Pottery Barn Rule Should Apply to Iowa's Senior Senator Bob Krause, Democratic candidate for the U. S. Senate, says Senator Charles Grassley should be subject to “Pottery Barn Rule” regarding
veterans’ benefits. Krause chided Grassley for expressing surprise that 50 to 70 percent of veterans’ health care appeals were unjustifiably denied through the V. A. appeals process. His statement of March 18 follows:
“According to a press release from Grassley's office, dated March 16, 2010, Senator Grassley seems to be shocked that benefits our veterans have earned are being denied them by the Veterans Administration.
“Let’s review the facts: Senator Grassley had a 62 per cent negative voting record with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) when he was Chair of the Senate Finance Committee. He achieved this ignominy by capping veterans health care funding at the same time the war was ramping up and thousands of new wounded veterans were being added to the Veterans Administration system. The “Pottery Barn Rule” – if you break it, you own it - needs to apply in this case. Since Senator Grassley is largely responsible for this broken system, he needs to own up to his role in creating it.
"The funding cap established by Grassley set the stage for the well publicized national health care crisis for veterans. The Bush Administration’s Secretary of Veterans Affairs reacted to this parsimony by triaging hundreds of thousands of older veterans out of the Veterans Administration system. President Obama has now requested the largest increase in history for funding of veterans’ health care.
“Even so, it does not make up for the years of 'being cheap' when Grassley was in charge of funding. I suspect that the appeals process is still being used to financially triage the system to account for the damage to the system under Grassley’s chairmanship.
"Senator Grassley owns this broken piece of policy from Pottery Barn. This November, I hope every Iowa veteran will remember who is responsible for a broken Veterans Administration benefits system when they go to the polls to cast their vote for someone who will represent them in the U. S. Senate."
~Bob Krause lives in Fairfield, Iowa with his spouse Vicky Matthiessen-Krause. He is a Democratic candidate to be the junior United States Senator from Iowa. He faces Roxanne Conlin and Tom Fiegen in the Democratic primary on June 8. KrauseforIowa.com
Iowa Democratic Congressmen See 15 Challengers File
by Paul Deaton
"While the field of challengers makes assertions about
patriotism and the framers’ intent in the constitution, our Democratic
delegation strives to do right by us."
While we waited for the next vote on health care, the Iowa filing
period for federal candidates closed and fifteen Republicans lined up to challenge Iowa’s
Democratic Congressional delegation, Bruce Braley (1st District),
Dave Loebsack (2nd District) and Leonard Boswell (3rd
District), in the midterms. The incumbents will face a hard-won campaign and the
anticipation is that progressives will support them with vigor. What else could
we do, considering the alternative?
The challenger biographies on the web assert their strengths.
Each man, and one woman, asserts their viability by distancing themselves from
politics as usual whether Republican, Democratic or Washingtonian. It is
difficult to characterize the field as a whole, and that seems to be the point.
They appear to seek a return to the agrarian individualism that characterized
the pre-industrial age, only with Twitter accounts.
These Republicans talk a lot about the founding fathers,
patriotism and the constitution. It drives me crazy. My ancestors were named
Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson in honor of famous Virginians, but weren’t
famous themselves. Our family established itself in Virginia a hundred years
before the American Revolution. It was unclear that there was going to be a
country, even when seven Virginians signed the Declaration of Independence. We
thought, like many did, that things could be worked out with King George. We
were wrong about that. My family continues to assert that our relatives won the
Revolutionary War in the Wilderness. It all seems pretty far fetched in 21st
century Iowa.
The truth is that while the artifacts of a person’s life
might make a great story, we have at best an inadequate view of what 17th
and 18th century folks outside the landed gentry thought or intended.
Each of us spins a story about what remains. The artifacts of history are mute
in and of themselves.
