Wednesday, March 5, 2003

GENERAL: Ash Wednesday…Snow, snow all around and not a presidential candidate to be found. Iowans digging out from yesterday’s snows. Dozens of morning school delays clutter broadcasts today, most starting two hours late…State Patrol reports some roads in southern and southwest Iowa, including I-29 south of Council Bluffs, “completely covered.” Also reported as “completely covered,” northeast corner of state – north of Highway 20 from Waterloo to Dubuque… While shoveling walks and driveways, Iowans may also be feeling a bit insulted this morning. During a report on CNN’s “Inside Politics” yesterday about current jockeying among states to move up the presidential nominating ladder, anchor Judy Woodruff said larger states were trying to get in on the action to take the political spotlight away from “relatively insignificant states such as Iowa and New Hampshire.” (Ouch.) She said major states – such as California – have “largely been ignored” by presidential wannabes because of late primaries, but several states are considering proposals to move up the nominating schedule. (See item below.)…Best idea of the month: The American Red Cross will hold a “Heroes of the Heartland” event next Tuesday morning (3/11, 7:30-9:00 a.m.) at the Marriott in Des Moines. Contact the Red Cross for reservations – 515/243-7681.

CANDIDATES/CAUCUS: The Washington D. C. city council is attempting to move its presidential primary to 1/13/04 – a week before the scheduled Iowa caucuses. The law requires that IA caucuses be held eight days before any other primaries or caucuses. At this rate – given the potential competition, especially from the Michigan Democrats --  “Jingle Bells” may be an appropriate theme song for the caucuses. Will Santa Claus attend a Republican or Democratic caucus?…Maryland is considering an effort to move that state’s presidential primary to 2/10/04 – the same day as Virginia’s scheduled primary – in an effort to create a high-profile regional primary…Despite possible objections from national party leaders – not to mention diluting the focus on Iowa and New Hampshire -- Florida Democrats are considering a presidential straw poll late this year. Such a poll could provide an important pre-Iowa boost for Graham…Is Ralph Nader feeling the draft yet? While some Democrats dream of drafting Al Gore for the 2004 nomination, it appears some Green Party activists want to recruit Nader for another run. The Draft Nader conspirators have set up shops in New York and San Francisco – with plans to open offices in Iowa and New Hampshire. What a great idea: Draft Gore and Nader – and do 2000 all over again.

IOWA POLITICS: Des Moines Register’s Lynn Okamoto reports Iowa House voted 88-8 for legislation allowing law enforcement to order drivers to take alcohol tests, even against the driver’s wishes, in fatal accidents. Opponents, including the Iowa Civil Liberties Union, say the proposal disregards citizen rights…Dickinson County (Spirit Lake) Board of Supervisors approves plans to buy out developer of hog confinement facility that threatened Lake Okoboji and Iowa Great Lakes region…Register headline: “GOP leaders want to spend less than Vilsack” – proposing about $115 million less than Vilsack requested…Former Congressman Ganske has ad in today’s Register announcing he’s “reopening his plastic and reconstructive surgery practice.”

MORNING SUMMARY: Top front page headline in Des Moines Register: “Terrorist blast kills Iowa native” – Cedar Rapids native William Hyde…Top headline on Omaha World-Herald website, “War signals growing stronger”…Top story on QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times), “U. S. might abandon resolution” – not seek another U. N. war resolution…Most of state got 4”-6” of snow yesterday, but some pockets – such as Waverly, which got one-foot – get 8”-12”. Fort Dodge area gets about 7 inches…For the record, Des Moines NWS measures snow at 4.4 inches…Top national story on Chicago Tribune website: “Legislators react coolly to Bush’s drug plan”…Iowa and Illinois ag officials are enforcing a ban on imports of chickens and other avian products from parts of CA, NV and AZ due to Exotic Newcastle Disease outbreaks in those areas.

WAR/TERRORISM: California-based anti-war group, MoveOn.org, has quarter-page ad in today’s Des Moines Register – “INSPECTIONS WORK, WAR WON’T”… Iowa native killed in Philippines terrorist blast. Baptist missionary William Hyde – a Cedar Rapids native -- was picking up other missionaries at airport when explosion occurred killing 21…About 3,500 Iowa Guard and reservists have now been called up. Des Moines Register reports the Army Reserve has ordered 600 Iowa troops to duty. More Iowans now on active duty than during Gulf War…Morning newscasts report the Pope is sending an appeal to the White House to prevent war, but it seems inevitable with 300K troops in Iraq region…Radio Iowa report: Sen. Grassley says he’s not sure the incident in which North Korean military jets intercepted a U. S. reconnaissance plane requires that fighter escorts accompany future American missions. Matt Kelley reports that “Grassley says North Korea is just trying to flex its muscle.” (Reuters reported yesterday the U. S. has dispatched 24 bombers to Guam to deter further North Korean operations, especially during a possible military action against Iraq.)…BBC News reports Russia still not ruling out possible veto in U. N. Security Council to prevent war in Iraq, adding the former Soviet Union will not sit on sidelines and just abstain. Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said: “Abstaining is not a position Russia can take, we have to take a clear position and we are for a political solution.”

