Happy New Year and Peace to all ...

We conclude another year today, as we celebrate the coming of the New Year 2010. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been lost in the past year. We pray for those who are suffering and are empty at this time. May the coming of the New Year give joy, hope, peace and opportunity for all.

Notable Iowans who died in 2009 - There are far too many people to list, but this article has reminded us of some of the notable people who have passed. We lost another great Iowan, just this week, with the passing of fellow Rotarian, George Baldwin.

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the coming year. Thank you for visiting our blog and we encourage you to contact us in 2010, when opportunities arise.

We are thankful to our employees, our customers, our clients, our neighbors, our friends and our family. peace

Robin Tucker

A little bit of Rotary has been lost today with the passing of a fellow Rotarian George K. Baldwin ...

George K. Baldwin, 90, a fellow Rotarian, who served as Sgt. of Arms and who was extremely active in our Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids Fellowship Committee passed away on Saturday, while receiving hospice care, according to The Gazette print edition today. His obituary ...

George represented the Rotary motto "Service Above Self" very well. He was a prince of a man, who I deeply enjoyed visiting with each and every meeting, since he often served as one of our club's greeters.

My maternal grandfather worked with George. We enjoyed a couple of visits discussing the days of Armstrong's Department Store, which both George and my grandfather were active, until their respective retirements.

peace

From Our Family To Yours: Merry Christmas and safe holiday travels to all ...

May your travels be safe, whether traveling near or far this Holiday Season. We wish you the many blessings of Christmas today and always ...

• Joy
• Hope
• Peace
• Love

Robin Tucker

New Federal Legislation, Updates and Tax Reminders from nwyc.com ...

Received the following message from National Write Your Congressman ...

www.nwyc.com
Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Homebuyer credit renewed and expanded
In the hopes of sustaining the real estate market's recent momentum, Uncle Sam has made more than two-thirds of current homeowners, and nearly all first-time buyers, eligible for thousands of dollars in tax breaks when a house is purchased.

Credit for homebuyers
While the value of the credit remains as high as $8,000, the new law pushes back the deadline by which qualified first-time homebuyers must make a transaction in order to claim it. (The legislation defines “first-time homebuyers" as anyone who has not owned a principal residence in the three years prior to making the purchase.) Under the previous law, buyers needed to close the transaction by Nov. 30. However, under the terms of the new law, homebuyers must have a signed sales contract before May 1, 2010, but they have until the end of June to actually close the transaction.

Annual income limits raised
At the same time, the new law raises the annual income limits from $75,000 to $125,000 for singles and from $150,000 to $225,000 for married couples. The changes make nearly all first-time homebuyers eligible for the credit.

Current homeowners tax credit
In addition, the new law makes most current homeowners eligible for a tax credit of up to $6,500 when they purchase their next primary residence. Under the terms of the legislation, current homeowners must have lived in their home for five consecutive years over the previous eight to be eligible. Current homeowners can obtain the credit on homes purchased between Dec.1 and the end of April 2010. Similar to first-time homebuyers, this means they need a signed sales contract on a home before May 1, 2010, but they have until the end of June to close the sale. The income limits for current homeowners are the same as those for first-time homebuyers.

Renewed and expanded NOL carry-back rules
Great news! The recently signed Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance
Act of 2009 expands net operating loss (NOL) rules to include all companies, not just small businesses. Now, midsized and large businesses can elect to use a three-, four- or five-year NOL carryback against prior years income, instead of the normal two-year carryback. Thus, business losses incurred in 2008 or 2009 can now be used to recoup taxes paid in the prior five years by all business sizes. The provision is expected to put $33 billion of tax cuts in the hands of businesses.

New limits on expanded loss rules
One difference between the new provisions and the old ones is that the Worker Act of 2009 limits the amount of loss a large company can carry-back to the previous fifth year at 50 percent of that years’ taxable income. However, any remaining loss can be used to offset the other preceding years income. This limitation does not apply to the 2008 losses of small businesses with revenue of less than $15 million. The expanded loss rules are not available to TARP recipients or members of a TARP recipient’s affiliated group.

Business standard mileage decreases for 2010
The standard mileage rate has been set at 50 cents per mile for business travel in 2010. That's 5 cents down from the 55 cent allowance for business mileage during 2009. The mileage rate is used to calculate not only vehicle business use by self-employed persons but also to reimburse employees for the business use of personal vehicles.

