99counties.org

The Obama administration has slammed a report from The Associated Press alleging the government had overstated by thousands the number of jobs it has created or saved with federal contracts under President Obama’s $787 billion recovery program. Below are details from a specific project based in Iowa.

All data below is from Recovery.gov

Recipent
HDR Architecture, Inc.

City
Ames

Award Description
Architect-Engineering Services to replace roofs on large animal buildings 3 & 4, and utility building 155.

Award Amount
$62,243

Project Description
Activities completed during this reporting period are initial contract set-up and preliminary project review.

Job Creation Comments
This ARRA funded task has impacted the following employees: Project Controller, Senior Architect, and Project Manager

Number of Jobs (Saved or Created) Claimed
0.03

Cost per job
$2,074,766.67

Tags: arra, recovery

The Obama administration has slammed a report from The Associated Press alleging the government had overstated by thousands the number of jobs it has created or saved with federal contracts under President Obama’s $787 billion recovery program. Below are details from a specific project based in Iowa.

All data below is from Recovery.gov

Recipent
COUNCIL BLUFFS, CITY OF (INC)

City
Council Bluffs

Award Description
This grant will be used to purchase equipment, training, and information and technology. These purchases will allow all agencies to continue to be progressive which will assist in officer retention and recruiting.

Award Amount
$541,500

Project Description
None
Job Creation Comments
N/A
Number of Jobs (Saved or Created) Claimed
0

Cost per job
Div by Zero Error!

Tags: arra, iowa, recovery

The Obama administration has slammed a report from The Associated Press alleging the government had overstated by thousands the number of jobs it has created or saved with federal contracts under President Obama’s $787 billion recovery program. Below are details from a specific project based in Iowa.

All data below is from Recovery.gov

Recipent
C3T, Inc

City
Iowa City

Award Description
Renovate Inpatient Medical/Surgical Ward 7 East

Award Amount
$1,912,000

Project Description
No work has begun.

Job Creation Comments
No jobs created.

Number of Jobs (Saved or Created) Claimed
7

Cost per job
Disregarding the “No jobs Created” comment. We’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and go with 7:
$273,142.86

Tags: arra, iowa, recovery

The Obama administration has slammed a report from The Associated Press alleging the government had overstated by thousands the number of jobs it has created or saved with federal contracts under President Obama’s $787 billion recovery program. Below are details from a specific project based in Iowa.

All data below is from Recovery.gov

Recipent
BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY

City
Burlington

Award Description
Note that this is not a federal award contract, grant, or loan; thus the above reporting information section is not applicable to this report. The recovery funds reported herein are reimbursement of the federal share of the expenses accrued by Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Company for altering BNSF Bridge over the Upper Mississippi River in Burlington, Iowa under the provisions of Truman-Hobbs Act.

The existing bridge was declared by the Coast Guard to be unreasonably obstruction to navigation. The Coast Guard issued Order to Alter to BNSF requiring BNSF to replace the swing span of the existing bridge with a new lift span that provides wider navigation opening necessary in order to render navigation through and under the bridge reasonably free, easy, and unobstructed. The alteration of the draw span is conducted by BNSF personnel and through contracts between BNSF and contractors / consultants. All construction activities, expenditures, and contracts executed under this project are monitored by the Coast Guard.

The project received $36,445,756 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that leveraged $26,778,889 of previously obligated funds appropriated to the project and created $63,224,645 (amount of award) simulative [sic] impact on construction industry. Prior of receiving the recovery funds, $1,200,000 was spent from the previously obligated funds to complete the design of the bridge.

Award Amount  (ARRA Received)
$63,224,645          ($305,610.34)

Project Description
For 3rd quarter 2009 – Contractor has mobilized to site, mussel relocation work is complete, all permits are in hand, drilling core samples at the new drilled shaft foundation locations in under way, review of RFIs and shop drawings, ordering some of the construction material.

Job Creation Comments
4 FTE created, 6 FTE retained. Three of the jobs were operating engineers and the last new job was a carpenter position.

Number of Jobs (Saved or Created) Claimed
10

Cost Per Job

Using the $36,445,756 figure from the award description: $3.6 Million per job

Tags: arra, iowa, jobs, recovery

UPDATE: No can do.  And manufactured controversy put to rest.

She’s not coming, but would like to in the future. She’d also come for free.

We extended our invitation knowing she would be in the middle of her book tour and the chances of her being able to accept any invitations were extremely slim.

From TeamSarah.org:

We have an opportunity to support Sarah Palin DIRECTLY and to promote the values she represents.

The Iowa Family Policy Action center needs to raise $41,000 in order to have Sarah Palin come to speak on November 21, 2009. They have raised $59,000 already, but they need to know there is enough to coming in to ensure that they can pull this off.

As you know, we at Team Sarah have supported efforts to raise money for Sarah Palin’s PAC and for the Legal Defense Fund, but this effort will actually help her and her family directly and enable her to have resources she directly controls to take care of all the things she needs to do as she launches her national effort to restore the core values of our Conservative movement.

I am appealing to you DIRECTLY to ACT NOW and support raising the remaining $41,000 so ensure that Sarah Palin can come to this event, and to show Sarah Palin that she has no better friend and ally than Team Sarah!

We have set up a donations page you can go to, 100% of this money will towards raising this money to have Sarah Palin come and speak. When she speaks, we will also ask our members to help promote the event and work with our promotions teams to ensure that her message gets out LOUD AND CLEAR throughout the whole internet.

We have 74,000 PLUS members, and are still growing, and I am convinced that there are AT LEAST 8,000 of us who can send in at least $5 to support this effort.

Will you help?

