Bustos joins Problem Solvers in introducing legislative package

U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos on Thursday joined several other members of Congress in introducing bills aimed at bringing bipartisan common sense legislation out of Capital Hill, including one of her own.

The East Moline Democrat introduced the Government Transformation Act, which would reduce waste and duplication in government, as part of the No Labels Make Government Work legislative package brought forth on Thursday. A companion piece was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois.

The new legislation expands on a bill Bustos introduced in February, her first bill, which is called the Government Waste Reduction Act. Whereas that bill focused on waste and duplicative efforts as identified by the General Accounting Office, the Government Transformation Act would create a bipartisan commission empowered to look at any programs to root out waste.

"There are too many government programs that are too costly and inefficient. I learned early in my life that you have to keep a balanced budget and to do so you have to live within yours means. The government needs to do the same thing. I cannot support the budget being balanced on the backs of middle class Americans," Bustos said during a telephone news conference with local media.

"Every year, think tanks, auditors, investigators, and even Uncle Sam's own Government Accountability Office crank out report after report concluding the same thing - too many federal government programs are inefficient, costly, ineffective or all of the above. And yet every year, these conclusions are largely ignored. As a consequence, the federal government unnecessarily wastes billions of dollars a year while many government programs continue to operate without concrete goals or standards for success. My common sense bipartisan bill attacks government waste and helps ensure government programs are more economical, efficient, and effective," she said.

The commission her bill proposes would have seven members jointly appointed by the President and Congressional leaders. "It's time for a more rigorous focus," Bustos said, adding she already had garnered the bipartisan support of 30 other members of Congress as of Thursday afternoon. "This takes cutting government waste to the next level," she said.

The No Labels Make Government Work package, supported by a group of Congress members calling themselves Problem Solvers — of which Bustos is a member — calls for ending the partisan gridlock in Washington to pass bills needed for all Americans, including a balanced budget. One of the nine bills included in the package calls for a two-year budgeting cycle instead of an annual budget process, which the group believes would save money as well as reduce partisan politics within the process.

Another bill in the package calls for Congress members to forego their paychecks until a budget is approved if they go beyond the budgeting deadline. "We shouldn't be paid if we can't get the job done when we're supposed to," she said.

The No Labels Problem Solvers is a group of 81 Democrats from both the U.S. House and Senate who meet regularly to discuss issues while building trust across the aisle. Bustos is one of six Illinois Congress members who is part of the group. She also is one of only two freshmen members to be a lead sponsor on a bill.

Brad McMillan, the executive director of the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service at Bradley University, said those members are showing the kind of leadership needed to find bipartisan solutions. That is the focus of his group, said McMillan, who participated in the telephone news conference.

"If we are going to move public policy forward we have to be willing to cross the aisle and work together. Finding bipartisan solutions needs to happen in Washington, D.C.," said McMillan, a former Congressional chief of staff for former U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood.

Bustos cited a GAO report when she noted the savings from reducing government waste and eliminating duplication could reach $400 billion annually. "I am not talking about reducing needed services but there is a lot of duplication. These times call for efficient government so let's get rid of the overlap," she said.

Beat the heat: Cooling centers open

Cooling centers are opening throughout the region to provide relief from the extreme temperatures and humidity hitting central Illinois this week, according to several sponsoring agencies, including the American Red Cross Central Illinois Chapter.

The cooling centers are to help those who have little or no access to a cool environment, particularly during the hottest hours of the day.

