The R&P Report from National Write Your Congressman for the week of Monday, January 31st ...

A service of National Write Your Congressman

http://www.nwyc.com/
Vol. 15 No. 3
Monday, January 31, 2011

REVIEW

Medicare: House GOP members are considering a draft measure to privatize Medicare that would be included in their alternative to President Obama’s annual budget. Under one scenario, people who turn 65 on or after January 1, 2021, would receive a voucher to buy private insurance in the “exchanges” expected to be formed by the new health care law. Meanwhile, the eligibility age for Medicare would increase incrementally from its current 65 years of age to 69 for those born in 2022 and later.

Balanced Budget Amendment: Republicans in the House have introduced a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. The measure, which would require two-thirds approval of both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states, would require that federal spending in any year not exceed total revenue, cap federal spending at 20 percent of gross domestic product and require the president to submit a balanced budget to Congress every year. The amendment would also require a two-thirds vote in both chambers. Click here to voice your opinion on this issue.

Presidential Campaign Spending: The House passed the first in what promises to be a series of measures aimed at reducing the budget deficit, starting with ending a program that provides public funding during presidential elections. The bill would terminate the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the move would reduce mandatory spending by $617 million over 10 years. (H.R. 359) Click here to voice your opinion on this issue.

Race to the Top: President Obama urged Congress to model a rewrite of federal education law on the administration’s signature competitive grant, Race to the Top. The program provides federal money to states that tie teacher pay to student achievement, adopts common curriculum standards and expands charter schools, among other strategies.

Small-Business Programs: The Senate cleared by unanimous consent a four-month extension of small-business programs through May 31. The goal of the programs is to make funds more readily available to small business owners. (H.R. 366)

Senate Rule Changes: The Senate approved a standing order curtailing “secret holds” that senators use to anonymously block legislation and nominations. Party leaders agreed that majority Democrats will allow Republicans to offer more amendments to bills, and in return Republicans will not block legislation from coming to the Senate floor for consideration. Lawmakers also approved an order to prevent senators from forcing the reading of legislation or an amendment if the text has been available for 72 hours. New rules also eliminate the requirement for Senate confirmation of hundreds of executive nominations. Democrats were unable to get the two-thirds support necessary for approval for filibuster changes, including a measure that would have required senators to continuously talk if they want to filibuster legislation or a nomination.

PREVIEW

Federal Education Law: A panel of Senate members on the Education and Workforce Committee will begin hearings on the long-stalled rewrite of the No Child Left Behind program the week of Feb. 7.

Oil Spill Legislation: House and Senate Democratic leaders vowed to make oil spill legislation a top priority for the 112Th Congress, with two draft bills introduced in the House and a leading Senate Democrat promising to develop bipartisan legislation in the near future. The measures would establish new safety standards and improve oversight of the offshore oil industry.

Patriot Act: The chairmen of the House and Senate Judiciary committees will consider dueling proposals to reauthorize three sections of the anti-terrorism law known as the Patriot Act, which is set to expire at the end of February.

Nuclear Security: Pres. Obama announced plans to establish a jointly financed nuclear security center in China.

The week ahead: The House is in recess and is scheduled to reconvene Tuesday, Feb. 8. The Senate is expected to address oil spill legislation and continue work on measures that would help balance the budget.

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Thank you for being a responsible American; your voice is making a difference.

Interesting to note that the House is not in session for this week. Out of Florida, Federal Judge has ruled that Obama health care law is unconstitutional. Headlines on Tuesday, February 1 ...

Robin Tucker

The R&P Report for Monday, January 24, 2011 ...

A service of National Write Your Congressman
www.nwyc.com

Vol. 15 No. 2
Monday, January 24, 2011

The 112Th Congress is now in session. It’s leaders include:

• Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
• Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
• 53rd Speaker of the House, John Boehner (R-OH)
• House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor (R-VA)
• House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
  
  

REVIEW

Memorial Observances: After a week long pause to reflect on the shootings in Arizona that left six dead and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) critically injured, the House reconvened on Monday last week. The Senate remained on recess until Jan. 25.

