Week #7: Environment

Fact:  The impact of human activity on the environment has been an ongoing issue for decades.  In December, 1970, President Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency by calling for the creation of “a strong, independent agency . . . to make a coordinated attack on the pollutants which debase the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land that grows our food.”  Since that time, the struggle has been on to safeguard our environment. Today the issues are too numerous to list.  Climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions leading to global warming and rising sea levels is a real concern.  Water pollution caused by acid rain, oil spills, algal bloom, urban runoff, herbicides, pesticides, and other sources greatly reduces water quality.  Land pollution due to intensive farming, soil erosion, urban sprawl, habitat destruction, deforestation, and waste disposal greatly compromise our earth.  In some way or form, almost all cultures have recognized the importance of nature and its biological diversity for their societies and have therefore understood the need to maintain it.  Yet power, greed, and politics have affected the precarious balance.

Fact:  Bill Maske is very much concerned about our environment and the future.  Bill believes the Environmental Protection Agency must have independent and far-ranging authority to address environmental issues.  Bill believes it is the responsibility of the United States Congress to act in a responsible manner to ensure we achieve and sustain the highest quality air, water, and land for ourselves and our posterity.  As a member of the United States House of Representatives, Bill would vote in favor of environmental rules, regulations, and initiatives to improve, restore, and achieve a healthy environment for all people.

Fact:  Tom Latham’s National Environmental score card regarding his voting record on environmental issues are as follows: 111th Congress, 0%; 110th Congress, 12%; 109th Congress, 3%; 108th Congress, 6%; 107th Congress, 14%; and 106th Congress, 0%.

Fact:  Tom Latham voted “No” on the Offshore Drilling Regulations (HR 3534) which established strict regulations and oversight on all offshore leasing and exploration for energy resources.  Bill Maske would have voted “Yes.”

Fact:  Tom Latham voted “No” on the Home Star Energy Retrofit (HR 5019) which would create jobs, save energy, and lower family energy bills.  This legislation created jobs in manufacturing energy efficient technology and construction.  Bill Maske would have voted “Yes.”

Fact:  Tom Latham voted “No” on the Clean Estuaries Act of 2010 (HR 4715).  An Estuary is the point where a river meets the seas (for example, Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico) and is critical to the health of our coastal environments.  The bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state officials in which the estuary is located to monitor the estuary and associated water quality conditions, monitor habitat conditions related to the ecological health and water quality conditions, and to monitor the effectiveness of the actions taken as part of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan.  Bill Maske would have voted “Yes.”

Fact:  Tom Latham voted “No” on Chemical Security (HR 2868) which would place chemical security under the Department of Homeland Security.  There are 6,300 high-risk chemical plants in the United States.  This legislation requires these plants to convert to safer manufacturing and storage practices.  Bill Maske would have voted “Yes.”

Fact:  Tom Latham voted “No” on the American Clean Energy and Security Act (HR 2454) which promotes the development of a clean energy economy through the creation of clean energy jobs, energy independence, and the reduction of global warming pollution.  This legislation provided for the creation of Cap and Trade.

Fact:  Bill Maske would have voted “Yes” on HR 2454 because of its far-reaching benefits for the environment.  However, Bill would have sought an amendment on Cap and Trade.  Bill believes Cap and Trade is a financial boondoggle for Wall Street with a lot of potential for corruption which would compromise the actual reduction of carbon emissions.  Bill supports capping carbon emissions but believe this should be accomplished in a straightforward manner.

Fact:  Tom Latham voted “No” on Omnibus Public Land Management Act 2009 (HR 146) which extends and protects public lands and wilderness areas.  This legislation also authorizes water preservation projects, as well as initiatives to protect the ocean.  Bill Maske would have voted “Yes.”

Fact:  Tom Latham voted “Yes” on Trade-in Vouchers for Fuel Efficient Cars (HR 2751).  This legislation was also know as "Cash for Clunkers."  Bill Maske would have also have voted “Yes” on this legislation.

Week #6: Education

Fact:  As a professional educator of 34 years, Bill Maske spent his career serving families and public school children as a teacher, building administrator, and school superintendent.

