Domestic call July 31

Douglas is going to start us on a new regimen. Each month we will work on one way to make our groups stronger. This is going to be tough for me, as I think our group is already mighty strong! But I will do my best on this task.

Senator Grassley voted against S. 3335, the $8500 threshold for the Child Tax Credit. Since we won't be "officially" meeting in August to take action (except for training Leland and Nancy), let's make this our August action: call Senator Grassley's office, using the laser talk below if you like, some time during the August recess. His Washington number is 202-224-3744. Ask to talk to Ryan Abraham. Or call his Cedar Rapids office at 363-6832 and ask to talk to Mary.

"Senator, I am very disappointed that you did not vote for H.R.6049 orS.3335, the House and Senate tax extenders bills. These bills both include a Child Tax Credit provision which sets the income eligibility threshold at $8,500 for 2008, which will benefit 13 million children in this country and 100,000 Iowa children. When families are struggling with rising food and gas prices, there is no excuse for delay on this issue. I expect you to pass a responsible tax extenders bill in September that includes an $8,500 threshold for the Child Tax Credit."

Douglas always ends our call with a joke. This week it was a story about a man with a hamster. He took the hamster to the vet because the little pet was lethargic. The vet examined the hamster and said, "I'm sorry, sir. Your hamster is dead." The man was astonished at this. He said, "I want a second opinion." So the vet opened the door and brought in a dog from the hallway. The large, black dog sniffed the hamster and poked it with its nose and looked up at the vet and just shook its head. The vet told the man, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, sir, but your hamster is dead." The man said, "There's no way this hamster is dead. I want another opinion. So the vet opened the door and in walked a cat, who looked shook it's little head. The vet looked at the man and said, "Again, sir, I'm sorry. Your hamster is dead. And here is today's bill."

The man looked at the bill. It was for $1000. The man cried out, "How in the world can you charge me $1000 just to tell me my hamster is dead?"

"Well," said the vet, "there's my examination and diagnosis, plus the Lab report, plus the CAT scan."