As the first month of the 2007 legislative session
ends, it’s encouraging to see the Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections
(VOICE) initiative receiving serious attention.  More and more Iowans
are weighing in on the issue.  About 75 people from 15 counties came to
the Capitol on Monday, joining former Congressman Berkley Bedell to
lobby the Legislature in support of HSB 105.  Coverage of VOICE by the
media and interest among lawmakers continues to grow.  With a little
luck and a lot more effort, 2007 could be the year that marks the end
of Big Money’s dominant influence in Iowa politics.

In addition
to legislative advocacy, Lynn, Jean and I remain quite busy juggling
the concerns individuals continue to bring to our attention.  The
steady stream of mail Jean receives from prisoners regarding a variety
of prison problems keeps her quite busy.  After volunteering as my
Legislative Aide on Criminal Justice for three years, she now works in
the same capacity for representatives Ako Abdul-Samad and Janet
Petersen.

Lynn has been trying to help a man at the state
institution in Cherokee who has struggled to get assistance to have his
teeth fixed.  She and I both worked with a mother who battled the
Department of Human Services after her young son tragically passed away
recently.  I have also been trying to help a city councilman figure out
how to address a web of confusion surrounding recent planning and
zoning decisions in his small town.

Last Saturday in Des Moines,
I spoke at a rally calling for an end to the escalation of the war in
Iraq.  A week earlier, I spoke at a meeting of the Fraternal Order of
Eagles, who are raising funds to send disabled veterans on fishing
excursions to northern Minnesota, a program called “Castaways.”

There
were about 100 people at that event, including three young soldiers
wounded in Iraq.  One had lost the lower half of both legs.  Another
survived a bullet to his head.  A third, his entire left side partially
paralyzed, bore a massive scar on his head.  I helped auction off a
guitar that sold for about $700, and I threw in a couple of free
lessons.

A lot of moving words were spoken that evening.  Yet
not once did anyone mention President Bush.  Not once did anyone extol
the glories of war.  And during my turn to speak, I drew a very
positive response when I said:  “Regardless of whether you supported
the war and regardless of what you think should happen next, we should
all be united in support of the men and women sent to Iraq, both in the
field and when they return home.”

Iowans of differing
perspectives on the war need to reach out to each other, to build
community.  There is nothing incompatible about both attending a peace
rally and offering support to a soldier who has gone to Iraq, or to his
or her family.  There is nothing incompatible about calling on Congress
to not fund President Bush’s escalation of the war, yet demanding that
those troops already stationed in Iraq have what they need to assure
their safety and well-being.  And we need to make certain that both
Congress and the Iowa Legislature adequately fund the programs and
services essential to helping Iraq War veterans reintegrate back into
society upon their return.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.  Please consider forwarding it to others, and feel free to write back.

Ed Fallon

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, February 4, 5:00 – ?
SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!!
Ok,
we’re trying to have a little fun here.  In the interest of building
community with new constituencies, I and at least one friend, possibly
two, would like to invite you to invite us to your Super Bowl party.
 We promise to behave reasonably well, not eat all your food, play a
tune on the accordion, and root for both the Colts and the Bears
(whether you want us to or not).  And when it comes to beverages, we’ll
even BOOS (Bring Our Own Swill).  Really, who could possibly refuse
such an offer?