The Iowa Republican reports that Sioux City businessman and social conservative leader Bob Vander Plaats could raise $200,000 for his gubernatorial campaign at an event hosted by Chuck Norris at his ranch outside Navasota, Texas. A fleet of private jets carrying the roughly 40 Iowa attendees is reportedly en route. The price is $5,000 per couple — probably not including the cost of getting there.

Norris endorsed Vander Plaats in a syndicated column last June.

Gibbons, who coached ISU to an NCAA championship in 1987, said he will leave his job at Wells Fargo Advisers to campaign full time. He has never held public office.

Zaun told CQ Politics he will make a formal announcement of his intentions to run in the GOP primary Dec. 1. Zaun is a former Urbandale mayor and is serving his second term in the Iowa Senate.

The two join retired pilot Dave Funk, who declared his intentions to run earlier this year.

Jill Kozeny, communications director for Grassley, was responding to an Iowa Independent story in which Kiernan attacked the senator’s comparison of civilian trials for terror suspects to the murder trial of O.J. Simpson. Kiernan called Grassley’s comparison “fear mongering” designed to “distract from the larger national security issues facing our country.” He said Grassley was calling into question the constitutional right to a trial by jury.

While questioning U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Wednesday during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Grassley was attempting to make the point that assurances from the administration that the suspects would never be acquitted were not enough.

Holder said in response to Grassley’s questions that the likelihood of acquittal is remote, and if it were to happen, the suspects would never be released in the U.S. Justice Department officials told the New York Times that even if suspects are acquitted, the Obama administration will keep them locked up forever as a “combatant” under the laws of war.

“As Sen. Grassley revealed with the questions he asked yesterday, the administration’s argument for trying the terrorists in a federal court is a hollow one because the Attorney General pledged to keep the terrorists as enemy combatants regardless of the outcome in the courtroom,” she said. “The real questions are, why are terrorists being given more rights than U.S. service members fighting overseas, and why are Americans being subjected to an expensive security risk on U.S. soil if the terrorists could end up being held by the United States under military detention, just as they are being held today?”

Kozeny said Holder’s promise that the suspects will be convicted has “threatened the fairness of the trial by jury that is the bedrock of the U.S. Constitution,” a fact she says undermines Kiernan’s attacks.

While questioning Attorney General Eric Holder about the idea of prosecuting five men accused as co-conspirators in the Sept. 11 attacks in a federal court in New York, Grassley said assurances that they will be convicted ring hollow since “I think a lot of Americans thought O.J. Simpson ought to be convicted of murder, rather than being in jail for what he’s in jail for now. It seemed to me ludicrous.”

“I’m a farmer, not a lawyer, but I just wanted to make an observation,” Grassley said.

Kiernan said Grassley is engaging in “Karl Rove-style fear-mongering tactics” that are designed to “distract from the larger national security issues facing our country.”

“Trial by jury is the bedrock of the US Constitution,” Kiernan said. “Grassley calls this constitutional right into question and insults the American people, who every day make difficult and complicated decisions. There is simply no place for Grassley’s disrespectful politicization of this issue in today’s debate.”

After Grassley’s statement, Holder assured Iowa’s senior senator that even if acquitted terror suspects would not be released in the U.S.

Liberal blog Talking Points Memo has video of the exchange between Grassley and Holder.

U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) on Capitol Hill (Lauren Victoria Burke/WDCPIX.COM)

“I’m going to take this out and attack the opponents on this, and be proactive in saying that we have a deal here that’s gonna make it better for the American people,” Harkin said Thursday morning in a conference call with reporters.

Harkin said he “can only hope” that Republicans who have opposed reform efforts will make the legislation a theme in their speeches on the campaign trail.

“I hope it is an issue next year,” he said.

“There are a lot of things that will start going into effect next year, for example, we started a high-risk pool for people with pre-existing conditions. I want to see [Republicans] say that is not a good deal.”

Harkin noted that the bill prohibits rescission, provides coverage for those who retire early and are not eligible for Medicare, offers tax credits to small businesses that provide health coverage to employees, eliminates co-pays and deductibles for preventative care, allows children to continue on family policies through age 26, and bans lifetime benefit limits.

