Tax changes may not materialize in election year

Tax changes may not materialize in election year

Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, co-chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, says the parties are so far apart on most tax issues that one side would need a two-thirds majority to pass anything major. The reality is a razor-thin 51-49 GOP edge in the House and a 25-25 tie in the Senate.

"I think there will be some more modest proposals," Bolkcom said. For instance, he said he expects to see an expansion of tax breaks to encourage using alternative energy sources...

How To Keep Favre Playing

How To Keep Favre Playing

The only scenario in which I can see Brett Favre returning for 2006:

The Packers hire deposed Detroit coach Steve Mariucci, who was the Pack's QB coach in glory days of the mid-90s and is still personally pretty tight with Favre.

Just a thought.

School for Moral Courage: Upcoming Events

School for Moral Courage: Upcoming Events

Couple good things coming up the next two weekends:

Saturday, January 14, 2006, 2:30 p.m., Iowa City Library, Meeting Room A

Citizen King, a screening of the documentary illustrating a lesser-known chapter of the life of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Much is known of Dr. King's tireless efforts as a civil rights leader, but in the last five years of his life, King spoke out against the Vietnam War and became an advocate for all of America's have-nots, regardless of race. This film explores King's work during those years, which caused some to accuse him of abandoning his original mission.

Saturday, January 21, 2006, 4:30 p.m.,Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A

Ethics in Politics: When is it compromise? When is it selling out?

An open discussion of holding ourselves, our organizations, and our leaders accountable for human rights. Part of the discussion will include consideration of candidates in 2006 county and state elections.

Texas Governor Now a 4 Way Race

Texas Governor Now a 4 Way Race

The Texas governor's race already looked way more interesting than ours and it just got better.

State comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn bailed on a primary challenge to GOP incumbent Rick Perry and is instead running as an independent. Making it even more interesting: her son is Bush press flack Scott McClellan.

Already in as an independent is country music outlaw Kinky Friedman, who was polling above 20% in some recent polls and who has some of the crew who elected Jesse Ventura on staff

The Dems are usually badly outnumbered but are fightin' mad in Texas after the DeLay re-redistricting. Chris Bell, one of the Dems drawn out of office, is seeking the nod.

So you have Strayhorn cutting into Perry's vote, and perhaps a Democrat could win. But Friedman will cut into the Dem's vote, though he'll draw from both sides. I'd expect Perry to hold the social conservatives, Strayhorn to win over a fair share of moderate/business type Republicans, Friedman to win support among pure independents and disaffected Dems, and the Democrats to hold a black/Hispanic base. Late polls might be key, with people swinging support to their second or even third choice. (This would be a great test case for instant runoff voting...)

Ballot access is tough in Texas: if you sign Strayhorn or Friedman's petition, you can't vote in a party primary. No doubt Perry will challenge every line of Strayhorn's documents.

Another difficulty that may hurt Friedman more: Ventura's 1998 win was in large part fueled by first time voters who registered on Election Day - not an option in Texas. The disaffected voters who may say "why the hell not?" (that's Friedman's actual, for real campaign slogan) won't be registered in time.

This will be a fun one to watch.

Packers fire Sherman after 4-12 season

Packers fire Sherman after 4-12 season

A couple interesting comments on ESPN at halftime while the Hawkeyes are getting clobbered:

No words to the press but they reported an "emotional and tearful" Brett Favre talking to teammantes

First name mentioned for NFL coaching vacancies: Kirk Ferentz...

Packers Top Seahawks 23-17

Packers Top Seahawks 23-17

A vaguely unsatisfying win to end the season. My head understands that late season, everything's clinched dynamic, and Mike Holmgren clearly has bigger things on his mind than today's game. But my gut tells me different.

But I still got choked up in the fourth quarter, hoping along with cheeseheads everywhere for just one more big pass, just one more moment...

It's not the place of me or any other fan to demand anything of Brett Favre. He long ago earned the right to do whatever is best for himself and his family. No matter what he decides, all I can say is...

Thanks.

Embryo research to color race for governor

Embryo research to color race for governor

Tom Beaumont, the Register's REAL political writer, looks at stem cells and the Democratic primary in three articles today.

Blouin is the only Democratic candidate who would not seek to change the law. He said it allows cutting-edge research on existing embryos without going beyond what is accepted by the federal government.

But jump to the last grafs:

Mary Hendrix, former head of cell biology at the University of Iowa, said Iowa's ban - similar to those in Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan and North and South Dakota - is a signal that Iowa will not be among the nation's scientific leaders.

"States that are investing, or are stem cell research-friendly, will attract the best scientists in the biotechnology field and will be able to provide better health care for their citizens," said Hendrix, who left Iowa in 2002 to lead the Children's Memorial Research Center at Northwestern University...

So on scientific grounds, Blouin's argument doesn't wash. And politically it's a blatant pander. Blouin has staked out a position that's extreme even for Republicans, in an effort to appeal to the fetus-worship constituency. What he's failed to learn in the 30 years since he last won an election is that the single issue "pro-life" (sic) lobby is now permanently wedded to the GOP.

A Blouin-Nussle race sets up a pro-life (sic) pro-business conservative against a pro-life (sic) pro-business conservative, and will come down to "the Democrats want to raise your taxes."

Meanwhile, let's hear from the rest of the field:

Fallon voted against it, and Judge has proposed repealing it and establishing the Iowa Center for Regenerative Medicine within the state university system.

"It was wrong, and I will change it. This is an opportunity to save lives," Culver said at the candidate forum.

Meanwhile, lame-duck Tom Vilsack "said he would lift the ban he signed on cloning human embryos if the Legislature acted to repeal the law." He says it's because of "scientific advances" in the four years since he signed it. But more significant factors may include:

He signed it in April `02, six months before his re-elect. It would be a bad political move now, but it was a little edgier four years ago. The politics of the issue have shifted dramatically since then. This issue is a crack in GOP pro-life (sic) solidarity, with the Reagan family's support of stem cell research a big factor.

More to the point, Beaumont notes: this "align(s Vilsack)more with other Democrats considering running for president in 2008."

It's a no-cost move for Vilsack since the GOP-controlled House is unlikely to make any change. Even if a couple Republicans are supportive, leadership can bottle it up in committee. And if it escaped committee, the 49 Dems would have to hold together. And about 35 (?) of them have endorsed Blouin. Even if they disagree on this issue they won't want to embarrass their favored candidate. Besides, they'll be too busy debating gay marriage.

As a bonus someone without a byline offers a scientific primer.

I'm not a believer in New Year's resolutions. Just set your goal and do it no matter what the calendar says. But since the new year is bloggiversary time, I'll make one: My goal this year is to spell-check befoer I post.