Wednesday’s speech marked the third college-campus visit in two days all targeted at calling upon Congress to keep subsidized student loan interest rates from doubling, as scheduled, on July 1. According to the President’s remarks, such an increase would cost the average borrower an extra $1,000.

Though the campus tour was labeled by the White House as official visits and not campaign related presentations, some are criticizing the appearances as strategic stops meant to re-energize young voters who appear to be in less force than in 2008. Critics point out the three states the President visited- North Carolina, Colorado, and Iowa- are all battleground states critical to Obama’s re-election.

The President’s remarks on higher education rang true to an audience full of current college students, some nervously awaiting graduation and entry into an economy with limited job availability. However, President Obama assured the crowd that maintaining an affordable college education is the foundation of a successful economy.

“What I want all of you to know is that the degree you earn from Iowa will be the best tool you have to achieve that basic American promise. The idea that if you work hard, if you give it your all, if you’re responsible, then you can do well enough to raise a family and own a home, send you own kids to college, put a little away for retirement. It’s the idea that each generation is going to have a little more opportunity than the last. That’s at the heart of the American Dream.”

President Obama spoke of the importance of America’s youth, and the need for cooperation between parties to resolve this issue. “Helping young people afford college should be at the forefront of America’s agenda. And it shouldn’t be a Republican or Democratic issue. This is an American issue.”

Steve Pope / The Gazette

Lawmakers agreed to Gov. Terry Branstad’s demand to establish a biennial budget process during a contentious 2011 session that took until June 30 to finalize a spending package just hours before they faced the prospects of an unprecedented government shutdown.

Republicans who hold a 60-40 edge in the House teamed with Branstad last year to pare down the state’s general fund to about $6 billion over objections from Democrats who return to the Statehouse will a 26-24 majority in the Senate thanks to Sen. Liz Mathis’ special election win in Marion last November.

The good news for budget-makers is they expect to have about $250 million in increased revenue available and don’t have a billion-dollar gap to fill like they previously faced.

The bad news is commitments that legislators already have made for things such as a 2 percent increase in base “allowable growth” funding for K-12 schools, higher spending for Medicaid driven by a tough economy, and a collective bargaining agreement that calls for state employees to receive a 3 percent pay boost next fiscal year are projected to top $300 million.

On top of that, lawmakers and Branstad want to provide commercial property tax relief that will require a state investment of at least $50 million to “backfill” lost revenue to local governments, both parties have agreed to embark on a mental-health redesign that will cost the state $42 million next fiscal year, Branstad wants to start education reforms that carry a yet-to-be-decided price tag, higher education is clamoring for more state aid and the list goes on.

 ”It’s going to be another tight budget year,” said House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha.

“Iowans work hard and when they send us their money they expect us to be good stewards with it,” the speaker said. “We’re going to go through and look at every dollar.”

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said the growing state revenues could make it a little easier to pass legislation dealing with commercial property taxes and Iowa’s mental health system. There is broad agreement among Democrats
and Republicans that changes are needed in both areas, he noted.

Branstad says 86 percent of the fiscal 2013 state budget is set so he doubts the session will have to span its scheduled 100-day run.

“We think it’s going to be a shorter session because there’s no need to be the fighting over these big budget items,” he said.

“I’m sure there are those who want to spend less and those that want to spend more, but as far as we’re concerned we resolved those things for the big items and we don’t want to revisit the old fights,” Branstad added.

However, Sen. Jack Hatch, D-Des Moines, co-chairman of the Legislature’s human services budget subcommittee, said only about half of the new budget has been finalized and lawmakers will maintain their responsibility to appropriate money and not abdicate that role to the governor.

“The Legislature did not give up in any way the lack of flexibility in determining the priorities of our state,” said Hatch, who plans to unveil his budget proposals this week. “We still have discretion on that budget.”

Democrats say the state’s cash and emergency reserves are full, the budget has a healthy ending balance and spending is running well below the 99 percent statutory limit, but Republicans continue to portray the state’s fiscal position to be more dire than it really is.

“I expect a fight over the budget because these guys keep saying there’s a budget crisis — not true,” Hatch said.

Rep. Scott Raecker, R-Urbandale, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said there will be a lot of issues on the table again when the split-control Legislature convenes on Monday.

“I am confident that we will find ways to fund the priority initiatives for Iowans,” he said.

