Free Webinar: How Will The Farm Bill Affect Iowa?

Posted on April 10, 2023 by Trish Nelson

Upcoming event sponsored by Jefferson County Farmers and Neighbors

Find out how the Farm Bill supports CAFOs and industrial agriculture with farm bill policy experts Joe Maxwell and Aaron Lehman. Plus negotiations underway to shift the balance of funding to traditional, independent farmers and what we can do to help that along. It’s the perfect time as Congress is currently working on this $1.4 trillion piece of legislation.

Click here to find out more and register for this free webinar.

Joe Maxwell, Co-founder and President of Farm Action, and Aaron Lehman, President of Iowa Farmers Union, will take a hard look at how the Farm Bill fuels industrial livestock production during a free virtual meeting organized by JFAN.

The 2023 Farm Bill, currently making its way through Congress, is a massive, $1.4 trillion piece of legislation negotiated every five years. For far too long, the Farm Bill has enabled factory farms and industrial agriculture to thrive.

Maxwell and Lehman will each start with short presentations on the 2023 Farm Bill with Maxwell providing the national perspective and Lehman on how the bill specifically affects Iowa. A vibrant discussion between the two follows adding greater depth and understanding of the issues.

Maxwell’s national focus will cover:

• A brief overview of the Farm Bill
• How the Farm Bill supports and increases the growth of CAFOs
• Negotiations to try to shift funding to small-scale farms
• How Congress could approach funding for climate-smart agriculture and tailor the bill to seriously address climate mitigation and food insecurity
• Other agricultural bills that could be folded into the 2023 Farm Bill to curb the growth of CAFOs
• The current state of negotiations in Congress. Farm Bill negotiations are typically lengthy and challenging as many food and farming interests compete for funding.
Lehman’s focus on Iowa includes:
• Various components of the Farm Bill that directly impact Iowa farmers and communities
• Stories of how Iowa farmers and communities are affected by the current balance of funding
• How the Farm Bill could support a resurgence of traditional, independent livestock farmers
• Specific Iowa programs for family farms and local foods that would benefit from a fairer balance of funding
• How climate-smart legislation that impacts Iowa, such as those benefiting carbon pipelines and methane digesters, may play out in the 2023 Farm Bill.

Maxwell and Lehman will each share:

• Work being done by Farm Action, Iowa Farmers Union, and National Farmers Union to support 2023 Farm Bill funding for small scale livestock farmers
• What we need to remain alert for during Farm Bill negotiations
• Action steps we can take to promote a more just and fairer 2023 Farm Bill.

Time will be reserved for a Q&A session. You can send questions ahead of time to director@jfaniowa.org or ask during the meeting.

Joe Maxwell has a long and varied career advocating for traditional, independent farming practices. Prior to co-founding Farm Action, Maxwell was Executive Director of the Organization of Competitive Markets. He’s held key positions in both political and initiative petition campaigns. During the last election cycle, Maxwell assisted Presidential, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives candidates in developing their antitrust, agriculture, and food policy positions. Maxwell served as a Missouri elected official for 14 years as a state legislator and Lt. Governor where he pushed for legislation supporting traditional animal husbandry while opposing large-scale, industrial livestock facilities. He and his brother are Missouri family farmers.

Aaron Lehman, Iowa Farmer Union president since 2016, is a fifth-generation family farmer from rural Polk County where he and his family raise corn, soybeans, oat and hay in both organic and conventional rotations. He previously served as IFU vice president, executive director and legislative director and sat on the National Farmers Union Policy Committee. Lehman is on the Advisory Board of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University and is a member of Practical Farmers of Iowa.

“The Farm Bill and Factory Farms: Could the Farm Bill Be Encouraging CAFO Growth Near You?” is organized by Jefferson County Farmers & Neighbors, Inc. and co-sponsored by Farm Action, Iowa Farmers Union, Iowa Environmental Council, Southeast Iowa Sierra Club, Poweshiek CARES, and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

Follow JFFAN on Facebook. Check out their website

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Reminder That Republicans Will Wreck The Economy In June

Posted on April 9, 2023 by Dave Bradley

June is not that far away. Last I recall Republicans are refusing to do anything about the the debt ceiling. I believe Treasury Secretary can continue to shuffle bills around, but at some point very soon she nor anyone else can create money out of thin air.

In case you do not remember if the debt ceiling isn’t raised, the US will be able to pay bills that have already been approved by congress. If congress doesn’t raise the debt ceiling, the US will be unable to pay bills that they have already accrued. So it would be like you refusing to pay your mortgage or other bills.

Financial markets will not treat this default kindly. Speculation is that such a default by the country whose currency is is the stable currency of the world will be much, much worse than the Great Depression and recovery will take decades maybe a century.

