Iowa set to receive nearly $5 billion from stimulus
Quad-City Times

Iowa’s share of the federal stimulus bill that President Barack Obama signed into law Tuesday will be an estimated $4.8 billion, according to a progressive think tank.Illinois will get $22.7 billion, it said.The Center for American Progress, based in Washington, D.C., analyzed the $787 billion measure and came up with figures for all the states.The new figure includes the value of tax cuts and some spending estimates that weren’t included in the numbers provided Monday by Iowa Gov. Chet Culver’s office.His office said $1.9 billion in funds were included in the stimulus package for Iowa.

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Burris insists feds didn't request new affidavit
The Hawk Eye

CHICAGO -- U.S. Sen. Roland Burris insisted Monday he voluntarily sent state lawmakers an affidavit outlining contacts with ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich's brother prior to his Senate appointment and was not prompted by federal agents investigating the former governor."It was done because we promised the (impeachment) committee we would supplement information in case we missed anything," Burris said outside a South Side church before meeting with religious leaders.Burris remained adamant that the Feb. 4 affidavit doesn't contradict his testimony before the Illinois House panel that recommended Blagojevich's impeachment and that it wasn't requested as part of the federal corruption investigation of Blagojevich's administration.

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Budgeting 101, a Courier series; part 1-Budget Breakdown
Ottumwa Courier

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of articles explaining the budgeting process for different governmental entities.DES MOINES — Legislators started haggling over Iowa’s fiscal 2010 budget from nearly the moment Gov. Chet Culver submitted it. But what many residents probably don’t realize is that the process started last fall.Iowa’s budget begins, as most government budgets do, with a series of requests from different departments. Those requests rarely find their way into the final product, but the departments give the governor’s office a starting point.

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West Union's largest employer closes, idling 120
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

WEST UNION — This town’s largest employer is shutting down. Atwood Mobile Products told its 120 workers Tuesday that it would be closing within 60 days.Elkhart, Ind.-based Atwood, which designs and manufactures an array of products for recreational vehicles, has been hit hard by the slowdown in the RV industry, which totaled 237,000 wholesale unit sales last year, down 33 percent from the 353,400 shipped in 2007.The company employed a total of 2,700 workers at the end of 2007. It closed one of its Elkhart plants last year, putting 150 people out of work.

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Church giving still strong
Sioux City Journal

SIOUX CITY -- When the going gets tough, the faithful go on giving.As the recession grinds on, faith compels parishioners to continue putting money into the collection plate at church even when they may be having to cut back on other expenses, said Barb Baker, business administrator for Morningside Lutheran Church in Sioux City.In fact, the church finished 2008 fiscally stronger than the previous year.

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State Govt.Seven-day index of headlines
Des Moines Register

A guide for Iowans who want to learn about state government

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Politics.Seven-day index of headlines
Des Moines Register

U.S. politics and policy.AP Headlines

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Republican Party of Iowa
Iowa GOP (Republican Party)

Link to connect to RPI (Republican Party of Iowa.)The Iowa Republican Party621 East Ninth Street | Des Moines, IA 50309p: (515) 282-8105 | f: (515) 282-9019

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Democratic Party of Iowa
Iowa Democratic Party

Link to connect to Iowa Democrats: Iowa Democratic Party5661 Fleur Dr · Des Moines, IA 50321515.244.7292 (main) · 515.244.5051 (fax) · iadem@iowademocrats.org

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Editor's Note -- BTW: When did the Democrat Party become the Democratic Party?