Commercial Dog Breeding Bill Survives First Funnel

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Trish Nelson

Updated Iowa Puppy Mill Map March 2019


Legislative update and action alert from Iowa Voters for Companion Animals:

Fantastic news – the Commercial Dog Breeding Bill (HSB227) passed out of the House State Government Committee by a 20/2 vote!

This means the bill survived the first funnel with significant bipartisan support and is now eligible to be considered by the full House chamber! 

Significant hurdles passed, now a few more to go! 

We are extremely appreciative of Representative Bobby Kaufmann (R-Wilton) for sponsoring the bill, Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Marion) and Rep. Mary Mascher (D-Iowa City) for their initial and continued support of the bill, Rep. Ross Paustian (R-Walcott) for helping get the bill drafted, and each representative who has already voted YES!

Likewise, we are extremely grateful for each and every Iowan who reached out to their representative to alert them to this bill and encourage their initial support!

THERE IS A SECOND FUNNEL IN A FEW WEEKS! 

Iowa’s dogs and puppies need you to #BeTheirVoice today!

Iowa is currently home to the nation’s fourth largest commercial dog breeding industry, with more than 500 federally and state licensed commercial dog breeding and dealing facilities. Unfortunately, a lack of oversight, regulations, and enforcement has led to an industry rife with bad actors, or puppy mills. These puppy mills prioritize profit above animal welfare, resulting in inhumane conditions like those at the White Fire Kennel puppy mill case in Manly, Iowa. These puppy mills have tainted the entire industry, given all Iowa dog breeders a bad name, and led Iowa to be known as a leading puppy mill state. Such facilities also present significant consumer protection and human health concerns.

It is time Iowa addressed our puppy mill problem. The Commercial Dog Breeding Bill (HSB227) will require state oversight; improve standards of care to ensure all dogs and puppies are afforded proper food, water, housing, vet care, space, exercise, and socialization; improve transparency and accountability within the industry; and require consistent enforcement policies and actions.

Contact your representative and senator now to encourage them to vote YES on the Commercial Dog Breeding Bill (HSB227) to protect Iowa’s dogs and puppies, our state’s reputation and industry, and Iowans and our communities.

Thank you for always joining us to #BeTheirVoice.

Sincerely,


Haley Anderson
Executive Director
Iowa Voters for Companion Animals

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Sanders Draws Crowds in Iowa, Signs Democratic Party Affirmation Document

Posted on March 11, 2019 by Trish Nelson

Bernie Sanders and DNC Chair Tom Perez – photo credit New York Magazine

Seems like both the DNC and Bernie are serious about winning.

USA Today – Sen. Bernie Sanders signed a pledge, required under new Democratic National Committee rules, that declared he was a Democrat and would serve as one if elected president, according to media reports.

“I am a member of the Democratic Party,” the document signed by Sanders reads. “I will run as a Democrat, accept the nomination of my Party, and I will serve as a Democrat if elected.”

The document also spells out that the DNC Chair:

“is authorized to determine whether a presidential candidate has established substantial support for their nomination as the Democratic candidate for the office of the President of the United States, is a bona fide Democrat whose record of public service, accomplishments, public writings and/or public statements affirmatively demonstrate that the candidate is faithful to the interests, welfare and success of the Democratic Party of the United States, and will participate in the convention in good faith.”

Rodger Routh video

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Worldwide Strike For The Climate Next Friday

Posted on March 10, 2019 by Dave Bradley

(3 minutes)

Beware the ides of March! School children around the world and in 30 states plan to stage walkouts to push Jose in power to start paying attention to climate change. Somebody wake up Ernst and Grassley.

These strikes are inspired by 16  year old activist Greta Thunberg who has been picketing the Swedish Parliament for several months. 

Strikers understand that they are facing a potentially bleak future unless there is some drastic action on climate. Predictions for 50 to 75 years in the future are scary unless global warming is at least stopped. These youngsters are doing what they can to get attention since they are not at the wheels of power.

From the Global Strike 4 The Future facebook page: 

March 15th, Global Climate Strike For Future! Call to the youth of the world

In 2015, our governments committed in Paris to protecting our future by providing a safe pathway well below 2C with Social and Climate Justice..

Three years have passed, and our future looks bleaker than ever! 

The greedy guess that 3C warming is ok. Climate scientists have evidence that even 2C will cause massive starvation, drought, fire tornados, floods, wars and death. 