Medical care mileage rate
You may also use the 2010 mileage rate of 16.5 cents-per-mile when using a car to get medical care or in connection with a move that qualifies for the moving expense deduction.

Due Date Reminder
December 31 - last day to set up a pension and profit sharing plan for 2009.
December 31 – individual state taxes paid by this date may be deducted on the 2009 federal tax return.
January 15 – 4th quarter 2009 individual estimated tax deposit due.

Click here to view the TaxFax as a PDF

peace

Health Care Update and R&P Report from nwyc.com for December 21, 2009 ...

December 21, 2009 is officially the first day of Winter here ...

We received an e-mail from National Write Your Congressman today on the health care issue, as well as the R&P Report for December 21, 2009 ...



issue update: health care

Robin B Tucker, the Senate was in session throughout the weekend debating health care legislation. At 12:01 Monday morning, Senate leaders held a cloture vote on the legislation, which is a vote to end debate on the measure and move it to the floor for consideration. The vote was approved, 60-40 - with not a vote to spare. Sixty votes were needed for the vote to pass. All Republicans voted against the cloture vote.

The Senate is expected to vote on final passage of the bill on Dec. 24, Christmas Eve. If it is approved then, the legislation will go to conference, where differences between the House and Senate health care measures will be resolved and a final measure will be written.

Once a final measure is decided upon, the legislation would go back to the House and Senate for a final vote. If no further changes are made, and the legislation is approved in both chambers, the bill will be sent to President Obama to be signed into law.

Click here for information on the Senate health care bill (H.R.3590) (Click 'CRS Summary' for a summary of the bill)

Click here for information on the House health care bill (H.R.3962) (Click 'CRS Summary' for a summary of the bill)

This is a fast-moving issue. Sign up for Twitter alerts from NWYC for the latest information and breaking news alerts on the health bill.

As mentioned, here is the R&P Report for this week ...

http://www.nwyc.com/
Vol. 13 No. 1-38
Monday, December 21, 2009

REVIEW

Senate Health Care Bill (H.R.3590)

Timeline: Senators are preparing for some late nights and early mornings at the Capitol as Democrats push to pass a bill to overhaul the nation’s health care system before the end of the year. The majority party believes it is only one vote shy of the 60 votes needed to advance the health care bill. The Senate could be in session on Christmas Eve, and perhaps the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, as well. Republicans have launched an all-out procedural assault to slow the march toward a final vote on the health care package, which they contend is broadly opposed by the American public. Democrats say GOP members are stalling needlessly.

Holdouts: Centrist Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska stated that he would not support the bill unless its restrictions on insurance coverage for abortion services are strengthened. He added that he had not yet seen a compromise that would satisfy him. Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine, the only GOP senator who was seen as likely to support bringing the bill to a vote, remains unwilling to support the bill because she says there are too many unanswered questions about how major provisions of the bill would work. “I think we should accept that and take time to work through the issues,” Sen. Snowe told reporters.

Anti-Terrorism Act: The House passed a bill that would amend the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to accept gifts of property and services for authorized activities of the Center for Domestic Preparedness. It directs the Secretary to report to Congress annually regarding such gifts. (H.R.3978)

$636 Billion Defense Bill: The Senate voted around 1 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 18 to proceed with action on the fiscal 2010 Defense spending bill, which also contains several non-defense provisions. At press time, a vote to clear the bill for the President’s signature was expected on Saturday morning. The legislation would provide $508 billion for the Defense Department’s regular activities and $128.3 billion for war operations.

Copenhagen Climate Summit: President Obama arrived in Copenhagen on Friday where delegates from around the world have spent the past two weeks writing a new global agreement on fighting climate change. Sec. of State Hillary Rodham Clinton sought to break an impasse between the U.S. and China by saying that the U.S. would contribute to a fund providing $100 billion annually through 2020 to help poor countries adapt to the impact of climate change if China and other developing countries would allow independent verification of promised carbon reductions. Republicans attacked the idea of spending more U.S. tax dollars on aid for developing countries. Click here to voice your opinion on this issue.

PREVIEW

Resolution of Disapproval: GOP members are expected to file a resolution that would repeal the EPA’s recent finding that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases threaten public health. The finding triggered a requirement that fossil fuel emissions be regulated under the Clean Air Act. It is this finding that allows the President to promise that U.S. will mandate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions — with or without congressional action.

Federal Reserve Chairman: The Senate Banking Committee approved the nomination of Ben Bernanke to serve another term as chairman of the Federal Reserve by a vote of 16-7. (S.604)

The Senate is expected to continue work on the health care measure and could vote as late as Christmas Eve on the issue. The House has adjourned for the year.

Click here to view the R&P Report as a PDF

Personally, at work for our small manufacturing company, we concluded our company's health care paperwork for the 2010 plan year. Health care has many challenges and reform is necessary, but the suggestion of single payer national health care system for the United States is very difficult to envision as a successful system of care for Americans. We would favor reforms that would keep and maintain consumer choice and would expand competition in the health care industry.

We want to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Christmas holiday and a wonderful New Year in 2010.

peace

The Big Ten plans to have an announcement today on future membership: our thoughts on expansion ...

We read the following today on Gazette Online that the Big Ten Conference plans to have an announcement today, regarding expansion. Well, here's to keeping eleven members and lobbying the NCAA for a 13Th game for the Big Ten. Let's be like the Pac 10 Conference and play everyone once in football. Say no, to expansion and say yes to let's get a 13Th game petitioned.

Big Ten confirms statement ‘will come out this afternoon’ - The Gazette
The Big Ten Conference will issue a statement this afternoon on whether it will consider expanding from 11 to 12 schools, conference spokesman ...

Report: Big Ten expected to talk expansion to 12 teams‎ - SportingNews.com
Big Ten conference officials were expected to release a statement sometime today addressing a possible expansion to 12 teams. Commissioner Jim Delany has ...

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz suggested during the 2009 season that a round-robin schedule for the Big Ten would be a good way to determine the champion in football. He suggested that the NCAA would have to give the Big Ten a 13Th game, so like the Pac 10, conference members could have three out of conference games.

The Big Ten and Pac 10 conferences both send the winner of their conferences to the Rose Bowl, unless they are among the Top 2 for the BCS title game. We think it would be great to see each conference to play a round-robin slate and separate themselves from the ACC, Big 12, C-USA, MAC and SEC mega conferences. Look what happened to the Nebraska-Oklahoma rivalry in the old Big 8 Conference, after the expansion and creation of the Big 12 Conference.

Robin Tucker

This week's R&P Report from NWYC.com ...

We received our weekly e-mail from a service of National Write Your Congressman

http://www.nwyc.com/
Vol. 13 No. 1-37

Monday, December 14, 2009

REVIEW

Health Care LegislationSenate: (H.R.3590) House: (H.R.3962)
The Senate’s floor debate on its version of the health legislation has stalled while Democratic leaders wait for a Congressional Budget Office analysis of their latest batch of proposals. That report is expected this week.

A group of five moderate Democrats and five liberal Democrats reached an agreement in talks aimed at finding a compromise on the “public option,” or government-run health care plan. Senate lawmakers will now consider a proposal that would open Medicare to uninsured Americans from ages 55 to 64 and would effectively scrap an earlier government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurers.

Neither chamber has ruled out the possibility of staying in session during part of their scheduled break in order to vote on health care legislation.

**** *** ****

$446.8 Billion Spending Bill: The Senate is temporarily shifting its attention away from health care to a year-end omnibus spending bill. The six-bill package combines funding for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1. (H.R.3288)

Guantánamo Detainees: The GOP is planning to use various tactics, including amendments and motions to recommit, to attempt to reverse President Obama’s decision to try some Guantánamo detainees in federal district courts. A GOP motion to bar the use of funds to release or transfer the detainees was defeated earlier in a 2010 omnibus spending measure. (H.R.3288)

Financial Regulations: The House began the amendment process for a bill that would overhaul the nation’s financial regulations. It would authorize the use of $4 billion in bailout funds for housing relief and include language that would require secured creditors of failing institutions to take losses when the failing company is being overseen by the government. (H.R.4173)

Defense Bill Pay-As-You-Go: The House Blue Dog Coalition is pushing for language that would put the pay-as-you-go budget principle into law if the Defense bill is brought to the floor with an expected $2 trillion debt limit increase attached. The law would require new mandatory spending or tax cuts to be offset by savings or revenue increases elsewhere in the budget. (H.R.3226) Click here to express your opinion on this issue.