The cooling centers' locations and hours are:

• Fulton County: Dept. of Human Services, 1329 N. Main St., Lewistown; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Mason County: Dept. of Human Services, 323 Ww. Main St., Havana; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Peoria County: Salvation Army Sylvia Fites Center, 414 NE Jefferson, Peoria; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Peoria County: All Peoria Fire Department houses, Peoria; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Peoria County: Civic Center Verizon Wireless Café, 201 SW Jefferson Ave., Peoria; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Peoria County: Friendship House, 800 NE Madison, Peoria; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Peoria County: Dept. of Human Services, 2301 N.E. Adams St., Suite C, Peoria; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Schuyler County: Dept. of Human Services, 111 E. Washington St., Rushville; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tazewell County: Dept. of Human Services, 200 S. Second St., Ste. 20, Pekin; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tazewell County: Dept. of Human Services, 2970 Court St., Sunset Plaza, Pekin; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are common during extremely hot weather, so the agencies, including the Red Cross and the health departments of Peoria and Tazewell Counties, advise people to take steps to stay cool. That includes staying in a cool environment, preferably air conditioned, and to limit outdoor activating and vigorous physical activities. Wearing loose, lightweight and light-colored clothing and hats is recommended.

Further, frequent hydration breaks are important. "Drink plenty of cool fluids, like water, regardless of your activity level. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink," the news release said. "Avoid liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar; they cause you to lose more body fluids."

The agencies also cautioned that the heat is bad for pets. "Take care of your pets. Give extra water and be sure to place the water dish in a shaded area if outdoors. Make sure pets have a protected place where they can get away from the sun," the release said.

The National Institute of Medicine, through the Red Cross, recommends men drink three liters of fluid and women two liters of fluid each day during times of high temperatures. The general recommendation for eight 8 oz glasses of water per day converts to about 1.9 liters. This amount would be sufficient for most women, males need slightly more. Those who exercise, work outside or sweat excessively experience extra water loss and create higher fluid needs.

"Excessive heat can be deadly and has caused more deaths in recent years than any other weather event. Weather experts say it will be so hot heat illnesses are possible, especially for people who work or spend extended periods outside. This intense heat can cause discomforting symptoms if regular and adequate fluids are not consumed," the Red Cross said.

"Water is one of the most important components of our daily diets. Water helps lubricate internal surfaces, flushes toxins through the kidneys, transports nutrients throughout the body, maintains healthy blood pressure, regulates body temperature and sustains healthy vital organs."

The agency listed the following symptoms of dehydration, common in summer:

•  Dry mouth
•  Headache
•  Nausea
•  Vomiting
•  Irritability
•  Tiredness
•  Decreased urination
•  Constipation
•  Dizziness
•  Fever
•  Delirium

For more Red Cross heat safety tips, please visit arcillinois.org/tip-library/heat-related-illness/16-heat-tips.

Home sales show improvement in Q2

'Tis the season for home sales, so the Peoria Area Association of Realtors wants you to sell your home.

Sales were up slightly in the second quarter, the association reported Tuesday, but inventory is down and agents are looking for more houses to go on the market and take advantage of buyers entering the market. Inventory of available homes is off 18.3 percent from last year, PAAR said.

"We need more inventory. We can't sell what we don't have," said John Purple, president of PAAR. "We are seeing more buyers. Houses are getting multiple offers. But people aren't listing their homes, or at least we'd like to see more.

"This is a good time to sell, without question. It's the right time of year, the number of buyers is increasing and interest rates are still low," Purple said.

There were 1,390 homes sold during the second (April, May, June ) quarter, 12 more than during the second quarter of 2012. It was the third consecutive year and fourth year in the last five that sales improved during the second quarter, PAAR statistics showed.

For the first half of 2013 there were 2,301 homes sold, compared with 2,109 through the first six months of 2012.

Sales in the first quarter of 2012 were stronger, Purple said, because the winter was much milder. The early part of the second quarter this year was hampered by flooding.

"Things are starting to pick up. The market is heating up with the weather," he said.

Still, he added, he believes consumer confidence is still shaky enough that it may be causing some would-be seller to hold off listing their home. "People watch the news, they see the worldwide economy still isn't getting stronger and that preys on their mind. And there are some people who may still be under water financially and can't afford to list yet because the value of the home hasn't improved enough," Purple said.

