Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the Senate health committee, appeared on MSNBC earlier today, apparently confident in the new timeline for health care reform and unfazed by Republican threats to make the 2010 election a referendum on the legislation.

“We’re pretty close to bringing [the bill] into the safe harbor,” Harkin told Andrea Mitchell. “I really believe we’re going to have it on the president’s desk by Easter.”

Loebsack proposes congressional pay cut
From Radio Iowa
Iowa Congressman Dave Loebsack, a Democrat from Mt. Vernon, is a co-sponsor of a bill that calls for U.S. senators and representatives to take a five-percent pay cut beginning in January of 2011. Loebsack says it would be a pay cut that would reduce his salary by $9,000. The current salary for members of congress is $174,000.

Loebsack says many Americans have had to cut back and this is a way for congress to do so. “It’s a personal commitment that I think we need to make here in Washington to demonstrate to the folks at home, who are frustrated obviously,” Loebsack says. He says he hear’s from people every day who are tightening their belts. Read full article…

Culver declares Flood Awareness Month
From the Daily Iowan

March is Flood Awareness Month in Iowa, Gov. Chet Culver said at a press conference Thursday.

The governor said he wants Iowans to know what flood-relief efforts are available to them; public offices will share information with public throughout the month. Read full article…

What will the President’s proposal mean for you?

Take a few minutes to find out what health insurance reform would mean for you and your family. Visit website.

Lt. Governor comes to Jefferson and Rockwell City
From 1380 AM KCIM

Lt. Governor Patty Judge and the Moving Iowa Forward tour will be in Western Iowa for the start of next week. Judge will highlight I-Jobs projects in ten locations on Monday and Tuesday including stops in Jefferson and Rockwell City. Read full article…

Two members of Congress from Iowa have announced millions in federal funds will be going to two of the state’s public transit agencies.

Rep. Bruce Braley announced Wednesday $5.6 million will be going to Dubuque to redesign streets in the city’s Millwork District to provide safe and convenient transportation for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Read full article…

Lt. Governor Judge tours HUSCO plant
From the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald

Iowa Lt. Gov. Patty Judge stopped in Maquoketa Friday as part of the “Moving Iowa Forward” tour scheduled by Judge and Gov. Chet Culver.

She toured the HUSCO International plant where hydraulic and electrohydraulic controls are manufactured. Read full article…

Loebsack: Health reform moving ahead
From the Burlington Hawkeye

Forget what the polls and pundits are saying against health reform and Congress as a whole.

Rep. Dave Loebsack, a Democrat, said from what he hears around the 2nd District, people still want Congress to move forward on health reform and act in a bipartisan way. Read full article…

Dubuque’s Historic Millwork District is set to receive a financial boost.

Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa and Congressman Bruce Braley, D-Iowa announced today Dubuque will receive a $5.6 million grant redesign streets in the Historic Millwork District. Read full article…

Loebsack backs Intermec’s defense inventory tracking bid
From the Cedar Rapids Gazette

U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack got some rugged talk about rugged computers Tuesday as he toured a company that is working on a project for the U.S. military.

Intermec Corp. is creating a worldwide supply chain management system for the U.S. Navy, backed by satellite communications. Loebsack helped Everett, Wash.-based Intermec obtain a $3.2 million earmark for the project last year, and said he’ll work to obtain more funds to advance the project this year. Read full article…

Boswell to hold agriculture listening posts
From IowaPolitics.com

As a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, Congressman Leonard Boswell will hold four listening posts on agriculture in February as he prepares to craft the next farm bill with his colleagues in Congress.

“I want to hear from farmers, producers, and rural business owners in Iowa about what is working for them in the current farm bill and what they would like to see done differently in the next one,” said Boswell, chairman of the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee . “This is a critical time for many Iowans in agriculture and I want to hear feedback from them – fresh off the farm.” Read full article…

Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa) was instrumental in securing the fed­eral funding for Drake’s program. He said he has been concerned about the state of language competency in the U.S. for some time, so he was excited to help Drake’s efforts.

“We all know the need is there,” Boswell said after Friday’s press conference. “This might be the springboard that will propel us forward and it will spread across the country.” Read full article…

Closing budget gap is priority
From the Omaha World-Herald

A plan to reorganize and streamline state government to help close a big budget shortfall again looms in the Legislature this week, but lawmakers also are scheduled to devote time to a hearing on union rights…

…“We’re fairly confident we’ll have enough of an outline by the end of the week to set those targets,” said Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs.
Read full article…

Nineteen workers lost their job at the Western Dubuque Biodiesel plant in Farley this month, and plant officials are pointing the finger at Washington, D.C.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, visited the plant Thursday to discuss issues surrounding the biodiesel industry. Read full article…

Governor seeks federal disaster help for winter storms
From Radio Iowa

Governor Chet Culver is sending two letters to President Obama, asking for federal help for areas of the state that have been blasted with hazardous wintry weather. “The winter of 2009/2010 has already been historically severe with the highest snowfall totals in December and January since the late 1800s,” Culver says. Read full article…

All aboard
From the Ottumwa Courier

Rail travel through Ottumwa will get a little smoother thanks to millions in federal funding.

U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack announced $18,309,080 in Recovery Act money for Iowa passenger rail. The Burlington Northern-Santa Fe railway in Ottumwa — whose rails host Amtrak trains in Iowa — will receive $17,309,080 for track construction.
Read full article…

Photo from Bradlauster on Flickr.

Braley seeks ‘country of origin’ labeling for fuels
From The Hill

2010 Caucus Survey
From us!
Let us know what you thought of the 2010 precinct caucuses!

Bigger Than Expected Turnout At Iowa Caucuses
From KCCI

Lt. governor: Education key to jobs
From the Omaha World-Herald

Mari Culver promotes child abuse prevention funding stream
From the Iowa Independent

Braley: Three paths remain to health care reform
From the Iowa Independent

Congressman Braley says his legislation will improve airline security
From Radio Iowa

Harkin cuts through the health-debate fog
From the Des Moines Register opinion page