Fact:  The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act (HR 1586) recently passed by the House provided $10 billion in funding for states to create or retain teacher jobs.  In Iowa, it is estimated that this legislation will keep 1,800 teachers in the classroom for the 2010-2011 school year.  Tom Latham voted “No” on this legislation; Bill Maske would have voted “Yes.”

Fact:  The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act (HR 4247) which ensures that reasonable and appropriate measures are used in dealing with students.  This legislation protects the safety of children by preventing inappropriate restraint and seclusion through the establishment of minimum safety standards in schools, similar to protections already in place in hospitals and non-medical community-based facilities.  Tom Latham voted “No” on this legislation; Bill Maske would have voted “Yes.”

Fact:  The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facility Act (HR 2187) requires the Secretary of Education to make grants to states for the modernization, renovation, or repair of public schools, including early learning facilities and charter schools, to make them safe, healthy, high-performing, and technologically up-to-date.  Tom Latham voted “No” on this legislation; Bill Maske would have voted “Yes.”

Fact:  The Student Aid Program Modifications Act of 2009 (HR 3221) aimed at increasing the availability of low-interest loans for post-secondary education.  Some of the provisions of this legislation include:

• Establishes the Federal Direct Perkins Loan Program with a $6 billion loan authority and loans being made at 5% interest rate.
• Appropriates $2.7 billion to finance Federal Pell Grants in 2008-2009 with the amount adjusted for inflation each year thereafter.
• Appropriates $2.02 billion for grants for public school facility renovation, modernization, and repair.
• Appropriates $1 billion per year for early education projects through 2017.
• Mandates all iron, steel, and manufactured goods used for renovation, repair, construction, and modernization projects funded by this act must be produced in the United States unless waived by the Secretary of Education.

Tom Latham voted “No” on this legislation. Bill Maske would have voted “Yes,” and he would work to see the interest rate on all student loans set at 3.4%.

 

Fact:  The 2007 College Cost Reduction and Access Act (HR 2669) would incrementally lower the interest rates for Federally Subsidized Student Loans and Federal Direct Stafford Loans every year until the rate is set at 3.4%.  It increases federal loan limits to provide borrowers with additional assistance in paying for college and to help them rely less on costlier private loans.  It expanded eligibility to include and serve more students with financial need.  It further does the following:

• Provides upfront tuition assistance to qualified undergraduate students who commit to teaching in public schools in high-poverty communities or high-need subject areas.
• Provides loan forgiveness for first responders, law enforcement officers, firefighters, nurses, public defenders, prosecutors, early childhood educators, librarians, and others.
• Revises policies to allow public servants to have their loans forgiven after 10 years.
• Establishes a partnership with federal, state, and local government entities, and philanthropic organizations through matching challenge grants aimed at increasing the number of first-generation and low-income college students.

Tom Latham voted “No” on this legislation; Bill Maske would have voted “Yes.”

Week #5: Term Limits

Fact:  The Republican Contract with America, a written commitment with no fine print, set forth ten bills for introduction in the first 100 days of the 104th Congress of which number ten was the Citizen Legislature Act.  The Citizen Legislature Act proposed to enact term limits to replace career politicians with citizen legislators.  This proposal called for House members under H.J. Res. 38 to be limited to six terms, and under H.J. Res. 160 to be limited to three terms.  This can be found at www.house.gov/house/contract/contract.html.

Fact:  On September 27, 1994, Republican Candidates for the United States House of Representatives stood on the capitol steps in Washington D.C. to pledge themselves to the Contract with America.

Fact:  As a Republican Candidate for the United States House of Representatives, Tom Latham signed the Contract with America.  This can be found at www.lib.umich.edu/files/libraries/govdocs/text/cwasign.txt.

Fact:  The 2010 Iowa Republican Platform says, "We support term limits for state and federal elected officials for a maximum of 12 years in each office, or a total of 18 years if serving in both offices."

Fact: Tom Latham - a signer of the Contract with America and member of the Iowa Republican Party - is completing his eighth term as a member of the United States House of Representatives and asking voters to give him a ninth term.  Tom Latham’s current years in congress is two terms beyond the longest span covered by the Contract with America and that which is called for in the 2010 Iowa Republican Party Platform.

Fact:  Bill Maske is not looking to be a career politician, but rather to serve the best interests of the 4th District and the people of Iowa as a Citizen Legislator.