Iowa in the News: Nader, Outsourcing, GLBT, Health Care, & Tax Cuts
Bush backers helping Nader to get on Iowa ballot
Quad-City Times
DES
MOINES (AP) — President Bush’s backers are gathering signatures on
petitions to put maverick candidate Ralph Nader’s name on the ballot in
Iowa.
With
most polls showing the race between Bush and presumptive Democratic
nominee John Kerry a virtual tie, Nader’s presence on the ballot could
be crucial in deciding where the state’s seven electoral votes land.
As they
left a Bush campaign rally in Cedar Rapids Tuesday, activists were
greeted by volunteers seeking help with “a project to help the
president.”
The
volunteers were seeking signatures on petitions to get Nader’s name on
the ballot, carefully explaining that Nader’s presence would be helpful
to Bush because the former consumer activist would drain votes from
Kerry.
(more)
Report: Iowa gives little business to outsourcing firms
Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier
DES
MOINES (AP) — Almost all 50 states are giving contracts to companies
that send the work overseas, but agencies in Iowa have done little
business with such outsourcing companies, a new report said.
Iowa has
not awarded contracts to any of the 18 companies identified in the
report as performing state government contracts with cheap overseas
labor, according to the report.
The
report was prepared by Good Jobs First, a nonprofit research center,
for a union representing white collar workers that has fought
outsourcing.
(more)
Schools: Gay rights covered in policies
The Hawk Eye Newspaper, Burlington, Iowa
Southeast Iowa districts don't specify sexual orientation in anti–discrimination guidelines
While
Burlington officials wrestle with whether to include a reference to
sexual orientation in the city's anti–discrimination ordinance,
southeast Iowa school district officials say even without that language
in current harassment policies, homosexual students and staff are
protected.
Only a
handful of Iowa districts have specific language on the subject, and
Burlington Superintendent Mike Book said he is surprised, given the
sheer number of districts in the state, that more do not.
(more)
Iowa Paraplegic Fights For Support
KWWL.com
The
freedom of living at home is something most all of us take for
granted. However, for one 20-year old Iowa man, that freedom may
soon be in jeopardy. Tony Ramos of Oelwein is a paraplegic.
Ramos was injured in a car-bicycle accident in the mid-90's.
Most
people look forward to turning 21-years old. Ramos however is dreading
his 21st birthday in September because that's when the state will
recognize him as an adult. That means he'll lose thousands of
dollars in state grants, which enable him to live at home. He says, “I
think its terrible. I don't want to go to a nursing home, that's for
older folks. I still want to live life. I want to go to college and I
want to make something of my life.”
(more)
Report says Iowa tops in cutting taxes
Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier
DES
MOINES (AP) — A new report says Iowa cut taxes by more than 1 percent
of its expected revenue in the current budget year, the only state in
the nation to do so.
. . .
But Rep. Ed Fallon, a Des Moines Democrat, said Iowa cannot afford to
continue cutting taxes and slashing the state's ability to provide
basic services.
“We're,
in fact, out of step with what legislatures across the country are
doing,” said Fallon, who earlier this year proposed repealing tax cuts
to help pay for education. “The tax cuts are a big reason why our
budget is having trouble.”
“This
report confirms what we've been saying all along, and that is Iowa
doesn't need any more tax cuts,” said Lana Oppenheim Schlapkohl, a
spokeswoman for the Iowa State Education Association, which represents
about 32,000 teachers.
(more)
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