Florida wants to push Iowa out

Florida's state legislature is looking to move their Presidential
primary to January 29th, which could have a pretty serious impact on the
amount of attention the Iowa caucuses receive:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-fprimary22mar22,0,4643105.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

Rep. Watts's latest update

Dallas County's Iowa House representative has an update on the "fair
share" legislation in his latest newsletter. It's worth a read:

http://www.ralphwatts.com/legislativeupdates.html

Iowa "Dis" Advantage Fund

So, now there is talk of an "Iowa Advantage Fund". Employers would pay back student loans of their employees so we can retain young people in Iowa. In turn, the employer would get a "tax credit". In short, over 3 years, the employer would pay a maximum of $25,000 to a loan and the state would pay (not actually pay, but give tax credits to) the employer a maximum of $7,500, or only 30% of what the employer paid out for the loan.

Does anyone else think that the employers might lower starting salaries, or decrease yearly raises they might give current employees in order to pay for this? They argue there will be less turnover. I'd also be willing to bet that students will stay in Iowa for 3 years to get their loans paid for and then vanish to another state for a better job and have no student loans to pay for. What a deal! The article says that several Iowa businesses endorse this proposal---I'd like to see a list and hear what they have to say about why this is good for Iowa.

So, those of us who have been loyal to Iowa and will continue to be loyal to Iowa get nothing.....

Harkin opponent announces campaign

A businessperson from eastern Iowa says he's going to run for the GOP
nomination to try to unseat Senator Harkin in 2008:

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070307/NEWS/70307010/1001/NLETTER01

Charles Schneider featured in "40 Under 40"

Our friend Charles Schneider was named one of the Des Moines Business
Record's "40 Under 40":

http://www.businessrecord.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=3470

Giuliani profile in Newsweek

Newsweek has a lengthy profile of Rudy Giuliani in this week's issue:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17427328/site/newsweek/

CIETC resolution makes its way to State Senate

Senate Resolution 19 (see

http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&frame=1&GA=82&hbill=SR19

for the full text) would honor State Auditor Vaudt and US Attorney
Matthew Whitaker for their work investigating the CIETC scandal.
Interesting move by Senate Republicans.