Repealing the Health Care Law: After seven hours of debate, the House passed a measure (245-189) to repeal the health care law. The bill goes next to the Senate, where it is not expected to reach the floor of the Democrat–led chamber. President Obama has vowed to veto the repeal. Lawmakers also passed a resolution calling for legislation to replace the health care law. (H.R.2)

Regulatory Reform: President Obama passed an executive order that requires federal agencies to review health and safety regulations to determine if they are too burdensome on businesses, in which case they may be changed or repealed. The President sent two memorandums directing enforcement agencies to make compliance information easily accessible online and to look for ways to reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses. While Republicans had hoped to take the lead in regulatory reform, and say this proposal is remarkably similar to theirs, most are praising the move.

Stop the Overprinting: The House considered a bill that would eliminate a current requirement that copies of all bills and resolutions introduced by members of Congress automatically be printed. It would require that bills and resolutions be made available in electronic format accessible on the Internet and printed at members’ request. (H.R.292)

Mine Safety: Democratic lawmakers in the House called for passage of stricter mine safety regulations after a preliminary report blamed the fatal explosion at West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch mine on a series of safety violations.

PREVIEW

House Tax Reporting: The House and Senate plan to considered separate measures that would repeal the 1099 requirement in the health care law that calls for businesses to report to the IRS any payment over $600 made to a vendor. The requirement is estimated to bring in $19.2 billion over 10 years. The Senate’s repeal draft bill would include an offset of $39 billion in spending rescission's. ( H.R.4)

Spending Limits: The House is expected to vote on a resolution that would require the Budget Chairman, Paul Ryan (R-WI) to move toward setting non-security discretionary spending limits at fiscal 2008 levels. Democrats criticized the GOP rule, which they say would give Rep. Ryan too much power. Republicans countered that the authority was necessary to set enforceable spending limits since Congress failed to enact a budget resolution for fiscal 2011.

Tax Code Overhaul: The House Ways and Means committee has begun a series of hearings to tackle what could be the most significant corporate and individual tax overhaul in 25 years. Under the microscope are corporations that outsource jobs overseas and tax breaks for big oil and gas companies.

Medical Malpractice: The House is expected to address legislation that would revamp the medical malpractice liability system. Many GOP members blame it for increasing health care costs, while many Democrats says patients deserve to be compensated when they have been injured at the hands of their physicians.

Reducing Federal Spending: Lawmakers in the House are preparing a measure that would reduce federal spending by $2.5 trillion over 10 years,

The Week Ahead: The House will consider medical malpractice legislation. The Senate is expected to address the 1099 issue as it returns to Capitol Hill.

The Senate and House meet in a joint session Tuesday night to hear President Obama’s State of the Union speech.

The House this week considers a resolution to reduce fiscal 2011 appropriations at least to fiscal 2008 levels. The House also considers a bill to end public financing of presidential campaigns and party nominating conventions.

House and Senate committees hold hearings on the health care overhaul.

The Senate could continue debate on an overhaul of its rules, including those on filibusters, which the chamber had discussed before it recessed Jan. 5. Look for your action alert later today!

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Thank you for being a responsible American; your voice is making a difference.

The year 2011 will be an interesting year for public policy at all levels, local, regional, state and Federal. At the Federal and State levels, we will likely continue to see the Tea Party movement to unfold. However, they appear focused more on Federal, than local issues.

At the State and local levels, the budget process will be extremely tight in 2011. In our local community of Cedar Rapids:

• The Home Rule Charter is up for review for the City of Cedar Rapids
• We will have redistricting across the State of Iowa. Iowa will lose a U.S. House member for the 2012 election
• The City's FY 12 budget will be discussed heavily in the month of February
• Changes to Chapter 69 of the municipal code have been recommended by the local civil rights commission
• The City of Cedar Rapids will likely look to extend the Local Option Sales Tax for 20 years with a proposed May vote
• Some in the City suggest that the City should revert back to our old form of government
• The City will have elections in November for District 2, 4 and one at-large position

Robin Tucker

Go Pack Go ... 7-0 start, after Aaron Rodgers takes Packers down field to open NFC Championship Game ...

Enjoy the NFC and AFC Championship Games everyone! The Road to Arlington has begun ...

• The Super Bowl Champs of Games I, II and III (Green Bay and the New York Jets)
• The all-time Super Bowl Champs (Pittsburgh Steelers)
• and Da Bears from Chicago

Pretty darn good Final 4 heading towards Super Bowl 45 ...

Robin Tucker

With "Cedar Rapids" arriving at Sundance, it brings back memories of "Ice Castles" and the perceptions of Cedar Rapids ...

