Iowa City Getting New Community Radio Station

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Trish Nelson

local radio nowWe can thank Congressmen Dave Loebsack (D-2nd District) and former congressman Tom Latham (R-4th District) who co-sponsored H.R. 1147, the bill that allowed the FCC to license thousands of Low Power FM community radio stations across the country. 

Iowa City will benefit by getting its very own LPFM station. The station will provide truly local radio programming.  Read these articles in the Gazette  and Little Village to find out more. 

Right now the station’s start-up group needs money to get on the air by this fall.  Click on the link if you would like to donate.  For more information, contact Holly Hart.

http://www.gofundme.com/radioforeveryone

 

“You’re listening to Uptown Bill’s Radio live from Iowa City, Iowa.”  Doesn’t that sound great! You can help make it happen.

Uptown Bill’s/Extend the Dream has received a license from the FCC to operate a radio station in Iowa City. In keeping with our mission, this is to be community radio for everyone — for people of all abilities.

Right now, we need to raise $15,000. That will pay for the costs of engineering and equipment to get us on the air.

Our goal is to be broadcasting by the end of the summer. Help us get on the air with a tax-deductible contribution.

Posted in Low Power FM, Radio | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Iowa City Getting New Community Radio Station

Statehouse News, School Funding Crisis Continues‏

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Dave Bradley

kirstem marquard

Ed. note: This week’s newsletter comes from the desk of Representative Kirsten Running-Marquard and the staff for Democratic members of the Iowa House.

Although today is the “official” last day of Session, our work is not yet complete. Session is now going past its scheduled end date. There is still grid lock on setting basic funding for our k-12 schools (Supplemental School Aid or Allowable Growth). The House Republicans continue to stay at 1.25% which would result in over 20 teachers getting pink slips in the Cedar Rapids School District alone. We have to do better, and we have the funds to invest adequately in our children’s future. I will continue to fight for our kids.

It looks as though next week we will be moving the Economic Development Budget Bill; I serve as Ranking Member of this committee charged to move this important budget bill forward into law. I also serve on the Appropriations Committee, where all budget bills and legislation dealing with state expenditures move through. The last few weeks of session are busy for the Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees.

There are now only a few bills left to pass through the Iowa legislature this year. I will continue to support education, workforce development and smart economic development. These are the three priority areas I see as critical in making Iowa a great place to live, work and raise a family.

Public Schools to Lose Over 1,000 Educators Next Year

The school funding crisis carried on for another week as schools reported there will be over 1,000 fewer educators in Iowa schools next year because of the budget uncertainty. This week, because of the school funding impasse, schools were forced to hand out pink slips to over 400 educators for the upcoming school year. Schools also said they plan to leave at least another 626 positions (which are typically retirements) open next year, meaning class sizes will increase. Despite not knowing how much money they will receive from the state, Iowa school districts were forced to set their budget for the upcoming school year in mid-April.

The school funding crisis started last year when the House Republicans and Governor Branstad refused to set basic state funding for k-12 schools. Democrats have offered a 6% increase, then 4%, then 2.625% in an effort to compromise, but the majority party has rejected every offer to resolve the school funding crisis this year and continue to stay at 1.25%. Again, playing politics with our kid’s education is wrong. What 1.25% means is teachers being fired and larger class sizes negatively impact performance.

Besides raising class size with fewer teachers and raising property taxes, superintendents said they will also be cutting back other opportunities for students because of the budget uncertainty. Art, sports, wood shop, agriculture programs, consumer science, library services, STEM and Talented and Gifted are just a few of the programs being considered by school districts for elimination.

The above information was compiled through a survey of Iowa superintendents. Iowans can learn about the impact of the school funding crisis in their own school district by going to www.iowahouse.org/GOPpinkslip/.

Medical Cannabis Bill Equals Care for Sick Iowans

Iowans gathered at the State Capitol again this week to urge members of the Iowa House to support a medical cannabis bill for those suffering from debilitating diseases, like epilepsy, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. With strong support from the public, many lawmakers are considering a new bill this year to expand the applicability of that law and the availability of the oil for some of our sickest Iowans.

Senate File 484 passed the Senate and moved to the House. Senate File 484 creates a safe and secure medical cannabis program under the supervision of the Department of Public Health and uses the registration cards developed last year to assist with compliance. The bill allows persons with a debilitating medical condition such as cancer, Crohn’s, and multiple sclerosis to apply for a registration card, with verification from their doctor, to allow them to access medical cannabis. The medical cannabis must be manufactured at a licensed facility and all medical cannabis manufactured must be tested at the hygienic laboratory at the University of Iowa for content, contamination, and consistency.

