………………….. in Hazzard County. Democrats apparently have interpreted their win in the local and state elections as a mandate for even greater greed. Not content to merely enrich friends and family at taxpayer expense, "Boss Hogg" John Mauro showed that not the CIETC indictments of his friends and allies Archie Brooks and Ramona Cunningham, not even the indictment of Matt McCoy for using his office to extort personal gain can deter the Polk County Democrat Machine from its self serving and avaricious ways.
Yes, a development company of which Democrat Boss Mauro is the majority owner has received $4,659,010 in tax credits from the Democrat controlled Iowa Finance Authority to build a “for profit” 40-unit apartment complex for low-income senior citizens to be called “Southview Senior Apartments”. The project was recommended by the the Polk County Health Department and Polk County Community Family and Youth Services, both of which are not just Democrat controlled, but actually controlled by the Democrat controlled Board of Supervisor’s upon which Boss Mauro sits, and whose budgets he may very well control personally. That is actually treating your tax dollars as if they were the Machine’s own money.
I doubt it there is anything actually illegal about the grant, it really just shows the most unseemly greed with which the Polk County Democrat Machine feeds itself and enriches itself with your tax dollars. However meritorious the project, and Polk County certainly needs more low income housing, such self enrichment in light of the current scandal ridden Democrat environment merely serves to remind the public of the contempt in which it is held by the local political bosses.
Yes, a development company of which Democrat Boss Mauro is the majority owner has received $4,659,010 in tax credits from the Democrat controlled Iowa Finance Authority to build a “for profit” 40-unit apartment complex for low-income senior citizens to be called “Southview Senior Apartments”. The project was recommended by the the Polk County Health Department and Polk County Community Family and Youth Services, both of which are not just Democrat controlled, but actually controlled by the Democrat controlled Board of Supervisor’s upon which Boss Mauro sits, and whose budgets he may very well control personally. That is actually treating your tax dollars as if they were the Machine’s own money.
I doubt it there is anything actually illegal about the grant, it really just shows the most unseemly greed with which the Polk County Democrat Machine feeds itself and enriches itself with your tax dollars. However meritorious the project, and Polk County certainly needs more low income housing, such self enrichment in light of the current scandal ridden Democrat environment merely serves to remind the public of the contempt in which it is held by the local political bosses.
11 comments:
I remember watching the Des Moines City Council meeting when you were speaking to them about Archie Brooks and witnessing a vote getting passed that allowed South Side Democrat Ned Chiodo - former legislator and Polk County crony/operative, to get a 30 year no compete contract to run Blank Golf Course, a city owned course on the south side of Des Moines.
I might have some of the details wrong, but, my memory recalls that only Chris Hensley (republican)had enough guts to question it and try to get more light shed, but was overpowered by the rest of the
"rubber stamp" crowd that very much wanted Ned Chiodo to get that 30 year no compete contract which had included to date (already a couple of decades of a contract) guaranteed income regardless of any losses incurred by the golf course.
As a D, I have to agree with Sporer on this. This type of stuff, even if technically legal, simply stinks.
I was on the Edwards campaign site earlier today, checking things out due to the very sad news about Elizabeth (I wish we had someone with her character running for prez). A tag line I spotted on one of the blog comments:
“We need a moratorium on Bushes and Clintons. 28 consecutive years on a Presidential ticket, and 20 consecutive years in the Oval Office is enough.”
I couldn’t agree more.
I don't think we can suffer from a new face.
Jeb's just what, 50?
8 years of Hillary, 8 years of Jeb and, by then George P. is old enough to run (he's like 28 now).
George P is 30, graduated from Law School and is in the Navy. He was in the news yesterday. Sounds like he is doing alright. Good looking too!
This is from Brian Gongols blog.
So, now there is talk of an "Iowa Advantage Fund". Employers would pay back student loans of their employees so we can retain young people in Iowa. In turn, the employer would get a "tax credit".
In short, over 3 years, the employer would pay a maximum of $25,000 to a loan and the state would pay (not actually pay, but give tax credits to) the employer a maximum of $7,500, or only 30% of what the employer paid out for the loan.
Does anyone else think that the employers might lower starting salaries, or decrease yearly raises they might give current employees in order to pay for this?
They argue there will be less turnover. I'd also be willing to bet that students will stay in Iowa for 3 years to get their loans paid for and then vanish to another state for a better job and have no student loans to pay for.
What a deal! The article says that several Iowa businesses endorse this proposal---I'd like to see a list and hear what they have to say about why this is good for Iowa.
So, those of us who have been loyal to Iowa and will continue to be loyal to Iowa get nothing.....
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If we have so much money to give away, perhaps we could lower the tuition at our state colleges and quit bankrupting our children with debt.
Perhaps we could give the "tax" credit to the students rather than to the companies (democrat benefactors no doubt)
Perhaps we could use the tax money we are going to give John Mauro for his FOR PROFIT venture to the students that stay to use on THEIR tax bill instead.
Perhaps we could use the corporate welfare money we use that is now just money down the rat hole.
Perhaps we could use the newly raised taxes from smoking since it's just going into the general fund anyway and NOT to reduce health care costs.
Perhaps we could use the tax money they want to raise to build yet more roads.
Maybe we could NOT build $8 million dollar high school football stadiums and $1 million dollar playgrounds downtown.
It's not that republicans don't think taxes should be paid, it's how THEY want to use tax dollars versus how WE want to use tax dollars.
The D's tend to benefit their benefactors rather than their constituents.
“The D's tend to benefit their benefactors rather than their constituents.”
Even though I agree about much of the Polk County D stuff with you folks, I would not get too high & mighty about R’s in regards to this stuff. I think we all remember what the R Congress did in DC over the last several years. Many R benefactors benefited an awful lot.
All I’m asking for is some intellectual honesty from both sides.
Sad but true rf. I don't know why those guys take bribes, extort and steal. The legal ways to make a killing are enough. Pure greed, see it every day, I suppose.
Speaking of that, as an anti-war liberal you are surely sickened by the 27 Dems who switched their votes for some funding project, like a corn plant or bridge? That is pretty repulsive, " I'm for the war, but if I get some money for my green bean farmers I'll be against it"
A new low in a new congress.
Just to clarify, you can freely call me “anti-war liberal” when it comes to the Iraq War. But, I’m not against all wars. As my current presidential hopeful Obama, I am against stupid wars.
Regarding today’s vote, I agree that it’s not good to throw unrelated pork – or anything else unrelated - into any bills. But, again, let’s not forget that R’s used the exact same tactics in trying to pass some of their bills. Also, from what I understand, much of the pork was thrown in to entice R’s and hopefully get them in trouble in the future for their “no” votes against some local priority projects. Again, not the most honorable tactic. And again, a tactic used by both sides. You reap what you sow. It is my understanding that the ardent anti-war D’s who got behind today’s bill did so because they realized that it was as good of an anti-war bill as they could get at this point of time. They compromised, and there is nothing wrong with that. I doubt many of them were enticed by the pork.
As much as I am anti-Iraq War, my personal opinion is that maybe D’s should have given W his one last surge. Even putting up this kind of opposition to the surge, we’ll likely end up debating for the next 50 years “who lost the war.” If W gets his chance to try the surge, the eventual victory or loss will be 100% his to claim.
Even though I don’t agree with them, I can’t help but admire and respect peace movement activists and their ideals. I particularly like the way the pope and many Catholics are consistent in their views: anti-abortion, anti death penalty, anti war. It shows intellectual honesty and consistency, which I appreciate.
US President Tim Kalemkarian, US Senate Tim Kalemkarian, US House Tim Kalemkarian: Best major candidate.
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