• Priority issues: Federal Deficit Reduction, Energy, Redevelopment of John Morrell site, Regional Innovation Clusters, Tax Policy, Transportation Reauthorization

• Met with all Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota members

• Congressman Ryan’s budget –cut $6.2 trillion

• Appropriations bills – House passed 12 or 13 already – thinks Senate will roll into Omnibus bill

• Debt ceiling limit is next piece• Top priority is Hwy 20

• Stimulus bill provided jobs – makes good case for passing a highway bill -JOBS bill

• How to pay for it - $550 billion President’s proposal

• President against raising gas tax• Without gas tax increase – will be at

$260 billion over 6 years• President Obama advocates for high

speed rail• “roads become economic engines”

• Energy Policy Discussion

• Built in 1930 at cost of $9.7 million by President Taft (also a Chief Justice)

• Disappointed that the meeting with Justice Scalia was cancelled

• EPA struggles – some members of Congress very opposed

• Pessimistic that Clean Energy Standard can come out of this Congress

• Likes wind power

• Supportive of National Training Center

• Highway 20 has been his priority for 17 years

• Highway Reauthorization is necessary - Administration budget is $550 billion

• If see a highway bill it will be at the current level

•Article on May 2nd in SCJ about them•$14 trillion debt – it has to stop•Bi-partisan letter to President with 64

signatures – ½ Republican & ½ Democrat

•Obamacare is big issue – no one knows how big it is or how to solve it

•Three things to address:• Reduce discretionary spending• Reform entitlements – Social

Security, Medicare, Medicaid• Revenues

• Spoke on House floor regarding debt reduction

• Energy Concerns• Rock Island Clean Line• Concerned with EPA rulemaking

• “Economic certainty” is lacking –concerned with regulatory policy (EPA especially) and taxes

• Best for any group to hope for is to hold their own - no increases in spending

• 50% of U.S. debt is held by foreigners –China

• Energy policy should be all things American

• Debt to GDP ratio is 93% - highest since 1948 (WW II) – 90% is bad

• If raise revenues, it should go to highways

• President Obama pushing for regional programs

• Identify projects that are viable

• EDA – cutting down barriers and working regionally is new direction – Siouxland does a good job of this

• Network of funding –Federal, state, local –versus silos

• FAA - Aviation bill – expired in 2007 – 18 extensions

• Highway bill – expired September 2009

Thinks he can get it done – we need to support

Goal: get funding and speed up process of dealing with government on projects

No earmark environment makes it harder for him to get votes

• Small Group Meeting

Discussed:• Hyperion Project

Support/Update

• Education Reauthorization

• Tax Policies

• Majority staff will start drafting bill at end of April

• Bill will mirror trust fund receipts - $75 billion LESS than current

• Needs are $550 billion – but will focus on maintenance

• If earmarks are gone – formula will have to be addressed

• Thinks there will be extension into 2012• Earmarks are “Congressionally- directed

appropriations”– eliminating them gives more power to the Executive branch

• Railroads – continue to invest – does not think re-regulation will happen

• “Highway 35 got earmarks before it was a four-letter word”

• Highway reauthorization – EPW said they will hold hearings this year but nothing on paper yet

• Funding level of highway bill uncertain• Wind power – grid and transmission issue –

stranded energy generation doesn’t do anyone any good

• Hope to get control over spending – “has to be shared sacrifice”

• Need tax reform – make U.S. companies more competitive

• Thinks Rep. Ryan’s plan makes things worse for seniors

• EPA is NOT the 4th branch of the government and can’t act like it

• President’s budget announced today –“didn’t push the buy down of the debt much but good that he is engaged”

• 5 programs account for 80% of U.S. spending: Medicare, Medicaid, Interest on debt, defense, and Social Security

• USDA assistance – good programs for economic development

• Federal departments very aggressive in rulemaking

• (especially EPA, treasury, HHS)

• More turnover in Congress than any year since 1938

• Rep. Boehner has changed the debate in DC on spending – no earmarks

• Grant application approach is a good one –competitive process

• For every $1.00 that we send to DC, Congress spends $1.17

• Taxes – if reduce the marginal tax rate you will get economic development

• Production tax credits (PTC) – will be extended

• Ethanol is under attack

• Small Group Meeting with Staff• Discussed with staff members:

• Federal Deficit Reduction• Dakota Dunes Flood Control• Hyperion Project

• Highway trust fund will go negative by 2012• Large metro areas want money for

congestion so someone will get less money• Highway bill won’t pass until 2013 • Announced $2 million EDA grant for John

Morrell demolition• Supports earmarks - thinks earmarks will

come back in 2013• Postal service – he will fight them to the end

• Held in Capitol this year – nice venue

• Steaks donated by Tyson• Reception: Boswell, Braley,

Loebsack, Nelson, Thune, Latham

• Dinner: King, Grassley, Harkin, Fortenberry

• NO: Johnson, Noem, Johanns