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Preparation impresses U.S. senator as Southeast Iowa takes issues to D.C.
By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Great River Region delegation to Washington, D.C. has been discussing local concerns with congressmen and their staffs since Tuesday evening.
“It's going great,” said Terry Knoke, president of the Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce. “We had a good supper last night (Wednesday) with Sen. (Charles) Grassley. He actually sat with us. We went through our list and got his input on everything. He certainly got the opportunity to visit with us and is getting to know us as a group.”
Grassley said the way the delegation came organized and prepared to brief him about the concerns of folks back home helps him and his staff save time and target the items of greatest importance first.
“The Keokuk and the Southeast Iowa Chamber delegation successfully brought five communities together this week in Washington, D.C. That's no small task,” Grassley said in a prepared statement. “More importantly, though, we would have received all types of requests from each community, but by coming together like this, they're able to prioritize the projects for us. This way we won't spend all our time refereeing what the lay of the land is back home. We can go to work for their projects right away.”
The group at the supper table also discussed the war in Iraq.
“Grassley's opinion is, hang on until September and see how the surge goes,” Knoke said. “But when we talked with Rep. (David) Loebsack, he said we should get out now.”
By Wednesday afternoon, the delegation had made its presentation about surface transportation, including roads, rails and trail. Knoke said although the position was well received in the capital, many of the road-related decisions are made at the state level.
The subject of Keokuk and six other hospitals in Iowa, referred to as “tweeners,” that are neither eligible for funding as large urban centers nor small critical access hospitals was explored along with Medicare reimbursement.
“They understand the “tweener” problem and they're working on it trying to solve the problem,” Knoke said. “But if they do it nationally, a lot of hospitals don't need help. In Iowa, Keokuk especially, they are trying to target the hospitals that need help, but they didn't come up with a solution.
“This trip is well worthwhile and it does have an impact. It helps them target and understand the issues of the region. I'm always surprised how in touch they are with what goes on in Iowa.”
Mayor David Gudgel praised Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Katie O'Brien for coordinating the trip and arranging visits with Iowa's senators and representatives - allowing delegates to put faces on concerns in the Great River Region.
“The people at home need to realize we are out here personally building our case,” Gudgel said. “We sent our requests in to them about two months ago and the money isn't appropriated until later this year.
“Friday we will meet with Rep Leonard Boswell. Although he no longer represents this district, he's a friend who has done many good things for Keokuk.”
Boswell had breakfast with the delegation this morning before they started home.
O'Brien believes keeping in touch with staff members in Washington, D.C. is a good way to keep the channels of communication open between the Great River Region and Washington.
“A big part of the trip is building relationships with the staff because they are who we follow up with throughout the year,” she said.
Keokuk Municipal Airport Manager Greg Gobble prepared Thursday for the aviation presentation to Sen. Tom Harkin and his staff. Gobble and others in the delegation are requesting a five-year re-authorization of federal aviation programs, declaring their support for the simplification of tax collection and refund distribution and are resisting user fees.
“It's going well,” Gobble said. “We're pretty hopeful about our funding of the FAA authorization - that's just a general feeling from comments and proposals we've seen. Everything is a work in progress. We're offering suggestions and they're hearing suggestions. It's a pretty favorable climate.”
Gobble's daughter, Erinne, also is in Washington as a member of the Southeastern Community College Empower You Youth Leadership Academy, a group of 30 high school juniors and seniors from area schools. She and the others accompanied the delegation to Des Moines this winter.
“It's very professional here,” Erinne said. “You see people walking around the streets in suits and ties. It's very impressive. This big city is filling my heart right now. I'm meeting these senators I wouldn't have meant and I caught a glimpse of Barack Obama.”
Erinne is a senior at Danville High School who plans to attend SCC in the graphic design program.
“If I have the opportunity, I'll try to get an internship here some day,” she said.