In the case of the constitution, we have been interpreting
those words since they were written. Part of signing the constitution was the
unwritten agreement to delay consideration of the slavery question for the
first 20 years of the republic. Thank the Quakers for remembering and lobbying
for abolition at the first congress in Philadelphia. I suspect there have been
unwritten deals in the capitol throughout our history. It is part of who we are
as a people.
What I know is that my family was not one of the seven
Virginians and members of the landed gentry that signed the Declaration of
Independence. We had other worries then and still do. When I consider the worries
of middle class Americans and the harshness of society in the post Reagan era,
I am thankful for Braley, Loebsack and Boswell. I feel they represent our
voices.
While the field of challengers makes assertions about
patriotism and the framers’ intent in the constitution, our Democratic
delegation strives to do right by us, right here and right now. We sent them to Washington to bring
change and they are. In the opinion of this writer, they have
earned our support.
~Paul
Deaton is a native Iowan living in rural Johnson County and weekend
editor of Blog for Iowa. He is also a member of Iowa Physicians for
Social Responsibility and Veterans for Peace.E-mail Paul
Deaton
Letter from Congressman Loebsack on Afghanistan February 2010 Dear Constituent, Thank you for contacting me about US operations in Afghanistan. I'm honored to represent you in Congress. Your opinion is very important to me and my priority is to provide Iowa's Second District with the best representation possible. In December 2009, President Obama announced a new strategy for US operations in Afghanistan, including the deployment of 30,000 additional US troops to the country. I have visited Afghanistan four times and have participated in a number of hearings and briefings on our progress in the country over the last several years, including hearings regarding the President's recently announced strategy with Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, General McChrystal, and Ambassador Eikenberry. Our service members and their families who will be, and who are being, deployed to Afghanistan deserve a thorough, accurate, and ongoing assessment of the President's strategy. They need a well-defined mission, with clearly laid out goals, and an actively followed rubric for measuring progress. I have worked to ensure that our service members, military families, and the American people receive this information by asking the tough questions necessary to ensure they get the answers they need and deserve. As a member of the Military Personnel and Readiness Subcommittees, I remain deeply concerned about the toll multiple deployments are taking on our service members and our ability to respond to emergencies at home as well as other possible contingencies abroad. I do not believe that an open-ended commitment to Afghanistan will enhance our national security, nor do I believe that it is the best use of American resources, especially as Iowa families are tightening their belts here at home. That is why I cosponsored HR 2404 on May 18, 2009, which would require the President to submit a report to Congress detailing a strategy to succeed in Afghanistan and bring our troops home. As the President's strategy is carried out, it must enhance our national security and it must meet achievable and well-defined goals that will effectively deny al Qaeda a safe haven and allow our troops to come home. It must responsibly use America's resources, and include:
Clearly laid out goals, a well-defined mission, and a rubric for measuring progress.
An organized political-military structure that fully utilizes and coordinates our civilian economic, agriculture, political, and development resources with the military mission.
A realistic and up-to-date accounting of the costs.
A well-defined, and closely followed plan to transfer responsibility for Afghan security and stability to the Afghan people, including helping the Afghan government combat corruption and assume responsibility for their country's future.
Ongoing commitments from our NATO allies to support the UN and NATO-backed mission in Afghanistan with additional troops, civilian experts, and resources.
Active coordination with the Pakistani government to further secure and stabilize the region and deny a safe haven to extremists who wish to do us harm.