All because today’s adults do not care about tomorrow. They are stealing our future right in front of our eyes! 

The adults are not mature enough to tell it how it is, even this they leave to us children!

And why should we be studying for a future that soon may be no more, when no one is doing anything to save that future? And what is the point of learning facts when the most important facts clearly means nothing to our society? 

What use is education when our governments are not listening to the educated?

Today we use 100 million barrels of oil every single day. There are no politics to change that. There are no rules to keep that oil in the ground.  

We can’t save the world by playing by the rules. Because the rules have to be changed. 

Greta Thunberg has inspired us, by striking every Friday in front of her Swedish parliament.

Since August, 2018, many thousands of students, have been striking in front of 300 parliaments and town halls in over 30 countries worldwide.

And now on March 15, we will all create a Deep strike together! To show the Climate Crisis is a Crisis! Join Us!

We are striking to tell our governments to do their homework and give us Proof!

We Need Proof of a safe pathway well below 2C! 

If adults can not provide proof, be honest, admit this failure and join our strike!

All honest adults, without Proof, will join our strike on March 15th! 

Tell your adults to support our strike, tell them they have to come with you, tell them you need them so that you can simply have a chance to survive in the future!

For 40 years, of all political colours, have been losing the war on climate change! 

Now there is only time to reduce the amount of disaster.

We Need Proof! Global Climate Strike For Future! Call to the youth of the world!”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Do you have children? Grandchildren? Great-grandchildren? Do you want them to have a chance to grow up and enjoy a full life? It is past time to start voting like it. Perhaps the firs t question every candidate should answer is about their stand on climate change. If they don’t want to be in the forefront of change, it is time to get another candidate.

Greta Thunberg, TED talk 11 minutes:

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Sunday Funday: @#*&%^!(  Time Change Edition

Posted on March 10, 2019 by Dave Bradley

(3 minutes)

Just so I didn’t mislead you about the practice of changing the clock twice a year, I thought I would make the title fairly self-explanatory. 

So good morning and welcome to another 8 months of “daylight” time. This will include a couple of missed appointments, maybe a late arrival at work and some growly, owley days until your body finally gives up and admits defeat to the new time. The reasons given for changing the clocks twice a year have been pretty much debunked, but we go on doing it.

The only good thing I can see is that Dear Leader has one less hour to lie, cheat and steal today. Yet I think he will make up for it somehow. He has standards.

When you listen to the news do you often feel like you are swirling around in ——— well something that resembles a household utility?

Reminder that it is Women’s History month, so there will be a few questions mixed in.

  1. The name Cindy Yang is suddenly all over the news. Who is she?
  1. The US added @ 20,000 jobs in February. Canada with about 10% of our population added how many jobs in February?
  1. Dear Leader promised to greatly decrease – maybe eliminate – our trade deficit. How did figures out this week show he was doing on that promise?
  1. What person was cited by Judge TS Ellis who stated at sentencing “He has lived an otherwise blameless life”?
  1. Another opening at the White House if you are interested. What person hired about 9 months ago found himself pounding pavement Friday morning?
  1. What fourth Trumpublican senator has promised to vote against Dear Leader’s declaration of a national emergency at the Mexican border?
  1. What new member of congress became the first Native American woman to chair the House?
  1. The US House took time to vote on a resolution condemning hate. How did Iowa’s Steve King, often accused of hate speech, vote on this resolution?
  1. What company sent a human capable capsule to the ISS and successfully returned it this week?
  1. What woman wrote the book “Silent Spring” in the 1960s? This book is usually cited as the book that kicked off the environmental movement.
  1. Visiting tornado struck areas of Alabama, Dear Leader didn’t throw paper towel rolls, but instead handed out what?
  1. In Iowa City, Iowa, a church had graffiti sprayed on the outside of their building, including what symbol of hate?
  1. What woman led the “March of the Mill Children” in 1903 to Theadore Roosevelt’s vacation home to highlight the scourge of child labor?
  1. Several Democrats announced last week that they would not run for president including what two former cabinet members of the Obama Administration?
  1. New reports said that Dear Leader illegally tried to get the Justice Department to intervene and stop what merger?
  1. What newly appointed US senator revealed that she was raped by a superior officer while she was in the Air Force?
  1. The Lordstown, Ohio auto plant was shut down by what company Wednesday putting over 1400 out of work?
  1. Doctors announced that a man had been cured of what disease that was once a death sentence for those who had it?
  1. What drug company is contemplating bankruptcy because of all the lawsuits against its star product, OxyContin?
  1. The Iowa Supreme Court Friday ruled that Medicaid funds could be used for what surgery for which it was once banned?

