GENERAL NEWS:                                                                                 Thursday, April 17, 2003

Passover.

… Although the Bush administration has lowered the national terrorism threat level to “yellow” – and the IA situation is not as serious as potential terrorism threats – the Dem Wannabe Alert remains in effect for all Iowans through next January. That means irresponsible, reckless rhetoric could occur anytime, anywhere – like in eastern IA today as Edwards returns to the state.  

… Sen Grassley, according to the Quad-City Times, has presented the parents of Marine Reserve Sgt. Bradley Korthaus of Davenport  – the first Iowan to die in the Iraq war – with a copy of a speech he delivered on the Senate floor on 3/27, the day after the Marine Corps announced Korthaus’ death. Grassley read the statement at a town meeting in Bettendorf and presented a copy to Steve and Marilyn Korthaus, who attended. Korthaus drowned while trying to cross the Saddam Canal in Iraq. (More on Grassley’s Bettendorf comments about tax cut issue below.) 

… Good Morning, Internet shoppers: Here’s a headline from front page of today’s Des Moines Register for you – “Officials propose Internet sales tax in Iowa…Revenue would back bonds to create an $890 million fund designed to boost Iowa’s economy.” Until now, many Internet merchants have not collected the 5% state sales tax. 

… California Field Poll – released yesterday – indicates the president would beat the Dem nominee by 45-40 margin if the election were held now. Lieberman (22%) “first choice preference” among registered CA Dems. 

… The debates and mini-controversies over funding for the national animal disease complex in Ames – not to mention whether $98 million or $110 million was needed – became political history yesterday when President Bush signed the $80 supplemental appropriations bill. It also ended a chapter of IA political craziness after Harkin and Grassley inserted the $98 million provision in the Senate bill, drawing the ire of the House that insisted no amendments should have been added. Sparks flew and then IA GOP Congressman Latham said the correct amount should have been $110 million for renovation of the Ames facilities. The result: $110 million for the Ames labs with the balance of the money going for Iraq war ops, airline assistance and homeland security. 

… Speaking of Iowa’s agricultural orientation, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has suffered another Hawkeye State setback. Radio Iowa reports a Des Moines outdoor advertising company has rejected the group’s Easter-season advertising campaign – a proposed billboard featuring the words “He Died for Your Sins” in cursive across a blue sky, next to a big pink pig and “Go Vegetarian” slogan. The Radio Iowa account said the DSM company rejected the billboard because it was objectionable and offensive – but that PETA will try to place the advertising in two other states, North Carolina and Missouri. Last fall, billboard companies in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids turned down PETA ads that linked male impotence with eating pork.

… Drudge Report last night says GWB may disrupt Cuba travel plans for three IA Dem elected officials. The prospect Bush has targeted Harkin, Dem Congressman Boswell and Ag Sec Judge is unlikely – although they are all scheduled for Cuban trips in coming weeks. Drudge reports the president is considering sanctions against Cuba – possibly cutting off direct flights to the island and halting cash payments to relatives in Cuba – as punishment for imprisoning and executing dissidents. (More on Dems Cuba travel plans below – as Vilsack declines invitation to go too.) 

… An inaugural event – White House chief of staff Card kicked off introduction of new interactive White House website last night by saying he believes Saddam has been killed. The new web access – which will allow any Internet user on planet to quiz administration leaders on a periodic basis  – gave “Casey” of Quincy, MA an opportunity to ask about Saddam’s status. Card’s response: “He is not likely to be in Quincy, Braintree or my hometown of Holbrook. I think he is dead. The good news is that his regime is no longer a threat to the people of Iraq nor to the U. S. or our allies.” 

CANDIDATES & CAUCUSES: 

… Edwards returns to IA political fray again today with ambitious one-day swing and – although watchers will see how it goes – his campaign gets an A- for potential supporter impact and scheduling. The daylong tour will take him into media markets and Dem strongholds that will reach a significant number of January caucusgoers. If the schedule works out as planned, Edwards will be in Waterloo, Dubuque, Clinton, Davenport, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids before the sun sets tonight. 