President Obama's decision to send additional troops into Afghanistan was meant to address the worsening security situation and reverse the momentum of al Qaeda and the Taliban in the region. However, we will not achieve success in Afghanistan and the region through military means alone. I believe that redefining and growing the Afghan economy will be key to stabilizing the country and allowing our troops to come home. Similarly, the Afghanistan government must be supported in its efforts to develop the Afghan National Security Forces so that the Afghan people can provide for their own security. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I added provisions to the FY 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (HR 2647) to increase inter-agency coordination and assure that the necessary agriculture, anti-corruption, and security training assets and resources are in place to support and enhance the military mission. On behalf of our service members, their families, and the American taxpayers, I will continue to hold this Administration as accountable as I held the Bush Administration. I will carefully monitor the strategy's progress, and I will ensure that, as 3,500 members of the Iowa National Guard prepare to deploy to Afghanistan, they have every resource they need. Please be assured that I will continue to carefully monitor our progress and operation in Afghanistan and will keep your thoughts in mind when considering any legislation concerning operations there. Thank you again for contacting me about this important issue. I encourage you to visit my website at www.loebsack.house.gov and sign up for my e-newsletters to stay informed of the work I'm doing in Congress. I am proud to serve Iowa's Second District, and I am committed to working hard for you.
Iowans Mark the 7th Anniversary of the Iraq Warby Paul Deaton
"We sang 'If I Had a Hammer,' written in
1949 in
support of the progressive movement. We were heartened against society’s
harshness by being together as friends."
A woman started crying as she read the names of people
killed during the first seven years of the Iraq war. Today marks the beginning
of the eighth year of US participation in this military action and it is hard
not to be affected by reading the names of those who died. A bell rang after
each name was read. It is especially disheartening when we realize that in addition
to 43 Iowans, uncounted Iraqi men, women and children lost their lives during the Iraq war.
Today was a day of vigils and demonstrations in many major population centers
in Iowa and the nation. It is up to the living to honor the dead. Before this
war ends, more will die.
As the sun rose in front of us, food service tractor
trailers, beer trucks and refuse haulers plied the streets servicing nearby
bars and restaurants. Buses drove past and some of the drivers honked their
horns in recognition of the vigil. The bank showed the temperature to be 43
degrees, but none of us minded the chilly weather. We sang Pete Seeger and Lee
Hays’ song “If I Had a Hammer,” written in 1949 in
support of the progressive movement. We were heartened against society’s
harshness by being together as friends.
There were about two dozen of us this morning: a better
crowd than normal. We didn’t need the bullhorn. There were signs to hold and
candles to burn. As we were gathering we exchanged greetings and talked about
the future. This one was attending law school, another talked about nuclear
power and another about the cost of the wars. Someone wanted a new yard sign
because the first one had worn out during the course of this interminable war. After
an hour the group broke up and we parted to get on with our lives.
Ed Flaherty, a member of PEACE Iowa and Veterans for Peace,
organized two vigils in Iowa City at the University of Iowa’s Pentacrest. (If
you live in the area, the second one is at 7:00 PM today, March 19). We were pleased
that the Cedar Rapids Gazette sent a reporter to cover the event for both print
and television. A couple of participants gave interviews while the rest of us
stood as backdrop for the camera. If we weren’t standing our vigil, there may
not have been press coverage of the anniversary of the Iraq war at all. Many of
us thanked the reporter for coming and supporting us. When the government won’t
listen, we need every friend we can get.
~Paul
Deaton is a native Iowan living in rural Johnson County and weekend
editor of Blog for Iowa. He is also a member of Iowa Physicians for
Social Responsibility and Veterans for Peace.E-mail Paul
Deaton
"This all sounds great! However; some conservatives
already
have their scheming wheels in motion."
Iowans who follow nuclear disarmament issues are hoping that
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton resolves what remaining issues exist between
Russia and the United States while she is in Russia today. The Strategic
Arms Reduction Treaty (START) could then be finalized and signed by the
parties this spring, and perhaps as early as this fall, ratified by the United
States Senate. Hope springs eternal in foreign affairs and among those who
follow them. The previous START treaty expired on December 5, 2009.
The benefit of a new START treaty is that the anticipated
reductions in the number of nuclear warheads and delivery systems specified by
the treaty would help prevent nuclear terrorism and make the United States (and
the rest of the world) more secure. With fewer strategic weapons being deployed,
there is less chance of nuclear materials being stolen. In addition, the new
START agreement will help maintain a healthy nuclear relationship with Russia.
