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Friday, March 5
Dennis Kucinich on Afghanistan
by
paul deaton
on Fri 05 Mar 2010 02:57 PM CST
Dennis Kucinich on Afghanistan
Thursday, Dennis Kucinich introduced a concurrent resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives calling for a vote on the war in Afghanistan. Watch the Video Here: Click here to download a copy of the resolution ~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 Wednesday, August 26
HCAN Health Care Rally at Iowa STate Fair
by
Caroline Vernon
on Wed 26 Aug 2009 08:38 AM CDT
HCAN "Health Care Can't Wait" Rally at the Iowa State Fair By Caroline Vernon Last Friday on August 21st, Eastern Iowans from Progressive Action for the Common Good, the Quad Cities Federation of Labor, and NAMI of Scott County boarded a bus and traveled to the HCAN "Healthcare Can't Wait" Rally outside of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. We joined others from the area and around the state. Senator Grassley was finishing up his Ambassadorial tour - we were hoping to get his attention somehow, but by dumb luck and a little synchronistic guidance by the Universe, a few of us stumbled right on top of him. It bears mentioning that I was dressed in black business attire, sporting a lapel pin that read, "Wealth-Mark Insurance CEO." I was carrying a black leather bag stuffed with $100 bills spilling out of the top. A picture of Senator Grassley was taped to the bag, framed by dollar signs. Dan DeShane accompanied me. Farmer Dan was wearing his bib overalls and chewing on a stalk of grass when he walked up and joined our conversation while Vicki Walters took pictures of the exchange. Dan told the Senator he was a farmer too and wanted the same health care as the senator -- Dan also said, "Oh by the way, I get farm subsidies too just like you and your son and your grandson." This put Grassley on the defensive, somewhat, as he replied, "oh, you don't want to listen." I mentioned mental health parity and the need for a public option for so many who have been systematically denied treatment by private insurers for decades. Grassley laid claim to the work he did on the Wellstone/Dominicci legislation (even though it took a Democratic Congress to pass the bill last October and the provisions have yet to be implemented). Ultimately, Grassley said a public option would be rationed care, to which we replied, "We have rationed care now!" He rushed off right after that. Vicki took pictures of the whole exchange - I will share them with BFI once they are developed. Meanwhile, other rally participants were canvassing the neighborhood focusing their efforts on continuing to encourage Congressman Boswell to support Reform and a public option. The rally started at 2pm. I don't know what our final count was but I estimated about 50 of us were holding signs along the 30th St/Grand Ave entrance to the fair. Counter protesters showed up to join us -- approximately 10 of them. Farmer Dan got into a passionate debate with one of the "teabaggers," who was complaining about the cost of health care reform and asking how we were going to pay for it. Here is a mock transcript of their exchange: Teabagger: "We're spending too much money - where's it going to end?" Farmer Dan: "Where were you guys when the Bush administration squandered the huge surplus left by Clinton -- Where was your voice when they invaded and occupied two countries without even declaring war?" Teabagger: "We are moving toward socialism - where is it going to stop?" Farmer Dan: "Socialism? We just came out of eight years of fascism." Teabagger: "What do you mean?" Farmer Dan: "Bush fired federal judges for their political leanings, he started illegal wiretapping without an order from the FISA Court, he catered to big business - we had a president that was basically a fascist." Teabagger: "That's the president's perogotive." Farmer Dan: "No. that's fascism, and he is still being investigated for all of his abuses. If it weren't for social programs like Medicare which came out of the Johnson administration, my father would not have been able to retire - it gave him peace of mind so he could retire and it kept him on his property. By contrast Grassley is a rich farmer who gets subsidies whether he works the land or not - he's not really a farmer - he's a career politician." Teabagger: "Well, they all gotta go - Harkin, Grassley, Boswell - they all spend too much." Farmer Dan: "Our tax dollars pay for the sidewalks your standing on, the street out in front of us, the lights, fresh water, the sewers, our fire dept, public schools, our parks -- all of these things are paid for through our tax dollars that provide us with the standard and quality of life that we enjoy. I don't know about you but I like 'em." The entire exchange was recorded live by Rob Dillard of Iowa Public Radio. Once we arrived home on the bus, a few of our fellow activists welcomed us back and reported hearing the exchange on NPR - unfortunately, we were unable to find it posted on their website. Below are photos and some of the press coverage of the event. Thank you ICAN for taking the lead on this! It was well worth traveling across the state to join our voices with all of yours. ICAN’s photos of HCAN demonstration: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ NOTE: Caryn Unsicker asked the reporter for the Register to relay how many of us there were in contrast to the counter protestors - to which he replied,"No! That's not my job -- my job is to report both sides!" Caryn said, "Your job is to report the facts." The numbers went unreported. ACTION: Call the Register and tell them to report ALL of the facts! Register coverage of HCAN action at the Fair: http://www.desmoinesregister. Iowa Public Radio broadcast a story including a debate between a health care opponent and a health care advocate (farmer Dan) from the Quad Cities – but I have not found a link to that online. There was passing mention of HCAN “protest” in Grassley state fair interview with Radio Iowa: http://www.radioiowa.com/ 4 Iowa Politics.com photos from HCAN demonstration in their flickr coverage of the fair: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ Advisory on IowaPolitics/com Wednesday, November 12
Obama Sending Iowa's Leach to Economic Summit!
