Page 8 The Advocate News (Wilton-Durant, Iowa) Thursday, March 20, 2014

OPINION
'Billion Dollar' or busted bracket? Time will tell

he calendar has hit mid-March. Any faithful reader of this column knows that March is my favorite month. Not because of the warming weather although that is icing on the cake but because as of Tuesday, the greatest spectacle in sports, the NCAA mens basketball tournament, was underway. We know and understand that not everyone cares or follows sports, yet as Stuart Scott of ESPN said recently, everyone lls out a bracket. Its fun for all. It seems like every ofce in America (except ours!) has an NCAA March Madness pool. With the added excitement that brings in even the casual sports fan, every year there seems to be a new By Derek Sawvell gimmick surrounding the madness. The Internet only adds to the zeal. This years gimmick the Billion Dollar Bracket. Thanks to the backing of billionaire Warren Buffett, Quicken Loans has instituted the Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge. With the help of Yahoo.com, up to 15 million hopefuls can submit an NCAA bracket full of 63 game predictions yes Iowa fans, Quicken and Buffett dont care about the play-in games with the perfect bracket bringing home $1 billion. The catch: Its impossible to pick the perfect bracket. As a teaser, Buffett is saying it can be done. But due to statistical analysis, the odds are what is known as 2 to the 63rd, or one in nine quintillion 9 with 18 zeros! According to an article I read on Slate.com, according to the ne print of the Quicken bracket challenge rules, the odds of winning the grand prize are 1:9,223,372,036,854,775,808. For comparison, the odds of winning the Powerball lottery jackpot are one in 175-plus million. Odds of winning Mega Millions are one in 258-plus million. Yet like anyone else, Ill enter the bracket challenge, and perhaps even buy a lottery ticket while Im at it! This years NCAA tournament is wide open. That seems to be the theme of recent tournaments as well, resulting in my brackets being continually busted. See this page for my picks. My thoughts: Several of the teams seeded one through four are capable of making a run to the

Case in Point

title. Ive been high on Florida for a few years now. The Gators have made three straight Elite Eights and are full of seniors. While my head says Florida, I'm goig to go with my heart and all the analysts on ESPN and pick Michigan State to win it all. Call it a "homer" pick but the Spartans are 21-3 this season when healthy, as they are now. My Final Four: Florida, Michigan State, Arizona and Duke. For some statistical analysis, enter Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com, who became a household name when he

correctly predicted 49 of 50 states in the 2008 presidential election and predicted the winners of all Senate races that year. His models have predicted Florida, Michigan State, Arizona and Louisville for the Final Four with Louisville having the best statistical chance to win it all. Regardless, just being able to see the opening weekend, where the Sweet 16 takes shape, is the nest four days in sports. This year also marks the rst since 2005

that both Iowa and Iowa State made the mens tournament. Iowa got in by the hair on their chins as one of the play-in teams Although coming in losers of six of their last seven, for some foolish reason I feel the Hawks can win a game or two. Perhaps my rst of many bad predictions! The Cyclones on the other hand are the real deal. They have ve guys who can score and shoot the three, and theyre peaking at the right time.

More letters on page 14

visit. I love to see the reaction of people who visit for the rst time. You all have sent me to work in one of the most beautiful settings in Iowa. The tour of the Capitol is both historical and highlights the stunning architecture. I had the honor of presenting a ag and an ofcial certicate of recognition to Don Place of Durant. Don served two tours in Vietnam and is also an author. I cannot thank him enough for his service and was honored that he got recognition and a standing ovation by the Iowa House of Representatives. Capitol visitors: Chad Whaley - West Branch; Sheriff Warren Wethington, Jerry and Rita Sloan, Laura Twing Tipton; Don and Tammy Place Durant; Todd, Deb, and Costner Pruess Lowden; Bob Anderson Swisher; Cathy Grawe, Arleigh Clemons Coralville; David Bywater, Larry Lockwood - Iowa City. Listening Post schedule: March 22 - Dittos Restaurant, Stanwood, 8:30 a.m. Contact Bobby: E-mail: Bobby.Kaufmann@legis.iowa.gov Call: 515-281-3221 Write: 1527 330th St. Wilton IA 52778

'Looks like we're going to have an efcient session'

Last week was the second funnel deadline. This means that any bill passing the Senate has to make it through both a House subcommittee and a House committee to remain alive. The exception to that rule is any bills that are assigned to the Appropriations and Ways and Means committees. Bills in these committees are alive for the entire session. It looks more and more like we are going to have an efcient session and actually adjourn early, which also means a savings for taxpayers. One notable piece of legislation that survived the funnel, and was one of my priorities I discussed with all of you in my January column, concerns elder abuse. Iowa is one of the few states to not have a true elder abuse law. I sit on the Judiciary committee and on Wednesday we unanimously passed legislation to establish strong deterrents to elder abuse. The bill does several things. Most importantly it establishes the crime of nancial exploitation. Currently there is no good legal mechanism to prosecute those who take advantage of, and steal from, vulnerable seniors under their care. The bill applies the same penalties as theft. This means the range of punishment can go from a simple misdemeanor (under $200) to a Class C felony (over $10,000). We also established a protective order system. This will allow the elderly to get a protective order to keep those who are abusing them out of their lives. Finally, it continues the Elder Abuse task force for the rest of this year. The Elder Abuse task force will be asked to research and assess how much money will be needed to implement this system. Right now ideas and numbers are all over the board. The task force will report to the Legislature judged by how they treat their most vulnerable and recommend funding levels before bud- citizens and this week two such bills are a step gets come out next year. I have advocated closer to being reality. I am hoping that if both for this law since January and I will see this of these bills are signed by the Governor, victims of elder and domestic through all the way to abuse will be safer in this Gov. Branstads desk. The state. bill passed unanimously Now that funnel week out of Judiciary, another is over, the overarching example of how split emphasis will be on the government and working remaining policy bills and across the aisle can prothe nearly $7 billion budduce good results. In the get. There are still many end, it was a bill both parBy Rep. Bobby Kaufmann details to work out. I also ties could unanimously support in committee. The key is discussion hope that leaders in both parties will consider and respect for all points of view with everyone my compromise plan for the funding of K-12 not forgetting that these laws are for the most schools: 4 percent Allowable Growth for 2015 along with a change in the law to set those vulnerable citizens. Also in Judiciary committee this week I budgets like the rest of state government in a ran a bill concerning abusive relationships. two-year budget cycle. Setting a number 18 Currently if you are in an abusive relationship months ahead of schedule is not good scal and you wish to leave, you cant take your pet policy, BUT the school districts also need aswith you. This causes many people to stay surance that the rst year of the budget will in their abusive relationship out of fear of include that number in the rst 30 days retaliation to their pet. I was never aware of no exceptions. Last week was a very busy week for Capitol this problem until the groups advocating for victims of abuse and trying to prevent more visitors. I appreciate when all of you come to abuse to women (and occasionally men) visited with me and testied at a subcommittee. Domestic abuse is a problem in Iowa and this change in Iowa law could save a womans life. The evidence is clear. This bill also passed full committee unanimously with bipartisan Editor: Bravo to the Durant school district for setsupport. This bill also species that only pets such as cats and dogs (not livestock) can be ting up the Durant Challenge Day! And also, bravo to Kim Sloan of the included in a protective order. I often hear people say that a society is Advocate News for writing an excellent report about it, as well as choosing my granddaughter,

Your Capitol Voice

Bravo for Challenge Day

Samantha Fusco, to interview! Im glad that she felt it was helpful to her. Hopefully most of them had similar experiences and were beneted by the program also. Beth Looker Tipton