Electronic Waste: A Senate panel approved legislation that seeks ways to encourage more recycling of electronic products such as computers, mobile phones and televisions. (S.1397)

PREVIEW

Estate Tax: Congress could be unable to prevent the scheduled repeal of the estate tax before it disappears for one year beginning Jan. 1, 2010. However, Congress could come back in 2010 and pass a retroactive law that would “repeal the repeal” creating difficulties for estate planners.

The Obama administration wants to extend the current estate tax structure indefinitely, and legislation passed by the House last week would do just that. But Senate Democratic leaders, consumed by the health care debate, say it is unlikely that they will be able to take up the bill. (H.R.4154) Click here to express your opinion on this issue.

Copenhagen Summit: President Obama will not be taking an enacted climate change bill with him this week to international negotiations in Copenhagen. He plans to attend the end of the conference on Dec. 18. House-passed cap and trade legislation is stalled behind health care in the Senate. (H.R.2454)

The Senate is expected to continue work on health care, spending bills and a bill to modify first-time homebuyers’ credit for armed service members. The House is scheduled to continue work on financial regulations, spending bills and Guantánamo detainees measures.

Click here to view the R&P Report as a PDF

Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting for December 14, 2009 is the annual holiday party ...

Robin Tucker is scheduled to attend today's Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting at Noon. Robin celebrated his 20Th year anniversary as a member of Rotary International in September of this year.

The Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids is now on Twitter! Link

Monday, December 14, 2009

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL

Today's Speaker and Program:
Annual Club Holiday Party

While attending Cocoa and Carols with family at Washington High School on December 12, 2009, the program brings memories of the type of Holiday program that the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids has over the years. Our Rotary Club typically invites one music group from one of the local schools. Who will it be this year?

Robin Tucker

How do you feel about the proposed War Tax in Congress right now?

We received the following e-mail from National Write Your Congressman today ...

A service of National Write Your Congressman

Friday, December 11, 2009
http://www.nwyc.com/

War Tax

Congress is considering a proposal by Rep. David Obey (D-WI) to levy a war
surtax to help fund President Obama’s Afghan war strategy. The graduated surtax
would impose a 1percent tax on most Americans that rises to 5 percent on
wealthier citizens. The White House estimates that the effort would cost roughly
$1 million per soldier or Marine per year.

For
Rep. Dave Obey (D-WI)

"...Democratic members introduced legislation today that would end the
practice of paying for the war in Afghanistan with borrowed money by imposing a
war surtax beginning in 2011. ... Regardless of whether one favors the war or
not, if it is to be fought, it ought to be paid for ... If we don't address the
cost of this war, we will continue shoving billions of dollars in taxes off on
future generations and will devour money that could be used to rebuild our
economy..." - Press Release 11/19/2009

Against
Rep. Tom Price (R-GA)

"No, I think [a war surtax] is as cynical as it is irresponsible. The fact
of the matter is the protection of the American people is the number one
challenge, the number one task for the United States Congress. It ought to be a
priority in our budgeting process. … A penny on the dollar will get us hundreds
of billions of dollars in order to accomplish the priorities that we ought to
have for the American people. And one of the priorities absolutely has to be and
must be the protection of our land and degrading the resources that Al Qaida
has." - CNN Interview 11/30/2009

Do you support a war surtax to help fund President
Obama’s Afghan war strategy?

Click here
to voice your opinion!

Voice your opinion now!

If the above link to the ballot does not work, try pressing the 'Back'
button on your browser, or copy and paste the following text in your address
bar:

War Tax: http://www.spesend.net/SpeClicks.aspx?X=2R0QE581HR436RXS02XXW6
get in touch

National Write Your
Congressman
phone: (214) 342-0299
fax: (214) 324-2455
address:
2435 N Central Expressway, Suite 300
Richardson, Texas 75080-2770

http://www.spesend.net/SpeClicks.aspx?X=2R0QE581HR436RXS04XXW6

Robin Tucker

Cedar Rapids Washington High School is among "America's Best High Schools" by U.S. News and World Report ...

We just received the following e-mail from Washington High School on Friday, December 11, 2009. Not sure what type of medal Washington received, but they are among 1 of the Top 561 high schools that made the 2010 list. There are 18, 743 public high schools ...

