Tip of the hat to EarlG on democraticunderground.com
Thursday was another opinion day for the Supreme Court. Many of us were hopeful following the rejection of the crazy “Independent Legislature” theory was finally and forcefully rejected that maybe, just maybe SCOTUS would surprise us once again and possibly keep some of the major parts of Affirmative Action in place.
But as we all knew when Chuck Grassley and Mitch McConnell unconstitutionally blocked Merrick Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade and Affirmative Action were two of the top targets for an extremist right wing court that Republicans wanted to build after blocking Garland.
So here we are once again at the end of June, right before another celebration of America’s birthday, seeing progress reversed for yet more groups in this country. Last year it was women in the Dobbs decision. This year it is anyone who is not a white male. The decision in the Affirmative Action cases hit people of color and white women.
Thus of Grassley’s blocking of Garland and his support for a twice impeached, twice indicted suspected traitor pays dividends for his party. Once again we see Grassley’s party first policies returns America to a fantasy place that extremist Republicans believed was once true in the 1950s, but never was.
The claims by Republicans that now America will be color blind as it once was 50+ years ago shows they live in a world of myths. It is very easy to show that America has never been color blind. The attempts to give several groups a hand up to help diminish the yawning gaps created by the color driven social policies. SCOTUS said no.
Well, that’s what this court was assembled for. They still have more work to do. For some contraception, gay marriage and even the school desegregation case, Brown v. Board are in heir sights.
The lesson for today is that in every presidential election, Supreme Court appointments have become an unspoken issue. Although they will not say so out loud, ending progress to a truly color blind society is one of the far right Republican Part’s top goals.
Below is a response to the Affirmative Action decision from one of America’s most prominent citizens, Michelle Obama, that I found online:
Climate related wild fires are raging all across Canada making the great Iowa outdoors essentially uninhabitable throughout the state. Yesterday SCOTUS struck down college affirmative action setting the country back 50 years. And also yesterday a big win for Iowa voters and another bad week for Kim Reynolds.
“On June 29, 2023 an Iowa court ruled that Iowa’s English-only law does not apply to voting materials and dissolved the previous injunction that prohibited the Iowa secretary of state from providing non-English voter registration forms. As a result of this ruling, counties will now be permitted to provide voting materials— including voter registration forms, absentee ballot applications and ballots — in languages other than English.” – Democracy Docket
Here’s another morsel of the current political situation in Iowa. Check out the action alert below from House Democratic Leader JenniferKonfrst.
The Iowa Supreme Court upheld a ruling to protect reproductive freedom in Iowa a few weeks ago. It means Iowa’s current law remains unchanged.
With speculation running wild right now amongst insiders at the State Capitol, lots of Iowans are wondering what comes next. The answer is pretty simple: no one knows yet.
The Governor was furious she didn’t get her way from the conservative judges she appointed. GOP legislative leaders are equally mad and they all pledged to do something.
The special interest groups were quick to weigh in. They’re demanding immediate action from lawmakers to ban all abortion in Iowa without any exceptions including rape or life of the mother. Some GOP lawmakers have already jumped on board, but it’s not clear how many.
The charge is being led by Bob VanderPlaats, a long-time, ultra-conservative political insider. He’s got outsized influence over Republican politicians at the State Capitol with a well-funded team of lobbyists. Since the ruling came out, he’s called to impeach the Iowa Supreme Court judges who didn’t agree with him and is now trying to wield more power by forcing GOP presidential candidates to stand by his side.
Honestly, that’s just all politics.
We all know Iowans are sick and tired of politics as usual. We also know Iowans want reproductive freedom. In fact, an overwhelming majority of Iowans believe everyone deserves the right to make their own health care decisions, especially when it comes to reproductive care and abortion.
And I agree with the majority of Iowans. Politicians and judges have no place interfering in someone else’s decision about when to start a family. These decisions are deeply personal and the ability to make our own health care decisions is fundamental to our rights as individuals.
I think the way forward is clear: put people over politics. It means listening to and then acting on what Iowans actually want, not doing what the special interests demand.
We should not just protect reproductive freedom for Iowans, but expand it. Here are some steps the Iowa Legislature can take to do it:
Make birth control accessible through a pharmacist without a prescription
Extend postpartum coverage to 12 months for Iowans on Medicaid
Guarantee reproductive freedom by adding it to Iowa’s Constitution
Restore family planning programs under Medicaid
I’m not naive. It’s unlikely that the Governor and Republicans will change course. They are more likely to strip away the fundamental right to reproductive freedom that we have in Iowa today.