Proponents of SF 484 are encouraging the House to pass the legislation to ensure that patients and their doctors can determine for themselves whether this is a fit for them. Additionally, backers of the bill feel confident that this proposal includes regulation and safeguards to ensure that the cannabis is used only by those who are suffering from a debilitating medical condition. It is very late in session but I and many others hope we can move forward.

New Exhibit Honors Iowan’s Vietnam Soldiers

This year is the 40th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, Vietnam, which effectively ended the Vietnam War on April 30, 1975. More than 865 Iowans were killed in the conflict and five Iowa service members earned the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest military award for heroism. The Iowa Gold Star Military Museum, at Camp Dodge in Johnston, has a new Vietnam War interactive exhibit including a helicopter display, a utility truck, and other artifacts. A scrollable list of Iowans who were killed in the Vietnam War is available, as are television monitors featuring stories from the Vietnam War, and a full-scale diorama and mural. The Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs will host the 2015 Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day Remembrance Ceremony on Thursday, May 7, 2015. The ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial located south of the Iowa State Capitol building in Des Moines. If you are from the Linn County area and are planning to attend, please let me know.

Posted in Budget, Education, Iowa legislature 2015, medical marijuana, Veterans | Tagged , | Comments Off on Statehouse News, School Funding Crisis Continues‏

Sunday Funday – Six Years Of Gay Marriage In Iowa

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Dave Bradley
Tough one today

Tough one today

Hard to believe that April slipped by with hardly a mention of the anniversary of the UNANIMOUS decision in Varnum v. Brien that made Iowa the 3rd (after Massachusetts and no one ever remembers who was 2nd) to allow same sex couples to be legally married. It almost stopped in Iowa. Only 32 more states have joined the band wagon since. I was reminded of this as the oral arguments were made before the SCOTUS Tuesday in the case that may make (or break) gay marriage in this country.

Perhaps my biggest disappointment since the Iowa decision is the lack of divorces that the right wing promised would happen in the wake of the decision. I would certainly have expected at the very least that those preaching the imminent death of marriage in this state would have been among the first to line up at a lawyer’s office to file for divorce because of the gay.  So i call on Bob Vander Plaats and Chuck Hurley and all the other loud and proud gay haters to show you believe in what you say and file for divorce before your next public humiliation of Republican candidates in July in Ames.
iowadailydemocrat.com/news/2015/04/vander-plaats-and-the-family-leader-to-host-summer-summit-as-iowa-gop-works-to-elevate-far-right-candidates/

Lots happened last week.

1) In a SCOTUS case with a decision that seemed to counter Citizens United, the SCOTUS decided unlimited money in judicial elections was not a good idea. Who wrote the majority (5-4) decision?

2) In China, the government is cracking down on the custom of using strippers at the end of what events?

3) The Pope shocked many by calling what a major scandal?

4) Nepal was hit hard by an earthquake measuring what on the Richter scale?

5) 200 girls and 93 women were rescued from where Tuesday after over a year of captivity?

6) The US celebrates Labor Day in September, but the rest of the world celebrates what similar holiday on May 1?

7) What ally of Chris Christie and appointee to the Port Authority agreed to plead guilty to charges concerning the closure of the George Washington Bridge Thursday?

8) The fastest two minutes in sports took place yesterday. What are the fastest two minutes in sports?

9) Who is the Attorney General of Maryland that brought charges against six policemen in the death of Freddy Gray?

10) Since no education funding has passed the Iowa legislature, how many fewer educators can we expect in Iowa classrooms next fall?

11) Rep. Bill Flores has insights others don’t. To what does Mr. Flores attribute the protests in Baltimore this week?

12) 45 years ago tomorrow, the country was shocked when it heard that what had happened at Kent State University?

13) May 4, 1886. Police attack labor activists in Chicago in what has come to be called what?

14) Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has declared a state of emergency in Iowa. Why?

15) The presidential field gets more crowded. What senator announced his candidacy Thursday?

16) Regents president Bruce Rastetter is pushing hard for a university funding plan that would give the state schools money based on what?

17) An anti-gay Republican legislator in North Dakota was outed sending explicit pictures to a gay dating website. What is his very apropos name?

18) Workers’ Memorial Day was celebrated around the nation on April 28th. Why was this date chosen?