 

@JohnFugelsang

“Except for that negative stuff the media dwells on Ted Bundy lived an otherwise blameless life.”

Answers:

  1. The owner of the Spa where Robert Kraft was arrested. She is a big Trump donor.
  1. 56,000
  1. It has blown to new record historic deficits at $891 billion
  1. Paul Manafort, a paragon of virtue!
  1. Bill Shine, communications director – wanted to spend more time with his family
  1. Rand Paul
  1. Deb Haaland of New Mexico
  1. Present
  1. SpaceX
  1. Rachel Carson
  1. Autographed copies of the bible
  1. The swastika
  1. Mary Harris “Mother” Jones
  1. Hillary Clinton and Eric Holder
  1. AT&T with Time-Warner
  1. Martha McSally of Arizona (suppose her party will treat her any better than they treated Christine Blakey-Ford?)
  1. GM – shutdown caused by steel tariffs dear Leader imposed.
  1. HIV – he is the second to have this procedure
  1. Perdue Pharmacy
  1. Gender reassignment. This will cause Trumpublicans in Iowa to really push their Judge selection  bill.

Andy Borowitz: 

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Capping a singularly disastrous week for the Commander-in-Chief, Donald J. Trump stormed out of a Washington, D.C., McDonald’s restaurant on Friday after failing to close a six-dollar Meal Deal at the establishment.

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Joni Spreads The Manure Far, Wide And Deep

Posted on March 9, 2019 by Dave Bradley

joni-ernst-the-perfect-Koch-investment

this month’s “Make ’em Squeal” 

Joni Ernst is really rolling out the pig manure these days. This month’s version of her running joke that shows how little she knows about what is going on “Make ‘Em Squeal” is a hoot.

Ernst starts out by simply stating that something that is little more than a slogan with some high minded general ideas has a price tag on it already. Not just a price tag but a huge price tag of $93 Trillion. Where did Ernst, a senator who should be dealing with reality, come up with that number? Who the hell knows? She doesn’t say. It seems to be a number that is knocking around right wing circles these days so I guess that makes it true. Trumpublicans just make things up these days and claim it as fact.

Although I must say I was critical that Joni’s piddly little million dollar targets were a joke compared to the way Trumpublicans waste money under this administration – a full border wall will cost upwards of $25 Billion – and that may depend on how much of a kickback that Trump gets. So I will give Ernst credit, $93 Trillion is more than a million. Since Ernst is making up numbers why not make it $500 Trillion?

Funny thing happened the same day as Ernst’s newest joke came out. Newly proclaimed presidential candidate Governor Jay Inslee of Washington made an appearance on “The View.” One of Inslee’s major creds is his work in the environmental field. As the saying goes, it is Inslee’s thing.

So View conservative in residence, Meghan McCain, decided she would really nail Gov. Inslee with that $93 Trillion, by golly. What follows is  – well watch for yourself: (8 minutes)

Odd that climate change, which if left unabated will be totally catastrophic, is not in McCain’s “top 30” of issues. And it is imminent. We have already passed many tipping points, meaning damage has been done that can’t be undone. McCain’s arguments are the same manure that Ernst is spreading.

Once again, Ernst these days seems to see her job as spreading Trumpublican talking points without question and without any back up data. She throws out bogus numbers on something that really doesn’t even exist. But then Ernst’s job these days is too spread fear so voters will vote against their best interests.

The Green New Deal, whatever form it takes, will be much more in our interests than letting the one place we have to live in the universe to simply rot. Plus there will be huge economic opportunities created by trying to fix this huge planetary problem. Do we want to lead the effort and have the lead input into what shape it takes or do we want to sit back, let China, Europe and others lead the way and we buy their technology. 

Whatever the bill, it will be an investment, not a cost. Remember other such projects such as the rural electrification, the interstate highway system, space exploration and the moon landing and the internet? They weren’t costs, they were investments that paid back many, many times over. I believe the interstates and the internet were birthed under Republicans.