CEDAR RAPIDS WASHINGTON AGAIN PICKED AS ONE OF "AMERICA'S
BEST HIGH SCHOOLS" BY U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT

For the second consecutive year, Cedar Rapids Washington has been named to U.S. News and World Report’s list of "America’s Best High Schools."
Washington was one of the only three Iowa high schools that met the three criteria required for inclusion on the 2010 list of 561 schools considered to be
the top-performing high schools in the nation.

According to U.S. News and World Report, a three-step process
determined the best high schools. The first two steps ensured that the schools
serve all their students well, using state proficiency standards as the
benchmarks. For those schools that made it past the first two steps, a third
step assessed the degree to which schools prepare students for college-level
work.

A total of 561 American public high schools cleared those three tests
out of 18,743 schools that were studied. Those 561 schools were named "America’s
Best High Schools." The 100 with the highest College Readiness Index scores were
named Gold Award schools, and the remaining 461 became Silver Award
schools.

Dr. Ralph Plagman, Washington Principal, said that, "Washington rose to
the top of the class, we believe, because of our school’s relentless efforts to
prepare our students to do well on the ITED and our school’s constant emphasis
on Advanced Placement participation. Washington High School has won many awards – three National Blue Ribbon awards and seven times on Newsweek’s List of ‘Best American High School’ among others. The two U.S. News and World Report Silver Awards may top all of the others!"

VIEW LINK: http://www.USNEWS.COM/SECTIONS/EDUCATION/HIGH-SCHOOLS/

• Here are the three steps in the selection process:
  The first step determined whether each school's students were performing better than statistically expected for the average student in the state on the reading and math portions of the Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED).


• The second step determined whether the school's least-advantaged
  students (black, Hispanic, and low income) were performing better than average for similar students in the state. They compared each school's math and reading proficiency rates for disadvantaged students with the statewide results for these student groups and then selected schools that were performing better than the state average.


• Schools that made it through the first two steps became eligible to be
  judged nationally on the final step, college-readiness performance, using
  Advanced Placement test data as the benchmark for success. This third step
  measured which schools produced the best college-level achievement for the
  highest percentages of their students. This was done by computing a "college
  readiness index" based on the school's AP participation rate and how well the students did on those tests.

Two of our three children have either graduated or are currently at Washington High School. I was in the first graduating class at Washington High School, when Dr. Plagman arrived at the high school. Both my sister and brother graduated earlier than me at Washington H.S.

Robin Tucker

Rotary, Three Days off of school for kids in Eastern Iowa and thoughts on College Sports ...

Well, our Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids on Monday had our District Governor speak. District 5970 Governor Gerald Retzlaff (Monticello) had some interesting comments about our Rotary Club and how Rotarians can expand Rotary. The message in Rotary for 2009-10 is "The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands."

Larry Christy's recap in Ripples From the Rapids:

GERALD RETZLAFF

DISTRICT GOVERNOR, DISTRICT 5970

District 5970 Governor Gerald Retzlaff (Monticello) paid
the annual required visit of the Rotary District Governor to Cedar Rapids Rotary
on Monday. District 5970 covers most of northern Iowa and extends as far south
as Cedar Rapids in Eastern Iowa. The District has approximately 3 thousand
Rotarians and Cedar Rapids Downtown Rotary represents approximately 10% of that
total.

Cedar Rapids Rotary has fallen out of the 50 largest Rotary clubs
worldwide because membership fell to 293 active members two years ago.
Currently, with the assistance of a successful membership drive, we have
increased active membership to 315 and should be back in the 50 largest clubs
worldwide when the list is published in July 2010. When we include our 31
honorary members, our total membership is now 346.

The District Governor pointed out that Cedar Rapids Rotary is the
fourth oldest club in Iowa; founded in April 1914. Oldest is Des Moines (August
1911) followed by Davenport (November 1911) and Sioux City (October
1912).

Governor Retzlaff touched on 5 of the 7 current priorities of Rotary
International:

1. The eradication of polio is Rotary International’s top priority. Polio
   began as a Rotary commitment twenty years ago. Hundreds of millions of dollars
   have been raised by Rotary. India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan still have
   confirmed polio cases. In Nigeria things are getting worse. There were 400 cases
   reported in July 2009 and cases reported increased to 1,400 by September.
   Governor Retzlaff mentioned the End Polio Now event at Kirkwood last month and
   the example of Speaker Doug Olberman who led a successful life after contracting
   polio at age 8 and spending a lifetime sleeping in an iron lung.


