Tea partiers get a little street cred tonight in Des Moines. The Des Moines Tea Party hosts its first debate for the 7 Republican candidates for Iowa's 3rd District. Although, only 4 of the 7 candidates plan to show up: Pat Bertroche, Scott Batcher, Brad Zaun and Dave Funk. Jim Gibbons, Mark Reese and Jason Lee Welch notified organizers they would not attend. Funk would seem to have the home-field advantage. Funk's political director, Ryan Rhodes, was the chairman of the Tea Party Patriots.
(Tea partiers, if you go to the debate tonight, please get on here and let us know who impressed you and who didn't.)
What kind of impact will the tea partiers have this year? They are definitely a passionate bunch. Can they channel that anger toward the primary? And even more challenging, perhaps, can they stay engaged all the way through the November election? If so, and, if, they unite people who haven't been voting recently, they could affect close races at the ballot box.
ETC...
For the Love of the Game...
O.K., seriously, my Cardinals stink! It is beyond me why they can't hit better than they do. Is it time for a shakeup? It feels too early for that, but something needs to jar this team a bit. Perhaps, Felipe Lopez will offer something when he comes off the disabled list as early as Monday. They need someone to offer a spark. I hope he can do it. Brendan Ryan is an automatic out right now. Although, Skip Schumaker does seem to be finding his swing. And what about Matt Holliday? Get a hit with someone on base! Isn't that why you make $17 million a season?
Showing posts with label des moines tea party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label des moines tea party. Show all posts
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Thursday, April 16, 2009
No Tax Debate Today
(Updated: Thanks to Dean Fiihr from the Iowa house Democrats...
The tax bill is not on today's agenda at the Iowa Statehouse. It is on the debate calendar for Friday. But Dean tells me there are no plans to debate the bill tomorrow. He said the Dems still have only 50 members who agree with the plan.)
Iowa Democrats have re-re-re-re-rescheduled the tax bill that eliminates federal deductibility for the debate calendar Friday. I'm not sure I've given this enough "re-'s", but I gave it my best shot. Debate calendars have indicated the house could debate this every day this week. But each time, the issue gets pushed aside.
A few final thoughts on that anti-tea tax party at the Iowa Statehouse yesterday. State troopers estimated the crowd at nearly 3,000, in case you were wondering how we determined our estimate. The event began with a comment that this was a non-partisan event. Speakers, however, at this anti-tax rally, also criticized the same sex marriage decision and a woman's right to choose abortion.
Also, while I appreciate the organizer thanking me publicly to the crowd for my "support" of this event (I did a story a few weeks ago when I learned there would be dueling tea parties in Des Moines), especially after other speakers ripped on the media, I must remind everyone, as a reporter, I can't "support" any type of political or pseudo-political event. About the only thing I unabashedly publicly support is my St. Louis Cardinals:) But thanks for the kind words.
Organizers are working on another tea party for the 4th of July.
The tax bill is not on today's agenda at the Iowa Statehouse. It is on the debate calendar for Friday. But Dean tells me there are no plans to debate the bill tomorrow. He said the Dems still have only 50 members who agree with the plan.)
Iowa Democrats have re-re-re-re-rescheduled the tax bill that eliminates federal deductibility for the debate calendar Friday. I'm not sure I've given this enough "re-'s", but I gave it my best shot. Debate calendars have indicated the house could debate this every day this week. But each time, the issue gets pushed aside.
A few final thoughts on that anti-tea tax party at the Iowa Statehouse yesterday. State troopers estimated the crowd at nearly 3,000, in case you were wondering how we determined our estimate. The event began with a comment that this was a non-partisan event. Speakers, however, at this anti-tax rally, also criticized the same sex marriage decision and a woman's right to choose abortion.
