USDA Offices Slated for Closure

Iowa has not been hit as hard as some states, but will still see the closing of FSA offices in Centerville, Leon and Creston. Iowa will also lose an NRCS office in Jefferson County. All of the Rural Development offices in Iowa are safe at this point.

January 24th Transportation Day at the Capitol

Transportation Co-chair, Larry Winum, urges SWICO members to attend Transportation Day at the Capitol on January 24, 2012. The annual event has been coordinated through several years to encourage legislative action to increase funding for transportation infrastructure critical to healthy commerce.

 

Contact Larry Winum for details if you are available to attend and lend your advocacy support.

Report: Recommendations Summary Report

Legislation Draft

 

The Bipartisan Proposal Summary | Proposed Legislation

Key legislative leaders called for a bipartisan proposal to increase the gas tax in Iowa by four cents in 2013 and four cents in 2014 and increasing the fee for new registrations from five percent to six percent in 2012.

 

State Senator Tom Rielly (D-Oskaloosa) Chair of Senate Transportation Committee and Representative David Tjepkes (R-Gowrie) Chair of the House Transportation Committee held a bipartisan joint press conference outlining a new funding proposal that would increase funds available for Iowa streets and roads by over $220 million.

 

The majority of the funds would come through an increase in the state’s gas tax. The proposed legislation would increase the tax by four cents in 2013 and by an additional four cents in 2014. Each penny of the gas tax raises approximately $23 million. “The gas tax is the only source of revenue we can use that is contributed to by people who do not live in Iowa, but use our roads,” said Tjepkes.

 

 

October 2011 | Congressman Latham addresses SWICO and FHLB Members

 

Rep. Latham listened to the economic challenges facing southwest Iowa presented by ISU Economist Dave Swensen and SWICO board members. Coalition spoke to agricultural, transportation, entrepreneurship, local food development and housing issues. Rep. Latham then made his address outlining his Washington activities that could strengthen the new 3rd district he may represent after the November 2012 election. There was productive information shared between the candidate and his new constituents after his address.

 

View the Coalition Talking Points Here

 

Rep. Boswell Forum is being rescheduled due to illness:

Representative Boswell was scheduled to meet with the district's constituents on October 20 but had to cancel due to illness. A December date is being coordinated. Information about that will be announced as it becomes available.

 

Thank you for the partnership!

 

It is a great benefit for a volunteer advocacy organization to be able to partner with and organization like the Federal Home Loan Bank. In the past, SWICO delegates traveled to Washington for an audience. The combined influence of the two organizations is bringing these federal legislators to southwest Iowa for discussions.

 

New Redistricting Map Here

 

 

Raise your Voice, Make a Difference - Postcard received by the office from the Center for Rural Affairs, NE asking for advocacy below

 

Tom Latham is one of a handful of legislators who will decide how to divide federal money for agriculture and rural development for next year. He is also running for Congress in your district in 2012. That puts you in a unique position to have an influence on him.

 

Please call or email his office and urge him to support the President's request of $5.7 million for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program.

 

Just dial 202.225.5476 to leave a message with the receptionist or go to www.tomlatham.house.gov and click "Contact" to leave a comment on the form provided.

 

The program funds organizations to provide help to small, rural businesses in your community. It is already helping rural Iowa through grants to lowaMicroLoan and Northern Iowa Community College for their work to assist small businesses. But funding was recently slashed for the program for the remainder of the year.

 

Now is the time to secure funding for next year. Because of redistricting, Rep. Tom Latham will soon be campaigning for your vote for the first time. So he will be especially interested in your views.

On select years, members join the SWICO legislative delegation on Capitol Day and set up tables representing their county's attractions and value-added ag business ventures in an effort to keep policy makers aware of its value to the state.

 

 

 

 

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