But then, Ernst is a Trumpublican which is dependent on selling fear through lies and misinformation. Restoring the only place in the universe where we exist is necessary and a great economic opportunity that Ernst is trying to talk us out of. There is no “Planet B.” 

Ernst does state this in her little missive:

“Now, don’t get me wrong. Increasing our reliance on renewables is a good goal, and one I support, but we have to be realistic about our current energy capabilities and needs.”

Sorry, Joni, but our current effort is woefully short. And we shouldn’t be looking at today’s energy needs. We need to look out decades and envision our needs in many areas including energy, food, land management and many other areas. We need to shoot for these goals using methods that allow use to live and thrive on the only planet we have.

It is way past time for short-sighted people like Joni Ernst to be put out in the pasture by Iowans who understand that the status quo or small improvements are woefully inadequate. We need visionary leaders not peddlers of fear who answer to America’s moneyed interests.

Donate to the Defeat Joni Ernst Fund 

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Forums, Coffee With Dave Loebsack, Meet With Finkenauer And Issues

Posted on March 9, 2019 by Dave Bradley

Image (1) Iowa-Capitol-Dome-Lgis-Posts.jpg for post 9261

First let me mention that Congressman Dave Loebsack will be holding open meetings over coffee at various spots across his district this morning. My apologies for not posting sooner, but my life has been quite hectic lately and the day simply snuck up on me. These coffee are a very good way to exchange thoughts with our congressman. He really is interested in what you are thinking. Here is his schedule for this round of coffees today:

You’re Invited!

Congressman Dave Loebsack is pleased to invite you to join him for a cup of coffee and an opportunity to ask questions, voice concerns, share ideas, and discuss issues of importance. 

Dave hosts Coffee with your Congressman events in both Washington, D.C. when the House is in session, as well as throughout Iowa’s Second Congressional District. All Iowans visiting Washington, D.C. are invited to join him each week the House is in session. Any Iowan is also welcome to attend a Coffee with your Congressman event near you. A list of locations and times are below.

There is no need to RSVP for events in Iowa. If you plan on being in Washington, please RSVP by filling out the form below or contact our office at 202-225-6576. 

We look forward to you joining us!

Iowa Coffee with your Congressman Stops

Saturday, March 9

Iowa City

9:15am

Dodge Street Coffeehouse

2790 N. Dodge Street

Newton

Noon

Uncle Nancy’s

114 N 2nd Ave W

Knoxville

1:45pm

The Coffee Connection

213 E Main Street #101

Oskaloosa

3:30pm

Smokey Row

109 S Market Street

 

Meet With Congresswoman Finkenauer: (also today)

03/09/2019 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Conversation with US Rep. Finkenauer – Vinton

03/09/2019 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Conversation with US Rep. Abby Finkenauer – Grinnell

 

Forums and Listening Posts

Next, a reminder that this was “funnel” week in Des Moines. This is the time where committees decide what bills will be worked on and what bills won’t. This would be a good time to attend a forum and find out what direction Iowa is heading. The following list is once more gleaned from infonetiowa.org  www.infonetiowa.org/calendar/events/. When you find a forum you want to attend, click on the link for the specific address. Once again, major thanks to infonetiowa.org for this information.

03/09/2019 Event Time TBD Legislative Forum – Corning

03/09/2019 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Legislative Coffee – Creston

03/09/2019 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM Listening Post – Humboldt

03/09/2019 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM Eggs & Issues – Oskaloosa

03/09/2019 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Legislative Forum – Bondurant

03/09/2019 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Legislative Forum – Clinton

03/09/2019 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Legislative Forum – Wilton

03/09/2019 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Legislative Forum – Spencer

03/09/2019 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Town Hall – Merrill

03/09/2019 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Legislative Coffee – Council Bluffs

03/09/2019 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM Legislative Coffee – Waukee

03/09/2019 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Listening Post – West Des Moines

03/09/2019 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Legislative Forum – Denison

03/09/2019 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Town Hall – Remsen

03/09/2019 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Listening Post – Pocahontas

03/09/2019 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Legislative Forum – Okoboji

03/09/2019 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Legislative Forum – Des Moines

03/09/2019 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM Legislative Forum – Waterloo

03/11/2019 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Coffee with Marti-Des Moines

03/15/2019 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Office Hours – Ankeny

03/15/2019 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Legislative Forum – Manchester

03/15/2019 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Legislative Forum – Hawarden

03/15/2019 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM Legislative Forum – Fort Madison

 

Issues:

Finally, below is a list of issues that the Iowa State Progressive Network sent out earlier in the week. This can be a guide for what will be discussed at the forums. Hopefully some of these issues did not survive funnel week:

Important Deadline This Week!