At a minimum, the Governor and Republican leaders ought to wait until the next legislative session starts in January before making any changes to our law. A special session held quickly to appease demands from special interests and lobbyists would likely result in a new law that even more Iowans don’t agree with.
Iowans are terribly frustrated with politicians and I think being ignored is a big part of the problem.
When the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and sent this issue back to the states a year ago, I heard from so many women who felt hopeless and angry and scared. I’ve listened a lot and thought about how this huge policy change would impact my fellow Iowans, friends, family, and neighbors.
Here’s what gives me hope. Even in today’s divisive, corrosive political climate, a strong and growing majority of Iowans believe in and want reproductive freedom.
I don’t know what – or when – the Governor and Republican leaders are planning next, but I’ll never stop fighting to protect reproductive freedom for Iowans.
It’s people over politics.
– Jennifer
P.S. If you are part of the majority of Iowans who support reproductive freedom, please click here to show your support, take action, and get updates about a potential special session this summer.
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And also of interest…
“Smoke from wildfires is different from other sources. That’s because of the unhealthy matter it contains, how it can travel long distances and persist in the air, changing over time and getting more toxic.
Fires are shown burning across Canada in this June 28,2023 map created by NASA and the Fire Information for Resource Management System US/Canada.
And that’s a wrap for BFIA for the week. Be sure to check in tomorrow and Sunday for Dave Bradley’s outstanding political commentary and Sunday civics quiz.
My first letter to the editor of a newspaper appeared in the Quad-City Times on Dec. 30, 1974. I had just returned to my home town from Europe after college graduation. I did not like the culture I experienced in Davenport. The letter was a way to express my opinion in public and garner feedback from other members of the community. It worked to a fashion before the time of social media. It would not be my last letter to a newspaper complaining about living in society.
There are risks when writing in public. When I wrote letters to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, in response, I received anonymous threatening letters in the mail. It was a form of intimidation for having an opinion with which someone disagreed. Because the letters were anonymous, and didn’t threaten me physically, I discarded them and wrote more letters to the newspaper. I’m not certain I’ll write any more letters to the editor, yet I won’t let intimidation be a reason to slow me down.
In Iowa, we are considering the incident of a prominent meteorologist named Chris Gloninger who received a death threat after educating his viewers about climate change. Repeated email harassment over his weather reports led to a case of PTSD, after which he resigned his position. I seldom watch television weather reports, so I likely don’t well understand the situation. Harassing a T.V. meteorologist via email is a lazy person’s way of “sticking it to the man.” How infantile!
In his upcoming book, The Hidden History of American Democracy: Rediscovering Humanity’s Ancient Way of Living, author Thom Hartmann closes with the following:
You may think your voice is but a faint whisper in the wilderness, but there are ways you can amplify it at no cost other than a bit of effort. Write letters to the editor of your local newspapers. Become active on social media. Volunteer with the dozens of great good-government groups and organizations devoted to saving our environment, our democracy, and our world.
The Hidden History of American Democracy: Rediscovering Humanity’s Ancient Way of Living by Thom Hartmann.
Hartmann reiterates one of the best remedies for feeling impotent or down is to take action. We can’t let the inevitable naysayers get to us when we do.
Good luck Mr. Gloninger. May your future be bright.
We’re in this fight because Iowa has over 10,000 factory farms that produce over 22 billion gallons of toxic liquid manure. Manure that is dumped untreated onto farm fields across the state and runs off into our waterways. That ain’t right!
EPA needs to hear firsthand from everyday Iowans about how factory farms impact us, our loved ones and our environment. The more people urging them to meet with us will help make that message clear.
With summer officially underway, it sure would be nice to recreate in our lakes, rivers and other waterways. Let alone know the water we’re drinking is safe for us, our children, and loved ones. Thanks for being in this critical fight with us!
Matthew Covington (he/him)
Strategic Operations Director
This program is broadcast way too early in the morning to catch live. Fortunately, you can view all their broadcasts on YouTube. I find them to be generally quite interesting and informative. Good discussions that stay civil even during disagreement. A nice break from Twitter.
It has seemed since day one both Ashley Hinson and Marriannette Miller-Meeks have both essentially been sleep walking through their respective terms in congress. Apparently both are relying on an Iowa press that seldom bothers to dig into questions and seldom asks a followup.
They also seem to be willing to tie their future and ours to Donald Trump. Apparently the whole idea is just go with the flow, do little and maybe when the vote comes along the so called ‘Iowa nice’ people will just vote for them because they are incumbents.
One group of people that do pay attention is Iowa’s farmers. And now it seems that Ashley Hinson has decided to hook her star onto a once failed concept that seems to be coming around again. The concept is Steve King’s (remember him?) “King Amendment”– an attempt to loosen many state and federal laws on international conglomerates owning American farmland.