“The biggest single cause of bankruptcies in Iowa is health care expenses when people bump up against their lifetime limits,” Harkin said. “We banned those. I’d like to see the Republicans go out next year and tell everyone that is a bad deal.”

In addition, Harkin is convinced that voters “are not going to look kindly upon the Republicans for their delaying tactics” in connection with reform efforts.

“Let’s have the amendments. Let’s have the votes. I’m not afraid of that,” he said. “I’m more than willing to have these amendments and have the votes, but you are just going to filibuster the bill — well, it’s time to get to a vote.”

Harkin, who celebrates his 70th birthday today, also renewed his call for members of the Senate to work all weekend, if necessary, in order to pass reform efforts on to the conference committee. He now anticipates that a health care reform bill will be ready for a Presidential signature by January.

Here is a transcript of some of Harkin’s comments:

I can only hope so. I hope that we pass the bill, that it goes to conference and that we give it to the President and he signs it. I hope it is an issue next year. I hope they come out — I hope the Republicans next year, when things start going into effect — there are a lot of things that will start going into effect next year, for example, we start a high-risk pool for people with pre-existing conditions to go into. I want to see them say that is not a good deal. We stopped recissions, so that insurance companies cannot drop you when you become sick. I’d like to see the Republicans next year go out and say that is a bad deal for the people of America.

We have a new re-insurance for retirees, to cover retirees who aren’t yet eligible for Medicare. We have a provision in there that will provide for coverage for these [individuals]. I’d like to see them go out and tell people from age 55 to 65 that this is a bad deal for them.

We have small business tax credits. Tax credits that go up to about 50 percent for small businesses to be able to get coverage for their employees. I’d like to see Republicans go to every small business in Iowa and tell them that is a bad deal.

Our bill bans lifetime limits. How many times do people go into bankruptcy in this country and in Iowa? The biggest single cause of bankruptcies in Iowa is health care expenses when people bump up against their lifetime limits. We banned those. I’d like to see the Republicans go out next year and tell everyone that is a bad deal.

We provide for no co-pays and no deductibles for certain prevention screenings and wellness benefits. I’d like to see see them go out and say that is a bad deal.

Our bill, next year, would require insurers to permit children to stay on their family policies until they are age 26. I’d like to see the Republicans go out next year and just say that is a bad deal for everyone.

Well, you get my point. I’d love to have this debate next year.

Not only defending — promoting.

You know my old stock thing: Never defend, always attack.

Poll after poll, people want this. It is just like the public option. Almost 2-to-1 people support a public option — and among Democrats it is 4-to-1, and among doctors 3-to-1 in this country.

So, I’d like to see the Republicans go out and tell people this is a bad deal.

I also think that people are not going to look kindly upon the Republicans for their delaying tactics on this. Let’s bring it up for a vote. Let’s have the amendments, as we did in our committee. Let’s have the amendments. Let’s have the votes. I’m not afraid of that. I’m more than willing to have these amendments and have the votes, but if you are just going to filibuster the bill — well, it’s time to get to a vote.

“I’m not going to engage in political fear mongering about something that is very serious to the safety and security to the people I represent,” Braley said Wednesday afternoon on a conference call with reporters.

In particular, Braley singled out Matt Strawn, chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, as someone who appears to be engaged in politicizing the discussion. Earlier today Strawn issued a press release that called on Braley, who has not yet made a decision regarding the move of detainees to the Illinois facility, to “reverse his support for housing Guantanamo terrorist detainees on American soil and near the Iowa border.”

“My question for people like Matt Strawn is, ‘Where were you when convicted terrorists were being housed in federal prisons in the Midwest?’ There are 340 inmates, who are either connected to international or domestic terrorism, and 35 of those inmates are currently already incarcerated in federal prisons in the state of Illinois.”

One of those housed in Illinois, according to Braley, is an Al-Qaeda sleeper agent who is an inmate in a federal prison in Marion, Ill. Others include individuals convicted of being involved in international drug cartels.