Josh O'Leary / Iowa City Press-Citizen

The Johnson County Republicans huddled one last time, local Democrats worked the phones, and Dave Panther tallied up thousands of coffee beans by hand.

On the eve of Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses, with voters poised to converge in school gyms, church halls and community centers across the county and the state today, local political leaders spent Monday making final preparations after months of build-up.

Meanwhile, inside the Hamburg Inn No. 2, the famed Iowa City diner that has become a regular stumping spot on the campaign trail, Panther emptied the jars that customers have been filling in what the restaurant has dubbed the Iowa Coffee Bean Caucus.

President Obama was the Hamburg’s overwhelming winner, collecting 6,442 coffee beans and repeating his 2008 victory. For the Republicans, Michele Bachmann, despite the polls showing her behind the lead pack, was the Hamburg’s top Republican bean-getter with 1,147, defeating Mitt Romney by nearly 300 votes.

Bachmann, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum made stops at the restaurant in recent months, though all the candidates were extended invitations, Panther said.

“Regardless of being on the left or right, it’s just being able to see them personally and what they’re all about,” said Panther, who owns a restaurant that has hosted the likes of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton over the years. “It’s an opportunity a lot of states are never given.”

On Monday night, several dozen members of the Johnson County Republicans gathered for a final meeting before the caucuses. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, who traveled to Iowa to do some last-minute campaigning for friend Newt Gingrich, was on hand and looking forward to his first caucus experience.

“It’s something I’ve heard about all my life, but I’ll get to witness it up close and personal,” Burgess said. “It’s made for a very interesting day, and I’m sure tomorrow will be even more interesting. … From what I’ve seen today, clearly people take this very, very seriously. That’s certainly commendable and a tribute to the system you have here.”

Bob Anderson, chairman of the Johnson County Republicans, said caucus organizers are expecting an 8 percent to 10 percent increase over the nearly 4,000 people who turned out to caucus in the county in 2008.

“Republicans are committed that this is going to be a year of hard work and success, and we’re going to give it our best,” Anderson said.

Cindi Michel, secretary for the Johnson County Republicans, is preparing to lead a caucus at Washington Township School in the southwest corner of the county tonight.

“I feel like it’s a civic duty,” Michel said. “If you stay home, you don’t have a right to complain about things.”

At the same time, more than a dozen volunteers were crammed into the small Iowa City office where Obama’s campaign has been working since fall. Rosanne Cook of Iowa City was among the president’s supporters dialing fellow voters, urging them to come out to the caucuses.

“He’s had a mighty tough road to hoe,” Cook said of Obama. “But he’s done some good things and I continue to support him. I know it’s important to show there’s strong support. We don’t believe in what the Republicans are doing, and we’re going to stand up for what we believe in.”

Will Reasoner, a University of Iowa freshman and an organizer for the Obama campaign, said the caucuses are an important step toward building excitement for the 2012 election.

Obama is scheduled to give a live address to Democrat caucus-goers via a webcast today, and Reasoner was eager to hear his message.

“We’re using this as a stepping stone for the general election in the fall,” said the 18-year-old Reasoner, who will be able to participate in his first caucus and cast his first vote in a presidential election.

“I’m excited that I’m actually able to cast my vote for President Obama,” he said.

Written by: Josh O’Leary

Iowa City Press-Citizen

January 2, 2012

Reuters | Politico

In a sample of 982 registered voters in Iowa, Gingrich leads Obama 45.6 percent to 43.3 percent, with 11.1 percent undecided, while Romney leads with 42.6 percent to 41.7 percent, with 15.7 percent undecided. Both leads, however, are within the margin of error of +/- 3.5 percent, suggesting that the race is effectively tied.

“The fact that both currently fare equally well among voters for the general election may be an advantage for Gingrich,” says Frederick Boehmke, associate professor of political science in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and faculty adviser to the Hawkeye Poll. “Electability has been an important part of Romney’s appeal, but if Republican caucus-goers see other candidates as just as electable, then Romney will lose that advantage and his support might start to slide.”

According to the same poll, Gingrich currently retains his lead over Romney, with 29.8 percent of likely Republican caucus-goers indicating that they would vote for Gingrich and 20.3 percent of the respondents supporting Romney if the caucuses were held today.

