Iowa CCI Members Say People Matter More, Money Matters Less
By ICCI

Iowans Meet with Rep. Jo Oldson to Move Clean Elections Forward

In a time where money is talking loudly and campaign spending is at an all-time high, more than 60 members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement met last night with Rep. Jo Oldson, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, which has stalled the Voter Owned Iowa Clean Elections (VOICE) bill for the past two years. The VOICE bill would take the influence of big money out of politics and give anyone a chance to run for office with the support of public financing, restoring a needed balance to our political system.

“Money and corporations are undermining our democracy,” said CCI member Diane Krell of West Des Moines.

Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and Iowans from across the state are concerned about the growing influence of money in politics, and at the June 5 meeting in Des Moines, which drew people from as far as Sioux City and Bloomfield, they urged Rep. Oldson to support the VOICE bill, pass it out of her committee and encourage other leadership to support the bill.

“There are [several] ways that I see everyday Iowans being left without a voice in the policies that affect them deeply, and it is time for change,” said CCI member Robin Ghormley of Des Moines. “I see VOICE as a crucial step in everyday people gaining access to their government.”

In response to the concerns of the passage of the VOICE bill, Rep. Oldson said that she supports the bill, stating, “The policy piece [of VOICE] has a lot of merit.” Oldson stated that she had not looked at the details of the bill in the past year, adding that she does not advocate for bills in the budget but keeps the process moving forward.

Oldson committed to work with CCI to get a meeting with House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, saying, “I would be glad to talk with him.” She also agreed to commit to looking at the bill more closely.
 
Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement will continue to push for a government that is truly of, by and for the people. Iowa CCI believes that change is more than just a political slogan, which is why members from all across the state are working together to set the political agenda, pushing for policies that put everyday people first.