News from “House to Home”

November 2, 2012

From Your State House Representative to Constituents in Cedar Rapids

• Iowa’s unemployment rate fell to 5.1 percent in October.  Iowa’s unemployment rate is the fourth lowest in the nation.  The number of unemployed Iowans fell to 83,800 in October, down from 96,000 a year ago.  The job gains were led by 6,000 more Iowans working in non-farm jobs, including 1,400 new manufacturing jobs.  We are headed in the right direction but we must strengthen our efforts to improve our economy – until every Iowan has an opportunity to hold a good-paying job.

• Iowa’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) has awarded financial assistance to seven companies for job creation and expansion projects.  The awards will lead to the creation of 120 new jobs and will account for $36.5 million of new capital investment to the state.  For more information on the awards please visit: http://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/documents/showdoc.ashx?idArticle=5685&ID=3

• Iowa has launched a new resource where youth, parents, school personnel, and all concerned Iowans can get help and information about bullying and youth suicide.  The new hotline, dubbed Your Life Iowa, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Individuals can call or text the number 855-581-8111 to talk with trained counselors who will provide guidance and support about bullying as well as critical help to youth who feel they’ve run out of options and may be considering suicide.  For more information on Your Life Iowa, visit www.Yourlifeiowa.org.

• According to the latest U.S. Department of Education data, Iowa had the nation’s top graduation rate for those graduating in the 2011 school year, with 88.3% of students graduating from high school.  Wisconsin’s 87% rate was second, while Nevada had the lowest rate at 62%.  This was the first time all states used uniform standards to measure the number of students who graduated.  Prior to this, states used different methods to calculate and report graduation rates, which made comparisons difficult.    We have one of the best public education systems in the country and we must continue to support and improve it so that every Iowa child has the opportunity to get a great world-class education.

• Iowa’s Department of Transportation (DOT) will hold three in-person public hearings and have opened an online self-directed open house regarding the Chicago to Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study.  The meetings are in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The public hearings will begin with an open forum from 4 to 5:30pm where Iowa DOT staff will be available to discuss the project.  A formal presentation will begin at 5:30pm, followed by a question-and-answer session and will conclude at 7pm.  Below are the dates and locations for the three in-person public hearings.

Dec. 11 – Chicago Union Station, 500 W. Jackson St., Great Hall Gallery

Dec. 12 – Des Moines Botanical Center, 909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Oak/Willow Room

Dec. 13 – Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Ave., Conference Room A/B

The online self-directed open house contains the same information that will be presented at the public hearings and will be available through Dec. 26 at www.iowadot.gov/chicagotoomaha/.

Persons that are interested in commenting on the EIS may do so through any of the following means: leave a comment of the study’s website, submit a comment at any of the public hearings, email a comment to email@chicagotoomaha.com, call the toll-free information line at 800-488-7119, or send a written comment by mail to Amanda Martin, Iowa Department of Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50010.

• Iowa’s Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State University, and the Governor released the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy for public comment.  The strategy is a science based approach to assess and reduce nutrients in Iowa waterways that reach the Gulf of Mexico and includes voluntary efforts to reduce nutrients from point sources, such as wastewater treatment plants and industrial facilities, and nonpoint sources, such as farms.

The public comment period on the strategy will run until January 4, 2013.  Public comments can be submitted electronically at http://www.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu/comments or mailed to Nutrient Reduction Strategy, ANR Program Services, 2101 Agronomy Hall, Ames, Iowa 50011-1010.  The full report can be found atwww.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu.

• Committee assignments were released in the House from the Democratic leadership this week.  My new assignments include the Administration & Regulation Budget Subcommittee, Education, Veterans Affairs, and the Ranking Member on the House Local Government Committee.

• On Thursday I attended a CR Area Association of Realtors meeting where members visited with local legislators and shared their legislative interests and goals.  Later that day, and all of Friday, Susan and I attended a forum of Midwest legislators where we participated in presentations and dialogue regarding environmental issues of mutual concern.  These included water quality, nutrient runoff, sustainable renewable energy and conservation of our natural resources.

Coming up in December

• Orientation for new legislators on Dec. 3^rd & 4th, at the Capitol in Des Moines.
• In the afternoon of Dec. 5^th, local legislators are invited to tour Rockwell-Collins and hear a presentation by local students on the STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math) program.
• In the early evening we will meet with members of the Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa State Troopers Association, and the Iowa State Patrol Supervisor’s Association to discuss law enforcement issues and needs.
• Later in the evening we will be attending the Linn County Democrats annual volunteer appreciation celebration and holiday dinner at Prairie Oak Lodge in Squaw Creek Park.
• On Dec. 6^th it’s the Annual Legislative Lunch for local private colleges where we will hear updates and discuss the legislative impact on Coe, Mt. Mercy and Cornell.
• Dec. 7^th local legislators meet at the Clarion with the Iowa State Association of Assessors from the East Central District to discuss property tax issues.
• The Urban Education Network will share its legislative goals with local legislators at a meeting on Saturday morning, Dec. 8^th at the new Educational Services Center here in Cedar Rapids.
• On Tuesday, Dec. 11^th Senator Rob Hogg, Representative Tyler Olson and I are providing a “legislative preview” of the next legislative session, with time for input and Q & As, at the African American Museum from 4:30pm to 6:00pm.
• At 6:00pm on Dec. 11^th I will be attending the ISEA Annual Legislative Dinner, with local teachers, at the Kirkwood Center for Continuing Education.
• On Wednesday Dec. 12, I plan to visit with teachers’ at the CREA building reps meeting at Kennedy High School at 4:30pm.
• Dec. 18^th it’s the “Get to Know Linn County Early Childhood Iowa (ECI)” at the Linn County Community Services Building at 4:30pm.
• Then it’s Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!

I am honored to be back, representing you in NE Cedar Rapids! I want you to know that I am always willing to listen to anyone in our community who is impacted by the work we do in the Iowa Legislature.  And I will continue to actively work to find solutions to your concerns -supporting legislation that will make our communities stronger, safer and more prosperous.

As your State Representative I am available to you at 319-899-4365 (legislative email will be available in January.)

Sincerely,
Art Staed
Representative-Elect
Iowa HD66