Kill the Odor Study Bill!

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By Kristin Schaaf

Thanks for all your efforts to contact legislators - we're making a big impact!

Because of your calls and emails, House leadership is squirming to find a way to pass the bad Odor Study bill (House File 2688 & Senate File 2362).

They have moved the bill out of the House Appropriations Committee (Jo Oldson's committee) to the Ways and Means Committee, and it is now going to the House floor. It could be debated in the House as early as Monday morning. And it will more than likely be debated in the Senate soon.

We need to keep the calls and emails coming!

Even if you've called your representatives - we urge you to contact them again. Other legislators and lobbyists will continue to try to sway their vote. We need to keep our message out front - no taxpayer money for an odor study!

Our message is:

1. Kill the odor study bill

2. Iowans to not want or need another study - listen to your constituents

3. Stop catering to the factory farm industry

Contact your legislators today!

By following this link, you can contact your House and Senate Representatives, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, House Speaker Pat Murphy, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Governor Culver - all in one email.

Or put in a call to your legislators - a personal call will be that much more effective:

Senate Switchboard, 515-281-3371

House Switchboard, 515-281-3221

Also, here are direct lines for key leadership: Gronstal, 515-281-3901; Murphy, 515-281-5566; McCarthy, 515-281-7497; and Governor Culver, 515-281-5211.

Please reply to this email and let us know if you make any calls.

We need to stand up to corporate power and say enough's enough. Iowans are tired of catering to the factory farm industry and don't want our taxpayer dollars funding unnecessary studies.

How else can you make an impact?

Join us at the Capitol Wednesday, April 16 for a press conference at 10 am - meet us in the first floor rotunda and look for the black CCI T-shirts. We'll lobby our legislators following the press conference until noon.

Help us get the message out:

We need to get calls to other members, urging them to contact their legislators now to kill the odor study. If you're can make 10-20 calls, let us know by replying to this email.

Forward this email to your friends and family who are concerned about the issue. The more people taking action the better.

Take action - let's kill the odor study bill today!

Follow Up on CAFO Bill: Iowans’ Protests Stall Odor Study Bill

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By ICCI

Bill Pulled from House Debate amid Calls from Hundreds

Hundreds of members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and Iowans from across the state contacted their legislators and pushed key House leaders to say no to the odor study bill, HF2652 & SF2362, just prior to the debate in the House last night, which led to its stalled passage and move to the House Appropriations Committee.

Because House leadership did not want a divisive debate, the bill’s move to the Appropriations Committee will likely stall the bill, keeping it alive beyond the March 28 funnel.

“This was a huge victory,” said CCI member Norma Countryman of Des Moines. “Our legislators know that Iowans are tired of handing over our taxpayer dollars to factory farms so that they might begin to fix the problems they create. Twenty-three million taxpayer dollars should not fund an unnecessary study.”

“The odor study is simply a stall tactic for factory farms to avoid enforcing clean air standards,” said CCI member Vern Tigges from Carroll. “Studies have already been done that have shown we need clean air standards for hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, which are toxic to our health. Our legislators have heard this message loud and clear.”

At a meeting March 4 in which CCI members met with Governor Culver, where he heard concerns from Iowans on the proposed $23 million odor study for which taxpayers would foot the bill, Culver was open to other methods of improving our state’s air and water quality, “Maybe we could use [the money] for something else.”
 
Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement say they will continue to contact their legislators, specifically the Appropriations Committee, to not pass the odor study bill. They will also lobby their legislators at the Capitol April 1.

DNR Denies 3,600 Head Dairy Factory Proposal  in Woodbury County

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By ICCI

This week, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) preliminarily denied the construction permit for Jersey North LLP, a highly controversial dairy factory proposed in Woodbury County that riled hundreds of local residents to action. The underlying reason for denial, according to DNR Director Rich Leopold, was that: “these plans, as submitted, would pose a substantial risk to the environment if constructed.”

Based out of California, Jersey North LLP applied in January for a construction permit to build a 3,600 head dairy factory just outside the city of Lawton. A month later, as a result of overwhelming public opposition, the Woodbury County Supervisors sent their recommendation that DNR deny the application.

Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) and other local residents led the fight and opposed the construction of this dairy factory for a number of reasons. Proposed to be built on highly-erodible fields with steep slopes – there was concern that this operation would result in erosion and manure spills that would contaminate two adjacent waterways. On top of that, the proposed earthen lagoons would hold 55.4 million gallons of manure and sit vulnerable to wind and rain at 50ft above ground at its highest point.

