Help Track Manure Application Violations

Posted on December 27, 2018 by Trish Nelson


from Citizens for Community Improvement  http://iowacci.org/

On Friday, December 21 the ban on manure application on snow-covered ground kicks in.

Because of a wet fall (thanks climate change), a late harvest, and an early freeze, factory farms have been racing to dump billions of gallons of liquid factory farm manure on farm fields all across the state in a very short window.

When you have too much manure and it’s dumped with disregard it becomes a major threat to our water.

We’ve been hearing about (and smelling) problematic manure application a lot this season. So far this fall DNR has granted at least 79 “emergency exemptions” for manure violations.

All this points to one thing – Iowa needs a factory farm moratorium now.

#StopFactoryFarms #MoratoriumNow

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Iowa’s Air Pollution Problem

Posted on December 26, 2018 by Trish Nelson

According to this EPA air quality map, every county in Iowa has poor air quality. Red counties are the worst.  http://creativemethods.com/airquality/maps/iowa.htm

Letter to the editor of the Storm Lake Times

When it comes to Iowa’s water quality problems, the elephant in the room is the multinational pork industry. Iowa’s roughly 24 million hogs produce 260 million gallons of feces and urine EVERY DAY. Is it any wonder that most of our water is polluted with animal “waste”?

By not holding the pork industry accountable, the Republican leadership in Iowa has passed the cost of cleaning up our water onto taxpayers.

Exit polls from the November election (commissioned November 6 and 7 by Public Policy Polling) are telling, the Iowa GOP needs to be listening:

1. Iowans believe in being part of their community (i.e. local control).

2. Polling showed a whopping 73% of Iowans want the governor and legislature to act on reducing farm pollution runoff.

3. 66% of voters indicated they would prefer funding education, infrastructure and clean water rather than getting a decrease in their taxes.

It’s clear that Iowan’s want clean water, but the polluters should pay to clean it up.

Now that you’ve all voted, it is not the time to sit back and relax. Now is the time to contact your elected officials to tell them to act on cleaning up our state. There is no down time in democracy.

Pat Bowen
Iowa City
Iowa CCI Member

###

The public can make verbal or written comments about proposed air quality rules at a public hearing at 1 p.m., Jan. 22, in the DNR’s fourth floor conference room, 502 E. Ninth St in Des Moines.

You may also send written comments on the proposed changes to Christine Paulson, Iowa DNR, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319; by email to Christine.Paulson@dnr.iowa.gov; or by fax to or calling 515-725-9501. DNR must receive comments by Jan. 22.

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Outfoxing The Holidays

Posted on December 24, 2018 by Trish Nelson

Merry Christmas from Blog for Iowa and good luck!

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Top Lies Of Trump FCC Chairman Ajit Pai

Posted on December 24, 2018 by Trish Nelson

In addition to getting rid of Dear Leader ASAP, the nation also desperately needs a national media reform movement.  Sign up to receive action alerts and find out about more activist tools at Freepress.

Seems like one has to be able to lie to be in the Trump administration. Freepress has compiled a list of Ajit Pai’s twelve biggest lies of 2018.  Also see:  How We’re Getting Net Neutrality Back

https://www.freepress.net/our-response/expert-analysis/explainers/ajit-pais-biggest-lies-2018

That the Trump administration peddles lies and propaganda to prop up its hateful agenda is well known.

Trump’s FCC chairman, Ajit Pai, is no exception — this year he’s stooped to incredible lows in his attempt to justify his repeal of Net Neutrality and a plethora of other consumer protections.

From wireless text messaging to low-income phone access, Pai is taking a “weed-whacker” (his words, not ours) to rules regulating just about every modern mode of communication.

As the year comes to a close, we’ve compiled a list of lowlights from Pai’s misinformation campaign. Read ’em, weep — then join us in the fight to #StoptheFCC:

1. Pai acknowledges the FCC lied about a DDoS attack taking down the agency’s public-comment system during the Net Neutrality repeal proceeding. This doozy was just one of many irregularities during the proceeding back in 2017. But the truth came to light this year — and we’re confident that Net Neutrality will soon be restored.

