Establishing our Progressive Iowa Network (PIN) – Mark the Date!

On Saturday, June 9th, progressive leaders, activists and legislators from across the state will converge on Iowa City for our first 2007 Democracy for Iowa Organizing Summit.  We are still working out the details on the venue (forthcoming) but we will be meeting from 9am to 3pm (the last hour will be reserved for DFA-IA members to discuss administrative business so it will not be necessary for everyone to stay for that segment).

The purpose of this gathering is to establish the Progressive Iowa Network (PIN). This network will serve to better unite progressive organizations, legislators, and leaders across the state so we can support each other’s efforts around progressive issues in Iowa.

Currently, we have an unprecedented opportunity to get progressive legislation passed in our state. However, in order to achieve legislative victories on the issues that we care about, we must establish an effective framework that allows us to better organize our efforts, clarify our message, mobilize our base, educate the public and influence our state officials.

We have identified the following 5 issues as requiring urgent action:

1. VOICE (Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections)
2. CAFO regulations / Farm Bill
3. Fair Share
4. Healthcare
5. Media

Please note: we want ALL progressive organizations to attend this meeting and become part of this network even if we may not be focusing on your specific issues at this time.

The Summit Agenda will cover the following:

I. Why is PIN important?

The first part of this summit will discuss why PIN is important. Groups/Individuals will be asked to introduce themselves and identify their main areas and issues of focus:

• Policy/Research
• Lobbying
• Media/Public Relations (including bloggers)
• Grassroots Organizing

This will NOT be an informational meeting about the issues, but rather a strategy session on how we can support each other moving forward.

II. Update & Evaluation of the recent Iowa Legislative Session

• What went well?
• What would we do differently?

III. Break-Out Sessions by Issue

• Strategize with other progressives around the state that are working on the same issue.
• What kind of help do you need from other organizations/leaders who may not be directly involved in your issue.

Lunch

IV. Report back to larger group identifying specific needs

• What do you need from PIN?

We will not have time to hear specific plans but rather will want to hear your list of needs on how other organizations/leaders can help you make progress around your issue.

V. Where does PIN go from here?

We will discuss logistics, network structure and set a date and time for our next meeting(s).

VI. DFA-Iowa Administrative Planning Session (for DFA-IA members)

This last segment will be for DFA-IA members to discuss by-laws, how we can better support Blog for Iowa, and other administrative details.

Outreach around this summit has been underway for awhile -- many progressive organizations/individuals in Iowa have already been notified. However, if you have not yet heard from us directly, please email Caroline Vernon ASAP: carolina1961@gmail.com. We need every progressive organization, leader and legislator in Iowa to participate in order to achieve maximum effectiveness as a network.

Guest Opinion: What Has Democrats Running Scared in CAFO Regulation?

By Francis Thicke

Proponents of reinstating local control of Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) approached this year’s legislative session with great optimism. After years of being thwarted the by the Republican Party, we were excited that this year the Democrats finally had control of both houses of the legislature, as well as the Governor’s office. Our optimism stemmed from the Democratic Party’s 2006 election platform, which called for local control. 

Reestablishing local control—abolished by the legislature in 1995—would give counties authority over the siting of CAFOs, to allow additional protections for the environment and communities beyond statewide standards for CAFOs.

Our optimism was short-lived. Immediately after the fall election, Democratic Party leaders—Patrick Murphy in the House and Michael Gronstal in the Senate—began stonewalling, saying they would not allow local control to come up for a vote in this year’s legislative session. Furthermore, Governor Culver was completely silent on the issue, despite repeatedly being asked to step up and honor his campaign pledge to work for local control.

Advocates for local control were unwilling to be brushed off so easily by the Democratic Party. About a dozen groups from across Iowa, ranging from farm organizations to environmental groups, banded together to form the Coalition for Local Control. We held rallies for local control in the state Capitol, talked to our legislators individually, made many phone calls and sent numerous letters and emails. We identified a number of individual Representatives and Senators supporting local control, but the Democratic leadership of both houses steadfastly refused to allow local control legislation to see the light of day.

Two bills that would have tightened CAFO regulations (but would not have authorized local control) did make it through legislative committees. In the House, HF 873 included provisions that would have increased separation distances between CAFOs and residences and other sensitive areas, would have lowered the threshold number of hogs in a confinement facility to trigger CAFO regulation, and would have made the requirements more stringent for a passing grade on the Master Matrix. 

In the Senate, SF 550 made provisions for counties to review CAFO permit applications and make recommendations for approval or denial to the DNR, but did not give decision-making authority to counties.

Neither of these bills would have reinstated local control, but they would have helped to protect Iowa citizens from the impacts of CAFOs on neighbors’ quality of life, health and property rights. However, the leadership of the Democratic Party was unwilling to allow a floor vote on either HF 873 or SF 550.

In the aftermath of the legislative session, we are left with several disturbing questions. Why did the Democrats renege on their campaign promise to work for local control? Why was the Democratic Party leadership unwilling to allow the legislature to vote on local control or other forms of CAFO regulation?

What forces came to bear on the Democrats that had them running scared? 

Why are we still left with the reality that although less than one percent of Iowans have a vested interested in hog CAFOs, they hold sway over all the rest of us with the legislature?

Some of the answers to those questions are obvious to anyone familiar with the influence of big money in politics. First, the Iowa Farm Bureau and other agribusiness groups—who lobby relentlessly for the privileges of CAFO owners over the rights of ordinary citizens—made campaign contributions to legislators of both parties and both legislative houses. That was the carrot—with promise of more carrots to come. 

Second, those same organizations employed an army of lobbyists to incessantly hammer any legislator who dared consider voting against their directive that there be no legislation regulating CAFOs. That was the stick—with promise of a heavier stick being used on them in the next election cycle if they stepped out of line.

Even though this session produced no legislation to protect Iowa citizens from the out-of-control CAFO industry, members of the Coalition for Local Control are not about to throw in the towel. We will redouble our efforts next year. We are welcoming new allies and a broader base of support. 

It’s a no-brainer that Iowa citizens need more protection from CAFOs, and it’s only a matter of time before leaders in the legislature and governor’s office realize they cannot ignore it any longer. Our state motto—displayed on the Iowa state flag—plainly states the simplicity of our objectives: “Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain.”

Francis Thicke, with his wife Susan, owns and operates a dairy farm near Fairfield, IA.