com

You can also find us on twitter @iahouserepubs

Newsmax: Romney Backed by Goldman Sachs, Bailout Banks

The top donor to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, investment banking and securities firm Goldman Sachs, received over $10 billion in emergency lending and bailouts from the Federal Reserve after the 2008 financial meltdown, according to public sources and published reports.

Goldman backed Obama for election in 2008, and the firm, like many Wall Street institutions, is now backing Mitt Romney for president.

Romney has long had a close relationship with Goldman Sachs. In 1999 Romney purchased initial IPO shares in Goldman that netted him $1.1 million in profits when he sold them in 2010. And The New York Times recently reported that "many of the assets in Romney's blind trust" are managed by Goldman.

Today, Goldman is Romney's largest donor. And nine of Romney's top 20 campaign contributors are big Wall Street Banks like Goldman. But Goldman leads all Romney contributors, having donated $357,200 to his campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. And six of those nine top contributors received over $161 billion in taxpayer bailouts, reports ProPublica, the independent, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative organization.

Goldman doesn't contribute directly to candidates like Romney, but does so through its employees.

Romney's ties to Goldman have already become a campaign issue. During Thursday's CNN debate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich stated that Romney profited from millions he invested in a Goldman Sachs fund that relied heavily on investments in the mortgage-backed securities linked to the 2008 implosion on Wall Street. Romney said he personally didn't direct the investment, which he said was made through his trust.

Still, Romney's close ties with Goldman will continue to nag his campaign.

ProPublica says that the The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., received over $782 million in emergency lending from the Federal Reserve. On Jan. 17, the investigative site reported that the total of taxpayer bailouts received by Goldman tallied a whopping $10 billion.

The relationship between Goldman and Romney goes far beyond its patronage of his campaign. The firm has reportedly managed significant assets of Romney's in his blind trust.

Note: Do You Support Gingrich or Romney? Vote in Urgent Poll - Click Here Now

New festival brings beer enthusiasts to Coralville

Ben Lange provides FEC with an update

By Mike Thayer

It's AMAZING what a couple of articles exposing wrongdoing can do....

Back on January 19, I wrote an article about there being a void in Iowa's First Congressional District, that the GOP hopefuls Rod Blum (an announced candidate) and Ben Lange ( in exploratory committee status) were making some mistakes that Republicans just can't afford to make if they hope to defeat liberal incumbent Bruce Braley in November. 

In that article, I noted how Ben Lange was in apparent violation of FEC rules and regulations, here's part of what I wrote, keep in mind that as of January 19, Ben Lange was in 'Exploratory Committee' status:

FEC Campaign Finance Rules and Regulations, Chapter 1, Page 1:  Campaigning (As opposed to testing the waters) is apparent, for example, when individuals:

• Take action to qualify for the ballot 

Download Campaign Finance Rules and Regs

Ben Lange took action to qualify for the ballot on caucus night by having petitions for voters to sign at various caucus sites throughout the district.  I contacted several county Republican central committee chairs and/or committee members throughout District 1 and they confirmed the presence of Lange nomination petitions.  Not just "Let's urge Ben Lange to run for Congress" petitions mind you, but Ben-Lange's-name-to-be-placed-on-the-primary-ballot petitions.  Now if I'm interpreting the FEC information above correctly, you have to be a declared candidate to do that.  FEC rules state that exploratory committee status must be terminated, official candidacy declared and paperwork be filed as an official candidate.....  THEN petitions to have your name placed on the primary ballot can be put out.  Lange didn't do that, he is a lawyer, he's run for this office before, you would think he would be familiar with the rules. 

In that article I also questioned Ben Lange's fund raising, in amounts exceeding the FEC definition for testing the water, a.k.a., 'Exploratory Committee.'

Here's what I wrote and again, this was written on January 19, 2012:

Here's the thing, according to FEC rules, if Lange has collected even just $5,000 dollars while in Exploratory Committee status, then he is obligated by law to file a Statement of Candidacy, FEC Form 2.  He hasn't.  By law he can no longer remain in Exploratory Committee status, he MUST file to be a candidate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lange was NOT an officially declared candidate prior to placing nomination petitions out on caucus night, January 3.

Lange has stated that he has raised more money, a lot more, than what is reasonably needed to 'test the waters' according to FEC definition distinguishing the difference between testing the waters and outright campaigning.

The next day, January 20, I wrote an article regarding another apparent violation of FEC rules and regulations:

Is Ben Lange really this sloppy?

I find it hard to believe that Ben Lange, a lawyer from Independence considering on making a run for Congress and challenge Democrat incumbent and liberal lawyer Bruce Braley......  Is it sloppiness by Lange, or arrogance?

He's got an Exploratory Committee website.  Fine, no problem there.

On that site he asks for contributions.  Fine, no problem with that either, but keep in mind that once he crosses the $5,000 threshold, he must close out the Exploratory Committee status and file to be an official candidate.

Now here's the kicker.  Ben Lange is a lawyer, he is supposed to KNOW, comply with and uphold the law.  Complying with FEC rules and regulations is no exception!  Check out the url address for his "Exploratory Committee" website:  http://www.langeforcongress.com/ 

Campaigning (as opposed to testing the waters) is apparent, for example, when individuals 

• Make or authorize statements that refer to themselves as candidates (“Smith in 2012” or “Smith for Senate”);  

That's from FEC Campaign Finance Rules and Regulations, Chapter 1, Page 1....   