Delegates also discussed funding to combat drug trafficking. Knoke said the law that limits pseudoephedrine sales has helped control methamphetamine production, but crack cocaine is becoming a big problem in Iowa. He said abuse of prescription medications is becoming more prevalent with youth.
“It's going great,” said Terry Knoke, president of the Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce. “We had a good supper last night (Wednesday) with Sen. (Charles) Grassley. He actually sat with us. We went through our list and got his input on everything. He certainly got the opportunity to visit with us and is getting to know us as a group.”
Grassley said the way the delegation came organized and prepared to brief him about the concerns of folks back home helps him and his staff save time and target the items of greatest importance first.
“The Keokuk and the Southeast Iowa Chamber delegation successfully brought five communities together this week in Washington, D.C. That's no small task,” Grassley said in a prepared statement. “More importantly, though, we would have received all types of requests from each community, but by coming together like this, they're able to prioritize the projects for us. This way we won't spend all our time refereeing what the lay of the land is back home. We can go to work for their projects right away.”
The group at the supper table also discussed the war in Iraq.
“Grassley's opinion is, hang on until September and see how the surge goes,” Knoke said. “But when we talked with Rep. (David) Loebsack, he said we should get out now.”
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The subject of Keokuk and six other hospitals in Iowa, referred to as “tweeners,” that are neither eligible for funding as large urban centers nor small critical access hospitals was explored along with Medicare reimbursement.
“They understand the “tweener” problem and they're working on it trying to solve the problem,” Knoke said. “But if they do it nationally, a lot of hospitals don't need help. In Iowa, Keokuk especially, they are trying to target the hospitals that need help, but they didn't come up with a solution.
“This trip is well worthwhile and it does have an impact. It helps them target and understand the issues of the region. I'm always surprised how in touch they are with what goes on in Iowa.”
Mayor David Gudgel praised Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Katie O'Brien for coordinating the trip and arranging visits with Iowa's senators and representatives - allowing delegates to put faces on concerns in the Great River Region.
“The people at home need to realize we are out here personally building our case,” Gudgel said. “We sent our requests in to them about two months ago and the money isn't appropriated until later this year.
“Friday we will meet with Rep Leonard Boswell. Although he no longer represents this district, he's a friend who has done many good things for Keokuk.”
Boswell had breakfast with the delegation this morning before they started home.
O'Brien believes keeping in touch with staff members in Washington, D.C. is a good way to keep the channels of communication open between the Great River Region and Washington.
“A big part of the trip is building relationships with the staff because they are who we follow up with throughout the year,” she said.
Keokuk Municipal Airport Manager Greg Gobble prepared Thursday for the aviation presentation to Sen. Tom Harkin and his staff. Gobble and others in the delegation are requesting a five-year re-authorization of federal aviation programs, declaring their support for the simplification of tax collection and refund distribution and are resisting user fees.
“It's going well,” Gobble said. “We're pretty hopeful about our funding of the FAA authorization - that's just a general feeling from comments and proposals we've seen. Everything is a work in progress. We're offering suggestions and they're hearing suggestions. It's a pretty favorable climate.”
Gobble's daughter, Erinne, also is in Washington as a member of the Southeastern Community College Empower You Youth Leadership Academy, a group of 30 high school juniors and seniors from area schools. She and the others accompanied the delegation to Des Moines this winter.
“It's very professional here,” Erinne said. “You see people walking around the streets in suits and ties. It's very impressive. This big city is filling my heart right now. I'm meeting these senators I wouldn't have meant and I caught a glimpse of Barack Obama.”
Erinne is a senior at Danville High School who plans to attend SCC in the graphic design program.
“If I have the opportunity, I'll try to get an internship here some day,” she said.
Delegates also discussed funding to combat drug trafficking. Knoke said the law that limits pseudoephedrine sales has helped control methamphetamine production, but crack cocaine is becoming a big problem in Iowa. He said abuse of prescription medications is becoming more prevalent with youth.
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