With 52 residences within a two mile radius of the proposed site, there was also fear that this site would inevitably have negative impacts on the health, the property values, the roads, and the general quality of life within the community.

Beyond just sending in their comments, representatives from the community brought their concerns directly to DNR state headquarters when CCI met with Environmental Services Division Administrator Wayne Gieselman at their Rally and Lobby Day on March 4th. In the end, their commitment paid off.

“Hopefully DNR’s recent denial of Jersey North’s permit to build a large dairy factory will set a precedent for opposition and protection of the environment within Iowa,” said Kevin Miller, a CCI member and Lawton resident who lives close to the proposed site. “I believe this is a strong message to Jersey North and other large factory farms that Woodbury County is not the place to look for future proposals – the growing communities and the vulnerable soils provide strong reasons for opposition.”

Join members of CCI on March 4th and make your voice heard at the capitol!

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By ICCI

Rally & Lobby Day
Tuesday, March 4th
10 AM – 3 PM
First Floor Rotunda of the State Capitol
Des Moines

Following a high energy rally, we will be taking time to lobby our legislators and key committee members on potential legislation, standing up for policies where people matter more, and money matters less. These include:

Voter Owned Iowa Clean Elections
Local Control
Consumer Protections
Clean Air & Clean Water
 
Calling, emailing, and meeting with your legislator can make a big difference!

We will also be meeting with Governor Culver!

This is the first time the Governor will meet with CCI members as a large group. It’s a key opportunity to tell him our stories, hold him accountable to his campaign pledges, and urge him to voice his support to legislators on key issues like VOICE and Local Control. We need you there to help send Governor Culver the message that Iowans want a government by the people and for the people.

If you have questions, or for more information, email iowacci@iowacci.org, or call 515-282-0484.

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Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is everyday people who talk, act, and get things done on issues that impact us most. Issues like having a factory farm move in next door and devalue your property or shady lenders that take advantage of people. With over 3700 members across Iowa from all walks of life, we are truly an organization by the people and for the people. We believe you don’t have to stand by and just let things happen.

Adam Mason
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
2001 Forest Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 282-0484
www.iowacci.org

We Talk. We Act. We Get It Done.

People Matter More, Money Matters Less
Join us for CCI's Rally and Lobby Day

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By ICCI

Thursday, January 17, 2008
10 am - 4 pm
First Floor Rotunda of the State Capitol in Des Moines

See Below for Info on Busses

This session powerful special-interest groups will be a the capitol pushing their corporate agendas. That's why it's important for everyday Iowans to stand together and be heard.

Be there to show your support and tell state
leaders we want action on these important issues:

• LOCAL CONTROL
  
• VOTER-OWNED CLEAN ELECTIONS
  
• CONSUMER PROTECTION
  
• CLEAN AIR and CLEAN WATER

Mark your calendars now and plan to join us Jan. 17
for this important event and be a part of democracy in action!

• Kick off the day with a Rally in the Rotunda at 10:30 am
  Join us in the rotunda at 11 am for a dynamic rally. Check in begins at 10:00, so get there early!
  
  

• Meetings with key decision makers
  We'll be meeting with legislators and other key decision makers during the day to push for policies that protect our homes, our farms our environment and our democracy. We have invited:
  • Governor Chet Culver
    
  • Department of Natural Resource’s Director Rich Leopold
  • Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey
    
  • Key Legislators

Reclaim Democracy!
Join us for:
CCI's Rally and Lobby Day
Thursday, January 17, 2008
10 am - 4 pm

For more information, contact Iowa CCI at 515-282-0484 or iowacci@iowacci.org.

Ride the bus to Rally & Lobby Day Jan. 17!
No need to worry about weather or parking.
Front door drop-off and pick-up at the State Capitol for only $10!

Reserve your seat by Tuesday, Jan. 15!

Contact David at 515-282-0484 or david@iowacci.org.

From Ames:

• Depart from Hobby Lobby (620 Lincoln Way next to east Hy-Vee) at 9:00 am
• Arrive back in Ames around 5:00 pm

From Humboldt and Hardin Regional Chapter areas:

• Depart from the K-Mart parking lot in Algona (Hwy 169 and Hwy 18) at 7:00 am
• Stop at the S & L Equipment parking lot in Humboldt (on Hwy. 3 east of town) at 7:30 am
• Stop at Boondock’s Truckstop (I-35/Exit 144)
• Arrive back in Algona around 6:30 pm

From Adair-Madison Regional Chapter area:

• Depart from the St. Mary’s Church parking lot (302 Chestnut) in Anita at 8:15 am
• Stop at Country Kitchen (just south of I-80 at Exit 93) in Stuart at 9:00 am
• Arrive back in Atlantic around 5:30 pm