In a review of the FEC site today, it seems that Lange has now updated the FEC, as a result of my articles exposing his skirting of the rules.  Ben Lange submitted FEC Form 1 and Form 2, finally declaring himself an official candidate with the FEC.  He mailed the forms on January 23, the FEC received them on January 25.

http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?_12030714323+0

http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?_12030714317+0

It's AMAZING what a couple of articles exposing wrongdoing can do huh?

I wrote on January 19 about nomination petitions being sent out before Lange was a declared candidate, I wrote on January 20 about how Lange was making statements of candidacy before filing with the FEC.   With that information out in public view, only THEN did Ben Lange file his paperwork, and he didn't do it until January 23.  This wasn't some kind of innocent mistake or oversight by Ben.  Even if it was, do you want to put 'inept' in a U.S. House seat representing Iowa?

Related story:  http://coralvillecourier.typepad.com/community/2012/01/vetting-ben-lange-in-iowas-first-district.html

Hey Ben, you're welcome.  It's good that this comes out now, so you had the opportunity to 'fix' what I caught you not doing.  But frankly, you've been there and done that, you're a lawyer, you shouldn't have ignored rules and put yourself into a situation like this in the first place.

Voters should know that Ben had FEC filing issues in 2010 as well.

The voters in Iowa's First District don't want sloppy candidates, they deserve better.

Vetting Rod Blum in Iowa's First Congressional District

By Mike Thayer

Does Rod Blum have what it takes to win the Republican nomination, let alone take on Bruce Braley in November?

As it stands right now, the answer is no.

The last time I wrote about Blum, it was January 19 and I stated the following:

Rod Blum of Dubuque, Iowa is an announced candidate.  He's got a campaign website, he submitted paperwork with the Federal Election Commission as an official candidate, although the information he filed was inadequate according to the FEC.  Perhaps just a rookie mistake....  The FEC letter requesting more information wanted a response back from Blum by December 28.  He didn't meet that deadline, there is no update from him in the record.   That's a problem.

That problem has since been corrected.  Kudos to Blum.  Paperwork now seems to be squared away so chalk it up to a rookie mistake.

I also wrote that Blum didn't have any campaign cash.  His FEC report displayed a "0" when I checked on January 19, and granted, Blum didn't have to report his financial status until January 31, but he has updated that with the FEC as well.

Blum has since reported generating about $71,000 in campaign cash for the fourth quarter of 2011.  He has some money in the bank, however upon closer review, about $22,000 of that came from his own pocket and another $20,000 from his family.  That's not a good sign and it's only about slightly less than 15 percent of what Bruce Braley has in his campaign warchest, and Blum needs to spend money on a primary race first.

I had the opportunity to meet Rod Blum personally and listen to him speak at a Republican Central Committee meeting in Clayton County on January 26.  He told a nice About Rod Blum story, complete with talking point one-liners like, "I'll term limit myself," and "This bailout stuff has got to stop," and "Everything you hear about the EPA, it's true."  The problem with that is, it all lacked detail.  When pressed on the issues he mentioned during an approximately 20 minute speech and question/answer period, Blum really didn't provide any direct answers beyond expressing his belief.  It's fine to convey a belief in personal responsibility, but people want to know how a candidate is going to address the fraud, waste and abuse that exists in the Food Stamp program for example.  Blum didn't respond well to those kinds of questions, he lacked detail, specifics, a plan of action.  In fact, at one point he even said, "Any candidate that tells you they have a plan, it has zero chance of passing."

Um, Rod, candidates that win in the general election, get assigned to committees after being sworn in.  In committee, they have the chance to put their plans out for review and debate.  If they're not on an appropriate committee to put a particular plan on display, they can still push their plan with other congressmen or they can co-sponsor and/or help write legislation outside their committee assignments.   So to Rod's slam on having a plan comment I would say this, any candidate that doesn't have a plan, has a zero chance of winning!

Blum did have some good Ron Paul-like one-liner moments during his speech.

"A dependent voter is a dependable vote," he said when characterizing Democrat motives and questionable leadership.  That comment was spot on.

Then there's this beauty when talking about illegal immigration:

"If fences don't matter, then why do they have a fence around the White House?" he said, drawing laughter and nods of approval from the audience.

Blum, a businessman, tells a nice story and seems to be a good guy.  But he's going to have to do better when it comes to doing what it takes to finance his campaign and he's going to have to provide much more substance and detail to voters.  Here's a hint:  Doing the latter might help the former. 

Iowa House sheds light on Coralville TIF shenanigans

Kudos to Charlotte Walker for forwarding the following information and link.  After reading the story, be sure to click the three informational links at the bottom of the page.

Government Oversight-Coralville use of TIF Funds

Coralville City Administrator Kelly Hayworth was brought before the House Government Oversight committee last Thursday. The committee members raised questions regarding the way the city is using tax increment financing in its Iowa River Landing commercial development.

Retail growth in Coralville has exponentially grown since the city began using TIF in 1998 to develop land that is now Coral Ridge Mall. The city has borrowed over $200 million in bonds to be repaid by tax increment financing

Read On.....  http://www.iowahouserepublicans.com/government-oversight-coralville-use-of-tif-funds#more-11622

Documents presented to the committee:

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/DOCS/LSA/SC_MaterialsDist/2012/SDMAS001.PDF

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/DOCS/LSA/SC_MaterialsDist/2012/SDMAS003.PDF

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/DOCS/LSA/SC_MaterialsDist/2012/SDMAS004.PDF