Back in 1978, when "Ice Castles" was released, the story told of a ice skater coming to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the Midwest ice skating championships. Of course, the problem was the City of Five Seasons at the time, we didn't have the Five Seasons Center build yet.

There was no indoor ice venue for the City of Cedar Rapids in 1978, when "Ice Castles" was on the Big Screen. The only top notch ice in Cedar Rapids at the time was on Manhattan Lake in Ellis Park, off the Cedar River. It was clearly outdoors, unlike the film.

Thankfully, we have an indoor venue for ice today in our community. A convention center has never been built yet, but one is coming. It will be interesting to see how the City of Cedar Rapids is portrayed in the upcoming movie.

'Cedar Rapids’ movie debuts tonight at Sundance - The Gazette
CEDAR RAPIDS — First Sundance, then the nation, then who knows? The world?

Now, we have a movie called "Cedar Rapids" being released in 2011. Of course, the film was filmed in Ann Arbor, rather than Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Will the perceptions of Cedar Rapids be true to what reality of our community is? Or, will it be more on the level of "Ice Castles" and a misrepresentation of our community?

Both films are fictional. But, when they use a real community, shouldn't the storyline be at least factual, when it comes to assets of the community being portrayed has?

Hey, didn't "All the Right Moves" pick a fictional community known as "Ampipe" to base the story on? Why not pick a real town in PA, like Johnstown?

So, will the producers and writers of "Cedar Rapids" portray our community fair? Or, should they have picked their own Ampipe, like other movies?

Robin Tucker

I am more of a College Football fan, than NFL fan, but I love this weekend's Final 4 for the Super Bowl

On the Road to Super Bowl XLX a/k/a Super Bowl 45 on Sunday, February 6Th!

The AFC: the New York Jets vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers ...

• The old AFL's first Super Bowl winner, the Jets of Super Bowl III


• The top franchise in Super Bowl history for the NFL, the Steelers, winners of Super Bowl IX, X, XIII, XIV, XL and XLIII


• The Jets feature former Iowa RB Shonn Greene


• The Steelers were always good growing up with the Steel Curtain of the 1970s

The NFC: a battle between the two oldest rivals in the NFL: the Chicago Bears vs. the Green Bay Packers ...

• While I am a Packer fan, I have enjoyed watching Bears head coach Lovie Smith develop and MLB Brian Urlacher has been a classic linebacker for the Monsters of the Midway


• Is there a QB in the NFL playing as well as the Packers Aaron Rodgers right now?


• The Packers feature former Iowa OT Bryan Bulaga, a rookie RT for Green Bay

It is a quiet Saturday for me this weekend. Though, there will be plenty of football on Sunday, but for Saturday:

• Carole is off with our youngest to Muscatine for Washington's Celebration, Momentum & Vivace Show Choir competitions


• Our middle daughter is at college


• Our oldest is off skiing this weekend with her former classmates


• So, it's just me and our dog and a quiet day of work and relaxation ...

Robin Tucker

A look at the past week at the Federal and State levels for the new Legislative Session

NWYC Issue Update

Health Care Law Repeal

On Wednesday, House Republicans made good on a campaign pledge by passing a bill to repeal the 2010 health care overhaul.

Following two days of heated partisan debate, the House passed the bill (HR 2), 245-189, which would overturn the health care law, often labeled the signature accomplishment of President Obama’s first term. No Republican opposed the measure and only three Democrats supported the repeal: Dan Boren (OK), Mike McIntyre (NC) and Mike Ross (AK).

The legislation is now headed for the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Take action and voice your opinion now!

Are you in favor of repealing the national health care law?

*** *** ***

Update on Iowa Legislature as the session finishes another week, including debate for the first time in the Iowa House.

Recent bills of interest (source: Chamber)

• House File 45 - which was the first bill debated of the new session
• Senate File 45
• Senate File 38
• House File 64
• House File 50
• House File 54
  New Legislative Web site

I didn't attend the Chamber legislative session on Friday, but one attendee said:

Legislative Forum sponsored by CR Chamber...more politics
& extremes..."mean-spirited" "don't care" & other hyperbole being used.
via Twitter

Robin Tucker

It's nice to learn a fellow Rotarian has become an American Citizen ...

Tim Hankewich is not the first member of the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids to become an American citizen, but he is the latest.

Orchestra Iowa Maestro Hankewich becomes American citizen - The Gazette

CEDAR RAPIDS — Orchestra Iowa Maestro Timothy Hankewich is singing a new tune of allegiance, replacing “O Canada” with “The Star-Spangled Banner” ...

