The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 6

6A Thursday, May 5, 2005 The Des Moines Register ST Benefits changes would hit Iowans About half of those 16 and older who work may be affected by Bush's Social Security proposal. By JANE NORMAN REGISTER WASHINGTON BUREAU Washington, D.C. Close to half of all Iowa workers earn more than $25,000 a year and thus might be affected by President Bush's proposal to slow the growth of Social Security benefits, according to census data. Some 794,000 Iowans out of 1.6 million workers age 16 and older earned more than $25,000 a year in 2003, the most recent year for which data are available. The largest group among them, numbering about 154,000, earned between $30,000 and $34,999 a year.

Wednesday, Bush told a conference of Latino small-business owners in Washington that financial problems with the national retirement insurance program need to be permanently solved, and he is advancing a plan that would leave those born before 1950 with their expected benefits intact. That would include some of those 794,000 Iowa workers. But for the rest, Bush said, "if you're a low-income worker, your benefits ought to rise with wage increases, and if you're an upperincome worker, your benefits ought to rise with inflation." Wage -based increases would bring larger benefits than price-based increases when benefit levels are computed at retirement, based on career earnings. While the administration has not defined who is "upper-income," the idea is based on a blueprint by Robert Pozen, a Democratic member of the president's Social Security commission, who has drawn the line at $25,000 a year. Pozen says his plan would solve 70 percent of the projected Social Security shortfall and would include private accounts, too.

"Seems fair to me," Bush told the 2005 Latino Small Business Economic Conference. "Seems like a noble calling for the United States of America, to recognize a lot of people work really hard and don't make a lot of money but when it comes time to retire, there ought to be dignity in retirement." He also said that younger workers have been promised "benefits that we can't keep" because Social Security is expected to not have enough money to pay full benefits by 2041, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Bush was accompanied by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas, who has said he will have hearings on Social Security this month. Meanwhile, Rep. Leonard Boswell, a Des Moines Democrat, said in a conference call with Iowa reporters that he is skeptical about the slowing of benefits and the personal accounts.

"It sounds like an indication they are going to put the burden on the middle-income and the working class," said Boswell. He said he has "serious questions" about raising the retirement age as a solution but said he might favor increasing the wage cap for payroll taxes beyond the current $90,000 a year. Boswell said he wants more details from Bush as well. "I want to see the plan," said Boswell, though he said there is no need to rush and Congress should tackle rising health care costs first. "We have time to act" on Social Security, he said.

"We don't have an immediate crisis." Bush has been stumping across the country on Social Security but will break away Friday for a tripto eastern Europe and Russia to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in the European theater. Reporter Jane Norman can be reached at (202) 906-8137 or Race is on to build track at Newton under way with sanctioning bodies for potential races. Gov. Tom Vilsack joined other lawmakers at Newton City Hall to sign the legislation that allows U.S. Motorsport the racetrack's investors, to capture the first $12.5 million in state sales tax generated at the facility over the next decade.

The tax break sped through the Statehouse, where many legislators said they saw it as a risk-free way to help economic development in a city reeling from layoffs at Maytag a major local employer. "It is certainly offering some good news, which there hasn't been a lot of lately. We are hoping it will be a real economic stimulus to the community, and we think it will be," Chalupa's said. The facility will have permanent seating for 25,000 people and additional temporary seats and lawn area for a total capacity of 81,000. The track will be located 1 near the city's airport on 232 acres.

NASCAR Nextel Cup star driver Rusty Wallace will have a hand in track operations. Construction on the project has been postponed before because of difficulty in attracting investors. "It's been a real struggle to get the project financed," Chalupa said. "Of course, this bill from the state is a lot of assistance in assuring its success." Despite the hurdles, Vilsack said the community never lost hope. "This is about a community that never stopped believing in itself," he said.

Rep. Danny Carroll, a Republican from Grinnell, helped push the legislation through the Legislature. He doesn't expect top NASCAR races at first. Carroll said investors told him they hope to have races in the next couple of years from the popular Busch or Craftsman Truck series and ARCA, which is like the triple-A league of baseball. "In the beginning in the first year, they are really anticipating maybe only three races to get started," Carroll said.