From the Southeast Iowa Chapter area:

• Depart from Municipal parking lot (corner of Court and Washington) in Fairfield at 7:45 am
• Stop at vacant Hy-Vee parking lot (2814 N Court St. just off of Hwy 63 N) in Ottumwa at 8:30 am
• Arrive back in Fairfield around 6:30 pm

From the Carroll Regional area:

• Depart from Wal-Mart parking lot (right off Hwy 59) in Denison at 7:15 am
• Depart from Westgate Mall parking lot in Carroll (corner of Carroll St. & Hwy. 30) at 8:00 am
• Stop at City Hall in Coon Rapids (123 3rd St., off Main St.) at 8:30 am
• Arrive back in Carroll around 6:00 pm and Denison around 6:30 pm

In the Des Moines area:

• Members in Des Moines interested in carpooling can meet at the CCI office no later than 9:45 am
  (no charge but please call the office to let us know 515.282.0484)

Reserve your seat today!
Send your name, address and phone number along with $10 per person by January 15 to 2001 Forest Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311. For more information, contact David at Iowa CCI at 515-282-0484 or david@iowacci.org.

Everyday Iowans Say People Matter More, Money Matters Less

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BY ICCI

Welcome back to reality. New leg session starts soon. I welcome your comments.

Hundreds to Rally at State Capitol Jan. 17

What:    On the heels of the Iowa caucuses Jan. 3, hundreds of Iowans will gather at the State Capitol Thursday, Jan. 17 to kick off the 2008 legislative session with a Rally & Lobby Day, for which the theme is: “People matter more, money matters less.” 

Who:       Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement will rally and push for action on critical issues. Hundreds of Iowans from all across the state are coming in on buses to attend the event.

When:     The rally will be from 10:30 to 11 am Thursday, Jan. 17. Members of Iowa CCI plan to meet with key legislators, the attorney general, the Department of Natural Resources and others to discuss their legislative agenda until 4 pm.

Where: The rally will be in the rotunda of the State Capitol building in Des Moines.

Why:   Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement members will push for action on clean water, clean elections, local control, consumer protections and other important measures. This event is at a critical time during this election year as Iowans continue to play a powerful role, standing up for policies that benefit the common good.

Please join us for Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement’s
2008 Rally & Lobby Day
“People Matter More, Money Matters Less”
10:30-11:00 am
State Capitol Building, Des Moines

There will be great photo and interview opportunities available

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is a group of everyday people who talk, act and get things done on issues that matter most. With thousands of members from all walks of life – urban and rural, black and white, immigrants and lifelong Iowans – CCI has been tackling tough issues and getting things done for more than 30 years.

Stand up and be counted!

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By ICCI

Caucus training this Saturday, November 17, 2007

Citizens for Community Improvement will host a free caucus training this Saturday, November 17, from 1-4 pm at their office in Des Moines (2005 Forest Ave).  Over sixty people are expected to attend this event, which will cover to the basics of the upcoming caucuses on January 3.  Attendees will learn the purpose of the caucuses and how the democratic and republican caucus formats work.  They will even participate in a “mock caucus.”

This event is just another educational opportunity planned and sponsored by CCI’s Citizen Action Diversity Committee.  The alumni chapter of Delta Sigma Theta’s Political Awareness Committee is also supporting this event and encouraging the public to attend.

“There are so many folks, like myself, who have never participated in a caucus,” said Lori Young, CCI Diversity Action Committee member since 2006.  “Well, now is the time to get involved.   We feel that through this training, everyday Des Moines voters will feel more comfortable and empowered about being part of the very important caucus process.”

CCI’s caucus mobilization efforts are part of a larger campaign to encourage political participation.  The Heartland Presidential Forum on Dec. 1, 1:30 pm at Hy-Vee Hall, is likely to be the final major gathering of the presidential candidates before the Jan. 3 caucus date.  Over 5,000 people are expected at the forum, and the following five candidates have committed to attend: Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, and Barack Obama.

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is a non-partisan organization.  We do not endorse or work for particular candidates or political parties, nor do we intervene in candidate elections in any way.  We feel that the job of political parties and elected officials is to represent and act in the interest of everyday people.

Reservations for the Nov. 17 caucus training are requested, as seating is limited.  Call 515.255.0800 to reserve your free place today!  Members of the press are welcome to attend.

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is a 32 year old organization with thousands of members across Iowa from all walks of life who talk, act and get things done on critical issues impacting everyday Iowans.  For more information, visit www.iowacci.org.