The race is even tighter among Independents, with Obama and Romney deadlocked at 37.4 percent to 37.5 percent and Obama showing a slight lead over Gingrich at 41.0 percent to 39.6 percent. The differences are again within the margin of error of +/- 3.5 percent.

“Independents, comprising a third of the electorate, are key voters in the general election. If Romney leads Obama in a head-to-head race among Independents it suggests Romney may be the more electable candidate in terms of broad appeal,” says Caroline Tolbert, UI professor of political science in CLAS.

Detailed analysis of the poll follows. Topline results for the polls are available at: http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2011/december/121511GE_Hawkeye_Poll_Topline.pdf. Additional topline data from the same poll can be found with the Hawkeye Poll released Monday, Dec. 12 at http://news-releases.uiowa.edu/2011/december/121211Caucus_Haweye_Poll.html.

—

Sources of support Amongst female voters in Iowa, Gingrich fares better than Obama, with 43.8 percent of the vote versus 41.3 percent for Obama. Male voters also prefer Gingrich over Obama by about 2 percent. It appears that Romney has a slight edge over Obama amongst males (43.8 to 42.0 percent). Female voters are nearly evenly split between Obama and Romney.

“Turnout among young voters will likely be critical for Obama in 2012 since that remains his strongest set of supporters. However, the margin is small and younger voters may be less likely to turn out in 2012,” Boehmke says.

Among 18 to 34 year olds, 46.7 percent would vote for Obama if the election were held today while only 35.4 percent would vote for Romney. Romney leads the race across all other age categories, however, with a 3 percent advantage amongst 35 to 54 year olds, 2 percent for 55 to 69 year olds, and 12 percent for voters aged 70 or older. Obama leads Gingrich by 2 percent among young voters (aged 18 to 34). Obama trails Gingrich, however, among voters aged 35 to 54 by 5 percent, voters aged 55 to 69 by 2 percent, and voters 70 and older by 3 percent.

“Gingrich has a greater advantage than Romney among voters with a worse view of the economy, which could turn out to be an important advantage given continued high unemployment and relatively slow economic growth,” Boehmke says.

Voters who reported the economy is “very poor” prefer Gingrich (64.5 to 22.7 percent) over Obama, while the same voters preferred Romney over Obama by a smaller, but still sizeable margin of 59 to 27.9 percent.

—

Tea party and Occupy Wall Street movements Gingrich and Romney also appear to have the support of voters who sympathize with the Tea Party movement, though Gingrich appears to have greater support from Tea Party supporters. Obama leads among those who support the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Voters who said that they “strongly” or “somewhat strongly” support the Tea Party movement would choose Romney (71.6 percent) over Obama (12.9 percent) in the 2012 presidential election and would even more lopsidedly vote for Gingrich (81.2 percent) over Obama (8.7 percent). Among those who “neither support nor oppose” the Tea Party movement, Obama received a smaller share of votes (34.9 percent) compared with Romney’s 40.9 percent. Of those respondents, Gingrich (40.6 percent) is preferred over Obama (34.9 percent). For those who “strongly” or “somewhat strongly” oppose the Tea Party movement, Obama is the preferred candidate. Obama earned 70.5 percent of the vote share compared with Romney’s 17.1 percent and an even greater 76.8 percent vote share against Gingrich (14.8 percent).

Of respondents who support the Occupy Wall Street movement “strongly” or “somewhat strongly,” 62.5 percent would vote for Obama if he ran against Mitt Romney (21.4 percent) in 2012 while a similar 64.6 percent of such voters would vote for Obama over Gingrich (24.8 percent). Among voters who neither support nor oppose the OWS movement, Obama would win by a 26.5 percent margin over Romney (56.8 percent to 30.3 percent). Similar numbers emerge for Obama (58.3 percent) over Gingrich (36.9 percent). Among those who “strongly” or “somewhat strongly” oppose the Occupy Wall Street movement Romney has a two to one margin (60.3 to 29.2 percent) and Gingrich does even better (62.7 percent) over Obama (29.2 percent).

—

Four years ago, the Hawkeye Poll was the first to see Barack Obama moving closer to then-leader Hillary Clinton among Democratic caucus-goers, and to indicate Mike Huckabee was gaining traction with Republicans. Obama and Huckabee would go on to win the state’s first-in-the-nation caucus in January 2008.

The Iowa caucuses will be held Jan. 3, 2012. For related stories and information, visit the UI Election 2012 website at http://www.uiowa.edu/election.