Increased verification procedures and improved data sharing would enable a
relationship of trust to exist between the two countries.
This all sounds great! However; some conservatives already
have their scheming wheels in motion. A moderate Republican senator was
recently told by Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) “don’t say anything about the Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) until the two of us talk.” It is well known that Senator
Kyl seeks to attach conditions regarding CTBT ratification to the expected senate
ratification of START. It is also well-known that the Republican senators follow
Senator Kyl’s lead on nuclear issues.
Former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton said of
the START negotiations, “Mr. Obama was going too far. ‘The number they are
proposing, for delivery vehicles, is shockingly low.’” Bolton has been a
drumbeat of negativity towards President Obama’s nuclear disarmament
initiative. The only thing “shocking” is that anyone continues to listen to
Bolton.
During the debate on health care, we discovered the reality
of 21st Century Senate politics: partisan gridlock permeates
everything in Washington. This includes START, a treaty that has broad,
bipartisan support, would enhance national security and would reduce nuclear
weapons between the two parties that own the largest number of them. Why should
the senior senator from Iowa be beholden to someone like Senator Kyl, who can
only be called an extremist?
If what is suggested about Senator Chuck Grassley is true,
that he is beholden to Senator Kyl on START, the seniority he built during his
senate career is of little value to Iowans. To the extent Senator Grassley has
joined the Republican phalanx,
the less effective he will be for Iowans on important issues.
Let’s hope President Obama and Secretary Clinton conclude
the negotiations on START this week and that both Iowa senators vote for
ratification when the treaty is debated by the Senate.
~Paul
Deaton is a native Iowan living in rural Johnson County and weekend
editor of Blog for Iowa. He is also a member of Iowa Physicians for
Social Responsibility and Veterans for Peace.E-mail Paul
Deaton
To read more on this topic, try one of these articles:
Cedar Valley Voices: Iowa Communities Must Work Together To Fix Education by Gerald Reese
The Cedar
Valley Voices project is a citizen response to state Representative
Jeff Kaufmann’s column in the West Branch Times during the
Iowa legislative session.
Is there something really wrong with our educational system, or is it a matter of perception? Or is there something wrong with the way we administer our funding? Do we rely too much on tests to measure achievement, whether it is to pass a grade, or to hire a new teacher? Do we have too much top-heavy administration and too many associations trying to invent the better mousetrap? Do we concentrate too much on the better students and too little on the underachievers? Do we need to overhaul the education system every time we elect a new president?
Right now President Obama is calling for a massive overhaul of the system, and to throw billions of dollars at it, as if this is going to improve test scores. Here in Iowa our Association of School Boards is embroiled in controversy involving alleged misuse of funds, etc. While this association has many benefits, it lacks oversight. It seems like public money is too much temptation for some. We have 361 school districts that have their own set of administrators and staff. In years past, we had county (99) superintendents that worked well for us. Should we go back to this system simply to save money? We could hire, or retain more teachers with the money saved. Maybe in times of economic distress we would not have to layoff teachers, and increase class size.
When economic times are good we go all out for the arts (both preforming and visual) that many students enjoy. These are the classes where students learn who they are in our society, and form a sense of identity. For some, it is a way of making it through another boring day of feeling left out, of losing hope. This past week, students and teachers in Des Moines were protesting cuts in these same classes. And these students are right to expect the same level of educational opportunities as the predecessors. We need to plan ahead to maintain that same level of opportunity, and not overreact to each downward financial condition.
When we cut teachers, and increase class sizes, we are multiplying the number of students in each class that need extra help, and decreasing the amount of time the teacher has to help. Parents may have the means to hire a tutor for their student, which helps that student understand and learn a particular subject. What about those students whose parents or guardians cannot or will not provide the extra tutoring? Not all in our society place the same value on education as the majority. It then falls back onto the community to help those who desperately need help. And it does take the community pulling together to provide a quality education for all of its members.