Also, while I appreciate the organizer thanking me publicly to the crowd for my "support" of this event (I did a story a few weeks ago when I learned there would be dueling tea parties in Des Moines), especially after other speakers ripped on the media, I must remind everyone, as a reporter, I can't "support" any type of political or pseudo-political event. About the only thing I unabashedly publicly support is my St. Louis Cardinals:) But thanks for the kind words.
Organizers are working on another tea party for the 4th of July.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Sex Offender Punishment to Change
Iowa legislative leaders and Governor Culver's office are working this afternoon to schedule a public hearing next week that could lead to changes in the 2000 foot rule for sex offenders. Right now sex offenders can't live within 2000 feet of schools, etc. New restrictions would stop them from even stepping foot in places where there are a lot of kids like schools, day cares, swimming pools, etc. Another provision would allow the least serious offenders to be taken off the sex offender registry if all parties agree, including the victim.
The final product (or at least the hope here) is that this would be a bipartisan effort that won't be bogged down with party fighting that could destroy the efforts.
It's also sounding more and more like that movement to overhaul the state's tax system and eliminate federal deductibility is falling apart. House Speaker Pat Murphy said he has only 50 Democratic votes right now. He said the missing 6 Democratic votes are not the so-called "six-pack" of Democrats who helped bring down a labor bill earlier this session that lead to that infamous weekend "sit-in" at the statehouse. Murphy said he isn't giving up. He blamed Governor Culver for losing Democratic support on this. Culver, he said, insisted on cutting taxes for more Iowans as part of the plan. Murphy said that's what hurt the efforts.
Interestingly enough, the apparent demise of the tax bill comes on the day between 2 and 3,000 Iowans held a tea party protest rally on the front lawn of the Iowa Statehouse to oppose all the money the government has been spending. And who said this legislative session wasn't going to be interesting?:)
The final product (or at least the hope here) is that this would be a bipartisan effort that won't be bogged down with party fighting that could destroy the efforts.
It's also sounding more and more like that movement to overhaul the state's tax system and eliminate federal deductibility is falling apart. House Speaker Pat Murphy said he has only 50 Democratic votes right now. He said the missing 6 Democratic votes are not the so-called "six-pack" of Democrats who helped bring down a labor bill earlier this session that lead to that infamous weekend "sit-in" at the statehouse. Murphy said he isn't giving up. He blamed Governor Culver for losing Democratic support on this. Culver, he said, insisted on cutting taxes for more Iowans as part of the plan. Murphy said that's what hurt the efforts.
Interestingly enough, the apparent demise of the tax bill comes on the day between 2 and 3,000 Iowans held a tea party protest rally on the front lawn of the Iowa Statehouse to oppose all the money the government has been spending. And who said this legislative session wasn't going to be interesting?:)
No Tax Vote Today
Every day this week, we've expected to watch a tough vote in the Iowa house about whether Democrats can find the support to overhaul the state's tax system by eliminating federal deductibility. And each day so far this week, we've learned we will have to wait until the next day. That's the case again. An email from house Democrats this morning confirms the tax bill has been taken off the daily debate calendar. It's now put on Thursday's calendar. Will it actually happen then?
Outside the Iowa Statehouse on this tax day, protesters will hold Des Moines' second tea party in less than a week. This one is one of a handful in Iowa today and one of hundreds across the country.
ETC...
Ousted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich hopes a judge will let him take part in a reality show in Costa Rica for a new show on NBC. The former gov reportedly needs the cash, which could be as much as $80,000 per episode, to pay for his legal bills. Could that famous hairdo of his really survive a Survivor-like reality show in the wild?
Outside the Iowa Statehouse on this tax day, protesters will hold Des Moines' second tea party in less than a week. This one is one of a handful in Iowa today and one of hundreds across the country.
ETC...
Ousted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich hopes a judge will let him take part in a reality show in Costa Rica for a new show on NBC. The former gov reportedly needs the cash, which could be as much as $80,000 per episode, to pay for his legal bills. Could that famous hairdo of his really survive a Survivor-like reality show in the wild?
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