MD PoliBlog

House approves ethics bill

Businesses and organizations hosting legislative functions will have to follow stricter reporting requirements, under a bill approved unanimously by the Iowa House today.House file 2109 requires businesses or groups that host legislative functions where all lawmakers are invited to file a report with the legislature prior to the event. Afterwards, groups would have 28 days [...]

(Via RSSMix.com Mix ID 341638.)

Democrat Conlin raises more than $600K for Senate race since October

Democrat Conlin raises more than $600K for Senate race since October: "Des Moines Democrat Roxanne Conlin raised $603,575 from November through the end of December as she launched her bid to face Sen. Chuck Grassley, campaign aides said today.Conlin’s fundraising included contributions from more than 1,300 Iowans, and she had more than $500,000 in her campaign account by the end of 2009.Conlin, a successful courtroom lawyer [...]

(Via RSSMix.com Mix ID 341638.)

Des Moines loses in Obamas high-speed train grant decisions

Plans to eventually restore passenger train service between Des Moines and Chicago suffered a setback today when President Barack Obamas administration rejected most of Iowas bid for federal railroad money.But train supporters, including Gov. Chet Culver, said they wont give up their efforts to upgrade passenger rail service in Iowa.With the work we have already [...]

(Via RSSMix.com Mix ID 341638.)

Culver offers mix of savings, cuts in budget plan

His proposals for fiscal 2011 rely on retooling government, pruning credits and tapping reserves. ' | ' Impact on state agencies ' | ' How Culver calculates savings '"

(Via DesMoinesRegister.com - NEWS.)

'Fair tax' will be higher than previously thought

Proponents of eliminating Missouri's income tax and replacing it with a higher sales tax admitted Thursday an error in calculating the new rate needed to maintain state services.

(Via News-Leader.com - Inside Missouri Politics.)

Fact Sheet: High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program: Chicago ...

Fact Sheet: High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program: Chicago ...: "Awardees:Illinois Department of Transportation, Missouri Department of Transportation. Total Approximate Funding (entire corridor): $1133000000. Benefiting States: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas. Miles of Track: Upgraded - 570 miles ...
White House.gov Press Office Feed - http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/ "

(Via Google Alerts - "Missouri Department of Transportation".)

Kansas House panel spikes sales tax

The Republican-led House Tax Committee voted Wednesday to spike the 1-cent sales tax increase proposed by Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson to generate new revenue to close a projected $400 million state government budget deficit in the coming year.

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(Via Topeka Capital-Journal - Legislature.)

Terry now "Favored" in NE-2

Nebraska 2nd District Congressman Lee Terry's re-election race has been upgraded to 'Republican Favored' by political analyst Stuart Rothenberg. Terry's race against state Senator Tom White had been listed as 'Lean Republican' by the Rothenberg Political Report -- mainly based on Barack Obama's success in gaining the 2nd District's Electoral Vote in 2008.

(Via Leavenworth Street - the talk of Nebraska politics.)

Tiahrt Fills Out Campaign Team

Wichita US Rep. and Kansas US Senate candidate Todd Tiahrt filled out his campaign team battling order today.

General Consultant: Matt Schlapp. Served in the political shop of President George W. Bush. In 2000, a regional political director for Team Bush.Now part of Cove Strategies.

Finance Director: Alisha Kirby. A Johnson County native. That will help since JoCo will a huge battleground in this race. Worked for  fundraising firms in Ks. and Missouri.

Campaign Mgr: Chuck Knapp Held the same job in three of Tiahrt’s campaign for the Ks4. Also ran Ron Thornburgh’s successful ’94 run as SOS and Jerry Moran’s first run for the Ks1 in  ‘96. Morans won that.

Deputy Campaign Mgr. Josh Bell. Longtime Tiahrt hand. Former field director for Tiahrt and Deputy Mgr. in Ks4 races.

Communications Dir: Michelle Schroeder. Had the same job when Jim Ryun had the Ks2. Worked as the Legislative Dir. for the Ks. House Speaker. That job put her in contact with the Ks. House Campaign Cmte.

Political Director: Mark Dugan  Former YR President. He was Tiahrt’s Field Director in the 2008 Ks4 race.

(Via 20 Pounds Of Headlines.)

Expect More Layoffs and Cuts to Capital Improvements at City Hall

Acting City Manager Troy Schulte is expected to release his budget recommendations today. What might we expect?

I asked Deb Hermann that today and she warned that we'll probably be seeing more cuts to the city's capital improvement budget and 100 layoffs, as well as a wage freeze for city employees.

The cuts to capital are because the city will have to use the money to pay off general obligation bonds. Some of that money will likely have to come from the city's Public Infrastructure Advisory Committee fund, better known as PIAC.

That's bad news for folks all over the city who want to see their curbs and sidewalks fixed, and other basic things like that.

They lay off scenario is tough, too. Every indication I have is that city staff is too thin already. It's bound to impact basic services.

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(Via KC Downtowner Main RSS Feed.)