IOWA INSIDER

DES MOINES – Vice President Joe Biden took on critics of the Obama administration in a forceful speech to Democratic activists in Des Moines Saturday.

Appearing at a fundraising dinner for Iowa Democratic Party, Biden pointed to the economic challenges he and President Obama faced when they were sworn into office 10 months ago.

“I, like all of you, hear the pundits on all the talk shows raising doubts about whether or not we can turn this great nation around,” Biden said. “I see the special interests raising tens of millions of dollars, hundreds of millions of dollars to defeat our agenda.”

Biden had a simple message for Democrats who have supported President Obama: stick with him.

“I can tell you with absolute certainty, his resolve has never wavered one instant, and neither should yours,” Biden said.

That was the theme of the evening at a dinner attended by close to 1,500 at Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines.

Democratic elected officials stressed the need to continue to push health care reforms after the legislation cleared a crucial hurdle in the U.S. Senate Saturday.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley of Waterloo rallied Democrats to fight against what he called a campaign of fear by Republicans.

“We’ve heard a campaign of lies, and a campaign of fear and now is the time for Democrats in Iowa and all over this country to stand up and speak truth to fear,” Braley said.

The annual dinner is one of the biggest gatherings each year of Iowa Democrats, and new candidates used the event to get their names and messages out.

Bill Maske of Truro manned a booth outside the convention hall to promote his run for Congress in Iowa’s 4th District, a seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa.

Maske thinks Democrats are talking about the issues voters care about – health care, veterans’ rights and employment.

“The people are hurting, and they need help. and they need people that are going to go to Washington and work on their behalf, and not just serve special interests and the privileged few,” Maske said.

The event also served as a reintroduction for Des Moines lawyer Roxanne Conlin, who recently announced she would run for Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s seat.

“I am sure that together we can send Charles Grassley back to the farm,” Conlin told a group of party activists who packed a reception for her.
Conlin, who made an unsuccessful bid for governor in 1982, joins two other Democrats running for the seat: Tom Fiegen of Clarence and Bob Krause of Fairfield.

Gov. Chet Culver, running for re-election to his second term next year, highlighted efforts by his administration to raise Iowa’s minimum wage, expand access to health care and early childhood education opportunities.

Culver also touted the state’s recovery efforts after last year’s historic flooding.

“I welcome a spirited debate about our record of accomplishment. I welcome a healthy debate about the future direction of this state,” Culver said.

JOHNSTON – Congressman Bruce Braley called criticisms that the federal Cash for Clunkers program did not significantly affect the fuel-efficiency of vehicles on America’s roads “absurd.”

An analysis of data by the Associated Press found that the most common deals replaced old pickups with new ones that got only marginally better gas mileage. However, fuel-efficient car models such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Camry also were among the top 10 new cars purchased through the program.

Braley said data collected showed that the average increase in mileage for the cars that were traded in and the cars that were bought was 9.2 miles per gallon.

“When you multiply that times the 700,000 vehicles that were placed on the road, it has an enormous impact on fuel-efficiency and on the environment,” Braley told reporters after a taping of Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press.”

Braley said most economists who have looked at the program agree that it is one of the most spectacularly successful short-term stimulus programs the federal government has ever passed.

Braley said the program put nearly 40,000 people back to work in manufacturing facilities making automobiles or component parts.

“I think it’s been an overwhelming success, and I’m very proud to have been one of the original sponsors,” Braley said.

When asked whether he would support a second round of Cash for Clunkers, Braley said he didn’t know. He expressed support for a “Cash for Caulkers” proposal that would help people improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

“It’s going to create a lot of economic opportunity for those that are involved in weatherizing and upgrading homes and businesses,” Braley said. “So I think that as we need to focus on creating jobs in this economy that it may be the type of thing that would make sense short term.”

He did not have an estimate of how much the plan would cost.

During the taping of the show, Braley called his recent vote in favor of the health care reform bill “one of the proudest votes I’ve ever taken on the House floor.”

He said it will improve access to health care for thousands of Iowans, increase reimbursement rates for health care providers, and give many seniors security that their drug benefits will improve.

Braley said he didn’t think the vote would make him vulnerable as he seeks re-election in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District.

“If I take a tough vote like the one I did on health care, and it results in me not getting re-elected, I can live with that vote,” Braley said.

JOHNSTON – Two Iowa casinos have agreed to fines for admitting people who should not have been allowed inside.

The Catfish Bend Casino in Burlington was fined $20,000 for admitting an underage female who played a slot machine and was served an alcoholic beverage. A security supervisor questioned her identification and discovered she was underage.

The Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque was fined $3,000 for admitting a person who had signed up for the voluntary self-exclusion program. The program was created as a way for problem gamblers or anyone to ban themselves from Iowa casinos. In this instance, the individual signed up for the voluntary self-exclusion program and later was allowed to gamble at the facility. The individual enrolled in a players’ club account with the casino. The error was discovered during an audit of the casino’s players’ club accounts.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved the penalties at their meeting today.