Orchestra Iowa
Orchestra Iowa and Maestro Timothy Hankewich perform world-class symphonic music and offer high quality educational programs and instruction throughout ...

We know the Mt. Mercy University President Christopher Blake became an American citizen, as well, not too long ago. It's nice to learn another fellow Rotarian became an American citizen. Being born in this country, it is great to see legal immigration continues, since most of us, at one time or another, are a byproduct of immigration to America.

US Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ... Citizenship Through Naturalization · Citizenship Through Parents · The Naturalization Test ...

Robin Tucker

The 84Th General Assembly began Monday and the State of Iowa has a new Governor ...

The first week of the 84Th General Assembly has not lacked in activity. So often the first weeks consist of formalities and getting settled. On the House side, our elected officials hit the ground running. - Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber highlighted a number of the House Republican priorities in the first bills introduced. House Study Bill 1 which is now HF45 has been titled the Taxpayers First Act. This bill de-appropriates a number of programs and budget lines.

Click here to review HF45

HF45 (HSB 1) has already been passed out of the House Appropriations Committee on a party line vote and is eligible for debate as early as next Wednesday. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, January 18 at 6:30 pm in the House Chambers. The bill is expected to pass the full house but the fate in the Senate is unknown.

Other bills in the first ten House Bills of interest to us include House File 4 and House File 9. HF 4 reduces the income tax for all brackets by 20%. This bill is in Ways and Means and we are interested in any input from you on this proposal.

Click here to review HF4

HF 9 is more complicated. This bill defines essential services for local governments and requires they be listed in a budget summary of a local government. In case of budget cuts it requires local governments to cut NON essential services first. The bill also increases the school aid foundation to 100% over seven years. There is still research being done on the impact of this bill but the Chamber has advocated for cutting the commercial and industrial property tax burden for years.
Click here to review HF 9

We saw the first in bills for continued flood recovery work with Senator Hogg introducing SF19 which helps with access to program assistance with the Iowa Department of Economic Development in disaster areas.

Note that the web site for the legislature has changed. It is a very user friendly site and the new address is http://www.legis.iowa.gov/index.aspx. This is a great resource for finding more details on bills of interest and schedules at the Capitol.

The State of Iowa has a new Governor, though he will be serving his fifth term, after serving four terms from 1983 to 1999.

Welcoming Branstad‎ -KIMT
MASON CITY, IA - Terry Branstad spoke to Iowans Friday in his first speech as governor. He outlined a need for everyone to pull together to boost Iowa's ...

Branstad vows to cut Iowa state spending, taxes‎ - Bloomberg

Branstad signs labor agreement voting rights order‎ - Chicago Tribune

Branstad calls Iowa to greatness in inaugural speech‎ - Mason City Globe Gazette

Kraig Paulsen, a State Representative representing a Northern district in Linn County, was installed as Speaker of the House for the 84Th General Assembly. Rep. Paulsen becomes the 71st Speaker of the House for the State of Iowa.

His newsletter spoke about "The Taxpayers First Act as it passed committee saves Iowa taxpayers over a half a billion dollars in addition to setting aside $327 million in tax relief. The bill also provides $25 million to support un-funded state commitment to remove Iowans from wait lists for mental health services – a core responsibility the state must deliver to Iowans in need of service."

Senate Republican Leader Paul McKinley said the following about State Government this week:

For the past several years, government has only continued to grow – further
encroaching into our lives at the expense of freedom, liberty and independence.

Spending has spiraled out-of-control, debt has grown at alarming rates,
taxes have only gone higher and barriers to job creation have been added instead
of removed.

Elected officials had stopped listening to the collective
voices of the people – seniors, entrepreneurs, small business owners, employers
and others who had elected them as their voice and their vote.

As a
result, the people spoke – and spoke loudly and clearly. They said:
Give us
back our government and listen.

Do not spend more than our government
takes in.

Be as careful with our tax dollars as you are with your own.

Hold the line on taxes and give us some tax relief.

Quit letting
the government pick winners and losers and instead reignite the engine of
economic growth – the small businesses, entrepreneurs and employers that create
two out of every three new jobs.

Give us a vote on the basic definition
of marriage, protect life, be responsive and do all you can to promote
opportunity, prosperity and freedom.

