POLITICO Podcast: Harkin’s Groundhog Day
From Politico.com

Is Sen. Tom Harkin ready to move on from health care?

“Oh, am I ever,” he told the POLITICO Podcast. “This thing just goes on and on and on; it’s like that movie ‘Groundhog Day.’ It just keeps going over and over again.” Listen to the podcast…

Guest opinion column: Federal leaders should look to Iowa for guidance
From the Des Moines Register – Opinion page
I was proud to be at the bill signing last May that allowed 100 percent of Iowa’s children to have health care coverage. Gov. Chet Culver signed the state’s pioneering health-care legislation at Broadlawns Hospital, which is located in my district. Last year’s hard work by Democrats and Republicans allowed us to leapfrog political gridlock. I hope now that as all Americans turn their attention, hopes, and dreams to Washington, D.C., that politicians on both sides of the aisle learn something from Iowa.

In a recent letter given to President Obama and congressional leaders from some of the brightest economists in America, clearly declared that something must happen soon. Read full article…

Obama signs jobs bill; Braley on hand
From the Quad-City Times

President Obama signed the jobs bill today, and U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, was among about three dozen congressmen who were invited to the White House for the signing ceremony.

Braley proposed a payroll tax cut in the House for small businesses who hire people for longer than six months. U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, had earlier proposed it in the Senate. Read full article…