en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/338509 Comments by MisterZ http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Branstad-Defends-Taking-Pension-from-Earlier-Terms--116612868.html#IDComment129697285 If you're referring to them supporting "rethuglicans" then I would imagine you meant to say "follow the right wing views they put out regularly." Mon, 21 Feb 2011 22:15:53 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Branstad-Defends-Taking-Pension-from-Earlier-Terms--116612868.html#IDComment129697285 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/AEGON-Eliminating-20-Jobs-in-Cedar-Rapids-Transamerica-Unit-115746169.html#IDComment127198783 Once again, when is the last time KCRG has posted a story about a business ADDING 20 jobs? There are tons of businesses in the area hiring 20+ people this year. Where are the stories about those businesses? Don't get me wrong - you hate to see anyone losing their job. But why bother even reporting a 20-employee layoff unless you're also reporting about every business who adds a minute amount of people? Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:37:58 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/AEGON-Eliminating-20-Jobs-in-Cedar-Rapids-Transamerica-Unit-115746169.html#IDComment127198783 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Local-Business-to-Expand-Again-Adding-225-Jobs-115588054.html#IDComment126776997 Isn't it interesting that Yellowbook can lay off 20 employees and it makes front page headlines, but nobody writes articles when employers plan to add 20 employees? A business has to add an enormous amount of jobs before news will cover it. I worked for a small business in recent years that was adding 20-40 employees per year and nobody was ever knocking on our door to put our story in the news. Just a thought to ponder : If you're "taking count" so that you can attribute this stuff to politicians (which makes little sense anyway), KCRG isn't a very good source. Tue, 8 Feb 2011 22:41:54 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Local-Business-to-Expand-Again-Adding-225-Jobs-115588054.html#IDComment126776997 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Winter-Weather-Budget-Holding-Strong-For-Cedar-Rapids-112730764.html#IDComment118994544 Presumably, you would. Since you obviously read it. Sat, 1 Jan 2011 05:07:40 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Winter-Weather-Budget-Holding-Strong-For-Cedar-Rapids-112730764.html#IDComment118994544 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Branstad-Criticizes-Free-Health-Coverage--112552264.html#IDComment118438120 Point taken on soldiers versus cops. Trust me, I meant no disrespect as I come from a big military family myself. Pay/benefits are all about attracting the best and most talented workers to your place of business. I get that part, and if I were looking for employment, I'd seek out a state job too. Why not? Free health care (I'm single), pension, decent salary. Like I said in response to the other person, if they raise my taxes and some of these guys are getting free healthcare, that doesn't seem right to me. Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:18:08 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Branstad-Criticizes-Free-Health-Coverage--112552264.html#IDComment118438120 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Branstad-Criticizes-Free-Health-Coverage--112552264.html#IDComment118437758 You're right, and some corporations do give free or very heavily discounted insurance. But corporations generally turn a profit, thus they are spending less than they're bringing in revenue. That is not the case with a state that is deficit-spending. I think a state that is deficit-spending should do what corporations have to do when they're taking in less money than they're spending: cut spending. The alternative is that the state is forced to raise taxes to get rid of the deficit. Well I don't know how well that'd sit with me if they raise my taxes while some of their workers are getting free health insurance. Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:15:31 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Branstad-Criticizes-Free-Health-Coverage--112552264.html#IDComment118437758 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Branstad-Criticizes-Free-Health-Coverage--112552264.html#IDComment118409408 Makes perfect sense to me - sometimes the right thing and the "politically correct" thing are two different things. I don't get free health insurance, why am I paying taxes so my state employees can get it for free? State and government employees shouldn't get any benefits that any other standard worker doesn't get. Unless you're putting your life on the line in our military or police force, why does a state accountant deserve better benefits than an accountant who works for a corporation? Tue, 28 Dec 2010 16:53:28 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Branstad-Criticizes-Free-Health-Coverage--112552264.html#IDComment118409408 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/New-Wind-Farms-Coming-To-Iowa-112550389.html#IDComment118408875 You'd be right, but I think Mid-Am has been under a rate freeze for several years and it doesn't end until 2014 due to all the merging they've done. That's why they're only charging 8 cents per kWh, not because they're good people but because they have actually been banned from raising their rates for something like 5 years now. They'll be going in for a rate case in 2014 I'm sure and it will probably be nasty for Mid-Am customers... they've built a lot of wind farms in the last several years and they're legally entitled to receive a return on every one of them. I could envision a 40-50% rate hike. They might be nice and spread it over two or three years but it'll happen. Tue, 28 Dec 2010 16:49:25 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/New-Wind-Farms-Coming-To-Iowa-112550389.html#IDComment118408875 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Will-Rockwells-Downtown-Move-Start-Trend-112357054.html#IDComment117734745 You're on the right track there - they could make parking free but then we would have to pay higher taxes, and I bet you could probably guess that those same people would be on here whining and complaining about that, too. There is no pleasing most of the commenting users on these stories... they are here to whine, whether they know what the heck they're talking about or not. Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:50:15 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Will-Rockwells-Downtown-Move-Start-Trend-112357054.html#IDComment117734745 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Will-Rockwells-Downtown-Move-Start-Trend-112357054.html#IDComment117676422 I personally enjoy working downtown. Paying for parking sucks, but then again I am also receiving a paycheck down here too, so I can't complain too much. I'm not going to go search for another job over $45/month in parking fees. And watching these vacant spaces get renovated and filled with new businesses (mostly restaurants) is actually pretty cool. During the spring/summer, it seemed like every other month there was a new place to go check out. They're just recovering from a flood down here, but from my perspective it feels like everything is growing around me. To each their own, I guess. It's just interesting to see so many people get downright offended by the idea that a business would want to locate here and people would want to work here. Again, I enjoy it here and I know many people around me who do as well. Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:52:30 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Will-Rockwells-Downtown-Move-Start-Trend-112357054.html#IDComment117676422 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Major-Announcement-For-Downtown-Cedar-Rapids-Set-Today-112313094.html#IDComment117489150 The employees are being moved here due to Rockwell adding jobs at other locations. It's good news for downtown and somewhat old (but still good) news for the otherall Cedar Rapids economy. There are quite a few small businesses in downtown CR that will benefit from this move. Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:59:03 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Major-Announcement-For-Downtown-Cedar-Rapids-Set-Today-112313094.html#IDComment117489150 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/State-Regulators-Deny-Alliant-Energys-Rate-Hike-111968744.html#IDComment116197095 The utility companies would love to deregulate. Instead of having to go through an approval process to raise rates, they could just go ahead and raise them. Companies that sell products with inelastic demand tend to have higher rate of return than the 10% Alliant was granted. I think most oil companies are in the 20-30% range. Most areas that have deregulated have experienced a corresponding spike in electricity prices. The long-term affects? Those aren't yet known. Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:17:37 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/State-Regulators-Deny-Alliant-Energys-Rate-Hike-111968744.html#IDComment116197095 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/State-Regulators-Deny-Alliant-Energys-Rate-Hike-111968744.html#IDComment116187744 Plus - there's some sort of cost management plan that will reduce your rates next year from what they were this year above and beyond that ~2% decrease related to the refund and lower rate. I don't really know (by percentage) how much that will lower your bill but that's another piece of it. Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:11:08 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/State-Regulators-Deny-Alliant-Energys-Rate-Hike-111968744.html#IDComment116187744 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/State-Regulators-Deny-Alliant-Energys-Rate-Hike-111968744.html#IDComment116176629 I think there's some truth to that, but they're also having to refund some of that interim rate they've been charging us this year - so they definitely at least got a little bit less than what they intended to get. Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:49:10 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/State-Regulators-Deny-Alliant-Energys-Rate-Hike-111968744.html#IDComment116176629 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/State-Regulators-Deny-Alliant-Energys-Rate-Hike-111968744.html#IDComment116176474 Something like 9%. But, you've been paying a 10% rate hike all year, so if I understand correctly, your bill will decrease by 1% next year and you'll also get another 1% back as a refund. Essentially, your bill will be "roughly" the same as this year because you're not likely to notice a 2% decrease. Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:48:04 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/State-Regulators-Deny-Alliant-Energys-Rate-Hike-111968744.html#IDComment116176474 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/State-Regulators-Deny-Alliant-Energys-Rate-Hike-111968744.html#IDComment116176264 Just FYI, the full press release was written by the Iowa Board of Utilities and is available on their website. I agree - it is very confusing wording. Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:46:24 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/State-Regulators-Deny-Alliant-Energys-Rate-Hike-111968744.html#IDComment116176264 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Branstad-Wont-Ask-for-Extra-Cash-for-Transition--111119254.html#IDComment113185519 That is incorrect. The unemployment number may be slightly misleading (I might add in all states, so we still have a very favorable comparison to Michigan), but the requirements to be counted towards the unemployment number are as follows: 1. You do not have a job. 2. You have actively looked for a job at least once in the prior 4 weeks. 3. You are currently available for work. Whether or not you are receiving benefits has nothing to do with whether you're counted toward the unemployment number. If a stay-at-home mom decides today that she wants to go back to work, she will be counted as unemployed until she finds a job. She won't receive any unemployment benefits, but she will be counted. It feels disrespectful to see someone brag about our unemployment picture when you've experienced first-hand what it feels like to be laid off and to deal with those struggles - I am sorry for your wife. I hope she finds work soon. And you're right that if you were to add things like under-employment into the number, it is significantly higher. Wed, 1 Dec 2010 18:14:44 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Branstad-Wont-Ask-for-Extra-Cash-for-Transition--111119254.html#IDComment113185519 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Culver-Sought-Donations-from-Gambling-Interests-98755499.html#IDComment87527271 I think it's because Culver is soliciting money from people involved in a failed proposal for a casino license, thus the only reason they'd have to donate money to Culver's campaign is to get his support for their casino license. It's not illegal for Culver to take this money, but it would be illegal for Culver to say "Hey guys, if you donate some money to my campaign I'll make sure you get your casino license." Branstad's $50k came from existing casino owners, likey just supporting the candidate that they believe will make the best decisions for the casino industry. Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:31:58 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Culver-Sought-Donations-from-Gambling-Interests-98755499.html#IDComment87527271 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/96150354.html#IDComment79640775 Agreed. You need bodies with cash in their pockets in downtown CR. Get enough of those bodies, and more and more businesses will want to locate down here to cater to them (shops, restaurants, doctor offices, pharmacies, etc etc). Corbett is just doing what needs to be done. I'd rather have my tax dollars going to ensure jobs here in CR than some of the other stuff I've seen. Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:10:05 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/96150354.html#IDComment79640775 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/92699099.html#IDComment72165531 Agreed, but even the increase of companies "testing the waters" is promising. Mon, 3 May 2010 21:45:53 +0000 http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/92699099.html#IDComment72165531