If your member of congress is a Republican please call their office and remind them that their party will be blamed if the debt ceiling is not raised. If you live in Iowa then your member of congress is a Republican.

Remember most of the debt has been run up through undeclared wars (like Iraq) and tax cuts for the rich.

Posted in debt ceiling | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Reminder That Republicans Will Wreck The Economy In June

Sunday Funday: Easter Bribery Edition

Posted on April 9, 2023 by Dave Bradley

Well, I was all set to write some light hearted stuff about Easter, but the story of Clarence Thomas  and all the huge bribes he has taken while being a Justice on the Supreme Court broke. I can imagine that for a young person in this country right now there can be little more discouraging than to see the total disdain that Republicans hold for the rule of law. Yet they cynically still claim to be the party of the rule of law.

If there is to be any connection to Easter this year it would be that American can wake up (yes I said it) and realize how Republicans are perverting our laws and throw them all out.

Here are some cute little devils playing with their caretaker for Easter (40 seconds):

Wow what a week.

A) The week started out with the NCAA women’s basketball championship game Sunday. Who won?

B) Then we moved on to New York where who was arraigned in Manhattan District Court?

C) This was Passover week for those of the Jewish faith.  Beside the usual empty chair for Elijah many Jews leave at the Seder, an extra empty chair was left for who?

D) NATO grew by one member when what country was officially welcomed into the group?

E) An election for Supreme Court in Wisconsin that had national implications took place Tuesday. Who won?

F) Easter always falls after what astronomical event?

G) Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman and Christina Hammock Koch – these four people were selected to do what together last week?

H) Among gifts Clarence Thomas received from a billionaire donor the Thomas did not report included a vacation in Indonesia aboard a yacht valued at how much?

I) Names in the news: Who are Justin Jones and Justin Pearson? 

J) What major restaurant chain closed its offices for 3 days to prepare for layoff announcements later in this week?

K) In Iowa, the senate proposed what kind of a bill that had no dollars attached to it?

L) Marianne Williamson got a new opponent in the Democratic primary for president last week. Who announced he would run for president as a Democrat?

M) A bill passed in Kansas will stop transgendered from competing in sports. How will the bill enforce that ban?

N) What bread based snack is associated with Easter?

O) Twitter labelled what radio network as “state-affiliated media”?

P) Leaders of what organization were accused of covering up over 600 cases of sexual abuse in Maryland over several decades?

Q) What former Republican governor announced a bid to run for president last week?

R) What former national leader announced she would be leaving politics last week in Wellington, NZ?

S) Name in the news – Why was Juan Merchan in the news last week?

T) In an odd calendar and moon cycle coincidence what three major religious holidays are being celebrated at the the same time this year?

Republicans will continue to lose and lose. Millennials and Gen Z will make sure of it. Congrats Wisconsin! – Alex Cole tweet

Answers:

A) LSU beat Iowa

B) Donald Trump

C) Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter seized in Moscow last week

D) Finland

E) Janet Protasiewicz

F) The first full moon os spring

G) Fly to the moon on the Artemis mission

H) $500,00

I) The two black members of the Tennessee legislature who were expelled Thursday

J) McDonald’s 

K) a budget bill – money is the essence of a budget bill

L) Robert F. Kennedy , Jr.

M) through “physical examinations (read genital checks)

N) Pretzel

O) NPR

P) The Catholic Church

Q) Asa Hutchinson

R) Jacinda Ardern

S) The NY Judge who will preside over Trump’s trial in NY. Right wingers hav been threatening his wife and family.

T) Easter, Passover and Ramadan

You Ban Books, You Ban Drag, Kids Are Still In Body Bags – crowd chant at the Tennessee state house as members are expelled from the legislature Thursday.

Posted in #nevertrump, Humor | Comments Off on Sunday Funday: Easter Bribery Edition

Long Term Prospects

Posted on April 8, 2023 by Dave Bradley

Wisconsin had an election to chose a member of their Supreme Court. Since it was a statewide election Republicans could not gerrymander districts such that even if they lost the vote they could  still win the election by districts.

In this election, a state that is pretty evenly divided went rather heavily for the Democrat, Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz. The Milwaukee County Judge won by 11% – a butt kicking in Wisconsin.

But what I want to discuss is the breakout of the votes for Protosiewicz. According to this twitter thread, Gen Z broke huge (80%)for the Democrat in this race. 

The reasons are pretty clear: abortion and gerrymandering are the two most often cited. An analysis on Mashable spells it out:

The balance-deciding win — resulting in the nonpartisan court’s first liberal-leaning majority in 15 years — was driven by record numbers at the polls, with more than 1.7 million people casting their vote in the spring election, representing at least 36 percent of the voting population. The voter engagement, along with early reports of high youth turnout , has spurred reflection on the impact of youth-led civic organizing and the successes of national networks behind the push.

