Posts Tagged ‘Iowa’
Ways & Means End of Session Highlights
http://www.iowahouse.org/2009Highlights/09-END-Highlights-WMs.pdf
Celebration – the day the music died
From the Associated Press:
CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — It’s been 50 years since a single-engine plane crashed into a snow-covered Iowa field, instantly killing three men whose names would become enshrined in the history of rock ‘n’ roll.
The passing decades haven’t diminished fascination with that night on Feb. 2, 1959, when 22-year-old Buddy Holly, 28-year-old J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and 17-year-old Ritchie Valens performed in Clear Lake and then boarded the plane for a planned 300-mile flight that lasted only minutes.
“It was really like the first rock ‘n’ roll landmark; the first death,” said rock historian Jim Dawson, who has written several books about music of that era. “They say these things come in threes. Well, all three happened at the same time.”
Opening Remarks – House Majority Leader McCarthy
Listen Here: Majority Leader McCarthy – 2009 Opening Day Remarks
Mr. Speaker – ladies & gentlemen of the House. Good morning.
Let me begin by congratulating all of you on your recent election. And also, to Representatives Paulsen & Upmeyer on your new positions. I very much look forward to working with both of you.
We have all heard a lot lately about the coming challenges we will face when dealing with this years budget – and there will be historic challenges indeed.
The State of Iowa is seeing various economic indicators – some of which we have not seen since 1933. As the President-Elect has recently said, “Things may get worse before they get better” and thus far, traditional modes of dealing with this recession have not been successful. (more…)
Edge in Voter Registration Grows
From the Associated Press/Chicago Tribune:
Democrats have opened a wide gap in voter registration in Iowa, more than quadrupling their lead over Republicans.
State election officials say registered Democrats lead registered Republicans in Iowa by more than 111,000. There are more than 710,400 registered Democrats and just over 599,000 registered Republicans. That compares to a margin of 27,000 in December 2007.
With Gov. Chet Culver up for re-election in 2010, strategists for both parties are already looking at the numbers.
Culver says the edge in voter registration says a lot about Democrats’ ability to govern effectively and the support the party has among the state’s voters.
Republicans blame the surge in Democratic registration on a national climate that saw President-elect Barack Obama begin his drive to the White House.