2009 HALL OF FAME BANQUET
Tuesday, April 28, 2009. What a great evening it was.
(Check out these pictures. Just click on the picture to forward to the next image or play it by the numbers. Incidentally, didn't Dubuque's own Kate Mulgrew - Captain Janeway of the Startrek Voyager - do a great job!!!) To view FAR TOO MANY pictures of the night, click here.
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May 1, 2009 >> TIME FOR... A WAY OUT WITH WALT EDITORIAL.
Recently, one citizen published a letter to the editor about the Obama administration, and joined Rush Limbaugh in wishing him to be a failure. TALK ABOUT POLITICAL DYSLEXIA. HE’S GOT IT BAD.
Point #1 In his first point, he criticizes the plan to revamp the health care industry. Well it certainly is out of control right now. Medicare reimbursements to Iowa are third from the bottom in the fifty states. We can’t recruit physicians due to this malady. Yet we pay the same premium as the top getters. Grassley and Nussle presided over the Medicare Modernization Act. They failed Iowa big time.
Point #2 - He Obama - wants to grow government and spend money we don’t have. Reagan, both Bushes have spent more than all of their predecessors combined. And nearly started World War Three in the process.
Point #3 - he wants to shrink the military. It's about time. The president is Commander in chief of the Armed forces of the United States. HE IS NOT THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE WORLD.
Point #4 - He wants to take over private business. Well Well, weren’t those businesses up to their necks in alligators, and needed Bush to start draining the swamp. Remember Bank of America, Citi Group, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were on the brink of financial collapse. Leaving them go under would have global disastrous implications.
Point#5 - He has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution (Bush ignored it) and the laws of the land. The Supreme Court ruled abortion legal. I don’t like it either, but we have to live with it. Bush never tried to reverse Roe v Wade.
Point#6 - He wants Congress to raise taxes. Well Bush, Gingrich and crew cut taxes for the big money boys. Look what happened. The economy nearly collapsed and the fat cats still maintained their avarice and greed. Their ethics reflect the thinking of the devil.
Point#7- He wants to make contracts with other countries. Well Geo. W. Had every other country torked off at us for Iraq. Someone had to make peace. Get your head out of your trousers.
Point #8 - He wants to give amnesty to illegal aliens. Amnesty is a lot more humane than the cost and angst of deporting them.
Point #9 - You call global warming an unproven hysteria. You are a good example for the need of better educational systems.
Some of the other points in your letter are too dumb to comment on.
The nation was in worse shape when Bush left the White House, than it was when Gen. George Washington swore in as our first president.
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MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS & IMPROVING OUR BUSINESS CLIMATE
- from Representative Tom Schueller's website
I wanted to send out a special edition of my newsletter today to let you know about a new tax fairness plan being considered this week that cuts taxes by $34 million for middle class families. You might hear about the plan in the days ahead, but I wanted to make sure you have all the details because special interest groups are already at work spreading misinformation and telling half the story.
The proposal cuts tax rates for every Iowa taxpayer, ensures that two thirds of Iowans would receive a tax cut or see no increase in the amount of taxes they pay each year, and simplifies Iowa’s income tax system.
For middle class families that make under $125,000 annually, our plan reduces rates for everyone and cuts taxes in this income group by over $34 million. Most of you will benefit under the plan because, according to US Census Data, 98% of folks in my house district make $125,000 or less.
The middle class tax cut plan will also attract more good-paying jobs to Iowa and strengthen our business climate by reducing Iowa’s income tax rates to make them more competitive with neighboring states.
Currently, Iowa’s confusing income tax system leaves us with the 4th highest income tax rate in the country, even though rates are much lower in reality. This is because we are one of only three states left that allow federal deductibility on state taxes. The elimination of federal deductibility and rate reduction idea has long been part of the platform of groups like the Iowa Chamber Alliance, Professional Developers of Iowa, and the Iowa Taxpayer’s Association.
The proposal is designed to make Iowa’s tax system fair and simple while raising the same amount of revenue for the state. This is not about raising taxes because rates are reduced for everyone and it does not increase state revenues.
In order to keep this plan revenue neutral for the state, some folks at the top will pay a bit more. On average, taxpayers making between $125,000 and $200,000 would pay an additional $82. Taxpayers making over $200,000 would pay, on average, an additional $741.
The middle class tax cut plan has five key components:
>> Increases the elderly and blind personal credit from $20 to $40 which means that every Iowan over 65 will get the increased deduction
>> Expands a refundable tax credit for working families with some families eligible for a tax credit up to $5,000
>> Increases the Child and Dependent Care Credit
>> Reduces all tax rates -- Iowa’s top income tax rate will drop 22% from 8.98 to 6.98, which is the lowest rate in 40 years
>> Eliminates federal deductibility on Iowa tax forms which simplifies tax returns by eliminating nine lines on the income tax form
Sincerely, Representative Tom Schueller
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SUBJECT: March 7, 2009 Caucus
NOTICE TO ALL LOCAL DEMOCRATS: Your participation is encouraged at the DUBUQUE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY OFF-YEAR CAUCUS. This event is a vital exercise in local Democratic Party political participation. It will take place on SATURDAY MARCH 7, 2009 beginning at 1 PM at ELEANOR ROOSEVELT MIDDLE SCHOOL Auditorium, 2001 Radford Rd. Any registered Democrat (and you can register at the caucus) can participate.
We will elect Central Committtee officers, and discuss important issues and pending legislation, and preview the year's activities. Voting for officers can be done only by members of the Central Committee but all other issues and discussion are open to participation by all in attendance. Paper ballots will be available for committeepersons to cast their votes. Iowa Democratic party by-laws dictate that all ballots cast must be signed by the person voting, in order to be counted.
Officers are elected to two-year terms and are expected to attend all Central Committee and Executive Board meetings, usually held on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. They set the agendas and support all party-sponsored events. Positions to be elected that day are: Chairperson, First Vice-chair, Second Vice-chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. To date, the following people have responded to inquiries and announced interest in running for office: Chairperson -- Terry Stewart; First Vice-chair -- Will Toomey; Second Vice-chair -- unannounced; Secretary -- Walt Pregler; Treasurer -- Jim Waller. Nominations also are accepted that day.
The Executive Board is comprised of the elected officers plus our representatives to State Central Committee, and all committee heads. There are many appointed leadership positions in the local party, including Candidates and Campaigns, Finance, Information and Technology, Permanent Organization and Parliamentarian, Public Communication, Research, Special Events, and Volunteer. All Democrats are encouraged to attend the caucus, raise and discuss the issues that concern them, and express their interest in heading or serving on committees.
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Scroll down and read our own 3 witnesses to history
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