This week is the first deadline this session to winnow the number of bills that are still eligible to debate this year. In order to remain eligible, a bill must be approved by a committee in the House or Senate. That means there will be heavy subcommittee and committee work at the State Capitol all week long. There are a lot of bills to keep track of this week so check the full list of bills below to see what you can do to help.  Here are just a few key bills we’re watching this year:

Vouchers Are Back Again

The Republican plan to create a new voucher scheme in Iowa is back again this year.  If approved, it will divert hundreds of millions from public schools to home schools/private schools instead (SF 372). After years of underfunding by Republicans, our public schools can’t afford it.  While the bill may be stalled right now in the Senate, we need to keep the pressure on to make sure it doesn’t make the deadline this week.

Protect A Women’s Right to Make Her Own Decisions

After the Iowa Supreme Court ruled the GOP bill that bans abortion in all cases was unconstitutional (as everyone knew it was), the GOP is back with a idea this year (HJR 5) to amend our constitution with a total ban on abortion, even in cases of rape or incest. The proprosed bill would take away a woman’s right to make decisions that are best made by a woman, her family, and her doctor.

Eliminate Gun Permits + Guns in Schools & Churches

While Republicans lawmakers have already kept a bill alive that eliminates background checks for guns, two other bills under consideration this year would eliminate all permits to carry concealed weapons (HF 118), allow guns on school grounds (HF 118), and allow conealed weapons in places of worship (HF 51).        

Bill Watch 

Below is a list of bills we’re tracking this session that may be of interest to you.  As session continues, we’ll be updating this list for you to keep you up to speed on the legislative process and take action. 

 

Democratic Bills: Improving Life for Everyday Iowans
Bill # Bill Description Current Status Take Action
HF 135/SF 156 Fixing Medicaid Privatization House/Senate Human Resources
HF 383 Investing in public schools beyond rate of inflation House Education Committee (GOP passed another record low investment in public schools)
HF 147/SF 176 Restoring the rights of Iowa workers House/Senate Labor
SF 107 Protect the wages earned by employees Senate Labor
HF 109/SF 117 Reasonable accomodations for prenancy/child birth House/Senate Labor
SF 72 Affordable housing/revitalizing old homes Senate State Government
HF 91/SF 247 Raise Minimum Wage House/Senate Labor
SF 104/HF 221 Expand Medical cannabis use House Public Safety
HF 129 End GOP voter suppression/voter ID law House State Government
HF 501 Help working families with high cost of child care House Human Resources
Bad Ideas from GOP Lawmakers
Bill # Bill Description Current Status Take Action
SJR 9/HJR 5 Constitutional Amendment banning abortion in all cases Senate State Government/House Judiciary Contact your lawmaker
SF 237/HF 503 Politicize judicial branch by allowing GOP to appoint all judges Senate Floor/House Floor Contact your lawmaker
HJR 13 Eliminates Background Checks; allows guns on college campuses, state fairgrounds, school buses House Floor
HF 257 Eliminate education funding to Planned Parenthood House Human Resources Committee
SF 27 Prohibits tenure at state universities/community colleges Senate Education
SF 240 Religious exemptions, license to discriminate (similar to North Carolina) Senate Local Government
SF 28 Vouchers + eliminate Iowa Dept. of Education & Iowa Public TV Senate Education
SF 372 Vouchers for private schools/home schools Senate Education
HF 259 Allows concealed weapons in weapon free zones, courthouses, and public/private workplaces House Floor
HF 542 Prohibits state dollars from aquiring public land for parks, bike trails, hunting, fishing, or other recreation House Natural Resources
HF 51 Allows concealed weapons in places of worship House Public Safety
SF 259 Personhood; bans abortion in all cases Senate Judiciary Comittee
HF 160 Expands & reduces requirements for Charter Schools House Education
HF 448 Loosens requirements on immunizations House Human Resources
HF 249 Legalize the date rape druge and other hallucinogenic drugs like LSD House Public Safety
HF 248 Legalize mushrooms and other psychedelic drugs House Public Safety
HF 118 Eliminates permits to carry concealed guns; allows guns on school grounds House Public Safety
HF 62 Reinstates the death penalty House Judiciary Committee
HF 194 Requires Iowa kids to read a Russian book before graduating high school House Education Committee
HF 187 Prohibits fluoride in drinking water House Environmental Protection
HF 172 Repeal the state inheritance tax House Ways & Means
SSB 1149 One week waiting period for unemployment Senate Labor & Business Relations
DONE
HF 306/SF 172 Low funding for public schools Passed House and Senate; Signed by Governor
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Joni Then Joni Now