As was highlighted in a previous blog post earlier in the week, State Senator Rob Hogg, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, offered two bills out of the Senate this week.

Robin Tucker

State Senator Rob Hogg has proposed Two Bills in the 2011 Iowa Legislative Session.

Received an update this week from State Senator Rob Hogg (Dem.) who represents our neighborhood of Cedar Rapids, along with other neighborhoods in our community.

Senator Rob Hogg's e-mail mentioned the following ...

First Bills for 2011: SF18 – Economic Emergency Fund
I filed two bills this week that I hope will attract bipartisan support and be signed by incoming Governor Branstad. One is SF18, which would increase the allowable size of our economic emergency fund from 2.5% of the state’s general fund to 7.5% of the general fund. For a general fund of $6 billion, this would increase the cap on the economic emergency fund from $150 million to $450 million. As our economy recovers, we need to rebuild our economic emergency fund to a larger level so that we have more of the resources we need when the next disaster or next recession hits. When disaster or recession hits, the need for government goes up, yet in 2009 and 2010, we had to cut our state budget and were spared deeper cuts only by the federal stimulus funds sent to state government.

Although we had a record high rainy fund at the time of the 2008 disasters and recession, it has been clear to me that it was not enough. Next time, I want Iowa to be ready. Senate File 18 would help us get ready.

SF19 – Helping Disaster-Affected Businesses
The other bill I filed this week is SF19, which would allow the Department of Economic Development to waive certain restrictions on its ability to use existing funds to help disaster-affected businesses. Right now, some existing program funds (High Quality Jobs Program, Enterprise Zones, and Grow Iowa Values Fund financial assistance), which are designed to help high-wage businesses expand, cannot be used to save jobs at a disaster-affected business just because the business has competitors within the state.

Senate File 19 would allow these programs to be used to help restore businesses and save high-wage jobs, even if the business happens to have competitors in state. The state was able to use these programs to help some flood-affected businesses in Cedar Rapids because they did not have in-state competitors, but they were not available for other businesses. I was reminded of the need for this legislation in 2010 when I met with business owners who were flooded in Colfax and who happened to have in-state competitors. After a disaster, we need to help businesses save jobs, especially those that pay high wages and provide benefits, regardless of whether other businesses happen to compete in state. It does not create any competitive advantage for one business over another to simply restore the disaster-damaged business after a disaster.

In addition, Senator Rob Hogg invited people to the first legislative forum of the session on Saturday, January 15, from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. at Mercy Medical Center, 701 10Th Street SE, in Cedar Rapids. Senator Hogg mentioned these forums, which are sponsored by the League of Women Voters and other co-sponsors, are always a great opportunity to listen to legislators from Linn County and to ask questions and visit with us individually after the forum.

Robin Tucker

First R&P Report for 2011, the 112Th Congress and the Assassination Attempt on Congresswomen

A service of National Write Your Congressman

http://www.nwyc.com/
Vol. 15 No. 1
Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The 112Th Congress is now in session. It’s leaders include: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY), 53rd Speaker of the House, John Boehner (R-OH), House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor (R-VA), House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

REVIEW

The Senate: The new session of the Senate began with the traditional swearing-in of reelected and newly elected members. After the ceremony and the opening prayer, Vice President Biden administered the oath-of-office for 31 senators, which includes 16 new senators. Though they maintained the majority, Democrats lost six seats after the November mid-term elections resulting in the make-up of the current Congress at 51 Democrats, 47 Republicans and two Independents.

The House: After the swearing in of members and the election of , the new session of the House included a reading of the U.S. Constitution. The House is made up of 242 Republicans and 193 Democrats.

The Constitution allows Congress to determine the rules for its proceedings on the first day of a new session.

House Rules: The first order of business in the House was a rules package that covers scheduling (how many days worked, when votes can and cannot occur), the terms and conditions for debating bills (all bills will cite their constitutional authority and be posted online for 72 hours before a vote) and allows electronic devices on the floor of the chamber. The package passed 240-191.

Senate Rules: Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) proposed three additions to Senate rules regarding filibusters. They state that senators must remain on the floor to maintain the filibuster; if a motion to proceed passes, then a cloture vote must be taken immediately to prevent delays by opposing senators; and senators may not put “secret holds” on bills. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) called the attempt “a brazen power grab.” Negotiations continue. No vote was taken.