… Welcome to Iowa, John. In recognition of your return to the state, Iowa Press Watch reprints excerpts from an analysis of your presidential candidacy from last Sunday’s News & Observer in Raleigh. The newspaper’s Washington Correspondent John Wagner wrote: “Three months into his presidential bid, Edwards has pulled off a coup. He recently posted a higher first-quarter fund-raising total -- $7.4 million – than any of the other eight Democrats in the race, several of whom have spent decades in political office. But as the focus moves increasingly to wooing voters in coming months, the freshman senator faces another hurdle that may be tougher to clear: spreading his message among those who, for the most part, know little about him. With the first nominating contests less than 10 months away, Edwards remains in single digits in recent polls from Iowa (8 percent), New Hampshire (2 percent) and South Carolina (6 percent) – the last of which is widely considered a must-win for Edwards, who was born there.”

… Gephardt – in a classless, tacky move while the president was in his hometown of St. Louis  – announced yesterday if he’s elected president he will trash the Bush tax cuts during his first week in office and advocate a tax credit to help businesses provide employee health care coverage. Gephardt, who’s been pushing that plan over recent days during IA and NH campaign stops, must believe he’s ready to go prime time with his grand scheme. There was nothing new in Gephardt’s anti-tax cut, anti-Bush rhetoric that hasn’t been heard in Iowa living rooms – except that he said he’ll outline details during a New York speech next week. Gephardt added, “We don’t need another Bush tax cut. The one we had [in 2001] was a failure and has not stimulated the economy.”  

… There’s no place like home – especially when it comes to fundraising – for Dem wannabes Kerry and Lieberman. That’s the main thrust of an Associated Press analysis of first-quarter fundraising that indicated their respective home states “accounted for more than $1 in every $5” they collected for the January-March reporting period. Dean collected more from CA and NY than from home state Vermont.

… Lieberman is the first to accept an invitation to participate in a June forum for the Dem candidates in Chicago sponsored by Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow-PUSH Coalition. News reports out of the Windy City say all candidates have been invited to the 6/22 event. (Iowa Pres Watch Note: Can we expect this forum – like the Harkin-sponsored series for the wannabes in Iowa – will have a hand-picked audience and softball questions designed to turn the event into an anti-Bush orgy?)    

… One more item from Paul Bedard’s “Washington Whispers” column in this week’s U. S. News & World Report – under the item head, “Charity case” – “When Sen. John Kerry’s donation came in for Boston’s Holy Name Parish School spring auction, organizers expected something special from the multimillionaire Democratic presidential candidate. After all, fellow Sen. Ted Kennedy gave a personally designed print and Mayor Thomas Menino offered dinner. Kerry’s gift: A signed 8-by-10 photo. What gives with the cheapo gift? Associates whine that Kerry gets 36 auction requests a week and not everything can be great. ‘Our best auction offerings are yet to come,’ says one associate. ‘Personally guided Oval Office tours by President John Kerry.’” 

IOWA POLITICS: 

… Boswell-Cuba Watch continues – but gets more complicated. Both Boswell and Harkin are scheduled to visit Cuba during the next month, but Guv Vilsack refuses invite to join Boswell on next month’s trade mission. Statehouse news reports indicated Vilsack turned down the trip, saying he was “extremely troubled by what’s taken place in Cuba recently.” He said it would be “a very difficult time to extend the hand of friendship when I know there were 78 people jailed and three of them executed simply because they disagree with their government.” (This is where Vilsack’s explanation gets complicated and confusing -- or a possible exercise in political opportunism. The gov’s office announced several weeks ago he would not join Boswell on the trade mission because of a “scheduling conflict” – but it now appears, given recent Cuban developments, he has also found a politically-correct and politically expedient reason not to go.) Harkin is scheduled to be in Cuba next week, while Boswell is planning to join the Greater Des Moines Partnership and Iowa Corn Promotion Board on a mid-May trade mission. IA Ag Secretary Patty Judge also announced yesterday she will be going on the Cuba trip – saying she could understand Vilsack’s decision, but she needs to continue opening trade opportunities for Iowa farmers. 