“If people had taken the time like I did to travel to Thomson, Ill. and get an extensive briefing from the Federal Bureau of Prisons director, they would be aware of this fact,” he said.

Federal authorities are considering the purchase of a prison facility near the town of Thomson, Ill., located just across the Mississippi River from Clinton. The facility, which was constructed in 2001 yet never fully used by the state, would be modified and used as a maximum-security facility that is anticipated not only to house between 100 and 150 detainees from Guantanamo Bay, but also roughly 1,400 other federally convicted individuals. It is unknown at this time if the Federal Bureau of Prisons would still be interested in purchasing the facility if it were not available for housing the terrorism suspects.

On Monday, Braley traveled to Thomson to meet with local authorities and residents, and to receive a private briefing and tour of the prison facility. During the briefing, Braley said many of his questions were about the public services impact that would be experienced by Clinton, which is the largest community in the immediate geographical area.

“I wanted to know how it would impact the people I represent from both a safety/security and economic standpoint,” he said.

The area surrounding the prison in both Iowa and Illinois has been hit hard by the recent economic downturn. The projected economic impact of the facility, if the plan moves forward, is $1 billion annually, based upon the additional federal prison employees that would be hired once the facility is operational and the construction and other workers that would provide the modifications to prepare the facility.

“One of the things I made clear when I met with these officials is that I’m keeping an open mind, and that I would not make up my mind on whether or not I felt this was a good decision until I had been fully briefed and had an opportunity to share concerns that had been expressed with the constituents I represent in Iowa,” said Braley. “We are working right now with the federal officials to try to set up some type of a public meeting on the Iowa side so that residents can come, share their concerns and learn more about how this decision, if it is implemented, will impact them.”

Although details are still being worked out for the exact date of that meeting, Braley said he would like to see it held in Clinton due to the impact the facility will have on that community.

“The thing that people are forgetting is that there is going to be a very large population at the Thomson facility that are not detainees, but are very dangerous individuals — just as there are at other maximum-security federal prisons all over the county,” Braley said. “I think people need to be thinking about the implications of bringing those individuals into the area just as seriously as they are the possibility of bringing very dangerous people in from Guantanamo.”

If the facility is selected and the terrorism suspects from Guantanamo Bay are housed there, those individuals will be transported to the east coast for prosecution and trial. Also, even if they are found not guilty of their charges, none of them will ever be released on U.S. soil. Due to Congressional mandates, those individuals would need to be transported to their home country for release, or perhaps handed to a different country for further criminal prosecution.

Although housing detainees from Guantanamo on American soil has recently become a partisan issue, individuals on both sides of the political aisle have expressed their support for closing the facility, which many believe has become a recruitment rallying cry for terrorists.

The State Police Officers Council (SPOC) has agreed that its 640 members will take five furlough days during the remaining 7 months of FY2010, a move that will create approximately $847,435 in savings.

The state would also suspend contributions to a deferred compensation retirement plan, according to the agreement. The governor’s office estimates this provision will create approximately $226,232 in savings.

The agreement mirrors one reached by the state and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 61 last week that saved 479 jobs.

By agreeing to these measures, SPOC members will be safe from layoffs during the current fiscal year, which ends July 30, 2010.

Next week , the SPOC Board will submit the agreement to union members for a full vote. An announcement on the outcome of the vote is expected close to the AFSCME vote on Nov. 25.

“I want to thank the leadership at SPOC for joining with us to protect essential public safety jobs,” Culver said in a statement. “This understanding will help to keep Iowans safe while meeting our obligation to balance the state budget.  I am very pleased by the agreement and I encourage the membership to vote yes on this measure.”

Last month, Culver ordered a 10 percent across-the-board cut to the state’s budget. Initial budget cut proposals called for more than 800 layoffs. Culver announced that unions representing employees from the Department of Public Safety and Department of Corrections would have to open up their contracts in order to avoid layoffs. Two of the three unions have now come to understandings with the state government, with the third, Iowa United Professionals (IUP), deciding to accept 55 layoffs.

IUP represents 3,000 members, including social workers and corrections counselors.