2. Pai falsely claimed that Net Neutrality rules hurt broadband investment in his testimony before Congress. As a matter of fact, that’s just one untruth in a mountain of lies the chairman told when making his case for destroying the open internet. Here’s our point-by-point takedown of his favorite arguments against Title II Net Neutrality.

3. Pai claimed that his massive handout to ISPs was necessary to promote 5G buildout. But really it just adds to companies’ bottom lines at the expense of local communities. Big wireless companies publicly informed their shareholders that 5G was on the way well before Pai delivered his gift.

Click here to read more at Freepress.net.

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War On Christmas?

Posted on December 23, 2018 by Dave Bradley

 

Just a quick thought at the holidays.

Most religions or belief (or lack of belief) systems have some kind of celebration around this time of year. Even before calendars our ancestry had some concept of time. One of the things they timed was sunlight. The link between sunlight and life came early on.

Since those early millennia the rebirth of the sun at the winter solstice has become the lynchpin of a multitude of celebrations, religious and secular. Saturnalia, Yule and Christmas are the ones that often come to mind. 

Celebrate what you want or don’t celebrate anything at all. Celebrate it however you wish, it is your business. 

What confounds me is those who claim to be followers of Christ and want to force everybody to follow their ways of keeping this time of year. My understanding of Christ’s teachings is that he did not force anything on anyone. Christ supposedly told stories and came up with broad concepts of how to live in order to be saved. Among his most prominent concepts was to give up the love of money.

So once again we come to the winter solstice in the US with a group of people claiming there is a “war on Christmas.” These folks also claim that if someone does not keep Christmas as they do then that person is somehow undeserving to live amongst other citizens in this country as they judge people on their perceived level of Christianity.

What is interesting is that those doing the judging and making the biggest stink about a war on Christmas are often the ones to whom the teachings of Christ are merely words on a page. To them I say keep your Christmas in your way and let me keep the Solstice in mine. 

And to them and everyone everywhere I say Hppy Holidays to you and your loved ones.

And Go Hawkeyes and Cyclones!

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Sunday Funday: A Week Without Dear Leader Edition

Posted on December 23, 2018 by Dave Bradley

Image (1) santa-thumb.jpg for post 8785Not sure about you folks, but I am thoroughly sick and tired of the shenanigans of Dear Leader as he tries to turn the US into the an oligarchy with him as the biggest Ollie. I still like Oliver Hardy as the best Ollie ever – take that Dear Leader! So let’s just lean back and hopefully have some fun today and forget about old what’s-his-name.

I have a friend whose culture celebrates “longest night” on the 21st. That sure seems to me to be a holiday that should be looked into.

How about some offbeat trivia and Christmas and Holiday trivia today?

  1. Here’s one for the Boomers out there. Kids ask Grandma and Grandpa about this one. On Iowa’s old license plates where counties were listed by number (alphabetically) what was county 82?
  1. What does the word “wassailing” as in “Here we come a-wassailing” mean?
  1. According to most historians what time of the year was Jesus most likely born?
  1. Gingerbread houses became popular in the 19th century after what story was released by the Brothers Grimm?
  1. Five years ago what Fox Newser faced a big backlash when she asserted Santa Claus was white?
  1. The famous “Christmas Truce” happened during what major war?
  1. What Catholic saint is credited with bringing carols into church services? (Hint: think the saint of animals)
  1. The first mention of a Mrs. Clause was in a short story “A Christmas Legend” by John Rees. About what year was this story published?
  1. Women began taking the job of department store Santa Claus when what caused a shortage of manpower in the US? (Hint: women also became riveters etc.)
  1. The week of December 21st, 1968 (50 years ago) the top rock and roll record was what?
  1. Do the 12 days of Christmas come before or after December 25th?
  1. What does the word Advent mean?
  1. James Edgar was the first known person to dress as Santa Claus for his own department store in Brockton, Massachusetts. Any idea when he first did this?
  1. When did NORAD start tracking Santa Claus? (they needed to know where he was so they didn’t try to shoot him down)
  1. How long has that little narc, Elf on the Shelf, been around to rat out bad kids?
  1. Robert May wrote the book “Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer” and Johnny Marks wrote the song. What was their relationship in real life?
  1. “While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.” What is a sugar plum anyway?
  1. Christmas night 1776, What American general launched a sneak attack across the Delaware River into Mew Jersey?
  1. Christmas Day 1968 we got to see some our of this world television from where?
  1. In Japan, what is the most popular food for Christmas Day?