… Another Cuba commentary: On WHO Radio’s farm show yesterday, former American Farm Bureau President Dean Kleckner said he “mostly” agrees with Vilsack’s decision – “I don’t think he should go.” He said Vilsack’s status as a chief executive makes his situation different than others. Kleckner, who was pres of the Iowa Farm Bureau before being elected to the national post, said farm organization trade missions to Cuba should continue, but it’s a “close call” whether Harkin and Vilsack should go. The big question, Kleckner said, is why Castro has decided to crack down at this time? Kleckner, who has led a previous Cuba trade mission, added the way to treat nations such as China and Cuba is to “deal with them…not isolate them.”  

MORNING SUMMARY:  

 Headlines starting to move away from Iraq operations…

… Des Moines Register top front-page headline: “Anti-U. S. feeling grow…As civilian casualties rise, Iraqis vent anger”

… Main story on Sioux City Journal online, headline: “Project Safe Neighborhoods combats gun crimes with federal prison time” Report says local authorities hammering home point “gun crime now packs hard federal time.”

… Daily Iowan top national headline: “WHO [World Health Organization] links SARS to virus” 

… Quad-City Times online headline: “Quad-City population levels flat” Reports that Q-C population roughly same between mid-2001 and mid-2002 – drops a “barely noticeable 15 people ” – that’s right, 15 -- between ’01 and ’02. 

… Main national headline from Omaha World-Herald online: “Franks visits Baghdad, briefs Bush from Saddam’s palace” 

… Chicago Tribune top headline online:  “Bush Urges U. N. to End Iraq Sanctions”

… Under the headline “GOP in House ‘furious’ over Senate budget deal,” the Washington Times reported yesterday: “House Republicans are furious with Senate Republican leaders and say a real rift has developed since the senators cut a deal last week that would limit tax cuts to less than half the amount President Bush wants.” NC Rep. Sue Myrick, chairman of the conservative Republican Study Group said, “You just feel very betrayed, very frankly. We were just furious, and we’re still furious.” The Times coverage said most apparently thought a compromise had been reached for a $550 billion tax cut – “But House Republicans were surprised when Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican, announced the side deal [to support a $350 billion tax cut] on the Senate floor. They said it undercut the House position.” The Times report added that “since then House and Senate leaders have had heated exchanges” and noted, “For now, House Republicans seem to want to follow the president’s lead in minimizing Mr. Grassley’s deal, which is not binding.” Some House GOPs said “part of their anger” was directed at Sen Majority Leader Frist for “letting Mr. Grassley make the deal…But others blamed Mr. Grassley and have encouraged Mr. Frist to exclude him from the conference committee. (For Grassley comments about the issue at IA town meeting, see below.)

WAR & TERRORISM: 

… Although TV screens show troops and equipment – including a Boone-based Iowa National Guard aviation unit that returned last weekend – the Quad-City Times reports that two Guard units have been deployed to the Iraq region. The Times coverage said the Chinook helicopters and 100 soldiers from the 106^th Aviation unit in Mount Joy (north of Davenport) and the 1555^th Quartermaster Detachment – a water-purification unit from Dubuque – were en route to the Central Command area. They will be two of eight IA Guard units overseas – including others from Mason City, Iowa City and Johnston. More than 2,400 Guard troops from Iowa have been called to active duty.   

… A sign of today’s challenging times – the Daily Iowan reports a new international-studies major will be introduced next fall. It will be an umbrella course that combines several smaller majors, such as African and Asian studies. UI’s Blythe Burkhardt, coordinator of international academic programs, said “with all of the current events going on, students will learn where we fit in the world.” 