GRASSLEY ISSUES: On WHO Radio this morning, Grassley – chairman of the Senate Finance Committee – says he puts premium on passing estate tax reform, quoted as saying the same income should not be taxed twice…Not only did Grassley comment on the North Korean situation (above), but he seemed to be everywhere yesterday – including mentions in two different stories on CNN…In one report on CNN’s “Inside Politics,” Jonathan Karl said “Chuck Grassley and his staff were very much leading the way” in efforts to force the resignation of Janet Rehnquist – daughter of Chief Justice William Rehnquist – as inspector general at HHS. Karl added Grassley, Rehnquist’s biggest critic in the Senate, informed the White House last week he was preparing, along with Montana Dem Sen. Baucus, to call for her resignation. In response to news of her resignation, Grassley said the “inspector general job wasn’t a good fit for her.”…On Iowa newscasts yesterday, Grassley said he planned to ask the Coast Guard during meeting yesterday to review new security proposals that would affect Iowa riverboat casinos on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The Coast Guard standards would require metal detectors and other anti-terrorism measures on boats, but riverboat casino operators are concerned they will discourage gamblers. Grassley questions whether the stricter anti-terrorism regs are necessary because the floating casinos either go on short tours around their immediate area – or don’t leave the docks at all. Issue is a significant concern in Davenport and Council Bluffs…The second Grassley-related story on CNN was about his priorities for Medicare legislation. It quoted Grassley as saying, “The way I see it, we need a universal drug benefit so that seniors who want to stay in traditional Medicare get a prescription drug plan that’s just as good as those who choose the new option.”…Grassley and Baucus yesterday sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) questioning a decision to allow accounting firms to do tax work for the companies they audit. They cited the complex tax transactions used by Enron that eventually resulted in the company’s bankruptcy and failure.

STATE ISSUES: Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports the state’s League of Cities is proposing increases in Iowa’s cigarette and alcohol taxes to help finance a $500-million state economic development fund. The League’s proposal was submitted as an alternative to an Iowa Farm Bureau plan that would be financed by a statewide property tax…globegazette.com (Mason City Globe Gazette) reports this morning that nearly 70 percent of Cerro Gordo County voters approved a 1-cent sales tax for schools yesterday. Globe-Gazette also reports61% supported a similar 1-cent tax for schools in neighboring Floyd County (Charles City).

OPINION: Des Moines Register editorials – “A prescription for failure…Bush’s privatizing idea has been tried, and it failed miserably.” “Restore the Air Force’s honor…It’s shocking that women cadets still endure sexual assaults.”…Register columnist Rekha Basu: “Risk of Bush’s plan: Making Iowa schools like Florida’s”…Headline on Register “Iowa View” op-ed by Fort Madison attorney Douglas H. Napier, “Grassley bill [Class Action Fairness Act of 2003] weakens fairness in lawsuits”

SPORTS:  Honors abound – Iowa women’s basketball standout Jennie Lillis, a junior from Urbandale, named to Big Ten first team. In men’s basketball, Pella native Kyle Korver named Missouri Valley Conference player of year for a second time. Among other selected twice as MVC player of year – Lewis Lloyd of Drake, Larry Bird of Indiana State, Junior Bridgeman of Louisville  …Men’s basketball tonight: Iowa at Michigan State, ISU hosts Missouri…Iowa State women at Kansas tonight.

WEATHER: 5 a.m. Cloudy at 7 degrees, wind chill –9…Most wind chills, especially across northern Iowa, below zero. Actual temp in Spencer and Estherville at –8… High today 18. Low tonight 10. High Thursday 35. Partly cloudy to cloudy through most of the period with highs into the low 40s later in week. Chance of snow returns next Monday.

IOWAISMS: Before the snow started falling yesterday and into the night, the Iowa-Illinois Quad-Cities (including Davenport and Bettendorf) were close to a 100-year-old winter record – one of the least snowiest winter seasons. The Davenport NWS reported the area received only 10 inches of snow through Feb., well below normal of 29 inches. The lowest snowfall total: 11 inches during 1901-02 winter…Employees should start moving into state’s new Iowa Judicial Branch Building, which will house the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, within the next two weeks. The move -- from offices in the Capitol to new facilities across the street in Des Moines -- should take about five or six weeks.

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