OK  – mostly Christmas trivia. Hope you are enjoying it

The real war on Christmas:

Answers:

  1. Scott (Davenport)
  1. It is a walking, caroling party that would sometimes include pranks if a house was not generous enough with goodies.
  1. Springtime
  1. Hansel and Gretel
  1. Megan Kelly 
  1. WWI or t what was then known as The Great War
  1. St. Francis of Assisi
  1. The story was published in 1849 
  1. WWII
  1. “I heard it through the grapevine” by Marvin Gaye
  1. After
  1. The coming of a great person or event
  1. 1890
  1. 1955 – it is a fascinating story that begins with Sears accidentally publishing NORAD’s telephone number as Santa’s number.
  1. Since 2005
  1. They were brothers-in-law
  1. It is a comfit – a seed or nut or bit of spice – with layers of herd sugar on it. Usually only for the rich.
  1. George Washington!
  1. Apollo 8 as it orbited the moon
  1. KFC. You have to get your order in days ahead of time or plan on waiting in line for hours to get some.

Some old guy and David Bowie:

Merry Christmas!

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The Green New Deal: Something We Need

Posted on December 22, 2018 by Dave Bradley

Robert Reich does an excellent job in this short video of explains how Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s proposed “Green New Deal” is a great idea to address two big problems in the US at one time.

While we will have only one house of congress for the next two years, that should be enough to emphasize what is now a huge gulf between the parties on policies. The Green New Deal is but one of the very progressive, problem solving ideas that Democrats have.

What used to be the Republican Party that has now devolved into the cult of Trump Party seems to have but one idea – give America’s treasury to the rich and they will disburse such money to you and me through wages and charities. Charities like the Trump Foundation. 

Consider the Green New Deal over the holidays. This is the kind of policy that America needs today. And remember there is no ‘planet B’ – this is the only place we have to live.

Have a great holiday.

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Blum Likely Violated Ethics Rules

Posted on December 22, 2018 by Dave Bradley
cardboard rod blum

cardboard Rod Blum

Add another Republican to the pile of ethics violations. Trump, Kushner, Sessions, Ivanka and now Rod Blum. 

KCRG reported Monday that soon-to-be former congress member Rod Blum likely violated ethics rules. The violations are in connection with Blum’s involvement with a software firm known as Tin Moon and Blum’s subsequent failure to fully report his involvement or income with the firm.

From the KCRG story:

The Office of Congressional Ethics launched the review into Republican Rod Blum and his internet marketing business, Tin Moon Corp., following an investigation by The Associated Press earlier this year.

Its nonpartisan board voted in July to adopt an investigative report that concluded Blum “may have violated federal law, state law, House rules, and standards of conduct” and called for further investigation.

<<skip>>

The report found that Blum may have misused House resources by allowing the company to use his official congressional photo on its website and a false video testimonial of his chief of staff posing as a satisfied customer. Tin Moon also engaged in other deceptive advertising, including falsely claiming to have 11,000 customers and to have won certain awards and endorsements, the review found. Blum, who owns 70 percent of the company, either allowed the deceptive practices or failed to prevent them.

<< skip >>

Investigators said that Blum, his companies, Graham, his chief of staff John Ferland and other associates largely refused to cooperate with their inquiry. The report stopped short of determining whether violations occurred but said the ethics committee should investigate, including by subpoenaing testimony and records from Blum and his associates. It’s unclear whether that occurred.”

Iowans seem to have lost their once vaunted ability to sniff out a skunk. Kim Reynolds rather flaunted her dealings with donors right in our faces receiving plane rides and such items and no one seemed to care.

Don’t forget that we paid the bill for the senate Republican caucus to sexually harass their employees.

Seems that the preponderance of ethics and other violations happen on the Republican side, yet Iowans keep electing them. I saw some poll. That gave Donald Trump a 60-40 edge in Iowa at the current time. Trump is immorality incarnate. Yet it doesn’t seem bother many Iowans at all. In some parts of this state the letter behind the name is all that some voters care about over ability, honesty, knowledge and many other personal qualities.