"Until the track is built, they won't get any commitments." Critics questioned the project's financing and whether the unique tax break, a first in Iowa, would set a bad precedent for future economic development projects. Supporters worked to alleviate concerns by offering the tax credit as a "pilot project" that will be studied for future consideration and including restrictions such as What might be coming around the bend? Here's a list of the types of racing the Newton track could attract: Stock car racing spans everything from what you see on your local dirt track in the stock car division to snazzy late models to NASCAR Nextel Cup. Cup racing is probably beyond the Newton track's reach, but NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series or Busch Series U.S. MOTORSPORT ENTERTAINMENT CORP. events could be possible, based on their appearances at similar-size tracks.

Other tracks similar to the one being planned for Newton. Indy top series include ASL and ASA. Cars tend to race at facilities such as Chicagoland Open-wheel racing on larger tracks ranges from Speedway and, of course, Indianapolis Motor sprint cars and midgets to Indy Cars and Formula One. Speedway. Most sprint car and midget racing takes place on dirt Motorcycles.

They run on dirt or asphalt, outdoors or tracks, but USAC sprint cars and midgets race on some indoors. AMA is one of the leading sanctioning bodies. 2 wheels or 4, fenders or not What can race fans expect when the Newton track opens? Just about anything from stock cars to open-wheel cars to motorcycles, said Newton attorney Dennis Chalupa, a spokesman for investors, a private group called U.S. Motorsport Entertainment Corp. "There's been a lot of talk to all the sanctioning bodies in the past, but nothing's firmed up until we have a racetrack under construction," Chalupa said.

When asked whether the track's future could include NASCAR Busch Series Craftsman Truck Series events, Chalupa said, "We sure hope so." BILL REGISTER He declined to comment on In the driver's seat: Gov. Tom Vilsack tries his hand at an auto whether negotiations had occurred simulator Wednesday in Newton, where he signed a tax with or any other sancNASCAR racing break bill for an auto-racing track. tioning organization. "I can't at this time because it's kind of taboo in the industry to do ending the tax break if the track is state. The city had been seeking that," Chalupa said.

sold and passes from the hands of $4 million from another state Groundbreaking, Chalupa said, its Iowa grant program, but agreed to halt is hoped to come later this month. investors. The Newton community is ex- that attempt under the deal for the "Once we break ground and cited, local officials said. sales tax break. start construction, we'll definitely "Newton is going to look at a In addition to Chalupa, Iowa know our schedule and can firm up new future," said Mayor Speedway investors have been some agreements at 1 that Newton Chaz Allen.

"The stars were as: ARCA race car Chalupa said. identified aligned." owner Larry Clement of Fort The track's investors plan to Investors expect the track to Dodge; Brad Manatt of Newton, feature six events racing a year generate about $1 million annually president of Manatt's a con- eventually, but likely fewer than in state sales tax. City officials ex- struction company that does con- that in the beginning. pect new springing up crete and asphalt paving; Manatt's Potential agreements with businesses sancthe track to generate an ad- co-owners, Tony Manatt of tioning bodies would be finalized near ditional $2.2 million in state sales De Witt and John Manatt and within a year, Chalupa said. tax annually.

Mike Manatt, both of Brooklyn; "We're excited about it," ChaluThe city has committed more and Stan Clement of Newton. pa said. "We're excited about it for than $13 million to the project, Reporter Tim Higgins can be reached at Newton, and we're excited about it Allen said, and is seeking a (515) 284-8039 or for Iowa." $5 million road grant from the Rob Gray Senate OKs budget measures, including Medicaid By JONATHAN ROOS REGISTER STAFF WRITER A plan to expand Iowa's healthcare program for the poor received the Senate's stamp of approval Wednesday. Senators also approved parts of next year's state budget, passing their version of appropriation bills that have been through the House. The goal is to wrap up their work on the $5 billion budget by perhaps the end of today as lawmakers move toward adjournment.