What it boils down to, is that the better our society is educated, the healthier society is. Do we need national standards of educational goals, of funding our schools? Declining enrollment in our smaller communities exacerbate the problems inherent with funding per student policies. Less funding leads to cuts, and cuts lead to fewer opportunities for students. It can become a vicious cycle that catches our young people in the middle, and our communities at odds as to a viable solution.
Working together, we can, and will come up with answers.
Salute To The Sustainable Ag Women Of Iowa! by Denise O'Brien
Given that March is Women’s History Month and that March 8th was International Women’s Day, I thought I would pay tribute to the incredible women of Iowa’s sustainable agriculture community. Over my years of involvement in Iowa agriculture (which now number 34), I have worked with women all over the state. Not all women in the sustainable ag community are farmers.
To honor the women farmers who provide food for their communities in Iowa is a large task. The list is long and goes back a great number of years. There are women out there that have laid the foundation for the sustainable ag work that continues to move forward.
This tribute is in alphabetical order and not an order of “importance.” The list is incomplete because it is limited to the women with whom I have personally worked. I am including the websites to their farms. Most of the women have a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Many of you may know that a CSA is a membership based farm and that members pay a fee to receive a weekly box or basket of fresh produce during the growing season. My CSA is Rolling Acres Farm and we are just getting the season underway. As I looked through the websites the pictures of green growing things has made me hopeful that spring will soon be here.
Some women don’t have websites but I am mentioning their names to honor their work.
The list would not be complete without mentioning other women in Iowa who have played a role both in the state and nationally. Take for instance, Tanya Meyer-Didericksen. Tanya has been a United States Department of Agriculture employee in the state of Iowa who has worked on outreach and diversity through the Natural Resource and Conservation Service. Tanya worked closely with Women, Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN) starting in the 1990s to reach out to women farmland owners.
In academia there have been a number of women who have moved the sustainable ag agenda forward. Rural sociologist, Betty Wells was a founder of WFAN in 1997. Kathleen Delate became the first organic specialist in horticulture and commodity agriculture at Iowa State University. Cornelia Flora, another rural sociologist, has been actively involved in rural issues since the 80s farm crisis and has been an amazing supporter of women. Jean Eells has worked between government agencies and academia to bring forward the importance of women as farmland owners.
The non-profit sector has contributed immensely to the strength of Iowa’s sustainable agriculture. If you look at the staff of many community based organizations you will notice a substantial number of women. Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) has at it’s helm, Teresa Opheim. Teresa has been in the sustainable ag community for a long while working on both a state and national level. She is supported by staff that are competent and capable. Women, Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN), with Leigh Adcock as Director, works hard every day to help women connect the dots with farming and conservation practices. Of course, as the founder of WFAN, I am partial to this non-profit. Laura Dowd at Local Foods Connection works tirelessly to bring low income people into the good food movement.
There are many rural community women that spend their days working to advance sustainable agriculture in Iowa. Carol Smith of Perry; Mary Swalla-Holmes, of Madrid; Susan Roberts of Ankeny; Angie Tagtow of Elkhart; Penny Brown of Maxwell; Stacey Brown of Ames; Danielle Wirth and Maggie Howe of Woodward, are names that are constantly lifted up as a resource for navigating the maize of sustainable agriculture in Iowa and in the nation.
I have saved the best for the last. No disrespect to the aforementioned women - if it were not for the work that they do, Iowa sustainable agriculture would not have the credibility and respect it has throughout the world.
Iowa sustainable agriculture has strong roots and with the help of Iowa consumers, can make the food landscape in Iowa change from commodity orientation to food self sufficiency
~ Denise O'Brien lives and
works on her farm in southwest Iowa. O'Brien has been a farm activist
for over thirty years. Her work has taken her all over the world working
on agriculture and women in agriculture issues. Check out her website Rolling Acres
CSA or E-mail Denise O'Brien.
