Page 8 The Advocate News (Wilton-Durant, Iowa) Thursday, January 31, 2013

OpiniOn
Prediction: Ravens will win Super Bowl XLVII
begin this week with the one event on many prior to the opening home playoff game against the Colts, I had a feeling the NFL was in for of our minds Super Bowl time! I heard on the radio that petitions have something special. In the past month, the Baltimore defense has been sent to the White House to declare the day after the Super Bowl a national holiday. overcome quarterbacks Andrew Luck (Colts), Peyton Manning (Broncos) and Tom Brady In a word, NO. However, it is perhaps the biggest day in (Patriots). In other words, the Ravens have defeated sports in this country. With the multi-million dollar TV ads, the Super Bowl parties attended this years No. 1 draft pick and, in my opinion, rookie of the year (Luck); by many folks who watch no defeated the greatest regular other football during the year, season quarterback of all time the two week media blitz lead(Manning); and defeated pering up to the game haps the greatest quarterback Perhaps it is a holiday to of all time (Brady). some. I cringe in calling Brady Ive made playoff picks the best of all time but he has every year in this space since By Derek Sawvell been to five Super Bowls with returning to the Advocate three wins and despite hope News. While Im usually not good at predicting other sports outcomes in this and prayer plays from the Giants (twice) he column, I did previously note that thus far this may have five Super Bowl rings. Its a magical ride that I think has room for NFL postseason, Im 10-0 with predicting the one more win. San Francisco quarterback Colin playoffs. In case any readers are wondering, no I did Kaepernick is on a roll but remember, hes only not bet on any games. If I had, perhaps Id be had nine NFL starts. I believe the old defense on a nice vacation right now instead of stuck of the Ravens has one more stand in it when it comes to the young Kaepernick. in my office writing this. I still have HUGE doubts about Ravens I also dont concern myself with point spreads either, which is huge in the gambling world. I quarterback Joe Flacco and am still mesmerized stick simply to the philosophy of picking win- by his lack of passing to his left. If he can stay mistake free for one more game, a huge monkey ners. This years Super Bowl will go down in could climb off his back. I read a few days ago that when the Lomhistory with the significance of brothers squaring off from the head coaching perch. Ex NFL bardi trophy made its way to Baltimore for the quarterback Jim Harbaugh coaches the San ceremonial pictures with key players prior to Francisco 49ers while his older brother John the Super Bowl, Ray Lewis forbade any of the Ravens from touching or posing with the trophy. Harbaugh coaches the Baltimore Ravens. I doubt well ever see another Super Bowl He said there was still work to do and theyre not champions yet. Thats all I needed to hear. where the head coaches are brothers. *** To keep the pick short and sweet, Im taking Whats your favorite token?A fun story Ive the Ravens in this game, 27-24. What Baltimore has done is remarkable. been following for a couple weeks surrounds This is a team that stumbled its way into the Monopoly, one of my favorite board games postseason. In a league where we always look (currently published by Hasbro). Who hasnt for the hot team, the Ravens were anything played the famous game based on financial but losing four of their final five games of domination? Through its Facebook site, Monopoly has the regular season. Typically, this would stop anyone from get- announced that on Feb. 6, it will retire one ting on their bandwagon. Yet, when linebacker of its tokens and add a new one. Results of an Ray Lewis announced his pending retirement online vote will choose the fate of one of the

Case in Point

Which token do you preferOn Feb. 6, Monopoly will do away with one of its pieces (pictured above) and replace it with one of five possible selections (see below).
Photos courtesy of Facebook/Monopoly

current or classic pieces: car, thimble, boot, Scottie dog, battleship, top hat, iron and wheelbarrow. The vote is being held through Facebook and people can vote for their favorite pieces to be saved daily. Voters can also select which new token theyd like added to the game. Those in the running include: robot, diamond ring, cat, helicopter and guitar. Does this bother anyone else? Why mess with a good thing? In case youre wondering, the current standings are as follows: Scottie dog 30 percent Car 14 percent Battleship 13 percent Top Hat 12 percent Thimble 10 percent Shoe 7 percent Iron 7 percent

Wheelbarrow 7 percent Of course my favorite pieces are the iron and the wheelbarrow and of course, they are the bottom two in terms of votes. If I had to pick a favorite it would be the wheelbarrow but the iron stays on the board so well. You cant see the results of the votes for the new pieces as far as I can tell but if I had to predict, I would say the cat will be the new piece. This isnt the first time the game has retired tokens. Remember the man on horseback or the cannon? How about the lantern, purse or rocking horse? I guess its a sign of our modernization and move further into the technological world? If youd like to go online, have some fun and vote for a token, go to Facebook.com and search for Monopoly. Once on its page, youll see a link to save the tokens.