2. Improving the image of Rotary. Events, like the one at Kirkwood, help
   Rotary’s image. Clubs need to improve the image of Rotary within their
   community.


3. Members need to spend more time and have a greater commitment to Rotary.
   Governor Retzlaff asked how many members had sponsored a new member in Rotary
   and few hands were raised.


4. Increasing membership. The Governor said our club has been doing a good
   job in this area. He mentioned that membership loss is increasing overall due in
   part to membership moving and more frequent changes in employment.


5. Emphasize the uniqueness of vocation in Rotary. We need to get to know
   other vocations and encourage more diversity.

He encouraged members to think about these five priorities and how they
affect each of us.

Well the Major Winter Storm that hit Cedar Rapids and Eastern Iowa has moved East. Now bitter cold has arrived in our community. The students at area schools are enjoying their third straight day of canceled classes though, due to the weather this week.
It's official, Iowa will meet Georgia Tech in the FedEx Orange Bowl on January 5, 2010. The BCS worked pretty good this year, despite five teams in the FBS undefeated for the 2009 regular season. The BCS bowl match ups are good and there are some other good non-BCS games on the horizon as well. 2009-2010 Bowl Line ups

ESPN is reporting Cincinnati Brian Kelly will become Notre Dame's next head football coach. I was hoping for Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald. Well, maybe next time in South Bend, since Fitzgerald is still one of the better young coaches in all of college football.

By the way the BCS is good to Notre Dame and a lot of schools for that matter. Despite turning down a bowl bid for 2009, "Notre Dame is guaranteed 1 1/66 share of net BCS revenue, expected to be about $1.3 million. The Irish get $4.5 millions if they make a BCS game", the USA Today reported today.

One final note, our thoughts and prayers are with Iowa basketball coach Todd Lickliter and his family, as the coach recovers from surgery on his carotid artery on Saturday. Hopefully his health will get back to where a person of his age should be and that he can resume his full duties again very soon for the University of Iowa.

Robin Tucker

This Week's R&P Report from nwyc.com

We are proud to be a member of National Write Your Congressman ...

This week's report after the Thanksgiving Congressional Recess has arrived.

www.nwyc.com
Vol. 13 No. 1-36
Monday, December 7, 2009

REVIEW

Senate Health Care Overhaul Bill
(H.R.3590)

The opening week of debate on the Senate’s health care overhaul bill has been dominated by GOP charges that the legislation would slash Medicare benefits. Democrats countered with an amendment promising seniors that none of Medicare’s traditional benefits would be reduced by the bill and that savings from reducing payments to Medicare providers would go toward improving the program.

Medicare Reductions: At issue are $384 billion in reductions in projected Medicare spending over the next ten years. The cuts would help finance an expansion of subsidized health insurance coverage for people who are not elderly, in order to reduce the uninsured population by almost two-thirds. Click
here to express your opinion on this issue.

Abortion: Lawmakers are considering stricter abortion curbs in the bill. Limits on federal funding for abortion are dividing Democrats as they battle to gather enough votes to pass the bill before year’s end.

Women’s Health: The Senate voted to increase access to preventive health care and screening services for women and to retain previous mammogram guidelines in the bill.

Trigger Mechanism: Lawmakers are considering a plan that calls for a state-by-state trigger mechanism that would introduce a government-run insurance plan for states deemed not to have affordable insurance rates.

************************************

Jobs Legislation: Lawmakers are eying Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds as they scramble to find ways to pay for new policies intended to create jobs. If TARP funds are used to help create jobs outside of Wall Street, lawmakers hope to quell voter anger over high unemployment numbers.

Black Caucus: Citing the lack of action on minority issues, the 10-member caucus announced plans to introduce a proposal to increase access to federal funds for minority-owned banks.

Estate Tax: The House passed a bill to permanently extend the estate tax at current rates. It approved the measure 225-200, less than a month before the current law would eliminate the estate tax for next year and then return it in 2011 with fewer exemptions and higher rates. The bill would make permanent this year’s $3.5 million per-person exemption and 45 percent tax rate on estates. The bill goes next to the Senate where lawmakers are consumed with health care legislation and not expected to act quickly on the legislation. (H.R.4154) Click here to express your opinion on this issue.