Posted on March 8, 2019 by Trish Nelson

Please share this ad that exposes the quintessential Iowa girl as a grifter and donate to Midwest Victory PAC to defeat Joni Ernst.

 

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Iowa Republicans Took Money From Donor Charged In Prostitution Ring

Posted on March 7, 2019 by Trish Nelson

http://progressiowa.org/2019/03/iowa-gop-chuck-grassley-received-thousands-of-dollars-from-donor-charged-in-prostitution-sting/

Iowa GOP & Chuck Grassley received thousands of dollars from donor charged in prostitution sting

Progress Iowa calls on Jeff Kaufmann and Senator Chuck Grassley to give donations received from John Childs to fight human trafficking

Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa Republican Party received $20,000 and Senator Chuck Grassley received $2,700 from a donor who was recently charged in a prostitution sting, and the statewide advocacy group Progress Iowa is calling for them to donate those funds to charity to support the fight against human trafficking.

Billionaire donor John Childs was charged in the same prostitution sting that caught New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft. Childs donated $10,000 to the Iowa Republican Party on two occasions, according to FEC data, during the 2016 and 2018 election cycles, and $2,700 to Senator Grassley’s campaign in 2016. According to the Washington Post, Childs has donated roughly $17 million to support Republican candidates and conservative groups since 2007. Two Republican Senators, Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Mike Braun (R-IN), have already announced they will be returning donations they have received from Childs.

“Thousands of dollars from a donor charged in a prostitution and trafficking sting demonstrates the worst possible priorities for our state,” said Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa. “Human trafficking is a serious problem in Iowa, and Jeff Kaufmann and Senator Grassley have the chance to do the right thing. I hope they take that chance and give the money they’ve received to a worthy cause.”

In addition to his donations to the Iowa Republican Party and Senator Chuck Grassley, Childs also gave hundreds of thousands to national organizations that work on behalf of Iowa Republicans: $250k to the National Republican Senate Committee (NRSC), and $300k to American Crossroads, a conservative PAC founded by Karl Rove.

Hundreds of human trafficking cases have been reported in recent years in Iowa, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. To get involved, Iowans should contact the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery, that works to provide volunteer opportunities with the goal of ending human trafficking in all its forms.

Progress Iowa is a multi-issue progressive advocacy organization with a network of more than 75,000 progressives. Year-round, Progress Iowa advocates for a stronger middle class, first-class public education, and fairness for all Iowans under the law.

###

Background Information

John Childs Of JW Childs Charged In Florida Prostitution Sting
https://patch.com/massachusetts/waltham/john-childs-jw-childs-charged-florida-prostitution-sting

John Childs 2016 cycle donation to the Iowa GOP
http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?201705189054020381

John Childs 2018 cycle donation to the Iowa GOP
http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?201810259133269902

John Childs 2016 donation to Sen. Chuck Grassley
http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?201605260200186631

Two GOP Senators to Return Money From John Childs
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/two-gop-senators-to-return-money-from-john-childs/2019/02/28/806ad4e4-3b80-11e9-aaae-69364b2ed137_story.html

Iowa Efforts to combat human trafficking
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/otip/iowa_profile_efforts_to_combat_human_trafficking.pdf

National Human Trafficking Hotline: Iowa Facts
https://humantraffickinghotline.org/state/iowa

Human trafficking in Iowa: The Facts
https://www.iowapublicradio.org/post/human-trafficking-iowa-facts#stream/0

Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery
https://iowanaht.org/

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Congress May Reinstate Net Neutrality

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Trish Nelson

Action alert from Fight for the Future

For months, lawmakers have been promising to fully overturn Ajit Pai’s net neutrality repeal.1

Now news just broke that Wednesday morning they plan to announce the “Save the Internet Act” to reinstate strong net neutrality rules.2

This is huge. But with the news is in the headlines, the telecom lobbyists are gearing up to swarm Capitol Hill. Now we need to push lawmakers extra hard to support the new legislation before the lobbyists get to them.