Use this URL to make a donation today! URL: www.sba-list.org/iowa

Thank you all,

Bill Collier
Team Sarah Community Governance

Update IFPC Press Release

10/27/09 Pleasant Hill, IA – In response to media inquiries, Iowa Family Policy Center ACTION President Chuck Hurley responded today to questions concerning a potential appearance by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin at an upcoming IFPC Action event.

According to Hurley, “We have reached out to Governor Palin through both official and informal channels and extended an invitation for her to keynote our annual fundraising event.” He went on to say, “We are not yet ready to confirm the specifics, but are hopeful that all the details can be worked out for her to come.”

IFPC Action began soliciting financial support for the event this week in anticipation of the Governor’s potential visit. Responding to questions raised by preliminary fundraising for the event, Hurley said the event, scheduled for November 21st, would be “on a much larger scale than our banquet last November,” and that “we are preparing now to make sure the Governor’s visit is a huge success should she accept our invitation.”

IFPC Action welcomed Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal on his first trip to Iowa when he spoke at last year’s event. Previous IFPC Action speakers include Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins.

Should Palin accept the invitation, her appearance at the IFPC Action event would mark her first trip to Iowa since she traveled the state as the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee.

Tags: ifpc, sarah palin

In an October 28, 2009 House Judiciary Committee hearing, Congressman Steve King questions NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on comments he made regarding Rush Limbaugh.

Tags: nfl, rush limbaugh, Steve King

LINCOLN, Neb. – Iowa State overcame the loss of its starting quarterback and the Big 12 Conference’s leading rusher to score its first win at Memorial Stadium since 1977. Paul Rhoads became the first ISU rookie coach to win five games in his inaugural season since George Veenker did it in 1931.

The effort was nothing short of heroic. Iowa State (5-3/2-2 Big 12) led 9-7 at halftime and held that lead all the way to the end. The ISU defense picked off three Nebraska passes and recovered five Husker fumbles to spur the Cyclones on their first conference road win since 2005.

Nebraska outgained Iowa State 362-239 but Jerome Tiller did just enough for the Cyclones going 9-for-19 for 102 passing yards, while rushing for 65. Jesse Smith, David Sims and Michael O’Connell each picked off Nebraska passes. O’Connell also recovered one of five Husker fumbles.

Iowa State jumped on the board after recovering a fumble by Nebraska on the first play of the game. That turnover set up a career-long 52-yard field goal by Grant Mahoney. The Cyclones were forced to sit starting quarterback Austen Arnaud and go with redshirt freshman Tiller, who made his first start. Alexander Robinson, the Big 12 Conference’s leading rusher coming into the game (105.3 ypg.) also could not play.

Nebraska matched a school record by committing eight turnovers, including four inside the Iowa State 5, and the Cyclones upset the Cornhuskers 9-7 for their first victory in Lincoln since 1977.

Iowa State also ended a 15-game Big 12 losing streak in games played away from Ames, Iowa.

Zac Lee was intercepted by Michael O’Connell and Jesse Smith in the final 3 minutes, ending Nebraska’s comeback hopes.

Iowa State (5-3, 2-2), an 18½-point underdog, scored on Grant Mahoney’s 52-yard field goal and Jerome Tiller’s 47-yard touchdown pass to Jake Williams. Tiller was filling in for regular starter Austen Arnaud, who was out with an injury to his throwing hand.

Tiller ran 19 times for 65 yards and completed nine of 19 passes for 102 yards.

Jeremiah Schwartz picked up 50 yards on 22 carries as the replacement for Big 12 rushing leader Alexander Robinson, who sat out with a groin injury.

Nebraska (4-3, 1-2), playing as an unranked team for the first time this season, lost its second straight at home. After last week’s 31-10 loss to Texas Tech, Nebraska coach Bo Pelini reopened the competition for the starting quarterback’s job. Lee, the season-long starter, played the whole game and finished 20 of 37 for 248 yards.

Oklahoma Sooners vs Iowa State Cyclones 10/16/10.. US $109.00 Auction Ends: Friday Sep-03-2010 19:17:16 PDT   | Watch this Item

iowa state cyclones GRILL COVER 68x35x21 NEW US $18.95 Auction Ends: Friday Sep-03-2010 19:19:08 PDT   | Watch this Item

Iowa Hawkeyes vs Iowa State Cyclones Tickets 9/11/10... US $320.00 (4 Bids) Auction Ends: Friday Sep-03-2010 19:30:40 PDT   | Watch this Item

Tags: cyclones

Tags: grassley, propaganda

In an Sioux City Journal interview with Michele Bachmann, the second most hated conservative woman in politics promotes Steve King in 2012.

Additionally, I asked Bachmann if she is being prodded to seek the 2012 presidency, given her growing national profile. She said she has no doubts the GOP will produce a good crop of presidential candidates, and threw out King as a name of interest.

“Steve King is mentioned as a potential nominee. I have a very high opinion of Steve King and his ability, so I would encourage him to consider any position for higher office,” Bachmann said.

As for herself, Bachmann said, “Goodness, I’ve only been in the House for three years, so, no, I’m not considering anything like that.”

Tags: bachman, Steve King

From the Register:

Gov. Chet Culver’s voluntary pay cut will be significantly less than what he originally reported.

Earlier this month, Culver said he would reduce his $130,000 annual salary by 10 percent to help address the state’s budget problems.

At the time, Culver’s staff said that although the state was already four months into the fiscal year, the governor’s pay cut would total $13,000 – a 10 percent reduction of a full year’s salary.

But in the proposed budget that was made public Wednesday, Culver’s pay was reduced by only $7,000, a pay cut of 5.4 percent.

Tags: budget, culver