… BBC News reports “The United Nations has asked for a fresh report from its chief weapons inspector Hans Blix as it considers sending teams back to Iraq. A majority of the Security Council – including Washington’s main ally Britain – favours resuming the UN searches for Saddam Hussein’s alleged weapons of mass destruction. But correspondents say the United States has so far resisted the return of the UN inspectors, who were withdrawn from Iraq shortly before the US-led coalition started bombing Baghdad.” 

… From the Korean front: VOANews (Voice of America) reported the United States, North Korea and China are expected to hold meetings in Beijing next week in an “attempt to defuse the standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions. Word of the talks comes a few days after North Korea signaled it was willing to abandon its demands for talks with just the United States.”  

… Speaking of meetings, VOANews also reported “OPEC has confirmed it will hold an emergency meeting next week in Vienna to discuss cutting production. OPEC ministers will meet April 24 to decide how to keep oil prices from falling below the desired price range of $22-$28 a barrel during the upcoming slow demand season. Since the war in Iraq began, benchmark oil prices have fallen about 30 percent, but are still within the desired scale. OPEC has been producing about two million barrels above its daily ceiling.”

FEDERAL ISSUES: 

… QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times) reported yesterday that Grassley “stuck by his decision” to support a lower tax cut during Senate approval of the budget resolution last week. Grassley has found himself at the center of a congressional firestorm since agreeing to a $350 billion tax cut package – a topic that came up again Tuesday during a Bettendorf town meeting. Grassley told the audience he would personally prefer a bigger tax cut, but that he – as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee – also had a commitment to get the federal budget passed before the Easter recess. The Times quoted Grassley as saying: “You wouldn’t have any tax bill without a budget. You wouldn’t have prescription drug (coverage) without a budget. You wouldn’t have spending limits without a budget. These things all added together demand a budget. I happen to believe a budget with a $350 billion tax cut is better than no tax cut and no budget.” The Times report added: “That answer has not set well with some Republicans, including U. S. Rep. Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, the chairman of the House Budget Committee. He said the Grassley promise is ‘irrelevant’ because the leaders of the House and Senate were not party to it. ‘Senator Grassley has never demonstrated any real fondness for the president’s package,’ Nussle said.”

… Also on the Grassley tax cut-budget decision: A Charlotte Eby article in the Mason City Globe-Gazette reported State Sen. – and IA GOP chairman – Chuck Larson “declined to criticize Grassley.” Larson was quoted as saying: “Chuck Grassley’s a tremendous senator, and he worked successfully in a bipartisan way in 2001 to pass one of the largest tax cuts our country has witnessed in two generations, and he’s the ideal person to negotiate in a bipartisan fashion for the best deal possible for Americans.” 

… On a related development, the GOP-oriented Club for Growth has announced it will launch advertising campaigns focused on three states – and three Republican lawmakers who opposed GWB’s $726 billion tax cut. The TV spots are scheduled to run in Maine (Sen Snowe), Ohio (Sen Voinovich) and New York (Rep Houghton) in an effort to apply political pressure for them to switch their votes. Club for Growth president Stephen Moore said yesterday: “Not only is this a setback for the president, it is a defeat for the Republican Party.”

… Radio talk show host Mickelson (WHO, Des Moines/WMT, Cedar Rapids) yesterday referred to GWB as “another invertebrate Bush” during discussion about possibility he will support extension of a firearms ban that is supposed to expire next year. Guest Eric Pratt of Gunowners of America urges pro-gun supporters to contact the White House because a Bush spokesperson said the president will sign legislation to renew the ban. At issue: A law passed last decade limited semi-automatic firearms and magazines (over 10 rounds) – but included a 10-year “sunset” provision, meaning it would disappear next year. Pratt, on Mickelson “newsmaker” phone line, said the anti-gun law was a major factor in GOP taking Congress in ’94 and that gunowners had a significant role in elected GWB in 2000.  He said the president has “to be careful about keeping his base…but it’s [allowing the ban to expire] also the right thing to do.” Pratt says his group – which has a pre-written letter to White House on website – is willing to give the president the “benefit of the doubt” since it was a spokesman that made the comment, but he wants Bush to state his position on the issue. The Gunowners of America website says that, in a Knight-Ridder story over the weekend, White House spokesman Scott McClelland said: “The President supports the current law, and he supports reauthorization of the current law.”