Two biggest issues: education reform and property tax reform

This week at the State Capitol was a busy one. and counties get their fair share, and I would like Committees are in full swing and legislation is to see some sort of an offset elsewhere such as property tax reform. In the end, I will ask for starting to be crafted. The Agriculture Committee has been busy. your input, and your voice will guide my vote. I will continue to work this week on my emiRep. Pat Grassley has committed the Ag Committee to being a productive one. I am working on nent domain bills. It is my hope to get this bill the Task Force he has assigned to me. It involves to the Governors desk this session and I have been very pleased with exploring every avenue the bi-partisan support it and tool that we have to has been receiving. help beginning farmers This week should begin get into the business. We a series of discussions had a productive meeting on two of the biggest with the DNR. I am lookissues this legislature ing to forge a mutually faces: education fundbeneficial relationship ing/reform and property between young/small tax relief. On education farmers and the DNR so By Rep. Bobby Kaufmann reform, I am happy that that: 1) Beginning farmers can have first crack at the Governor has brought the conversation to the the DNRs 30,000-40,000 acres they rent for table. I am, however, skeptical of the reform bill. There are some good items in it, such as improved cropland 2) The DNR will have land stewards to help teacher pay and career advancement, and there make their conservation practices even better. I are some items of which I am quite skeptical. I am very optimistic about this. I believe farmers am concerned the Department of Education is care as much about their land and the future as being given too much power. I always believe the best decision on education come locally from our any Iowan. Transportation will have several big issues teachers, school boards, parents and school staff. considered but one of the largest discussions I also am cautious of the recommendation to take coming is about the fuel tax. The director of the on education reform before have the allowable DOT came before the committee this week and growth discussion. Our school districts need explained in detail how the DOT works, where predictability when dealing with their budgets. The Senate Democrats have proposed a 4 its funding comes from and goes to, and his thoughts on the state of our roads and bridges. percent allowable growth increase. I applaud My position on the gas tax is this: I understand their quick action but I am concerned that even that we have an infrastructure problem. I also with 4 percent, a lot of our small schools will understand the benefit of it being a user fee and continue to lose money. Id like to see a discussion that more than 1/3 of the dollars will come from about how we can ensure that dollars get into out of state drivers who pay nothing to use our the classrooms of our small schools. The current funding formula doesnt always guarantee that. roads. I will consider a gas tax increase as long Allowable growth is not the answer to small and as the following are in place: It must remain a rural school inequities. Finally, property tax reform is coming. It will constitutionally protected revenue source that goes directly into the road-use fund, and the require compromise, working with both parformula is not changed so that our small towns ties, and not everyone will get what they want. However, doing nothing is not an option. The looming residential and agriculture property tax increases would be crippling and it is not good for our economy that our Main Street businesses continue to pay among the top three highest rates in the entire country. One of the highlights of my week was when the veterans came up on Wednesday. We had lunch, discussed veterans issues, and three of them even came up with me to the Dome which is a 600-step hike! Virgil, Merlin, and Bob great job! I cannot thank our veterans enough for their service and will continue to do whatever I can to help them legislatively. Listening Post Schedule: Saturday, Feb. 2, 9 a.m., Muscatine Community College; 1 p.m., Clarence City Hall. Capitol Visitors: John McFarland Solon, Mike and Karen Woltman Swisher, Al Behrens Lowden, Merlin Hillyer Bennett, Patty Hamann Tipton, Virgil Kruckenberg Lowden, Bob Stoltenberg Durant, Wayne Frauenholtz West Branch, John Phillips West Branch.

Your Capitol Voice

New revenue statement is important

Editor: On Feb. 5, there will be a vote to approve a Revenue Purpose Statement for the money received from the state one-cent sales tax money. The Revenue Purpose Statement determines how we can use this money we receive from the state. Currently, we use this money strictly for capital improvement and debt payment as allowed by law. When this tax was first approved by the voters of the Durant district, it was a local tax. Voters in the Durant district included residents of Cedar, Muscatine and Scott counties. Therefore, there were three different Revenue Purpose Statements, one for each county. The Revenue Purpose Statements determined how the local option sales tax money could be utilized. The reason for the February vote is that the local option sales tax has been replaced with a statewide sales tax. This change requires us to combine the three Revenue Purpose Statements into one if we want to continue to use the revenue from the statewide sales tax for capital improvements. If the measure does not pass, we will still receive the revenue from the state but we will only be able to use it to pay off current debt, which includes the 2000 addition and the one-to-one computer initiative. After all current debt is paid off, the district would then be able to utilize the sales tax dollars for capital improvements. The importance of this is if the measure does not pass, it would not allow us to install a new boiler system or complete any other capital projects until the addition and computers are paid in full. It is important to understand that approving the new Revenue Purpose Statement does not increase taxes; it just allows us to continue using the statewide sales tax the same way we currently are. The current boiler system was installed in 1959 and has outlived its useful life. It is costing more each year to maintain. I am very concerned that if it is not replaced soon, it will break down and will not be repairable. We could miss several days of school if this should happen. I encourage everyone to vote for the Revenue Purpose Statement. Duane Bennett Superintendent of Durant Schools