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From Iowa Rep. Elesha Gayman's (D-Davenport) Newsletter:

COMMISSION RELEASES 45-DAY REPORT

The Rebuild Iowa Commission released their 45-day report with
recommendations to the Governor on September 2. The Commission made no
recommendation either for or against the need for a special session; the
report is expected to compel the Governor to act. The Commission
identified seven recommendations as immediate:

1. Provide advice and support to individuals and families,
businesses, farmers, nonprofit organizations, and others seeking
assistance in making their way through the challenges of rebuilding
their lives in a "case management" frame-work. Help will be easily
accessed locally across the state for all categories of need.
2. Ensure immediate needs housing for all who need to be relocated,
temporarily or permanently, before cold weather arrives.
3. Provide incentives immediately for Iowa's struggling small
businesses, microenterprises, and non-profits for restoration and
re-building of their businesses.
4. Complete floodplain mapping for the entire state.
5. Identify and create funding options and provide flexibility for
local and state governments to assist Iowa in rebuilding an even better
Iowa.
6. Expedite the flow of funds from the federal level, through the
state, and to the local levels of government.
7. Provide resources and capacity to ensure public health is
maintained.

These recommendations were gleaned from the recommendations of nine
different task forces with the participation of 215 volunteers. The
task forces developed a list of 50 recommendations and numerous
strategies to accomplish them.

AFFORRDABLE HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR DISASTER AREAS

Iowa is setting aside millions of dollars in federal tax credits to aid
the development of affordable multifamily housing in counties that were
hit hard by this summer's historic flooding and severe weather.
Administered through the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA), the Disaster
Recovery Set-Aside program will be funded with nearly $24 million in
federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). This amount represents
approximately 40 percent of IFA's annual allocation of tax credits. Tax
credits from the Disaster Recovery Set-Aside will be available
specifically for the construction or rehabilitation of multifamily
housing in Linn, Louisa, Black Hawk, Johnson, Muscatine, Butler and
Bremer counties.

The Federal Emergency Management System has identified at least $3
million in housing needs in these counties. Over the last three years,
the LIHTC program has helped create no more than 500 rental units in
each of these counties. Approximately $13 to $14 million of the total
set-aside amount will be awarded to projects in Linn County.

The funding will assist the seven counties in the creation of hundreds
of affordable housing units for Iowans who were victims of the
disasters.
For the first time in the program's history, IFA will award the tax
credits at two separate times in 2009. The awards from the $24 million
Disaster Recovery Set-Aside will be made on our about January 7, 2009.
The remaining approximately $40 million in tax credits will be announced
in early March.

*************************************************************
ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

Students affected by this year's flooding and natural disasters will be
able to get additional assistance through a one-time grant offered by
the Iowa College Student Aid Commission (ICSAC).

The Disaster Relief Grant is a one-time, state-funded grant that will
provide assistance of up to $5,000 to students impacted by the
weather-related disasters that hit Iowa during the summer of 2008. The
State has committed up to $500,000 for the program. The money will be
administered by ICSAC out of their reserve fund. Reserve funds are
specifically designated to meet shortage needs for additional assistance
to students such as more tuition grants, emergency assistance, or other
student aid related purposes.


For more information about this grant, visit the Iowa College Student
Aid Commission's website at www.iowacollegeaid.org or call 877-272-4456.


BLOGGING IOWA:

Bleeding Heartland is a community blog for Democrats and progressives in the state of Iowa.

Blog for Iowa is a progressive source of information in Iowa.

The Deprogrammer is an antidote to the misinformation of mainstream media, based in the Quad Cities.


Some Stories of Interest:

Yes, we can beat Tom Latham and Steve King. I sure hope that's true!

Sign this petition against new coal-fired plants in Iowa. Iowa should not be building coal plants! Wind, biomass and biofuels are perfect for Iowa and should be top priority.

A few good links on Palin and her speech

Push utilities to do more on energy efficiency. This does more for us than building new coal or nuke plants and it is MUCH cheaper.


Let me introduce you to a candidate running for Conrgess in Iowa. Becky Greenwald is running against Tom Latham (R) in the IA-04 district.

Let me quote from her website:

"In Tom Latham, we have a congressman who has continually opposed women’s reproductive rights and has given a green light and a blank check to George Bush’s war in Iraq.

Together, we will make a difference for those struggling to get by on the minimum wage.

We will make a difference for those who cannot afford access to quality healthcare.

We will make a difference for those brave men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and facing life with an injury and the scars of war.

We will make a difference when we repeal the unfunded mandate known as No Child Left Behind.

We will make a difference when we invest in homegrown energy alternatives which lessen our dependence on foreign oil, clean up our environment, and put Iowans to work at high-paying jobs which can’t be outsourced and can be unionized."

You can help out Becky either by donating through my Act Blue Site or by volunteering for her campaign if you live in her area.


Peace Vigils:

Weekly Anti-War Vigil at Nollen Plaza
Every Thursday
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Nollen Plaza, 3rd and Locust Des Moines, IA
Contact: Wendy Vasquez
Please join us for this weekly witness against the war.
For more information, contact Wendy Vasquez at 515-771-8656.

Women for Peace Knitters
Supporting the peaceful arts of knitting and crocheting. This group meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday, 9:30-11:30 am at Prairiewoods, 120 E Boyson Rd, Hiawatha. (Group also meets fourth Tuesdays each month at Marion Public Library, 7-8:30 pm., Marion.) For more information call 377-3252.

Cedar Rapids Peace Vigil
Women for Peace, Iowa, meet each Saturday at noon at the corner of 1st Avenue and Collins Road.


And for those who are focused on combining fun and politics, here are the local Drinking Liberally groups in Iowa:

Ames, Iowa
* Every Friday, 5:00 pm onward
* Legends American Grill, 200 Stanton Ave, 7th Floor (in Campustown)
* The group will meet in the large accessible party room left of the elevators unless it is booked by a larger group. We will then be in the Sky Box. Ask a waiter for our location.
* Hosted by Jan Bauer and Brent Wynja, ames (at) drinkingliberally.org

Des Moines
* Every Thursday, 8:00 p.m. onward
* The Lift, 222 4th St (between Court Ave and Walnut)
* Hosted by Amanda Mittlestadt, Tricia Kell, Cassie Samspon and Matt Jesson, desmoines (at) drinkingliberally.org

West Des Moines
* Third Friday of each month, 5:00-7:00 pm
* Tonic, 5535 George M Mills Civic Pky (within West Glen Towncenter)
* Hosted by Cassie Sampson, Mikael Brown and Jenny Irlmeier, wdsm (at) drinkingliberally.org

Eating Liberally
* Second Monday of each month, 6:00-7:30 pm
* Continental Wine Bar, 428 E Locust St
* Hosted by Marcus Walsh and Tricia Kell, desmoines (at) eatingliberally.org

Iowa City, Iowa
* Every Thursday, 8:00 pm onward
* The Mill Restaurant, 120 E Burlington StBlg