Message from Ed Fallon

Over the past week, the work that Lynn, Carol and I have focused on includes organizational restructuring, constituent service (more on this next week), candidate recruitment and legislative action.  In this week’s update, I want to talk about the latter – specifically, a bill setting up a system for voluntary public-financing of elections.

The bill – sometimes called the Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections act, or VOICE – is under consideration by the House State Government Committee.  VOICE provides qualifying candidates, i.e., those who agree to limit their spending and reject contributions from private sources, with a set amount of public funds to run for office.  Supporters feel it will help restore the principle of “one person, one vote,” reduce the influence of special-interest money, and restore public confidence in government and elections.

Nine states now offer some form of this law.  In Maine, after four election cycles, 84% of Maine’s lawmakers were elected without a penny from a PAC, lobbyist or big donor.  In Arizona, nine of eleven statewide office holders, including the governor, were elected using that state’s clean-election system.

The bill before the Iowa House State Government Committee is based on these states’ laws.  It funds the system in part with a 1% sales tax on political advertising, a voluntary $5 check-off on Iowans’ state tax returns, and a tax deduction of up to $200 in personal contributions to Iowa’s clean-election fund.

For those of us who want to take a bite out of big money, Monday, January 29th is an important day at the Statehouse.  Former Iowa Congressman Berkley Bedell will be there to push for state and federal campaign finance reform.  If you can get off work, even if just for the noon rally, it would be great to have a strong public showing.

Monday’s activities start at 11:00 in room 118 for a briefing on the proposed legislation and a discussion on how to be an effective citizen lobbyist.  At noon, there will be a rally featuring Berkley Bedell.  From 12:30 until 3:00, participants will have time to lobby their representatives and senators.  That evening, between 5:30 and 7:30, a reception is planned at the Iowa CCI office (Forest Avenue and M L King Blvd in Des Moines).  

Please be a part of this effort!  Campaign finance reform was THE central issue in my campaign for governor last year.  Last Saturday in Iowa City, I heard it resonate powerfully in John Edwards’ presidential campaign (the loudest ovation from the crowd of 700 came after Edwards announced his support for voluntary public-financing of elections).  This year, Iowa has a real opportunity to become the 10th state in the nation to enact a clean-election law.  Come to the Statehouse next Monday.  That may not be possible for a lot of you, but you can still weigh-in with an e-mail or phone call to your legislators.

To find out your state representative and senator, go to http://www.legis.state.ia.us/FindLeg/.

For a complete list of legislators, go to http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/legislators.do?.  

To contact a lawmaker by e-mail, use the following formula: FirstName.LastName@legis.state.ia.us.

To reach a lawmaker by phone between Monday and Thursday, call (515) 281-3371 for Senators and (515) 281-3221 for Representatives.

Thanks!

Ed Fallon



UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday, January 27
Rally to Oppose Escalating the War in Iraq
Hy-Vee Hall at the Iowa Events Center, Des Moines, 12:00 – 2:00 pm
The rally will be preceded at 11:30 by a march from Nollen Plaza to the Events Center
Contact Vern Naffier at (515) 964-1353 or joycevernhn@juno.com

Saturday, January 27
Local Foods & More Community Market Cooperative
Information meeting and membership drive
Carroll Rec Center Activities Room, 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Contact Denise Webber at (712) 830-1125 or organic_homestead@yahoo.com

Sunday, January 28
Event discussing the war in Iraq with Berkley Bedell
DMACC Urban Campus auditorium, Des Moines, 7:00 pm
Contact Chet Guinn at (515) 282-8054

Monday, January 29
Clean election lobby day at the Iowa Statehouse (see above)

Tuesday, January 30
Ed Fallon and Berkley Bedell on the Jan Mickelson show (1040 AM), 9:00 am
Ed Fallon and Berkley Bedell on J. Michael McCoy’s show (98.3 FM), 1:00 pm

Saturday, February 3
Iowa Network for Community-supported Agriculture annual meeting
Marshalltown Community College, Dejarden Hall, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
All-Iowa potluck from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm
Contact  (641) 751-2851 or stevensmith@growinca.org to register