19) Police in Iowa City were called to a residence where they found what dangerous souvenir had been uncovered in a storage area?

20) So ugly it could stop a watch! What ancient body adornment was revealed this week to have the power to stop the new high tech Apple watches?

Police were called to a Seattle playground to help extract a man who was stuck in a basketball hoop. I wonder just how big the guy was who stuffed him in there.

Answers:

1) CJ John Roberts

2) funerals. The strippers are used to draw large crowds for the deceased.

3) unequal pay for women

4) 7.8

5) boko haram camps in Nigeria

6) International workers’ day or Labor day

7) David Wildstein – he is expected to give evidence that Christie was in on the bridge closure

8) The Kentucky Derby

9) Marilyn Mosby

10) up to 1,150

11) gay marriage. Make up you own connection.

12) 4 students were shot dead by National Guard troops during an anti-Vietnam war protest

13) the Haymarket Riot

14) The spreading bird flu in northwest Iowa

15) Bernie Sanders

16) number of Iowa kids enrolled at the school.

17) Randy Boehning (pronounce it as you wish)

18) on April 28th, 1971 the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) went into effect

19) a live World War I grenade

20) a tattoo that comes in contact with the watch – e.g. a tattoo on the wrist

See you next week for Mother’s Day

Posted in Humor | 1 Comment

Trade Treachery

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Dave Bradley

As the Trans Pacific Partnership steams toward a senate vote, opposition has been coming from many quarters. This opposition needs to unite with a message that is coherent. However, that has been hard to do since no one except a few negotiators have any idea what is in the treaty. What little that has been leaked gives us a hint that the treaty is not built with the American people in mind.

Here is Alan Grayson from the new website tradetreachery.com with a 9 minute discourse on the known problems with the top:

A short story on the Buffet Trade Plan can be read here.

Here is a short excerpt that sums it up:

The Buffet Plan

Buffet proposed a simple plan to balance our trade. The government could issue “Import Certificates (ICs) to all U.S. exporters in an amount equal to the dollar value of their exports.” The number of import certificates determines the level of trade imbalance or balance that we allow.

Each exporter would, in turn, sell the ICs to parties–either exporters abroad or importers here–wanting to get goods into the U.S. To import $1 million of goods, for example, an importer would need ICs that were the byproduct of $1 million of exports. The inevitable result: trade balance.

The idea was sort of like cap-and-trade. Exporters would get a certificate for the value of their exports. The certificates allow anyone holding them to import that dollar amount of goods or services. So selling these certificates would mean extra cash to exporters, and would help them modernize factories, pay specialists and the other things needed to revive our in-country industries. Or the extra cash would let them sell for less, which would counter currency manipulation and other subsidies that other countries provide to their exporters.

There are a number of pluses and minuses, and Buffett goes on to list some of the negative effects of balancing trade. For one thing, prices would necessarily go up. But, of course, jobs and wage gains would return to our economy.

Posted in Corporate Greed, Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) | Tagged | 1 Comment

Independent Survey Shows Bob Vander Plaats’ Irrelevance With Voters

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Dave Bradley

progress iowa

Editor’s note: With the coming of the first in the nation Presidential test Iowa caucuses, Bob Vander Plaats is moving into the role of a potential king maker within the Republican Party. Since the Republican caucuses in Iowa have a preponderance of so-called evangelical voters, Republican candidates increasingly will be coming to Iowa to kiss the ring of the Don of this sector of the Republican Party. The note below reminds us that while Vander Plaats and his ilk may hold sway of an active sector of the small turnout of Republicans on caucus night, his beliefs and tactics turn off most common sense Iowans. Kissing up to Vander Plaats may be a short term gain for a candidate but come with a long term negative.

By the way, the next public ring (or butt) kissing of Bob Vander Plaats will be July 18th at the CY Stephens Auditorium in Ames. Might be a good time for some gay weddings in the area.

Increasing unpopularity comes in the wake of Vander Plaats & the Family Leader praying for the physical harm of their political opponents

Des Moines, Iowa — Surveys released by Public Policy Polling (PPP) of Iowa voters show the irrelevance of Bob Vander Plaats in the Republican Presidential caucus, as well as his lack of influence with Iowa voters. Just 13% of Republican primary voters say his support will make them more likely to vote for a candidate in the caucus, while 17% say his support makes it less likely. Vander Plaats’ approval rating with all Iowa voters is only 18%, while 36% view him unfavorably, and 46% do not have an opinion.