Financial Sector Regulations: Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Henry Waxman (D–CA) agreed to put a director in charge of a proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency temporarily, then set up a commission to run it. The agency would police common financial products like mortgages and credit cards. (H.R.3126)

PREVIEW

Afghanistan/Pakistan Strategy: In a supplemental funding request next year, lawmakers will be asked to replenish military funding for war operations, which is expected to be depleted because of the recently announced U.S. troop increase. Funding for Pakistan is also being considered. Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) told Congress, “What happens in Pakistan ... will, in my judgment, do more to determine the outcome in Afghanistan than any increase in troops or shift in strategy.”

Satellite Law: Congress has not reauthorized a satellite TV distribution law that expires at the end of the month. If both chambers do not reach an agreement on the issue, programming could be cut off to as many as one million satellite television subscribers. (S.1670, S.2764, H.R.3570)

Multi-bill Omnibus Package: Lawmakers could resort to passing a broad package of bills to clear spending measures and extend expiring programs by the end of the month.

Click here to view the R&P Report as a PDF

Robin Tucker

The Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting for Monday, December 7, 2009 ...

Robin Tucker is scheduled to attend today's Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting at Noon. Robin celebrated his 20Th year anniversary as a member of Rotary International in September of this year.

The Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids is now on Twitter! Link

Monday, December 7, 2009

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL

Today's Speaker and Program:
District Governor Gerald Retzloff

The Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids is in District 5970

Robin Tucker

Will the BCS get it right with Alabama, TCU and Texas?

Here's to no rematch between the SEC and Big 12 teams in the 2010 BCS Title game. Let's give the non-BCS teams the better match ups this year. Here's our take on where the final 10 teams should be placed in the BCS bowl picture for the 2009-10 season:

• BCS Title Game - Alabama (13-0) vs. TCU (12-0)


• Rose Bowl - Ohio State (10-2) vs. Oregon (10-2)


• Fiesta Bowl - Texas (13-0) vs. Boise State (12-0)


• Sugar Bowl - Cincinnati (12-0) vs. Florida (12-1)


• Orange Bowl - Georgia Tech (11-2) vs. Iowa (10-2)

Sorry Joe Pa, Penn State lost to Ohio State and Iowa at home. The Hawkeyes were on track with a very nice nine game winning streak, until a two game slide. Wins over Arizona (tied for 2Nd in the Pac Ten), @PSU, @Wisconsin and @Michigan State gave the Hawkeyes a worthy schedule for the final spot in the BCS this year.

Robin Tucker

College Football, the Holiday Parade and thoughts and prayers for the health of coach Todd Lickliter today ...

Is this the Saturday before the storm?

The future weather forecast is for snow next week for Iowa. On the flip side, if the right games go well, it could be a Fiesta in the Sun for Iowa football fans and program. Of course, the University of Nebraska may have something to say about that with the Cornhuskers hanging with the Texas Longhorns in the Big 12 Championship Game: Texas 7, Nebraska 6 at the half.

My daughter and I participated in the 2009 Fire & Ice Holiday Parade in Cedar Rapids Saturday nightt. We enjoyed handing out candy to kids of all ages, especially the younger ones, as part of the Steve West Sr. fire truck float. Steve is a loyal Linn County Republican Central Committee member and has been a loyal contributor at local parades with his fire truck. The decorated truck looked fine and the smiles were all around us.

By the way, Steve West Sr. is a huge Hawkeye fan to boot. He was decked out in Black & Gold at tonight's parade. Steve has served on the Linn Country Republican Central Committee for over 41 years. I went to my first county convention at age 12 and Steve was right there.

On a more serious note, it appears the health of Iowa basketball coach Todd Lickliter took a turn today, with news that he had an operation today. Our thoughts and prayers are with coach Lickliter and his family as he hopefully recovers fully from the undisclosed medical condition that has surfaced recently.

Coach Lickliter and his two sons, who are associated with the Iowa basketball program were not on the sidelines, as Iowa defeated Prairie View A&M Saturday afternoon, 80-51, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

peace

It's been a busy week after the Thanksgiving Holiday ...

• Monday - No Rotary meeting, but we attended the announcement of Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who announced that she is running for the 2Nd Congressional District in 2010 as a candidate for the Republican Party. I have agreed to serve as her Linn County volunteer Chair. Mariannette is a wonderful women and her story and passion for public policy has impressed us.