The area is seeing home prices rise, however, The average sale price increased in the quarter to $147,123, up from $144,776 during the second quarter of last year. The median price went from $122,000 last year to $125,000, PAAR said.

Part of that is the low inventory causing multiple bids on some properties. The low inventory also is keeping houses on the market for less time; the average time on the market fell from 100 days to 85 days in a year-to-year comparison.

Both of those factors — increasing average prices and reduced time on the market — are indicators of economic recovery. "Home sales have rebounded across the U.S. and financial experts report that the housing market is on pace to contribute positively to the (gross domestic product) in 2013. I can tell you that positive economic contribution extends to our local economy," Purple said.

He cited a local study that showed the economic impact of each home sold in the Peoria area is $20,000, which includes all expenses associated with buying and selling a home, such as remodeling, new furnishings and such. "In 2012 over 4,900 properties were sold, resulting in over $98 million being pumped into our communities," he said. "When we look at new construction the impact is amplified and begins to show up in the jobs market, increasing opportunities in construction trades."

While Purple was reluctant to make predictions about the remainder of the year, he said the trends are positive.

"We're still pretty well balanced, though we are edging slightly toward a seller's market if inventory doesn't pick up. We believe the trend is starting toward a better inventory because the third quarter has started out well. So we remain optimistic about the rest of 2013," Purple said.

The Literarea Book List: What I’ve Read Thus Far in 2013

Since we have just passed the halfway point in 2013 and I am the literary guy around here, now is the perfect time to share with you the books I’ve read thus far. As a hardcore lit nerd, there’s something satisfying about keeping track of the books you’ve read. I’ve been doing it now for five years and every time I look at one of my lists I think, “Good god, Kizer, you’ve GOT to get out more.” Anyway, here is my list of the books I’ve read thus far (in chronological order) with my patented* one-sentence** reviews. As always, an (R) means it’s a book I’ve read more than once. Enjoy!

* They're not patented
** Admittedly, a few strain the definition of “a sentence” and one is a paragraph.

 

1) “Ashoka: India’s Lost Emperor”
Charles Allen, 460pg.
There are many mysteries about this ancient Indian emperor who helped transform Buddhism from a minor sect to a major world religion – especially how one particularly gory battle turned him from a man who governed by physical force into one who governed by moral force.

2) “Inventing Wine: A New History of One of the World’s Most Ancient Pleasures”
Paul Lukas, 350pg.
If there’s one thing to take away from this book it’s this: Until Pasteur discovered that yeast aids fermentation and bacteria causes spoilage, the vast majority of wine throughout the ages would have tasted god-awful unless it was very, very fresh.

3) “The Barbarous Years: The Peopling of British North America”
Bernard Bailyn, 640pg.
Now, there are many history books out there that cover America in the 1700s, but there aren’t that many covering the century beforehand when the real “founders” came over and sure, some came to escape religious oppression, but the vast majority came over for another very American reason: to make a buck.

4) “The Great Pearl Heist: London’s Greatest Thief and Scotland Yard's Hunt for the World’s Most Valuable Necklace”
Molly Caldwell Crosby, 304pg.
A fascinating tale of Joseph Grizzard, a wealthy man who, instead of playing the horses or dogs, passionately pursued the sport of crime, and his theft of an exquisite string of pearls worth more than the Hope Diamond. 

5) “P.G. Wodehouse: A Life in Letters”
Sophie Ratcliffe, 602pg.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: P.G. Wodehouse was the funniest writer in 20^th century literature – and it shows in his letters, which also show he was fond of soap operas and Dick Van Dyke but did not care for Sinatra (“the world’s premiere louse”), the writing of Jane Austin (“bored stiff”), “Gone With the Wind” (“these people have no idea of construction and selection!”) nor the music of Cole Porter (“he has no power of self-criticism”).

6) “Libra” (R)
Don DeLillo, 480pg.
“Libra”, which is DeLillo at his best and a great entry point to the author, is a dazzling fictional account of JFK’s assassination (before that became a thing), spanning the life of Lee Harvey Oswald. 