Health Care: The House on Friday cleared a key procedural hurdle in repealing the landmark health care law, voting 236-181 largely along party lines to move ahead to next week's final vote on repeal. In their effort to preserve the law, Democrats pointed to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report that estimates repealing the overhaul would increase the national deficit by an estimated $230 billion over 10 years. But GOP members said Democrats “rigged the CBO score” on the overhaul by forcing the budget office to ignore $115 billion needed to implement the law, double-counting $521 billion in Social Security payroll taxes, premiums on a new long-term insurance program, cuts to Medicare and other moves. The unbiased CBO is completing a more detailed report. (H.R.2)

Highway and Transit Funding: Lawmakers in the House and Senate are working to adopt a transportation funding bill for the nation's aging highway system. The House adopted a rule that would make it easier to cut highway and transit spending by allowing certain motor-fuel taxes to be used on projects other than highways. Prior to the rule change, the House was barred from considering legislation that would shortchange authorized highway and transit spending levels.

Pay Cut for Congress: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) introduced a draft bill that would cut the salary of Congress members by 5 percent. Click here to voice your opinion on this issue or go to www.nwyc.com .

Congressional Budget Cuts: In a first act of the new Congress, lawmakers adopted a resolution to reduce the amount lawmakers may authorize for salaries and expenses of committee members, staffers and leadership offices in 2011 and 2012.

PREVIEW

The week ahead: The House of Representatives has postponed all legislative action for this week in wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and 17 others, according to the office of Majority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA). The Senate will deliberate the debt limit after Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner warned that the government will hit its limit as early as March 31. Congress must also find a way to fund the government for the rest of fiscal 2011 after a stopgap funding measure expires March 4. The Senate is on recess until January, 25.

Thank you for being a responsible American; your voice is making a difference.

*** *** ***

It was tragic news on the assassination attempt of a Congresswomen from Arizona and then the complete disregard for human life in the shooting of 18 others in attendance at the gathering. We have family that are represented by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Family also apparently live near the neighborhood of the shooter, who has been arrested on Federal charges.

Our thoughts and prayers go out the victims, the family and friends, the NW Tucson and Pima County community, as well as our nation, after the murder of five people and the wounding of 14 others. Sadly, two Federal employees, including a U.S. Federal judge and social worker on the Congresswomen's staff; in additon to a nine year old girl and three senior citizens, who are all victims to this tragic event.

Violence like this may test our Republic. It may lead to recommendations that It can be an attack on our freedoms found in the U.S. Constitution, such as the First Amendment.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of
the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the
Government for a redress of grievances. - First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

Robin Tucker

Action Alert received today from National Write Your Congressman ...

Action Alert
Repealing the Healthcare Law

Incoming House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), announced that the House will vote next Wednesday, Jan. 12, to repeal the new health care law, making good on a top-tier GOP campaign promise. GOP leaders pledged to “repeal and replace” the health care law, but the House will not vote on a separate replacement bill next week. Instead, lawmakers will consider a resolution that instructs three committees to report health care legislation. The resolution sets 12 goals for the bill, including lowering health care costs and premiums, increasing the number of insured Americans and “to provide people with preexisting conditions access to affordable health coverage.”

Time is short! Contact your representatives to tell them your opinion on this legislation.

For Repealing the Healthcare Law :
Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA)
“According to a study published last fall … by the time Obamacare is fully implemented in 2017, approximately 7.4 million seniors will have been forced out of their Medicare plan. … This is unacceptable… I intend to strongly support the effort to repeal Obamacare in order to preserve Medicare choices for … seniors, as well as to eliminate job-killing tax hikes and the unconstitutional “individual mandate” that would require all Americans to buy government-approved health insurance.”

Opposed to Repealing the Health Care Law:
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
“Instead of joining Democrats in our efforts for job creation, Republicans are planning to put insurance companies back in charge by repealing patient’s rights… House Democrats will fight to ensure that children with pre-existing conditions continue to get coverage; that young people can stay on their parents’ plans until age 26; that pregnant women and breast cancer survivors can no longer be thrown off the rolls; and that seniors do not pay higher drug prices.”

Take action and voice your opinion now!

Are you in favor repealing the healthcare law?

As a member of National Write Your Congressman, I received the above Action Alert. You can take action and contact your members of Congress, as I did today, if you feel this issue is important to you.

Robin Tucker

The City of Cedar Rapids making preparations to Review the Home Rule Charter ...