Miller-Meeks returns to challenge Loebsack - Muscatine Journal
Mariannette Miller-Meeks, center, announced Monday at the Quality Cobbler at Muscatine Mall that she plans to run for Iowa's 2nd ...
Miller-Meeks jumps right back in - Burlington Hawk Eye
Miller-Meeks stresses 2008 lessons learned - Ottumwa Courier
Miller-Meeks to seek 2nd District seat again - UI The Daily Iowan

Ottumwa doctor seeks 2nd Congressional District‎ - Chicago Tribune
AP OTTUMWA, Iowa - Ottumwa doctor Marianette Miller-Meeks is announcing her second ... the Republican nomination for the 2nd Congressional District seat. ...

Iowa Political Insider: Miller-Meeks to run for Congress again - DesMoinesRegister.com
Ottumwa doctor Mariannette Miller-Meeks on Monday will officially announce a second run against Dave Loebsack for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District. ...
Ottumwa Republican plots second bid for second district seat - Radio Iowa
Miller-Meeks to again challenge Loebsack - DesMoinesRegister.com

• Tuesday - Watched on ESPN2 and hoped for the Iowa Hawkeyes to get back on track at home when they hosted Virginia Tech in the Big Ten/ACC Challange 2009. The Hawkeyes came up short.


• Wednesday and Friday - Attended two Government Affairs events with the local delegation hosted by the Cedar Rapids Association of Realtors and the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. There is plenty of work ahead during the 2010 Legislative session.

After taking several days off for the Thanksgiving holiday. Plenty of work to get caught up with for both Tommy Tucker Realty Co. and Tucker Manufacturing Co., Inc. The two businesses that keep me busy most of the time.

• Tonight - Caught up on some social media (Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, blogs, web site) and took a look at our updated Church web site that looks very nice. Carole and I are involved with St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids. The enhancements look a lot better, as I highlighted in the following blog.

On Monday, the R & P report should be issued by National Write Your Congressman, which we are members of. It's important for all Americans to participate in the public policy discussions at the local, state and Federal level.

peace

Just under 17 months after the Flood of 2008 - Buyouts begin in Cedar Rapids ...

Flood buyouts begin in Cedar Rapids - The Gazette

Mayor-elect Ron Corbett has said he would like to see owners have access to an advocate if they desire one so they feel they are meeting the city’s contractor on a fair playing field. Miller said he likes the idea...

Cedar Rapids Mayor-elect Ron Corbett is holding a listening session with flood victims at the IBEW tonight.

Thanks to @kathypotts for her tweets on Twitter from the event at IBEW tonight.

Take care tonight around Cedar Rapids, if you are out driving. The snow is causing some winter driving conditions and traffic accidents highlight the winter driving season.

Robin Tucker

Congratulations to Don Karr and Pat Shey in the runoff election for City Council in the City of Cedar Rapids ...

The City of Cedar Rapids election of 2009 is now final. Just like the 64-70 loss today by the Iowa Hawkeyes to the Virginia Tech Hokies, the final numbers are known.

Shey in District 3, Karr in at-large race, council winners - The Gazette
Don Karr and Pat Shey won seats on the City Council tonight over Aaron Saylor and Jerry McGrane.Karr, 64, longtime owner of Affordable ...

Runoff election results - KCRG-TV

Now, hopefully the full transition from the current outgoing City Council to the new group of nine can start to begin for 2010.

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Our building at 613 2Nd Avenue in Downtown Cedar Rapids is one of buildings impacted by the Flood of 2008 and the loss of steam service.

Downtown Cedar Rapids out of steam - The Gazette

A long tradition has ended in Cedar Rapids. For more than a century, a giant steam system heated much of the downtown area. Tuesday, Alliant Energy shut it down ...

Robin Tucker

Did you remember to Vote today in Cedar Rapids?

Don't forget to Vote today in the City of Cedar Rapids runoff election.

Cedar Rapids City Council runoff election is today - The Gazette

This is just a reminder to vote today in Cedar Rapids in the runoff city council elections. The entire city has the choice of Don Karr and Aaron Saylor for an at-large position, while citizens in District 3 choose between Jerry McGrane and Pat Shey.

Robin Tucker