“Washington, D.C. – The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM), and Competitive Markets Action (CMA) today condemned the so-called Exposing Agriculture Trade Suppression (EATS) Act introduced by Sen. Roger Marshall, R-KS, and Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-IA. Last week, OCM launched a campaign against the EATS Act, a bill that would have a devastating impact on America’s farming and ranching families. This bill erases state laws, giving Chinese corporations unchecked control.
The campaign launched with a major ad buy in Politico with a full page color print ad, digital ads, and sponsorship of Politico’s Weekly and Morning Ag Newsletters and will continue the campaign throughout the upcoming Farm Bill debate. As a part of OCM and CMA’s efforts to educate constituents the groups are launching a drive time radio campaign with targeted spots in competitive House Districts. The 30-second spots encourage listeners to call their elected officials and ask them to vote no on any Farm Bill that contains the Steve King rebranded EATS Act.
The EATS Act, or the so-called “Exposing Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act,” promoted by Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), is just a revamped version of the controversial “King Amendment” championed by former Rep. Steve King (R-IA). It is the biggest attack on states’ rights America’s rural communities have likely ever faced. The “King Amendment” failed to make it into the past two farm bills after bi-partisan opposition to it the egregious amendment. Now, legislators working for industrial agriculture interests have rebranded the measure hoping most would not notice.
This legislation will erase thousands of laws passed by state and local governments nationwide that benefit family farms over international conglomerates, as well as those that support dairy farmers, baby food safety, and control the infestation of invasive pests. Put simply, this bill permanently strips power from Agriculture Committees at state and local levels of government.
There are some great quotes at the link about how damaging the EATS act could be for family farms and how much it gives away to international corporations.
I sure hope Iowa’s farmers are paying attention. They don’t need a knife in the back from their congress member.
As most of you know, the SCOTUS usually announces the last of its decisions before July 1st and then shutters the doors until the first Monday in October. It has always been a bit of an eyebrow raiser that the Supreme Court gets 3 consecutive months off. It is now much more of an eyebrow raiser as we slowly learn what the far right members of SCOTUS do with that time.
So what will it be this summer, Sammy? Maybe a trip to outer space on a Space-X racket? Bet you Elon has an empty seat on one of his rockets, so there will be no cost. What about you, Clarence? Maybe a yachter around the world? Just let Harlan Crow know and he’ll get you fixed up.
Neil Gorsuch? He’s an outdoor man. He heard about Sammy’s trip to Alaska and thought it sounded good. Is there any private jets with an empty seat headed that way? Johnny Roberts? Summer at home helping the wife find some lawyers to argue in front of SCOTUS? Could maybe pick up a couple of mill just for offering a little advice.
Hey, Boofer – I mean Brett. Maybe just go to a couple of high school keggers? Good time. Amy? Maybe some rigorous medieval religious training. I bet we can find a “donor” to get it going.
As for Elena, Ketanji or Sonya we’ll be watching you. Don’t you dare get so much as a free cup of coffee or we will nail you! Ain’t America Great!!?
Wow – the roof kind of fell in on the far right Wednesday. It was a beautiful day.
A) In a first, what sitting congress member was censured for doing his job well Wednesday?
B) Well the trip is over. The quarter million dollar per tourist submersible trip to see what wreckage was deemed to have ended in tragedy Thursday?
C) Looking almost like a fool, what special prosecutor tried to defend his 4+ years and millions of taxpayer dollars to return but one or two small prosecutions?
D) A certain former president seemed to admit to illegal handling of documents in an interview with what FOX newser Monday?
E) Happy Birthday, Canada next Saturday. What milestone did the Canadian population reach last week?
F) Here we go! A motion to do what to President Biden was briefly introduced in the House Wednesday by Lauren Boebert?
G) After 5 years of intensive investigation, Hunter Biden was charged with what?
H) What Iowa school district reversed their policy that staff would carry guns on campus after their insurance carrier said they (the insurance company) would drop their insurance?
I) Kendra Kingsbury – a former FBI agent –was sentenced to 46 months infederal prison this week for doing what?
J) Hey! Next week is the 4th of July weekend. Some Revolutionary War Trivia: What patriot uttered these famous last words: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” ?
K) Wow – a section of I-95 that collapsed two weeks ago has been repaired and reopened Friday in what major eastern city?
L) In Iowa, our governor racked up a fine for $175,000 that you and I must pay for doing what?
M) There are 6 far right Republicans on the Supreme Court. As of Friday which is the only one that has not had questionable corruption transactions attributed to them during this year?