7) “Gravity's Rainbow” (R)
Thomas Pynchon, 776pg.
While the previous book is a great entry point to a great author, the same cannot be said about this mammoth masterpiece, which many call the equivalent to Joyce’s “Ulysses” (they are definitely in the same ballpark).

8) “Go” (R)
John Clellon Holmes, 352pg.
Before “On The Road” there was “Go”, a lightly fictionalized look at those who formed the core of the Beat Generation – Kerouac, Cassady, Ginsberg, Burroughs, et al – by one of their close friends, John Clellon Holmes.

9) “Paris is a Nice Dish: Its Recipes and Restaurants”
Osbourne Putnam Stearnes, 157pg.
This book, published in 1952, was found on the shelves of the Pettengill-Morron Home and was used as a guidebook for Miss Morron on her trips to France.

10) “Fractured Spirits: Hauntings at the Peoria State Hospital”
Sylvia Shults, 222pg.
While the supposed hauntings of the hospital are interesting, I found the history behind what was a progressive model for modern mental health care much more fascinating.

11) “Wedlocked”
Jay Ponteri, 150pg.
I can’t say enough about this incredibly personal and unvarnished prose memoir which ruminates on the meaning of marriage (and was written by one of my best friends, Jay Ponteri).

12) “God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything” (R)
Christopher Hitchens, 307pg.
Ah Hitch, you shuffled off your mortal coil too soon!

13) “The Great Agnostic: Robert Ingersoll and American Free Thought”
Susan Jacoby, 256pg.
Speaking of Hitchens, here is another wonderful book about an unbeliever, this one Peoria’s own and the man who wrote, “Religion has not civilized man – man has civilized religion. God improves as man advances.”

14) “Every Love Story is a Ghost Story: A Life of David Foster Wallace” (R)
DT Max, 356pg.
It’s really gut-wrenching to read about the sad end of someone who was one of only a handful of truly great modern writers, and a native central Illinois-ean.

15) “The Western Canon: The Books and Schools of the Ages" (R) 
Harold Bloom, 560pg.
One of my favorite books, not only because it introduced me to several writers I'd never read before, but because of Bloom’s style it makes me want to read them all; challenge accepted!

16) “The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England”
Dan Jones, 560pgs.
Favorite anecdote: at some point, a commoner came forth claiming to be the actual king and being switched at birth. Well, after a little parent-torture, the authorities found the story to be false and sentenced the man in question to death. In his defense, the man blamed his cat which he said was possessed and convinced him that he was the real king. So the authorities did what was only fair: they hung the cat before hanging the man. Evil kitteh!

17) “Kennesaw Mountain: Sherman, Johnston and the Atlanta Campaign”
Earl J. Hess, 322pg.
Again, another book that just goes to show how brutal mankind can be: this being the story of the Union’s attempt to overrun a heavily fortified Confederate mountain position and the massive casualties that resulted.

18) “Onward Toward What We're Going Toward” 
Ryan Bartelmay, 350pg.
Look for a review of this one soon: a story about a family trying to carve a life out in Peoria, Ill., covering a roughly 40-year time period, from the late ‘50s through the turn of the century.

19) “Edmund Burke: The First Conservative”
Jesse Norman, 336pg.
It should be noted that Burke is far from a modern-day American Conservative and right-wingers will be sorely disappointed to find he was against consolidation of power and wealth, against opportunistic war and felt the rich had a duty to use their finances to support the society which made their largess possible.

20) “Goodbye Again: The Definitive Peter Cook and Dudley Moore”
William Cook, 383pg.
Before there was Monty Python, there was Peter and Dudley and it’s interesting to look back at their sketches to see how many were “bit” by the Pythonites, e.g “The Most Boring Man in the World Competition” (Pete/Dud) vs. “The Upper Class Twist of the Year Award” (Python).