Grassley Ltr federal $ assistanQ~y Manager's Office
50 West 13th Street
Dubucl~e, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4110 office
(563) 589-4149 fax
ct~xtgri~tyof~lubuque.org
May 30, 2003
VIA E-mail and
1St Class Mail
chuck_grassley@grassley.senate.gov
Senator Charles Grassley
United States Senate
135 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-1501
Dear Senator Grassley,
Thank you for fighting for our communities in Iowa to get federal financial assistance
during these very difficult economic times. I was fortunate enough to watch CSP^N and
see your eloquent and passionate defense of these funds on the Senate floor.
Your intent was clear, help state and local government weather these tough times. I am
sure you are as shocked as I am that the Iowa Senate passed a bill in special session
that does not pass any federal funding down to local governments in Iowa. This is in
spite of the fact that the Iowa House and Senate had passed legislation dudng their
regular session that takes $77 million of funding from local govemments.
The City of Dubuque needed the federal assistance because Dubuque was facing a
budget deficit of over $1 million. A hiring freeze and expense reductions helped
Dubuque get through the budget process in March. With the state's funding reductions
and continued bad economic news, the City of Dubuque is now facing almost $2 million
in operating budget cuts.
Please provide any support to local governments you can by urging the State of Iowa to
honor the intent of the federal assistance package you so bravely and effectively
supported.
Senator Chades Grassley
May 30, 2003
Page 2
Thank you again for your support on this very important issue.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
MCVM:jh
cc: Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council
Senator Mike Connolly
Senator Julie Hosch
Senator Roger Stewart
Representative Para Jochum
Representative Pat Murphy
Representative Robert Osterhaus
Representative Steve Lukan
Representative Gene Mantemach
Susan Judkins, Director of Governmental Affairs, Iowa League of Cities
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager