Random Views From A Community Activist
by John Drury
I thought I would take the opportunity to comment on a few things that have been happening in politics …
Truth Bill Dead
Republican leadership in the Iowa House has given up on a truth in campaigning bill when it comes to political campaign ads. This bill would have fined candidates for lying about their opponents in campaign ads.
Luckily, this bill went nowhere. However, there was at least one interesting quote that came out of the limited discussion this idea received.
House Majority Leader Chuck Gipp, R-Decorah, said, “The problem you have is you always have constitutional rights and freedom of speech issues …” Yes, Representative Gipp, that pesky Constitution gets in the way again.
I believe in truthful campaign ads as much as the next guy but if an incumbent claims he or she is pro-education, and their opponent finds an instance or two where the incumbent voted against additional funding for education, should this issue come before a judge? And I always thought it was the Republicans who complain about lawyers and their frivolous lawsuits.
Representative Ed Fallon Announces for Governor
While I appreciate Representative Fallon’s commitment to a clean campaign void of any special interest money, I honestly think he’s shooting himself in the foot. He mentioned in his announcement speech that he saw election reform as his number one goal. That’s admirable, but to be honest, I’m not sure that it is the people of Iowa’s number one concern.
The people of Iowa want economic growth and I don’t think that necessarily means more casinos. They want this growth in all parts of Iowa and they want this growth to be something that they can celebrate. Economic growth based on celebrating our small communities and returning a quality of life to Iowa that has long been forgotten. Hell, I don’t know, maybe that’s just what I want.
At this point in the game, my only advice to Representative Fallon would be to reconsider his self-imposed limits on accepting PAC money. I think that change can come about but I think the system has a much better chance of being changed from within. So I would encourage him to raise as much money as he can, forget the limits, get elected, and then go to work. Oh, and he’ll need a good reason for supporting Nader in 2000, he will get asked that a lot.
Seed Bill Signed, Sealed and Delivered to Corporate Ag
In yet another example of an attack on Iowa’s Home Rule, the Iowa House and Senate have both passed legislation that will pre-empt local governments from controlling the types of agricultural seeds that are planted in their counties and municipalities. Unfortunately, Governor Vilsack has signed this piece of legislation. Why?
House Talks Tough on Sex Offenders
The Iowa House talked tough last week on sex offenders, passing legislation for tougher penalties, new money for increased prison terms, and increased monitoring of released sex offenders. All of this sounds great, and all of it will cost additional money. Unfortunately, money wasn’t appropriated. According to House Democratic leader Pat Murphy, the legislation requires the Attorney General’s office and the Department of Public Safety to find $3.6 million dollars in their existing budgets to pay for these new laws. My guess is that these departments aren’t delighted to have to find this extra money in their already strapped budgets. State troopers are at a 40-year low and we’ve laid off prison guards while increasing prison populations. In the Iowa House, talk is cheap, literally.
Social Security and Iowa’s Tom Latham
In a piece of propaganda, I mean, literature distributed by Tom Latham’s office on Social Security, Representative Latham says he “will continue to fight for reforms that protect the current benefits and needs of current retirees and those nearing retirement. This includes absolutely opposing any plan to privatize Social Security.”
But in a town hall meeting just a few weeks ago here in north Iowa, Representative Latham was asked directly, “Do you support private accounts as part of Social Security?” He said that he does support private accounts and went on to use the standard the sky is falling scare tactic. The questioner then asked why his literature said one thing and he said another. Representative Latham explained that when he says he opposes any plan to privatize Social Security, he means getting rid of it all together and privatizing the whole thing, but that he is not opposed to privatizing parts of it.
My suggestion to avoid such confusion about what the guy says in the future is to do what my wife did to that last slick mailer he produced. Mark it, “RETURN TO SENDER” and put it in the corner mailbox. It may not do any good, but it might make you feel better.
Bankruptcy Bill
It’s gone through the U.S. Senate and it’s likely to sail through the House tomorrow. Our federal government is about to make it harder for people to file for bankruptcy protection. The bill does a host of other favors for the already booming credit card industry and sticks it to the little guy plain and simple.
Is it just me or does anyone else find it ironic that our federal government runs trillion dollar deficits and at the same time seems to be teaching financial discipline to the masses. God Bless America.