—

About the Hawkeye Poll

The poll was conducted by the Hawkeye Poll Cooperative, comprised of UI faculty and graduate students in political science. The faculty adviser for the poll is UI Associate Professor of Political Science Frederick Boehmke. The poll used the facilities of the Iowa Social Science Research Center, directed by UI Sociology Professor Kevin Leicht. UI Professor of Political Science Caroline Tolbert is a member of the Hawkeye Poll Cooperative and co-author of Why Iowa? The poll is a teaching, research, and service project of the Department of Political Science in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. CLAS and the Provost’s Office fund the poll.

STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa News Services, 300 Plaza Centre One, Suite 371, Iowa City, Iowa 52242

MEDIA CONTACTS: Frederick Boehmke, Hawkeye Poll, 319-335-2342 (office), 716-866-9277 (cell), frederick-boehmke@uiowa.edu; Caroline Tolbert, Hawkeye Poll, 319-335-2358 (office), 319-621-8452 (cell), caroline-tolbert@uiowa.edu; Kelli Andresen, University News Services, 319-384-0070 (office), 319-330-9951 (cell), kelli-andresen@uiowa.edu; Cassie Cumings-Peterson, Hawkeye Poll, 651-373-4305 (cell), 319-335-2319 (office), cassie-cumings-peterson@uiowa.edu; Natasha Altema, Hawkeye Poll, 404-625-3372 (cell), 319-335-3844 (office), natasha-altema@uiowa.edu STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa News Services, 300 Plaza Centre One, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-2500 MEDIA CONTACT: Kelli Andresen, 319-384-0012, kelli-andresen@uiowa.edu

University of Iowa News Release

Dec. 15, 2011

David Scrivner/The Gazette

The group, which has had a presence in College Green Park for more than three weeks, had appealed a permit issued by the city allowing them to stay in the park for up to four months under certain conditions.

Among their requests was to change the provision in the permit that tents designed for more than six people were prohibited. The group said they have received a donated 10-person tent designed to withstand arctic weather.

The City Council, after receiving comments from about 15 Occupy Iowa City members, passed a motion, 6-0, modifying the permit to allow two such tents, subject to approval by the Fire Department. No additional electronic devices would be allowed in the tents. Council member Terry Dickens was absent.

City Manager Tom Markus said he and staff were not supportive of any structures being allowed to be built at the park. Earlier this month, some members of the group started building a wooden structure before the city ordered them to stop.

City Attorney Eleanor Dilkes said the council needed to understand that they are setting a precedent and any other group, no matter the message they carry, would have similar rights.

Occupy Iowa City can try to renew the permit when it expires after four months.

A core group of a couple of dozen protestors have been in the 2.4-acre park, located east of downtown, as part of the Occupy Wall Street movement that has spread worldwide over concerns of economic inequality.

Written by: Gregg Hennigan

The Gazzette

November 2, 2011

Brian Ray/The Gazette

North Liberty residents will decide in the Nov. 8 election whether to switch to a five-ward system of representation for the city council from the at-large system the city has now.

The issue was put on the ballot after citizens brought a petition to the city council in May.

The measure requires a simple majority to pass. If the yes vote carries, the entire council will be up for re-election in 2013 for a move to the five-ward system, City Administrator Ryan Heiar said. The council would draw the wards with the assistance of the County Auditor based on population balance.

The ward system would better spread council representation around the community, Ken Madole, a North Liberty resident for 35 years and a petition organizer, said. It also may draw more interested candidates because it would be cheaper to run for a seat by focusing on one part of town rather than the entire community, he said.

“I think you’d have better representation,” Madole said. “I think it would open it up to more people and on the other side of that, I think the people living in those wards would have a stronger connection with their individual council person.”

But one opponent, North Liberty City Council member Brian Wayson, said he thinks voters only being able to vote for one council person in their ward would detract significantly from the citizen engagement with the council. He also said the ward system would take population balance into consideration but may not result in widely separated geographic representation on the council, if that is the goal, and that it could limit interest by candidates since some wards may have no candidates who run.

“The thing that really worries me the most is you would only be able to vote for one city council person in each ward,” Wayson said. “You could only vote for one-fifth of the city council.”

Wayson also doesn’t think North Liberty is large enough, with enough distinct neighborhood differences, to warrant the ward system.