Across the nation, young, issue-based voters have nurtured a growing concern toward protections for what matters to them, their health, and their rights, and they’re using their voices in creative calls to action for generational organizing.

Many Wisconsin voters were focused on a legislative future centered around reproductive justice and voting rights. This year, the court is expected to revisit the state’s outdated 1849 abortion law which bans abortion in nearly all circumstances, and could revisit redistricting maps criticized as gerrymandered

The Republican base will continue to shrink as age and being on the wrong side of issues catches up to them. So their answer to the coming of a tide of younger voters is to do all they can to suppress the vote. 

Democrats are on the right side of the issues as noted by the vote in Wisconsin. Abortion and the survival of democracy in the US are just a couple of the issues. Add in action on climate change, access to medical care for everyone, gun violence (all those years of doing active shooter drills) and equality for all as other major issues.

Note also that it is not just Gen Z but also millennials that are watching the issues closely. Meanwhile the baby boom generation is dying out thus cutting Republicans base.

Younger generations are not just jumping for one tribe or the other. They are doing what we are all supposed to do – looking at the issues before deciding who to vote for.

 

Posted in Climate Change | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Reynolds on Trump: Wrong

Posted on April 8, 2023 by Dave Bradley

50 seconds:

The short clip above is our extreme right highly partisan governor weighing in on the arraignment of a former president. The Governor makes a claim a couple of times that America has a two-tiered justice system. I, for one, couldn’t agree with her more.

One tier is getting screwed royally and the other tier is getting treated with kid gloves. Where the Governor and I disagree is on which tier is which. I happen to think that those who are rich and hold positions of power are being treated as if the justice system should apologize for for ever bothering them. The Governor thinks that ever bringing the rich and powerful to justice is an affront to their very being.

On the other hand I happen to believe that anyone in the justice system should be treated the same no matter the background. As noted the Governor think the rich and powerful should have a justice system that is deferential to their station in life.

The concept of equal justice is one of the very basic tenets of our system of government. Over the years it has also been one of the most violated. Our system of justice has always been at least two tiered, sometimes more. The wealthy and powerful have always been able to use their standing and their wealth to avoid justice. As an old trite saying on the right goes “if you do the crime, you do the time.” Yet that trite saying disappears when a rich or powerful person is the person doing the crime.

Many followers of the extreme right have been finding out just how differently justice is doled out in this country depending on your status. Let’s take those insurrectionists who did what they were told to do by the leader of the rebellion to try to overthrow the government of the United States on January 6, 2021.

Many of the insurrectionists went to Washington they believed to support the leader of the rebellion, Donald Trump. I am sure many believed that whatever they did would not be punished because Trump, then president, told them to attack congress. 

Now many of them who were poor or middle class have had charges brought against them or have been tried and are serving sentences. Trump, the ringleader, has as yet to be charged or tried. Definitely a difference in how justice is doled out based on status in this society.

What is really sad is to see those in power like Kim Reynolds condoning such a system. She is ready to throw doctors in prison for helping a woman who needs reproductive services, but stands up for the leader of a rebellion against our central government. She is all in on throwing school librarians in jail based on her (Reynolds) interpretation of a book, but because the leader of a rebellion is popular she is afraid to stand up for true justice.

It goes without saying that all she can do is parrot the extreme right wing talking points. I am sure if she was asked to go deeper into the issues she would look like a deer in the headlights. At least back when Richard Nixon was about to be impeached there were some fair minded Republicans who were independent thinkers who could cut through the party line of the day and realize that Dick Nixon was the mastermind behind Watergate and deserved to be brought to justice.

However, the final act of that play where Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon rather than have him actually face justice set the tone for the Trump years where Trump and his followers thought they were above the law. Thus, today, we have a really egregious two tiered justice system with people like Trump and Reynolds thinking that those with power and wealth should not have to answer for their crimes.

Pretty hard to sell America as the epitome of equality when they can all see our justice system hammers the poor and middle class while seldom touching the oligarchs. 

Kim Reynolds really should apologize for her remarks. Iowa will have ocean frontage before that happens.

Posted in #trumpresistance, 2024 election, Kim Reynolds | Tagged , | Comments Off on Reynolds on Trump: Wrong

Iowa Press Discusses Carbon Capture Pipeline Issues

Posted on April 7, 2023 by Trish Nelson

You must watch this episode of Iowa Press not just for the dull questions but also for the slick GOP-like evasiveness of the Navigator VP.  The contrast was stark between the fast-talking, polished Elizabeth Burns-Thomas and the “good guy” on the stage embodied by Jess Mazour, Coordinator of Conservation for the Iowa Sierra Club.