Differences with the House would have to be resolved next week. During Wednesday's session, the Senate voted 41-9 in favor of the Medicaid initiative, designed to offset the loss of about $65 million in federal aid that the state has been getting improperly. Under House File 841, health care for low-income patients at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines, University Hospitals and the state's four mental health institutes would be rolled into Medicaid. The idea is to have the federal government give Iowa credit for money already spent on indigent care through non-Medicaid programs. While the pilot program would place an estimated 30,000 more people under Medicaid, supporters of the innovative plan say it wouldn't cost more than what's already being spent on nonMedicaid patients.

Patients in the new Medicaid category would have to make copayments and pay monthly premiums based on their income levels and take steps to help improve their health, such as losing weight or quitting smoking. "I think this will position Iowa to be the voice of progress in the Medicaid debate" nationally, said Sen. Maggie Tinsman, a Davenport Republican. The Senate also approved judicial and administrative agency budget bills by lopsided margins. Senators voted to set Gov.

Tom Vilsack's annual office budget at $1.73 million an increase of $160,000, or 10 percent over the current year. Sen. Jeff Angelo of Creston said the extra money was included in the budget as a courtesy. Vilsack has had to transfer money from other departments in recent tight budget years to meet office expenses, said Angelo, Republican co-chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Reporter Jonathan Roos can be reached at (515) 284-8443 or Panel leans toward 3 to 5 new casinos commissioners declined afterward to comment whether he or she supports any particular license request.

The commission meets again next Wednesday to announce which projects will be awarded licenses. Commission Administrator Jack Ketterer said the commission will meet July 14 to consider reinstating a statewide moratorium on additional casino licenses. Such a moratorium was in place from 1998 through 2004, when regulators decided to rescind the restrictions so that new proposals could be offered for casino projects. Iowa currently has 16 casinos, including 10 aboard riverboats, three at racetracks and three on American Indian lands. Supporters of casino projects said after Wednesday's meeting that they weren't sure exactly what will happen next week.

"It's hard to read. I am hoping they are leaning towards a higher number," said Dan Kehl, who is chief executive of casino projects proposed at Fort Dodge and Riverside, and an investor in a casino project in downtown Waterloo. Steve Siegel, a Wapello County supervisor who is chairman of a nonprofit group supporting a casino project in Ottumwa, said he wasn't surprised by the commission's stance toward issuing three to five new licenses. "At five we have a real good chance; at three not so good a chance," Siegel said. But overall, considering how the public hearing went Wednesday and the commission's recent tour of the Ottumwa site, "I feel pretty good about our chances," he added.

Mahaffey, a longtime Poweshiek County prosecuting attorney, said he had been wrestling with a decision on the licensing issue because he knows that many Iowans are opposed to an expansion of the state's casino industry. "My preferred number of licenses would be zero," he said. Cutler, who is married to a Methodist minister, said she northlandtravel.com NORTH AND Mackinac Island TRAVEL New York, New York June 12-23 July 19-26 A division of Northwest lowa Transportation, Inc. Door County, Wisconsin June 27-July 1 Father's Day in Branson June 16-19 Alaska South Africa Smoky Mountains West Many more in our Summer catalog! Majestic England, Scotland Wales Extended legroom luxury coaches with professional tour managers drivers Call toll free 877-694-8687 for a complete catalog or visit our offices in Fort Dodge, Huxley and Waterloo MATTHEW J. LAKE West Des Moines SPEEDWAY, from Page 1A CASINOS, from Page 1A Matthew J.

Lake, 33, passed 2 away on Tuesday, May 3, 2005 at Mercy Hospital. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Urbandale. A private family burial will be at a later date at Resthaven Cemetery. Matthew is survived by his wife, Julie and daughter, Lauren; father, Michael (Paula) Lake; mother, Anita (Ronald) Lake Novak; sister, Heather Lockyear; brother, Mitchell; stepsister, Tammy (John) Behrends; stepbrothers, Mason (Angie) Miller and Marshall (Ivy) Miller; Julie's parents, Leon and Sharon Jagim; brotherin-law, Michael (Tracy) Jagim; sisterin-law, Amanda Jagim; grandparents, James and Juanita Lake and Milford and Patricia Risdal; eleven nieces and nephews; and many aunts, uncles and family.

Visitation will be from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to an education fund for Lauren. McLaren's Chapel Dignity at Resthaven Cemetery LARRY S. LYKINS Story City Larry S.