N) Bob Vander Plaats – Iowa’s pope – wants revenge on the Iowa Supreme Court justices who voted against reinstating harsh abortion law. What issue roused him to lead the charge to remove 3 justices in 2010?
O) Revolutionary War Question – What groups were set up in each colony to keep all the other colonies up to date on what each other were doing prior to the War?
P) Stories out last week indicated that who held back on investigating Donald Trump because of political considerations?
Q) What state became the first state to outlaw book banninglast week?
R) One last question on the Revolution for today. Baron Von Stueben is thought by many to be America’s first gay hero. What was Von Steuben’s contribution to the Revolution?
S) Justice Samuel Alito has admitted to accepting vacations from a billionaire who later had business before SCOTUS. What was the name of the billionaire who gave Alito million dollar vacations?
T) In Utah, what book that was previously banned for violence and sex has been reinstated to libraries?
A good time to remind everyone that in 2018, FBI Director Christopher Wray ignored 4,500 tips on rape allegations against Trump’s Brett Kavanaugh, helping him become a Supreme Court Justice. – Andrea Junker
D) Brett Baier. Some rumors say Jack Smith was taking notes
E) 40 million Canadians
F) A bill to impeach Biden – for stuff!
G) paying his taxes late and having a gun as an admitted addict. Not felonies. Huge waste of tax dollars.
H) Spirit Lake
I) taking classified documents and refusing to return them. Sounds sort of familiar
J) Nathan Hale who was caught spying and hanged.
K) Philadelphia
L) refusing o follow the open records laws. Not like its her money
M) Brett Kavanaugh – Alito and Barret joined Thomas, Roberts and Gorsuch in the corruption circle this week.
N) legalizing gay marriage in Iowa.
O) Committees of Correspondence
P) AG Merrick Garland
Q) Illinois
R) training and discipline for the army. Extremely important
S) Peter Singer
T) the bible
In the new NBC poll 80% of women between the ages of 18-49 disapprove of Dobbs decision…80% And 60% of independent women and 1/3 of Republican women. – Jen Psaki tweet
You know what I can’t figure out? Why is it that 70 % of us, who believe in a woman’s right to choose, are at the mercy of a Supreme Court most of whose members lied about the issue before the Senate Judiciary. – Paula Poundstone tweet
Last Friday twice indicted, twice impeached and loser in a civil harassment lawsuit, Donald Trump took to his “truth social” website following a vote in which Congress member Adam Schiff withstood a censure motion thanks to a few Republicans who voted against the measure because it was simply too stinky.
Trump said in a Truth Social post Friday that any Republican who opposed the censure resolution should face a primary challenge for the GOP nomination in their next election.
“Any Republican voting against his CENSURE, or worse, should immediately be primaried. There are plenty of great candidates out there,” he said.
Well, goodness gracious, whatever would cause such an outburst by the twice indicted, twice impeached candidate? It seems that Representative Schiff is seen by Mr. Trump as one of the reasons behind Trump’s troubles. Yep, Schiff caused it and there must be retaliation. And in his true cowardly fashion, Donald Trump called on Republicans in congress to do his dirty work for him, threatening them if they refuse.
And in true cowardly fashion, Iowa’s Republican responded by bowing down to Trump’s threat. All four – Feenstra, Nunn, Hinson and Miller-Meeks all following orders like good Germans.
What’s that you say? They didn’t knuckle under to Trump. So you are telling me that they purposely voted to censure a fellow member for leading one of the very basic responsibilities of congress – oversight of the executive branch. And Schiff did an exemplary job of leading that oversight effort.
Just to give this censure some context here is a short list of some of the more recent censures:
However all the allegations that Schiff AND his colleagues mad against the twice impeached president were true. They were verified in the Mueller report that was stopped from being fully disseminated, thus covering up Trump’s crimes.
It has to be embarrassing to vote to censure a member for doing his job well. That is certainly going to boomerang making those who voted for Schiff’s censure look much worse than Mr. Schiff. Plus it makes you all look like members of a conspiracy. Especially when a current member of your own party still sits uncensured in congress as he awaits trial for various illegal action concerning his campaign.
Stinks more than a big old pile of hog manure on a hot summer Iowa day.
Governor Kim Keynolds: (515) 281-5211 U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 Iowa Members of Congress - Rep. Randy Feenstra (R) - Rep. Ashley Hinson (R) - Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) - Rep. Zach Nunn (R) Iowa US Senators - Senator Joni Ernst (R) - Senator Charles Grassley (R)
Meanwhile in Iowa…
Blog For Iowa 