Coralville Courier

We need a special election for Johnson County Supervisor Seat

You've heard and read the arguments for holding a special election, but if you still hesitate because of the political makeup of Johnson County, check this out:

http://www.simpletruths.tv/store/movies.php?movie=TTWD

How long are we going to let tone deaf and arrogant officials do as they please in this county?

We have a drunk for a county auditor, we have a belligerent supervisor threatening people who disagree with him, we have a county attorney that protects officials as opposed to protecting the people she supposedly serves, we have countless *leaders* who think money grows on trees.  We had three biased people on the county board shove a conservation agenda down our throat, we had two-and-a-half people (County Treasurer and Democrat Tom Kriz has no backbone and THAT's a problem) shove a controversial supervisor candidate down our throat and the result is we now have a new supervisor who didn't earn her seat and will propose to spend more money than her liberal peers have, money we simply don't have.  

 

We have a right to file grievences, we need to do so with vigor.

 

It can easily be argued that the Janelle Rettig annointment to the County Board of Supervisors was a sham from the get-go, as evidenced below:

 

http://coralvillecourier.typepad.com/community/2009/09/jc-dems-wanted-to-hold-meeting-to-replace-larry-meyers-before-he-was-memorialized.html

 

http://coralvillecourier.typepad.com/community/2009/10/local-government-thinks-its-omnipetent-part-i.html

 

http://coralvillecourier.typepad.com/community/2009/10/area-media-not-reporting-impropriety.html

 

http://coralvillecourier.typepad.com/community/2009/10/reasons-to-request-a-special-election.html

 

And if possible, it would be nice to get the cell phone records of County Auditor Tom Slockett, County Recorder Kim Painter, and others in the local Democrat party machine.  There's no question that as an appointment committee they did end-arounds on open meetings criteria regarding this annointment process.  The process was choreographed.

 

The Coralville Courier will continue to outline this kind of stuff for folks to absorb.  It was brought to our attention today that a liberal U of I professor has tried to obstruct and supress the petition drive when pro-special election folks are downtown getting signatures.  He's done this on more than one occassion, we now have reports from three different sources and we're following up on them.  Ladies and gentlemen, this is the kind of stuff we're fighting and it has to be confronted without hesitation.

 

If you haven't yet signed the petition, stop by at 421 Tenth Avenue in Coralville.  We have to turn in the signatures no later than 5pm Friday, we'd like to wrap up signature gathering tomorrow.

81% View U.S. Military Favorably This Veterans Day

As the nation honors its veterans today, 81% of Americans say they have a favorable opinion of the U.S. military, the highest finding in five years of surveying by Rasmussen Reports.

Although House Passes Health Care, Most Voters Still Oppose the Legislation

Over the weekend, Democratic leaders spoke of an historic moment as health care reform legislation passed the House of Representatives. But that legislative victory failed to significantly move public opinion.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 45% now favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. Most (52%) remain opposed.

52% Say America’s Best Days Are In the Past, Highest Level in Two Years

Fifty-two percent (52%) of voters feel that America’s best days are in the past, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. This marks the highest level of voter pessimism in two years and is up 13 points from a year ago when Barack Obama was elected president.

72% Say Health Plan Likely to Shift Employees from Private Insurance to Government Plan

Seventy-two percent (72%) of voters nationwide say passage of the proposed health care plan could lead companies to drop private health insurance coverage for their employees. Forty-eight percent (48%) say it's very likely.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that only 16% say it’s unlikely that employers would seek to save money by shifting their workers to a government health insurance "public" option. But only three percent (3%) say it's not at all likely.

New Jersey fires liberal Jon Corzine

Republican Chris Christie defeated Democratic Governor Jon Corzine in New Jersey 49% to 45% with 90% of precincts reporting as of this writing.

A former federal prosecutor, Christie is the first Republican in a dozen years to win a statewide contest in heavily Democratic New Jersey.

Despite being outspent about 3-1 and campaign visits by President Obama for Corzine, Christie won voters over with his fiscal conservative message and record against corruption.

 

Virginia governor's race called for Republican McDonnell

With 68% of the vote in as of this writing, the race for Virginia governor has been called for Republican Bob McDonnell, who easily defeated Democrat R. Creigh Deeds.

All the major polls predicted a fairly lopsided win for McDonnell in a state that hasn't had a Republican governor for the last two gubernatorial election cycles.  Obama carried Virginia by seven points in the Presidential election and Republicans have also lost the last two U.S. Senate races there.

Philanthropy, Taxes, and Our Own Horatio Algers

MOUNT PLEASANT, IA. -- During these turbulent economic times people are concerned about their jobs, their children’s futures, and the direction of our country. In looking for ways to save money, often one of the first items to be cut from the family budget is charitable giving.

In 2008, giving in the United States totaled over $307 billion to over a million different organizations. This was a drop of 5.7 percent from 2007, according to the Giving USA Foundation, which conducts an annual study on philanthropy. However, the $307 billion figure represents an average of over $1,000 for every man, woman, and child in America.

The American tradition of philanthropy is often demonstrated best by those who come from difficult circumstances, work hard and practice integrity, then following their success, turn and help others. This idea was made popular in the dime novels of the late 1800s written by Horatio Alger. The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans was set up in 1947 to honor such real life individuals, as well as provide scholarships and mentors to young people who themselves are demonstrating these same principles.

There are currently six Iowans who are members of the Horatio Alger Association: Roy Carver, John Colloton, Barry Griswell, Lee Liu, John Pappajohn, and the late Marvin Pomerantz. In addition, former Iowan, Henry B. Tippie, is a member, but credited to the State of Texas. They, like many of today’s philanthropists, focus on helping institutions of higher education and students, recognizing the benefits of their own education and encouraging others. 

President Obama’s budget and tax proposals advocate reducing the tax deductions for charitable donations from 35 percent to 25 percent for households making more than $250,000. “If this tax proposal passes, it may force charities to turn to government, with resulting increased regulation and control of their activities. Taxpayers will not be encouraged to take their own initiative and demonstrate good stewardship,” said Deborah Thornton, a Research Analyst with Public Interest Institute in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. 

In 1985, the Association of Fundraising Professionals established National Philanthropy Day, November 15, to encourage, recognize, and honor charitable giving. National Philanthropy Day is a good time to pause and review our own giving. The end of the year is coming up; sit down and write that extra check to your favorite charity. Then be sure to deduct it on your 2009 taxes – next year you may not be able to.

Public Interest Institute's POLICY STUDY, “Stewardship in Iowa: Our Own Horatio Algers,” and INSTITUTE BRIEF, “Philanthropy, Taxes, and Our Own Horatio Algers,” are available at www.limitedgovernment.org.

For an interview or more information on this issue, contact Deborah Thornton, Public Interest Institute Research Analyst.

42% Support Health Care Reform After Release of Pelosi's Version

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced the House version of health care reform legislation last week, but most voters are still opposed to the effort.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% now favor the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s down from 45% a week ago but unchanged from two weeks ago.

62% Say Congress More Responsive To Media Than To Voters

Most voters think the news media has too much power over their elected representatives in Washington and the decisions they make. It's yet another finding that highlights the distance voters see between themselves and their government. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 62% believe that what the media thinks is more important to the average member of Congress than what voters think.