Madole said North Liberty’s growing numbers, with more than 13,000 residents in the latest Census, justify the move to wards, and he said other Iowa communities have the system.

Written by Diane Heldt

The Gazzette

October 24, 2011

The town hall on the state’s “One Unshakable Vision” education blueprint allowed teachers, and others who work during the week, a forum to address their concerns to Iowa Department of Education Director Jason Glass and Linda Fandel, Governor Terry Branstad’s special adviser for education.

But the response was far from unshakable, as the questions and comments from teachers were at times tense and contentious. By the end of the event at 3:30 p.m., the audience’s sentiment could best be summed up in the words of Iowa City High School teacher and education association Vice-President Colleen Davis.

“I feel like you’re trying to fix us, and there’s nothing wrong with us,” she said.

The 1 p.m. town hall at Iowa City West High School originally was supposed to end at 2 p.m., with both Fandel and Glass offering to remain and talk to anyone who still had concerns, but the crowd loudly objected during the attempt to wrap up the forum. The man next in line for the microphone shouted that he felt the blueprint was an attempt to get rid of teacher unions and accused the Branstad administration and other Republicans of “teacher bashing.”

Following this, both Glass and Fandel returned to take questions, and Glass confronted the accusation by saying he felt assertions that he was attacking teachers to be “ridiculous.”

“My parents are teachers, my wife is a teacher, I was a teacher,” he said.

This wasn’t the only time Glass and Fandel found themselves having to address their personal background in education, as several other attendees commented on their lack of classroom experience. The two steered away from the subject for the most part, saying that their background was irrelevant and asking the audience to focus on the blueprint itself.

Most of the attendees did, with several repeating that the blueprint is far from union-friendly. Cedar Rapids Education Association President Tammy Wawro said elements of the blueprint relating to salary scale would require a change in Iowa law that would hurt teacher’s rights.

“I want to hope that’s not their intent,” she said.

The salary scale would put new teachers in a system with apprentice, career, mentor and master level teachers, but many voiced concern over the level of time master teachers would spend in the classroom, and that the system does not offer enough opportunities for advancement.

After changes to teacher pay and evaluation, the call for higher student standards also was poorly received. Several teachers voiced opposition to the plan’s call for more student assessments, with a planned third grade retention exam based on a state of Florida model drawing much of the fire.

Teacher Jeanine Redlinger came armed with a large scroll of responses to the blueprint from her AP government students from City High School, along with three students, all of whom commented on not wanting more standardized tests.

“The plan provides nothing that motivates students, and I can tell you they’re definitely not motivated by tests,” she said.

Glass responded that he felt standardized tests could be a lot better than they are today, but that measuring and assessing students was still vitally important.

“I think we all realize there’s a reaction against standardized testing, but I think it’s an over-reaction,” he said.

The cost of the blueprint was another point of contention. Fandel said there would be more details, including the funding, would come with the the final proposal that Governor Terry Branstad would release prior to the convening of the Legislature, and that it would include both a re-appropriation of existing as well as new funds.

But many remain skeptical despite assurances.

“Given his past history, the governor has not fully funded education to the level this blueprint is offering,” said Tuyet Dorau, an Iowa City school board director. “I can draw you a blueprint of the Taj Mahal, but the resources need to be there.”

Fandel and Glass said they would take all the recommendations into account and asked the audience to continue to give feedback.

The forum was recorded by the Iowa City school district. Superintendent Steve Murley said the full version would be available on the district’s cable TV channel.

Written by: Patrick Hogan

The Gazette

October 16, 2011

Image source

The area of competing annexation applications filed by both cities of North Liberty and Coralville, which is located near North Liberty's current southeastern boundary. Lori Linder/ North Liberty Leader

The North Liberty council voted 3-2 in support of the deal following a discussion that took “quite some time,” City Administrator Ryan Heiar said.

Voting in favor of it were Coleen Chipman, Chris Hoffman and Brian Wayson, he said. Opposed were Terry Donahue and Gerry Kuhl.

Coralville’s vote was unanimous in support of the agreement, City Clerk Thor Johnson said.

The 10-year deal resolves an annexation dispute between the two towns that dates to 2006. It divides the unincorporated area between them into four areas and governs annexation decisions.

Some residents of the area are opposed to the agreement, saying it does not take their thoughts into account.

Written by: Gregg Hennigan

The Gazette

October 12, 2011