Progress Iowa Executive Director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement in reaction to the poll results:

“The survey results released this week by PPP show the increasing irrelevance of Bob Vander Plaats and his organization, the Family Leader, with Iowa voters. After years of working to insert their influence in political races from Presidential caucuses to local ballot initiatives, it seems that Vander Plaats’ 15 minutes of fame is up. More Republicans say they are less likely to vote for a candidate than vote for a candidate based on Vander Plaats’ endorsement, many Iowans have never heard of him, and those who have do not have a favorable impression.”

“While Bob Vander Plaats loses relevance in Iowa politics, he and the Family Leader appear to be losing their grip on reality as well. Within the last few months, Vander Plaats and the Family Leader have prayed for the physical harm of their political opponents. The organization posted a prayer online suggesting that the organizers of the Governors conference on LGBTQ youth ‘be drowned in the depth of the sea.’ And Tamara Scott, a lobbyist for the Family Leader, prayed for someone to be struck down by lightning because they offered a non-Christian prayer at the Iowa Statehouse.”

“The hateful rhetoric and policy positions put forward by Vander Plaats and the Family Leader have no place in our political discourse. And they absolutely do not represent Iowa values. The survey results released this week prove that Iowans have had enough of Bob Vander Plaats’ divisive brand of politics.”

From the PPP survey of Republican primary voters, conducted from April 23-26:
If a candidate for President was endorsed by Bob Vander Plaats, would that make you more or less likely to vote for them, or would it not make a difference?
More likely to vote for a candidate endorsed by Bob Vander Plaats: 13%
Less likely to vote for a candidate endorsed by Bob Vander Plaats: 17%
Wouldn’t make a difference: 62%
Not sure: 7%

From the PPP survey of all Iowa voters, conducted from April 23-26:
Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Bob Vander Plaats?
Favorable: 18%
Unfavorable: 36%
Not sure: 46%

Progress Iowa is a multi-issue progressive advocacy organization with a network of more than 60,000 progressives. Year-round, Progress Iowa advocates for a stronger middle class, first-class public education, and fairness for all Iowans under the law.

###

Background:

Public Policy Polling: Iowa Survey Results, Republican Primary Voters (Question 23)

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2015/PPP_Release_IA_42815.pdf

Public Policy Polling: Iowa Survey Results, All Iowa Voters (Question 29)

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2015/PPP_Release_IA_43015.pdf

The Family Leader: Unprecedented spiritual challenge hits Iowa

http://www.thefamilyleader.com/unprecedented-spiritual-challenge-hits-iowa/

Right Wing Watch: Bob Vander Plaats warns of divine retribution for Wiccan prayer in Iowa state capitol

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/bob-vander-plaats-warns-divine-retribution-wiccan-prayer-iowa-state-capitol

The Family Leader: Governors conference on LGBTQ youth not what you think (includes prayer for conference planners to ‘be drowned in the depth of the sea’)

http://www.thefamilyleader.com/governors-conference-on-lgbtq-youth-not-what-you-think/

Cedar Rapids Gazette: And how will they know us?

http://thegazette.com/subject/opinion/blogs/lynda-waddington/and-how-will-they-know-us-20150417

Posted in Blog for Iowa, GLBT, marriage equality, Progress Iowa, separation of church and state | Tagged , | Comments Off on Independent Survey Shows Bob Vander Plaats’ Irrelevance With Voters

Pathetic Republican Action On School Funding

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Dave Bradley
things to do when not legislatin'

things to do when not legislatin’

Once again Iowa’s legislature becomes the laughing stock of Iowa through its lack of action concerning Iowa schools at all levels. Iowa was once the gold standard for schools in this country and stood well across the world. Thanks to some real as backward leadership we sink every year.

While we give the collective blame to that group “legislature,” the truth is we should be much more specific and narrow it down to “Republicans in the legislature and Governor Branstad.” Led by tea baggers, Republicans these days have just a couple of criteria – cutting taxes for their cronies and then funneling what tax money they do get to those same cronies in sweetheart deals.

We can see both of these in action this year in Iowa’s government. We see Terry Branstad acting as if he is a one man wrecking ball in taking our tax money and handing it to some private for profit company to run Iowa’s portion of the Medicaid program. This will no doubt result in huge profits for that company and a loss of services for those in the Medicaid system through denials and new processes. It is good to be a friend of Terry’s.