Lykins, 62, died Tuesday, May 3, 2005 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Saturday May 7 at Center Cemetery near Story City. Fellowship will follow the committal service at Grace United Methodist Church in Story City. Larry was born July 11, 1942 in Story City to Stanley and Rose (Matheason) Lykins.

He was a 1960 graduate of Story City High School and was an Army Veteran, having served in Korea. He married Sharene Barrow on March 15, 1963. He worked at 3M in Ames, retiring in 2001. He lived most of his life in Story City and enjoyed fishing, cribbage and American Legion and American Cribbage Congress. He is survived by his wife, Sharene of Story City; three sons, Alan (Barb) and Michael (Brenda) of Story City and Todd (Amy) of Ankeny; five grandchildren, Ryan Brittney, Alec, Jillian and Logan; a sister, Shirley Thompson of Hanford, CA; and two brothers, Albert of Riverside, CA, and Willie of Story City, He was preceded in death by his parents.

Soderstrum Funeral Home in Story City is handling arrangements. JEFFREY ALAN SAMPSON Carlisle Jeffrey Alan Sampson, 19, died May 3, 2005 on Highway 69, north of Indianola. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, May 7 at Lighthouse Community Church at Southridge Mall in Des Moines, with Pastor Andy Veith officiating. Jeff lived in Memphis, TN, before moving with his family to Carlisle in 2000.

He was a 2004 graduate of Carlisle High School, a full-time honor student at DMACC in Ankeny and worked in the service department of Southtown Chrystler. Jeff is survived by his parents; Claude and Paula Sampson of Carlisle; brother, Christopher Sampson of Carlisle; sisters, Mary Sampson and Susan Ramos; nephew, Diego Ramos, all of St. Paul, MN; maternal grandparents, Carroll and Betty Warren of Carlisle; aunt, Rosemary Sampson of Duluth, MN; uncle, David Sampson of Chisholm, MN; and aunt, Pam Climpson of Carlisle. Visitation with the family will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Peach Chapter of Dollars for Scholars. Richardson Funeral Home Carlisle, Iowa In Loving Memory Of JAMES "JIM" SUTTON September 29, 1977 May 5, 2004 We weren't prepared for the day you died. Your life slipped away much too soon. And even as time lets us laugh once again, A piece of our hearts went with you. We miss you Jim, Mom, Dad, Jodi, Jenn, Mike, Ian, Johnathan recognized that many people of religious faith are morally opposed to gambling.

But it's not the commission's job to conduct a second referendum in these seven counties where a majority of voters have authorized casino gambling, she said. In making decisions next week on casino applications, Cutler said she will consider economic viability, tourism, employment opportunities, revenue sharing with local non-profit organizations and other factors. Bair, a Methodist whose son is a Baptist minister, said he has also sincerely considered pleas from gambling opponents. He compared the emotions raised in the gambling debate to some of the tax controversies he faced in the past before he retired as the director of the Iowa Department of Revenue and Finance. Jarding said she was impressed with the way that many community leaders have worked together in developing the casino projects for consideration by state officials.

"You really have a good Jarding told them. "You have all your leaders working together. Don't stop that." William Petroski can be reached at (515) 284-8547 or TWYLA DAWN LEE WILSON Newton Twyla Dawn Lee Wilson, 45, formerly of Des Moines, died Tuesday, May 3, 2005. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, May 7 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home.

Twyla is survived by her husband, Claire; two daughters, Alaina Callison of Waukee and Amanda Callison of Orlando, FL; stepdaughter, Kelly (Scott) Fischer of Anchorage, AK; two grandchildren, Logan and William Sullivan; mother, Twyla Lee of Newton; and five brothers, Charles (Patti) Lee of Tulsa, OK, Jerry Lee of Huntsville, AL, and Roy (Tina) Lee, Henry (Laura) Lee and Doug (Angie) Lee, all of Des Moines. Friends may call after 5 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, where the family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions in her name may be left at the funeral home. Wallace Family Funeral Home Newton, Iowa The Des Moines Register runs obituaries at no charge for the first eight lines.

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