But, how should the City of Cedar Rapids encourage participation on the Charter Review Commission? How many members should be used to perform that required work?

I had the pleasure of being selected to serve on the 2004-05 Local Home Rule Charter Commission that formulated the Council-Manager form of government for the City of Cedar Rapids. After roughly five months of work, the Charter was created for the voters to weigh on. I had the pleasure of serving as Drafting Chair. On June 14, 2005, the voters with 69% support accepted the proposed Local Home Rule Charter and the 96 years under the Commission form of government became history.

It's been a challenging transition over the past five years for our community. In the final City Council meeting of the Year 2010, the Mayor and City Council proposed to create a Charter Review Commission. To my surprise, they didn't plan to seek applications and they were going to have each person on Council, including the Mayor, recommend one name. The citizen commission would be made up of nine members, the same number who serve on the Council, including the Mayor.

Traditionally, charter commissions have had 15 members from the community. Typically, like most boards and commissions, an application process is used. Knowing the work involved in studying local government, I had personal reservations, after reading the following story.

Commission to review Cedar Rapids’ charter, form of government - The Gazette
CEDAR RAPIDS — Is nine the best number of members for the City Council? Should the mayor be a full-timer? Can you imagine a return to five, full-time council members who also manage city departments? Those are apt to be some of the topics discussed by the Charter Review Commission, which the City Council Tuesday ...

After reading about the approach the City Council and Mayor were going to proceed with the Commission to review, I fired off an e-mail last week to the Council and Mayor. On Tuesday, I learned my concerns were made an article by Rick Smith online and in the newspaper.

Cedar Rapids charter commission needs 15 members, not nine, member says - The Gazette
A member of the city’s 15-member Home Rule Charter Commission of 2004-2005 says the new Charter Review Commission also should have 15 members, not nine. In addition, Robin Tucker, a local Realtor and businessman and a 2007 candidate for the City Council, says City Hall should fill seats on the review commission from those who ...

I am pleased to hear that the City of Cedar Rapids is now seeking applications for the Charter Review Commission. "Citizen Participation" is a important part of our form of government. I am pleased to see that the City is seeking applications now, based on the press release dated January 6Th.

Volunteers Needed for Charter Review Commission - The City of Cedar Rapids
Contact: Kim Greene - 319-286-5083
Volunteers Needed to Serve on City's Charter Review Commission

The Cedar Rapids City Council will establish a Charter Review Commission soon. The commission members ... Applications are due by 5 p.m. Tuesday, January 11, 2011.

There is also some other news, involving proposed changes in our community ordinances that may interest you. The Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission is proposing changes to Chapter 69. There will be events on Monday, January 10Th and Tuesday, January 11Th discussing proposed additions to the Civil Rights codes for your community.

Ordinance change would protect Section 8 housing applicants - The Gazette
Imagine you’re a low-income person with a low-paying job and the good fortune of having a federal housing voucher to help with rent. Now, that person in Cedar Rapids and most other cities has the task of finding a landlord willing to accept the voucher as partial payment of rent. Some landlords don’t want to ...

In closing, the City of Cedar Rapids hired an new City Manager for our community in 2010. He comes to Cedar Rapids from West Des Moines, where he served as city manager for the 10Th largest community in the State of Iowa. If you haven't had a chance to meet our new city manager, I would suggest you take time to. Further, I would encourage citizens to contact the City Council and Mayor, when you have questions or concerns in our community. It's vital that we build a community dialogue.

Robin Tucker

Happy New Year Everyone ...

It has been very busy the last several weeks, with our daughter's graduation from UNI last month. A Christmas trip to Omaha to be with family. The week after Christmas has been nice too. The Iowa Hawkeyes won the Insight Bowl over the Missouri Tigers. Our family has all been home from school or college to enjoy the Holidays together.

Happy New Year - 2011!

May the New Year be good, with health and happiness to all. May our New Year's Resolutions stay true.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness... many blessings in the coming year and we look forward to better days ahead, after a tough three years in our community.

Finally, I linked up with my sister by phone today. We haven't talked for a while, so it was nice to finally visit in the New Year. Talking movies with her is always fun ...

My mother and father are doing well. Dad is a hair younger than Joe Paterno. My brother is keeping busy in the southern part of The Corridor.

It was nice to have some time away from work, during the Holidays. Monday will soon be here. No Rotary this week, but back into the swing of things very soon ...

Robin Tucker