But the most cynical is the way Republicans in the legislature have refused to even discuss school budgets, let alone do any serious negotiations. They claim that they are offering a substantial rise in school funding, but in reality theirs is a cynical game that has been played out in states across the nation. As usual Iowa’s Republican party is a party of followers whose last major accomplishment was to do what they could to maintain as much Prohibition in the state even after it was repealed nationally.

The process for wrecking local school systems has an established recipe that various legislatures have followed. It goes like this:
1) cut taxes especially for corporations claiming this will entice businesses to move to your state -(hint: it doesn’t)
2) cut services, especially education which is usually the states largest single expenditure.
3) Schools can not maintain previous standards or meet new more stringent standards due to lack of resources.
4) Schools and teachers (as lazy government employees) are vilified for the perceived failures.
5) the fire of perceived failures are fanned by Republicans up and down governmental offices. Corporate media report such stories without telling the whole story.
6) A few more years of underfunding worsens the problem for school
7) Republican leaders claim for profit charter schools are the answer to the “failure.” (hint: they are worse than public schools)
8) Money is found to pay for charter schools by removing it from the public system.
9) In Iowa, new governor Kim Reynolds will oversee the dismantling of the public school system declaring it “great for Iowa, praise the Lord.”

In an editorial earlier this week, the new blog on the block the iowadailydemocrat.com hits the nail square on the head in chastising Republicans for their cynical actions:

“It’s as predictable as the start of the baseball season, but Branstad’s status-quo approach to nearly everything creates long-lasting and complex harm to everyone involved and causes Iowa to fall behind when it comes to educational excellence. And experts across the ideological spectrum tell us educational excellence is the single biggest factor in whether a given city, state or region succeeds in the global economy.

Branstad’s accomplishments on education for the 2015 session are nonexistent. The Governor may actually be doing more harm than good.

On pre-K (or preschool) education, there’s absolutely no progress. The U.S. Department of Education released its report “A Matter of Equity: Preschool in America” two weeks back. While Iowa ends up near the middle, ranked in the second quartile of states, we’re actually losing ground since 2007 when Governor Chet Culver proposed statewide universal preschool and began providing the funds to make it happen. Branstad singled out that program by name for repeal and has done a fantastic job at hammering away at our 4-year-olds, making sure they don’t all have preschool. Now, 30 percent of our eligible 4-year-olds don’t have access to state-funded preschool. It’s worthy of shame, but the Governor is long past that point in his career.

The K-12 picture isn’t much better as the Governor and Republican legislators are stuck on a below-inflation funding level of 1.25 percent, and the Democrats seem intent on negotiating against themselves now that they’ve adjusted their ask to 2.62 percent. As usual, the two parties will wait until the end of session, far too late for most school districts trying to plan fall budgets and make hiring decisions. They’ll agree on a paltry 2 percent and all go home calling themselves heroes for doing their basic constitutional duty, and doing the barest minimum at that.

At the higher education level, though, Iowa is drowning by comparison with states that are serious about higher education. The Regents are spending more than a million dollars on two out-of-state consultants whose job is to find places to cut at the three state universities, all while attendance costs go up every year and student debt for Iowa’s public universities ranks 6th in the nation. (Did you realize the cost of books and supplies, over and above tuition, is north of $1,200 a year at our state schools?)”

In a few short years Iowa has moved from the top of the heap to the middle in a slide that has us headed down to eventually challenging Mississippi for the bottom if the trend continues. But it should be noted that other once proud states like Kansas will be fighting us for that position. But will we ever really know when for profit corporations are in charge of our educational structure and it will be nearly impossible to measure?

Posted in Branstad, Budget, Education, Iowa legislature 2015 | Tagged | Comments Off on Pathetic Republican Action On School Funding

Iowans Overwhelmingly Oppose Branstad Plan To Close MHIs

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Trish Nelson

MHIAction Alert From Progress Iowa

We need your help to show Governor Branstad he can’t keep ignoring his constituents.

An independent survey released today showed that Iowans oppose his plans to shut down mental health institutes in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant (by a 68-12 margin) and his efforts to privatize Medicaid (by a 52-22 margin).

Unfortunately, Governor Branstad is better known for acting like a self-appointed emperor than for his responsiveness to constituents.

Will you help us spread the word and show how strongly Iowans feel about these issues?

Here’s how you can help:

Click here to share the news on Facebook (you will need to be logged in)
Click here to Tweet about Iowans opposing Branstad’s plans

Shutting down the mental health institutes in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant would be devastating to the patients who need care and their entire communities. And Branstad’s efforts to privatize Medicaid amount to nothing more than a dangerous corporate takeover of health care for more than 500,000 Iowans.