Health
Care Reform Update: Messages to BFIA Readers from Senator Harkin and Representative Braley
by Alta Price, M.D.
"Although Braley did not say so, I
heard others at the dinner say that Representative Boswell may not vote
for the bill. Those of you in his district may want to give him a call
and find out what’s up with that! " Last Saturday, March 13, 2010 I attended the Scott County Democrats’ annual Red, White, and Blue banquet. Guests of honor included Senator Tom Harkin and first district Representative Bruce Braley. I asked each of them for comments on what is happening in health care reform right now to convey to the readers of Blog for Iowa.
Senator Harkin said that a package was being put together that the House will vote on late this week. The Senate will vote before they go on Easter recess. Unfortunately, there will be no public option in the bill, and he knew progressives would be disappointed. Attached to the health care “fix” bill will be a bill to make college more affordable. This bill will save money by cutting payments to the middlemen (banks) for student loans.
Senator Harkin also thanked all of us for our efforts in the state, including our work for Blog for Iowa. We had several exchanges of “thank you for all your efforts” and “no, thank you for everything you are doing” – ending in a draw with neither party willing to accept more of the gratitude.
The message from Representative Braley was a bit less sanguine. For one thing, Representative Braley was less confident that the vote would occur this week. He did say he thought leadership had come up with a way to carry out the vote that would allow them to pass the Senate health care reform bill and the “fix” bill at the same time, which he believed most members of the House would prefer. Unfortunately, Representative Braley was not sure they had enough votes lined up to pass the bill at this point. There is a lack of trust that the Senate will pass the “fix” bill, and the House members don’t think the Senate bill is as good as the bill the House passed. Representative Braley advised us that the status of the legislation will continue to change every day this week.
The message Representative Braley would like to send to BFIA readers is to continue to push hard over the next week (weeks?) to get this passed. Now would be an excellent time to contact your member of Congress and encourage them to finish up this bill.
Although Braley did not say so, I heard others at the dinner say that Representative Boswell may not vote for the bill. Those of you in his district may want to give him a call and find out what’s up with that!
I assume Representative Loebsack will vote for it, but you might want to check in with his office to be sure. Since the “anti’s” are no doubt calling, it is important for us to call and thank our Democratic members of Congress for their support.
I want to thank Tracy for doing such a good job in her post yesterday updating you on the health care bill and the process of getting it passed. Health care reform is vital to the well-being of Iowa’s working men and women and their families. I, too, will be posting smiley faces next Tuesday if we have a bill by then!
Finally, following up on my post from last week, here is some coverage in the Quad-Cities Online of our “Die-in” last Thursday, March 11. (By the way, if you read the ridiculous comments at the end of this story, and realize that those are the people calling the Congressional offices, you can see why it is vital that the saner members of our society also call our members of Congress to let them know we support health care reform!)
Let’s act on Representative Braley’s request to push for health care reform this week! Click on the links to write our elected officials now and ask them to vote for the health care reform bills before the congress.
Alta
Price is a physician practicing Pathology in Davenport, Iowa. One of
the original Deaniacs, she stays involved with Democracy for America,
Iowa, and the Quad Cities. She advocates for quality, affordable health
care for all, primarily as a volunteer with Progressive Action for the
Common Good (Health Care Reform Issue Forum).Watch for Dr. Price's Health Care Reform Update every Tuesday here on Blog for Iowa. E-Mail Alta Price
*IBLTV is a group of citizens from the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area who are concerned about the decline in the quality of local television. Fight local media consolidation, as it leads to an unaccountable medium that enriches itself while disregarding the need to serve the public good.
*The rational counter to 'The Point,' 'The Counterpoint' critiques and corrects the daily editorial by Sinclair Broadcasting's corporate vice president, Mark Hyman, that is broadcast on all Sinclair-owned television stations across the country
February 2010
by Gerald Reese