Here are a few of my biased observations of this Iowa Press program which I have said before should be cancelled because they generally do more harm than good with their incessant Republican coddling while treating progressives and Democrats like annoying flies. Type “Iowa Press” in our search box for my previous articles.

When moderator O. Kay Henderson introduced Jess Mazour she appeared to have no idea who she had invited on the show and had to check her notes in order to state her title and organization. No such trouble when she introduced Elizabeth Burns-Thomas. “She is the Vice President for Public Affairs for Navigator” flowed smoothly and smartly off her tongue.  “And Jess Mazour is the…. coordinator of…. conservation for the Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club.” Don’t believe me, watch for yourself. It’s right at the top of the show so will take you no time at all to check my work.

This episode I will give the win to Jess Mazour of the Iowa Sierra Club for dominating the dialogue, challenging Navigator VP Burns-Thomas even though she had to jump in uninvited by the hosts, and another time putting the panel’s next question on hold to address inaccuracies by Burns-Thomas. Mazour took no prisoners.

As soon as Burns-Thomas started talking you immediately forgot the question. It seemed in most instances, she did not answer the question but it was hard to tell.  I’m sure that was the idea.

Henderson, as is her practice, spoke on behalf of Republicans, sharing that Republican senators accused the opposition of being being unreasonable. Instead of asking, “Is it true that you were unwilling to compromise,” Henderson accepted the Republicans’ false narrative as factual, asking Jess, “Why aren’t critics at least willing to accept some rather than all?” Jess corrected the show moderator, stating, “We definitely would support HF565 with the 90% threshold” because she said,  it was a good compromise that the landowners supported.

And there was a double standard –  when Jess accused Navigator of refusing to release certain documents Henderson asked Burns-Thomas if that was the case. She did not assume it was a fact. She didn’t ask Burns-Thomas why her company was not releasing documents – she asked if it was true first.

Worst question award goes to Erin Murphy. “..There are 5,000 miles of these kinds of pipelines throughout the country any number of miles and miles of pipelines operating in this country. What is it about this project? Why is this one the one that your group is so adamantly opposed to vs. other pipelines that are out there?”

Where to start.. the question seems irrelevant and hostile.  Is the Sierra Club supposed to fight every pipeline in the country? And it’s not just “her group.”  78% of Iowans do not want the pipeline.  Stop making it sound like it’s only Jess and “her group” that are opposed.

Mazour politely and effectively answered the questions. She  did a great job speaking up for Iowans, farmers, and the environment making the case that these pipelines only benefit private companies, not Iowans.

To progressive friends who have long since signed off watching the Iowa Press program,  this one is moderately safe to watch.

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Iowa Democrats Present Plan To Lower Costs For Iowans

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Trish Nelson

Iowa House Democrats introduce a legislative policy package to lower costs for Iowans.  Follow Iowa House Dems on FB

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Iowa Democrats Present Plan To Lower Costs For Iowans

Best Practices for Progressive Candidates in Rural and Small Town America

Posted on April 4, 2023 by Trish Nelson

Sage Lawrence, Researcher

Register below for the free Rural Urban Bridge briefing: The Rural Campaigns Guidebook April 5th at 2:-3:30 pm CDT.

Sage Lawrence helped Senator John Fetterman increase support in rural areas by 2.4% from Biden’s 2020 numbers. He will be presenting on his recent report: The Rural Campaigns Guidebook- Best Practices for Progressive Candidates Running in Rural and Small-Town America, based on the findings from over 60 interviews conducted for his Master’s thesis. Focusing on what is unique about running for office as a progressive candidate in a rural district, he will unpack: 1) where effective strategies in rural areas differ from traditional campaigns, and 2) how candidates can craft a unique brand and a winning message in their district.

Lawrence got his start working on campaigns in the community where he grew up in eastern Washington and has worked as an organizer and campaign manager in rural areas for the past 6 years. Most recently he served as the Western PA Regional Organizing Director for the Pennsylvania Democrats where he helped Senator John Fetterman increase support in rural areas by 2.4% from Biden’s 2020 numbers.

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Best Practices for Progressive Candidates in Rural and Small Town America

Indictment Day For Trump

Posted on April 4, 2023 by Trish Nelson

I don’t usually find Randy Rainbow all that funny but this one is particularly well done. Enjoy.

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Indictment Day For Trump

Watch The Podcast By George Tornado Special

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Trish Nelson

Get the facts. More storms expected Tuesday, 4/4.

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Watch The Podcast By George Tornado Special