With your help today, we will make sure the Governor, and all Iowans, know how widespread the opposition is to these two dangerous proposals.

Thank you for all you do,
Matt Sinovic
Progress Iowa

P.S. To read coverage of today’s survey in the Des Moines Register, click here. And be sure to send the story on to your friends and family as well!

Posted in Branstad, Calls to Action | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Iowans Overwhelmingly Oppose Branstad Plan To Close MHIs

Bolkcom Shames Shameless Iowa GOP

Posted on April 29, 2015 by Trish Nelson

Sen. Joe Bolkcomsenate.iowa.gov/democrats

House Leadership has “moral obligation” to allow vote on medical cannabis

Prepared remarks by Senator Joe Bolkcom given during floor debate today

I heard today that the Iowa House won’t be back at the statehouse, ready to debate until Wednesday.

Is that really true? I can hardly believe it.

Sick and suffering Iowans are asking for our help. The Iowa Senate has approved a responsible way to get them the medicines they need. And the Republican majority of the Iowa House is taking two days off?

That is appalling. It is shameful. This legislation is the ONLY chance these suffering Iowans have.

Denying them a vote, a vote which would likely be successful, would be cruel and mean-spirited.

Washington is broken on this issue. Washington can’t solve this problem. That’s why 23 states created their own medical cannabis systems. That’s why Iowa should do the same.

Families affected by cancer, MS, Epilepsy, AIDS, PTSD, and other painful, long-term conditions simply want a safe, legal, affordable way to access helpful medicines.

The overwhelming majority of Iowans are ready to help.

This isn’t just any issue. It is a life and death for many of these patients.

If the leadership of the Iowa House wants to deny medicine to Iowans who need it, they should at least have the decency to allow a vote on Senate File 484.

In fact, I believe House leaders have a moral obligation to allow a vote on medical cannabis before this session ends.

Posted in Iowa legislature 2015, medical marijuana | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Calling All Pipeline Fighters For Urgent Action Tuesday

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Trish Nelson

Bakken Pipeline Proposed RouteA note from Ed Fallon:

Dear Friends –

I spoke with State Rep. Bobby Kaufmann today on my talk show and he announced big news on the Eminent Domain Bill:

Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 28th at 12:00 noon in Room 22 of the Iowa State Capitol, a joint House-Senate sub-committee will meet to debate and possibly vote on SSB 1276!

There are three things you can do:

1. COME!!  Sub-committee meetings provide one of the few opportunities for average Iowans to speak on and influence legislation directly. I will be there and would love to have a slew of pipeline fighters join me.

2. Share this message and the Facebook Event invite with as many people as possible.

3. Write or call sub-committee members. If you write, carbon copy your own Representative and Senator. To figure out who your Representative and Senator are, and get contact information for them, click Find Your Legislator.

Sub-committee members are:

– Senator Rob Hogg – rob.hogg@legis.iowa.gov or (515) 281-3371
– Senator Julian Garrett – julian.garrett@legis.iowa.gov or (515) 281-3371
– Senator Brian Schoenjahn – brian.schoenjahn@legis.iowa.gov or (515) 281-3371
– Representative Bobby Kaufmann – bobby.kaufmann@legis.iowa.gov or (515) 281-3221
– Representative Greg Heartsill – greg.heartsill@legis.iowa.gov or (515) 281-3221
– Representative Mary Wolfe – mary.wolfe@legis.iowa.gov or (515) 281-3221

My take is this: The bill needs to be simple and straightforward. All we are saying is that a private, for-profit business that does not provide a public service to Iowans should not be granted the power of eminent domain. My concern is that there is pressure from Big Oil’s friends at the Statehouse to craft a compromise that will weaken this core position.

The bottom line is this: We want the strongest possible bill to come out of sub-committee, as it becomes more difficult to strengthen it later.

ed fallonThank you! This is a pivotal moment, and I hope you can take a little time today and tomorrow morning to do what you can. And if at all possible, come to the State Capitol tomorrow (Tuesday) at 12:00 noon!

Ed Fallon

Posted in Climate Action, Ed Fallon, Energy, Environment, Environment Iowa, Fallon Forum, Farming | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Calling All Pipeline Fighters For Urgent Action Tuesday

Safe At Home: A Bill To Protect Victims Of Domestic Violence

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Trish Nelson

 

Posted in Iowa legislature 2015 | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Safe At Home: A Bill To Protect Victims Of Domestic Violence