The reaction from Iowa’s two U.S. Senators to the “super committee’s” failure illustrates the divisions that led to the impasse. Democratic Senator Tom Harkin says Republicans doomed the deficit reduction talks by rejecting all tax increases, and even calling for new tax cuts. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says the focus needs to be on reducing spending. “Too many people seem to think that tax increases are a solution to this problem, but tax increases aren’t a solution because the money from higher taxes doesn’t seem to get to be used to reduced the deficit,” Grassley says, citing a study from Ohio University. “For the last 65 years, every new dollar in new tax increases has resulted in congress spending not just that $1, but $1.17.”

Grassley says with or without an agreement, federal spending has to be reduced and that includes cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Grassley also blasts President Obama for “blaming Republicans” for the super committee’s failure. “But he doesn’t seem to engage or offer credible solutions for deficit reduction,” Grassley says. From the other side of the partisan divide, Senator Harkin says Republicans “do not care about deficit reduction” and he says the only way to accomplish the goal is trhough “a fair mix of spending cuts and revenue increases.”

Congressman Steve King, though, doubts the 25-percent across-the-board cuts that have been triggered will ever come to pass. “We should remember that they don’t even start until the first day of January in 2013,” King says, “…after we have a presidential election, after a third of the members of the United States Senate are up for reelection and we have all the members of the house are up for reelection.” Some members of congress are already talking about ways to act in 2012 to avoid the deep cuts to defense and other federal programs. King, though, suggests the decisions won’t come ’til 2013 — after the 2012 election results.

“It’ll be a different congress and perhaps a different president that has time, then, to go in and change some of these mandatory cuts,” King says. King made his comments during a meeting in Le Mars yesterday. Congressman Bruce Braley says, “partisan ideology is trumping common sense in Washington.” Congressman Tom Latham says Americans have a right to be frustrated by the “rampant dysfunction in Washington. Congressman Dave Loebsack says the super committee is another example of the kind of “brinksmanship” that led the country “to the edge” this summer when the government’s credit rating was downgraded. Congressman Leonard Boswell calls it “shameful” that the super committee failed to broker a deal.

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests over the past week. On Saturday, 23-year old Travis Derrick Collins, of Bishop, TX, was arrested on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Collins was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance. Last Thursday, 31-year old John Oliver Knight, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a charge of Driving While Suspended. Knight was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $300 bond. And, on November 15th, 30-year old Steven Robert Pedersen, of Atlantic, turned himself in on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Pedersen was released later that day on $2000 bond.

An official with Midwest Partnership says they are currently accepting nominations for the Guy Powell Award- recognizing excellence in leadership and passion for economic development in the Midwest Partnership Development region. Sarah Gomez, Economic Development Coordinator for Midwest Partnership, says businesses and individuals who are members in Midwest Partnership Development Corporation (which serves Adair, Audubon, Greene and Guthrie Counties) are encouraged to nominate individuals who stand out as outstanding leaders in this area of west central Iowa, and who work to make it a more economically vital place to live, work, and play.

The Guy Powell Award was created in honor and memory of Powell, who was the past president of the Midwest Partnership Development Corporation, and an active volunteer on the board of many other area organizations. Gomez says Powell was passionate about local and regional economic development.  He was also a strong believer in the region’s potential.

The Nomination:  

Those submitting nominations should consider: 

• Vision
• Leadership
• Courage
• Impact 

Information to include in the nomination is as follows: 

• Name & Address of the Nominee (Person, group or business being nominated.)
• Name, Address & Phone Number of the Nominator (Person completing the nomination.)
• A brief statement (500 words or less) on how the nominee has made an impact on their local community and/or region through volunteer service.  