The latest attack was delivered in Dubuque by state Rep. Chris Rants against former Gov. Terry Branstad. Rants said he spoke earlier in the day with activists who wanted him to support an increase of the gas tax.

“I told him ‘if you’re looking for someone to raise taxes, I’m not your candidate,’” Rants said, adding: “You’re not going to find a candidate that is going to tell you what you want to hear. And he told me that’s not true – Terry Branstad will raise the gas tax.”

Rants said he defended Branstad by saying “just because he raised it once doesn’t mean he’s going to raise it again.”

“He said, ‘No, he’s already told us he’s going to raise the gas tax,’” Rants said.

Iowa Democrats posted video of the speech on their “Iowa Knows Better” Web site. IDP Chairman Michael Kiernan called the speech “deeply troubling in that it would seem Terry Branstad has not learned his lessons about tax increases on Iowans and intends to be a repeat offender.”

This isn’t the first time the IDP has highlighted GOP intra-party conflict. In September, Democrats pointed to Rants’ criticism of rival Bob Vander Plaats’ tenure as CEO of the nonprofit Opportunities Unlimited and his statements regarding paying off state bonds. Last month, a meeting between Branstad and social conservative leaders resulted in two separate IDP attacks against the four-term governor.

The Democrats’ strategy also points to one of the dangers posed by a contentious GOP gubernatorial primary. Observers have said a nasty primary fight could create fissures within the party structure that may not heal before Election Day. However, there are also those who believe the eventual nominee will benefit from a rigorous primary, as all potential attacks will be made public, avoiding an “October Surprise” in 2010.

Though each Iowan seems to have his or her own ideas for how money should be cut from the budget, few blame the Democrats for overspending on their key priorities over the past few years.

In all, majorities support Democrats’ expansion of health insurance coverage for children, spending on public schools, repairing roads and bridges, raising teacher pay, and developing renewable energy. A plurality supports expanded free preschool.

On most budget items, pluralities of Iowans agree with the idea of cutting everything by an equal amount, except when it comes to health insurance for low-income residents and the Iowa State Patrol, which majorities say should be spared from cuts. This seems to conform to Gov. Chet Culver’s decision to make an across-the-board budget cut now and use the beginning of the legislative session next year to restore some funding for key priorities.

That said, Iowans have mixed feelings about the decisions that have been made to cut the state budget. Though only 19 percent of respondents said they were “Very Confident” or “Mostly Confident” about the budget-cutting decisions, 44 percent were “Just Somewhat Confident.” 35 percent were not confident.

(Incidentally, it seems strange that this question had three positive responses and just one negative response. These responses may fit people’s opinions best, but they also can also be confusing to interpret. The Register story itself seems to add up “Somewhat Confident” and “Not Confident” to demonstrate a disapproving majority, but “Somewhat Confident” doesn’t sound very disapproving to me. It was the closest thing to a middle ground that pollsters offered, and it implies slight approval, not disapproval.)

You can read the Register’s write-up of the poll here.

President Barack Obama has said he wants Guantanamo Bay facility by January. A nearly-empty Illinois prison near the Mississippi River on the border with Braley’s district is among U.S. locations being considered to house the detainees.

Caitlin Legacki, Braley’s communication director, said the congressman has met with officials from the White House, Department of Homeland Security and the Illinois Bureau of Prisons to discuss the security implications associated with this proposal.

“Additionally, Congressman Braley believes the input of surrounding communities should be considered in this decision-making process,” Legacki said. “This decision should be made based on our national security interests and the safety and security of our citizens, not based on people trying to score political points.”

Earlier Monday, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn called on Braley to oppose the proposal to move the detainees to Illinois. That call was later joined by U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, who said if the terrorist were ever released “innocent people would die and some of them likely will be Americans.”

According to Federal Bureau of Prisons statistics, there are already 347 inmates in federal prisons convicted of international or domestic terrorism. Those include Richard Reid, known as the “shoe bomber,” Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, the man behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, Wadih El-Hage, Osama bin Laden’s former secretary, and Zacarias Moussaoui, who was convicted for his role in the 9/11 attacks.

Under the plan to shut down the Guantanamo Bay facility, only about 60 detainees would be transferred to Illinois.