Well at least Rod Blum is gone. The article from KCRG says that the committee will probably not follow up on the charges. It doesn’t say if anyone in the law enforcement field will. If they don’t it will be yet another public servant who will flaunt the laws and get away with it.

That will send a message to the next Blum, the next Trump, the next Reynolds that laws are not meant for certain people. Sometime we need to send some messages to those who betray the public trust and park some fannies inside of prisons.

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Loebsack Statement On Farm Bill

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Trish Nelson

Congressman Dave Loebsack

December 20, 2018

As we head into the new year, I am pleased that farmers across Iowa and the nation will now have the certainty they need to be able to plan for the upcoming planting season thanks to the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. Having expired in October, Congress was finally able to put aside its partisan differences and pass a farm bill that allows farmers to plant crops, raise livestock, and make investments that create jobs. I was proud to vote in favor of this bipartisan bill.

Incorporated into the legislation were two bills that I have proudly championed. Both the Precision Agriculture Act and the SIREN Act will help our farmers.

The Precision Agriculture Act establishes a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) task force, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to evaluate the best ways to meet the broadband connectivity and technological needs of our farmers and rural communities. The Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act creates a $10 million grant program for EMS agencies in rural areas to help address the issues they face. These include personnel recruitment and retention, providing continuing education and preparedness training, purchasing updated equipment, maintaining adequate coverage during prolonged transport times, and obtaining qualified medical oversight. Both of these bills will aid in serving our rural communities emergency response needs and help our farmers increase their yields and be more productive.

The 2018 Farm Bill also included many provisions that I was happy to support. This includes protecting crop insurance to provide a safety net for beginning farmers against crop failures and natural disasters such as the droughts we’ve seen in Iowa the last few years. Additionally, I pushed to ensure this bill contains $350 million per year to help expand new broadband infrastructure in rural areas. Finally, portions of legislation I introduced aimed at allowing farmers to update program yields for Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) as a way to boost their eligibility for support were also included in the final bill.

Now that the 2018 Farm Bill has passed, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure this legislation is fully implemented and provides the necessary support for our farmers, rural communities and economy.

Sincerely,

Dave Loebsack
Iowa’s Second District

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Three Top Myths Of The 2018 Election

Posted on December 20, 2018 by Trish Nelson


And now for some serious, data-based discussion of the 2018 mid-term election results brought to you by The Democratic Strategist.  [There is also a fascinating read When The GOP Gerrymanders Should Dems Do The Same?  on the TDS site that is food for strategic thought.]

Three Profoundly Dangerous Myths About the 2018 Election is nine pages long but here is a snippet:

Analysts I trusted concluded that [the Democratic 2018 victories occurred] because suburban and college-educated women issued “a sharp rebuke to President Trump” that set off a “blue wave  through the urban and suburban House districts.” At first, I also believed that was the main story line.  [But in fact] Democrats cut the Republicans’ margin in rural areas by 13 points, according to the Edison exit poll and by seven points in one by Catalyst. Democrats still lost rural America by somewhere between 14 and 18 points so that left Democrats in a pickle there.  That had implications for the Senate, but it shouldn’t conceal the fact that Democrats actually made progress in rural areas.

Dear Readers:

In the days immediately after the 2018 elections the most widely circulated analysis held that the significant Democratic victories were produced by the votes of people of color, college educated whites, particularly women and voters in “suburbs” across the country. In contrast, white voters with less than a college education, the group generally defined as the “white working class,” and voters in rural areas were described as remaining completely committed to Trump and the GOP.

The strategic conclusion this implied was obvious: efforts to regain support among these voters would be a waste of time. For 2020 and beyond, all Democratic efforts at voter persuasion and mobilization should be focused on educated whites, the suburbs and people of color.

But in recent weeks new data has emerged–data that sharply contradicts this initial assessment and suggests that the strategic conclusions that have been drawn from it are profoundly and dangerously wrong.

The Democratic Strategist is pleased to present the following Strategy Memo:

Three Profoundly Dangerous Myths about the 2018 elections

Click HERE to read the memo.

We believe you will find this memo both useful and important.

Sincerely,
The Democratic Strategist

The Democratic Strategist is a web-based publication that seeks to provide a forum and meeting ground for the serious, data-based discussion of Democratic political strategy.

 

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