Click here to call your lawmakers and demand they support new legislation that fully restores net neutrality before Big Telecom’s lobbyists swarm Capitol Hill.

TAKE ACTION

For weeks, corrupt members of Congress have been circulating bad net neutrality bills in hopes they can trick telecom-beholden members of Congress into adding their name to legislation that would permanently undermine the free and open Internet.3

With the bad bills in circulation, it’s super important that we get ahead of the telecom lobbyists and build support for REAL net neutrality legislation before tomorrow’s launch.

Click here to call your lawmakers and tell them to add their name to the new legislation before it goes live.

–Josh, on behalf of FFTF

Footnotes:

1. CNET: https://www.cnet.com/news/a-year-after-net-neutralitys-repeal-the-fight-continues/

2. Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-internet/democrats-to-push-to-reinstate-repealed-net-neutrality-rules-idUSKCN1QL1W0

3. Electronic Frontier Foundation: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/02/public-deserves-return-2015-open-internet-order

Fight for the Future works to protect your rights in the digital age.

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The United States and its Enduring Legacy of Liberty

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Trish Nelson

by Ralph Scharnau

How people in the United States view themselves individually and as a nation often comes down to one idea, liberty.

Liberty, the central term in our politics, is embedded in our history and in our language. The Declaration of Independence lists liberty among humanity’s inalienable rights; the Constitution announces as its purpose to secure liberty’s blessings.

Liberty and freedom are frequently used interchangeably. Expanding freedoms to more and more people remains a central part of the nation’s history. The first ten Amendments to the Constitution guarantee civil liberties. Subsequent amendments abolished slavery, defined citizenship, and extended the franchise to blacks, women, and 18-year-olds.

Women, racial and ethnic minorities, workers, and others have struggled to deepen and transform the definition of freedom. Over the past generations, some real strides have been made in reducing disparities based on race and sex. Women and minorities have gained greater access in the areas of employment, politics, education, and athletics. In 1998, an amendment to the Iowa Constitution added women to a provision guaranteeing equal rights under the law.

The United States Supreme Court’s landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide came in 2015. The states can no longer deny gay men and lesbians the same marriage rights enjoyed by opposite-sex couples. This victory reflected growing public support for marriage equality. In 2009, Iowa became only the third state in the union to extend same-sex couples the right to marriage in a unanimous ruling of the state’s Supreme Court.

Belief in freedom as a right of all humanity has coexisted with persistent efforts to limit freedom by race, gender, class, and in other ways.

Limiting freedom has a long history in our country. Slaves, immigrants, the poor, and others have been deprived of liberty. The meaning of freedom has been constructed at various levels, in congressional debates, in political essays, and on picket lines. The concept of freedom/liberty has always been contested terrain subject to multiple and competing interpretations. Its meanings are constantly created and recreated.

Paying patriotic tribute to liberty has been represented by liberty poles, caps, tee shirts, and statutes. Liberty has also been acted upon by burning stamps and draft cards, running away from slavery and abusive employers, and joining marches to protest abuse and support voting rights.

Liberty and freedom are not unitary. Defining the meanings of these interlocking words have intellectual, social, economic, and political dimensions. They often are morally charged, conveying and claiming legitimacy for all kinds of grievances and hopes, fears about the present and visions of the future. Freedom has been applied to individuals, communities, families, and to the nation itself. Individual and collective struggles mark the context for the liberty/freedom pursuit.

The history of the quest for liberty and freedom perhaps most clearly connects with political and economic equality. Federal, state, and local constitutional changes as well as enactments and modifications of statutes, bylaws, and ordinances bring a legal dimension to the whole question of equality.

The story of liberty/freedom is not a mythic saga of accomplishment since it includes failures as well. People constantly contend about the crucial ideas of their political culture. The meanings of freedom then are multifaceted, contentious, and ever-changing.

Some see freedom as a matter of unrestrained individualism, not social citizenship. Freedom’s meanings remain vigorously contested. The debates will continue and new definitions will emerge. Freedom for all remains an ongoing struggle.

Conflict intermittently occupies the foreground in the American political tradition. We need politicians who respect the common good rather than worship money.

Ralph Scharnau
February 28, 2019

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