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 12 Nov 2008 01:30 PM CST
Obama Sending Iowa's Leach to Economic Summit!
by Julianna Goldman, Bloomberg.com  Barack Obama's transition team announced former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Republican Representative Jim Leach will represent the president-elect at the international economic summit in Washington.Albright and Leach will be available for "unofficial meetings" with representatives of industrial and emerging countries who will be at the summit being hosted by George W. Bush on Nov. 14 and 15. "There is one president at a time in the United States, so the president-elect has asked Secretary Albright and Congressman Leach, an experienced and bipartisan team, to be available to meet with and listen to our friends and allies on his behalf," Obama's senior foreign policy adviser Denis McDonough said in a statement. The meeting is being held to coordinate government responses to the worst financial crisis in 80 years. Read the full article here. Oh, ackkkk! Whereas I am glad that Obama seems to suddenly be remembering to include WOMEN in his all-inclusive team, I'll admit I about gagged to see that he is asking Iowa's Jim Leach to represent him at this summit. Jim Leach? The guy who chaired the House banking [deregulatory] committee before Iowa citizens ousted him from office? Come on, Obama. Give us a break. I guess that's Leach's reward for endorsing Obama once the inevitable became clear. But as a point in his favor, I guess I can say he's a far better choice than if Obama had chosen some neocon fox to guard the hen house. Thursday, February 22
Adding Up the Minuses for Iowa in Proposed Budget
by
Sam Garchik
on Thu 22 Feb 2007 09:04 AM CST
Adding Up the Minuses for Iowa in Proposed Budget
By Mike Owen The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) today released a report showing estimates of state-by-state cuts proposed in the President’s budget, for the coming year and the next five years. The Iowa Fiscal Partnership has compiled Iowa-specific information into a one-page summary that you may find helpful. It is attached. Among findings for Iowa: -- Elementary and secondary education – cut of $19.3 million in 2012 compared with 2007, and $70.8 million from 2008-12. -- Grants in aid — cut of $99.2 million compared to 2006 (latest figures available) not including Medicaid. Grants in aid are how the federal government provides funding to state and local governments. -- Supplemental nutrition for elderly – 3,600 Iowans (440,000 nationwide) would lose this assistance from the Commodity Supplemental Food Program for the Elderly, which is targeted for elimination. -- Supplemental nutrition for women, infants and children (WIC) – 2,700 fewer Iowans (334,000 nationwide) would receive this assistance by 2012 compared with 2007. The proposal also would cut LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) by $8 million next year, which would affect 16,300 recipients, and by $45.5 million over five years. It also would eliminate the Community Services Block Grant, which provides funding to community action agencies that help people apply for LIHEAP and other assistance. The full CBPP report, summary and state-by-state tables are available at the following links: PRESIDENT'S
BUDGET WOULD CUT DEEPLY INTO IMPORTANT PUBLIC SERVICES AND ADVERSELY
AFFECT STATES by Arloc Sherman, Sharon Parrott and Danilo Trisi
Summary Full Report State-by-State Tables: Pleaselet us know if you have questions. Thank you. Mike Owen Iowa Fiscal Partnership Assistant Director The Iowa Policy Project 120 N Dubuque St. #208 Iowa City, IA 52245 (319) 338-0773 ipp@Lcom.net http://www.iowapolicyproject.org
Adding Up the Minuses for Iowa in Proposed Budget
by
Sam Garchik
on Thu 22 Feb 2007 09:03 AM CST
Adding Up the Minuses for Iowa in Proposed Budget
By Mike Owen The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) today released a report showing estimates of state-by-state cuts proposed in the President’s budget, for the coming year and the next five years. The Iowa Fiscal Partnership has compiled Iowa-specific information into a one-page summary that you may find helpful. It is attached. Among findings for Iowa: -- Elementary and secondary education – cut of $19.3 million in 2012 compared with 2007, and $70.8 million from 2008-12. -- Grants in aid — cut of $99.2 million compared to 2006 (latest figures available) not including Medicaid. Grants in aid are how the federal government provides funding to state and local governments. -- Supplemental nutrition for elderly – 3,600 Iowans (440,000 nationwide) would lose this assistance from the Commodity Supplemental Food Program for the Elderly, which is targeted for elimination. -- Supplemental nutrition for women, infants and children (WIC) – 2,700 fewer Iowans (334,000 nationwide) would receive this assistance by 2012 compared with 2007. The proposal also would cut LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) by $8 million next year, which would affect 16,300 recipients, and by $45.5 million over five years. It also would eliminate the Community Services Block Grant, which provides funding to community action agencies that help people apply for LIHEAP and other assistance. The full CBPP report, summary and state-by-state tables are available at the following links: PRESIDENT'S
BUDGET WOULD CUT DEEPLY INTO IMPORTANT PUBLIC SERVICES AND ADVERSELY
AFFECT STATES by Arloc Sherman, Sharon Parrott and Danilo Trisi
Summary Full Report State-by-State Tables: Pleaselet us know if you have questions. Thank you. Mike Owen Iowa Fiscal Partnership Assistant Director The Iowa Policy Project 120 N Dubuque St. #208 Iowa City, IA 52245 (319) 338-0773 ipp@Lcom.net http://www.iowapolicyproject.org |
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