Homers: What's going right

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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ON A ROLL?: For the 12th consecutive month, Iowa's Business Conditions Index showed an uptick. December data showed that Iowa regained a large share of durable goods manufacturing jobs it lost during the recession, and a survey of supply managers indicates the state's manufacturing base should expand in 2011 and lead to more than 5,000 jobs added in the first half alone. Expanding trade and robust farm income are driving factors.

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DRUG PRICES: Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has been criticized for parts of the 2003 Medicare prescription drug law that provided low-cost access to medicine for seniors - one being, it didn't allow the federal government to negotiate favorable drug prices from manufacturers, adding billions to Medicare bills. Grassley's plans to co-sponsor legislation to allow generic drugs to reach the market faster and give Americans to access imported prescription drugs could help drive down prices by increasing competition in the private sector.

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CHARITY TUNES: Cheers to Lexi Matthews, 17, of Marion, and Katie Bazan, 18, of Cedar Rapids, for creating Concerts for a Cause. Young musicians have raised about $5,000 for charity.