Monica Cateron, Office Manager
Midwest Partnership Development Corporation
P.O. Box 537
Stuart, IA 50250
mcateron@midwestpartnership.com

w/ Ric Hanson

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Dennis Bloom, Chair of the Montgomery County Community Foundation (MCCF) says 12 nonprofit agencies were recently awarded grants totaling $17,800. Among them was:

• The Red Oak Public Library, which received $1,300 to provide a virtual learning center (computer & software).
• The Stanton Senior Center, $400, for the purchase of a new air conditioner.
• The City of Stanton Public Library, $1,000 for the purchase & implementation of a new automation system.
• Elliott Volunteer Fire Dept., $500 to replace old pagers.
• Montgomery County Family YMCA, $3,000 to upgrade the health/wellness fitness center.
• The Montgomery County History Center, $1,450, to purchase equipment & materials to help research area history & archive it.
• Red Oak Community School District, $3,000, to renovate “Cage” recreation site for use by the general public.
• Stanton Child Resource Center, $1,400, for school preschool & toddler programs, supplies & equipment.
• Stanton Greenbelt, $1,000, to add more handicap-accessible trails for public use.
• The Wilson Performing Arts Center, $2,000 for equipment.
• Villisca Community School District, $2,000, to purchase cameras for use with school interactive whiteboards.
• Villisca Public Library, $750, to provide e-book services & a space for use by young people.

The grant checks were presented to representatives from those nonprofit agencies, last Thursday. The total amount of $17,800 includes $1,000 from the Villisca High School Class of 1977 Endowment Fund, and, $800 from the Stanton Endowment Fund. Over the past 11 years, the Montgomery County Endowment Fund has distributed more than $656,000 to nonprofit agencies in the County.

PONCA, Neb. (AP) – A northeast Nebraska man has pleaded guilty to two counts of motor vehicular homicide and one count of drunken driving in an accident that killed two Wayne State College students near Emerson. Fifty-five-year-old Robert Mahler, of Hubbard, NE,pleaded guilty Monday in Dixon County District Court. Sentencing is Jan. 23rd. Authorities say Mahler was driving drunk on the night of Sept. 9, on the wrong side of Nebraska Highway 9 and hit an oncoming motorcycle. Two people on the motorcycle were killed – 20-year-old Christopher Oberg, of Mapleton, Iowa, and his passenger, 19-year-old Alexis Calfee, of Bennet, Neb. Authorities say Mahler’s blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit. Mahler faces a sentence of one to 50 years in prison on each of the vehicular homicide charges.

One person was killed and another injured during a crash in western Iowa’s Monona County, Monday night. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 29-year old Robert Paris Palmer, of Mapleton died, when the 1969 Oldsmobile 88 he was a passenger in was struck by a truck, in Mapleton.  The driver of the car, 27-year old Lenley Ray Schofield, Jr., of Sioux City, was injured, and transported by Mapleton Rescue to Burgess Hospital, in Onawa. Neither man was wearing a seat belt. The driver of the 2006 Chevy truck, 24-year old Joseph Lee Daggett, of George, was not injured.

Officials say at around 9:40-p.m., the Oldsmobile left the BP gas station in Mapleton, heading south on Highway 141, but the Patrol says Schofield, Jr.,  did not appear to have control of the car, which swerved as he continued south on 141. The vehicle crossed the center of the road and was hit on the passenger side doors by the northbound truck. The force of the impact pushed the car onto the curb at the northeast corner of the intersection with Sioux Street and Highway 141.

The mayors of Council Bluffs and Omaha have agreed to a friendly wager on Friday’s Iowa/Nebraska football game. Tom Hanafan and Jim Suttle met this morning (Monday) on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, which spans the Missouri River and links the two states. Omaha Mayor Suttle says the winning team will score a victory for a great cause.  “The losing city is going to come across this bridge and build a house for a needy family,” Suttle explained. Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan said it’s a bet he’s happy to make.

“It’s not about the bet as much as it is about Habitat for Humanity and helping people out,” Hanafan said. But, the two mayors are also comfortable with a little trash talking. Hanafan said he’s looking forward to overseeing Mayor Suttle’s workmanship. “I’ll be watching what he does to make sure he does everything right,” Hanafan said. Suttle, meanwhile, isn’t too worried about the Hawkeyes winning in Lincoln.  “I’m feeling confident. So, go Big Red and I think we’ll be in the winners circle,” Suttle told reporters. The home build for Habitat For Humanity will take place in either Council Bluffs or Omaha on Saturday, December 10th.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will gather in the high school Media Center Tuesday evening, for a work session. During their meeting at 7:30-p.m., the Board will discuss: graduation and drop-out rates; current/new interventions at the Atlantic High School; progress being made at the Cass County Educational Opportunity Center (CCEOC) and Hospital School; and, what’s needed for future planning.