IOWA ISSUES: 

… The Sioux City Journal reports that the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors (Sioux City) “gasp at cost estimates” for a new jail expansion. Architects presented six possible plans to the board – ranging from $40 million to $70 million. The Journal report: “A good 20 minutes after seeing the figures, Supervisor Larry Clausen was still shaking his head. ‘If we’re looking at $20 million, that’s a load. But $40 million is not doable. We might as well be sitting here whistling “Dixie,” Clausen said. ‘I think if we’re looking at anything over $20 million, Woodbury County just can’t do it.’”

OPINIONS:  

… This morning’s Des Moines Register editorials – “Medical privacy rules will cost you…Tons of paperwork and expense – this law is a bureaucratic nightmare” Editorial says estimated total cost of implementing rules in IA will cost about $42 million. 

… Register has two “In Remembrance” editorials – “A winner in sport – and life” remembering DSM attorney and former U. S. Olympics Committee president Robert Helmick & “Think of him at the fair” remembering longtime State Fair manager Kenneth Fulk, saying he “may have rescued the Iowa State Fair from a downward slide into oblivion.”  

… Columnist David Yepsen, headline: “These presidents had guts – elect another one” Writes about presidential historian Michael Beschloss being at Drake on Tuesday night – highlighting four presidents who took political risks: FDR, JFK, LBJ and Reagan.

IOWA SPORTS: 

… ESPN’s popular college football GameDay crew in Iowa City this afternoon as part of a weeklong tour of spring practices. Highlights and features about Hawkeyes will air on 5 p.m. SportsCenter.   

… Former American record holder Serene Ross will compete in the women’s javelin competition at the 94^th Drake Relays. Ross, the 2002 NCAA champion for Purdue, set the record last year at 195 feet 8 inches – and then extended it to 197 feet to win the U. S. outdoor title. Her record has since been broken. 

…  Aaron Brant may have to skip his high school prom next month – because he’s been installed as starting guard for the Iowa State football Cyclones. He doesn’t even officially graduate from high school until June 1, but he earned his high school diploma before last Christmas and enrolled at ISU to get used to the routine and participate in spring practice. The 6’ 7”, 307-pound guard from Dubuque Wahlert High School will start in the Cyclones spring game at 1 p.m. Saturday in Ames. Said Brant: “It’s just amazing how far everything has come. I don’t really know how to describe it.”   

IOWA WEATHER: 

DSM 5 a.m. 42, fog/mist. Temps this morning in upper 30s to lower 40s – 35 in Mason City to 44 in Lamoni. High today 55, cloudy. Low tonight 42, partly cloudy. High Friday 65, chance T-storms. From WHO-TV weather guy Ed Wilson: “We need the rain and again it stayed to the south. Big thunderstorms moved through Missouri and used up much of the moisture we need. There will be more chances for showers and thunderstorms late Friday and early Saturday. A few showers early Easter Sunday morning.”

IOWAISMS: 

… It’s time to get those registrations in for the Second Annual “Hog Jog” that will be held in conjunction with the 2003 World Food Expo at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in early June. The event features the unusual combination of walkers, runners and Harley riders. The motorcyclists will participate in a 45-mile ride – starting in Grimes, passing through several central IA communities and ending at the Fairgrounds. Meanwhile, at the fairgrounds runners and walkers can participate in a 5K event, while runners can be involved in a 10K run. All events are on Saturday 6/7 with proceeds going to the Iowa Farm Bureau Foundation. More info and registration forms: www.ifbf.org/programs/foundation

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