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Liz Eisen - Sat 11 Oct 2008 10:12 AM CDT
Tojo8817 - Fri 03 Oct 2008 08:35 PM CDT
Marilyn Walker - Fri 03 Oct 2008 12:51 PM CDT
Brent - Mon 29 Sep 2008 02:55 PM CDT
audiored - Sat 27 Sep 2008 10:34 PM CDT
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Tuesday, January 31
REPRESENTATIVE CINDY WINCKLER OF DAVENPORT AT THE FORUM
by
Molly Regan
on Tue 31 Jan 2006 01:02 PM CST
 REPRESENTATIVE CINDY WINCKLER OF DAVENPORT AT THE FORUM
On the last Saturday of the month for the first 4 months of the year, there is a Legislative Forum held in Scott County.
This past Saturday, January 28th, 2006, was the first for this
legislative session. 8 of the 9 Senators and Representatives from
Scott County and parts of Clinton County were in attendance.
Questions from the audience of about 80 covered many topics. They
came to see DEMOCRACY IN ACTION at St. Ambrose University. One
query was about state employee health coverage, another about whether
or not the death penalty would be brought up again for
consideration. Another asked if the state could help fund early
childhood facilities. Also, a Scott County farmer asked whether
or not the IDNR (IOWA Department Of Natural Resources) or the ERC
(Environmental Regulatory Commission) would be reigned in and not be
allowed to site livestock facilities as they see fit.
But, by far, one of the most contentious subjects was the
first question out of the gate. It concerned TAXING OR NOT TAXING
A PERSON’S PENSION. Some people feel that IOWA loses many retired
folks to other states, including Illinois, because there is too
high a tax on pensions. While a couple of the Republicans spoke
about their belief that the tax should be stopped so that retirees will
stay in the state, REPRESENTATIVE CINDY WINCKLER, DAVENPORT, CHOSE TO
DISAGREE.
Rep. Winckler, (an avid DEAN supporter) said it is too early in the
session to put this one into play. She says there are many myths
about this subject including the myth that retirement pensions are
taxed twice. This is not true, Rep. Winckler explained, since money
is put into a person’s chosen fund without being taxed, then is taxed
later when taken out as a pension.
Much discussion that cold, rainy morning was about PAY FOR IOWA’S
TEACHERS. Where the money was coming from and when an
increase could go into effect were addressed. There is a movement
afoot to get IOWA back to being 25th in the nation on teachers’ pay as
opposed to being 42nd in the country, as we are now. But Senator
Maggie Tinsman (R-Bettendorf) said, “Anytime you talk about going
back, that’s not going forward. But, yes, do I think teachers have
slipped in what they are getting for pay, yes, I do.” This was a
quote from the local news at 10pm/channel 6 KWQC.
Well, Senator Tinsman, it is obvious that going back to the 1978 ranking
of 25th in the nation, would only be a HUGE, INTELLIGENT STEP AHEAD IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION. You are just confusing the issue and not
making a very good assessment of the situation. Plus, you have
just been so ingrained by the Repubs that any suggestion made by
Democrats should be opposed, no matter how unreasonable you may sound.
So, the games have begun again. Will IOWANS be benefactors this
year after the current legislative session ends? Time will
tell. If you have a favorite topic you are keeping an eye on,
don’t forget to contact your Iowa Senator or Representative and voice your
opinion. Do your homework and make your call, write your letter,
or send your email. Or get your buddies together and take a
road trip to the capitol. It is a beautiful building, and good
changes can be made there. Go to www.legis.state.ia.us to find
out more about who represents you.
And by the way…Remember to CPR… CONSERVE/PARTICIPATE/RECYCLE
Saturday, January 28
U of Iowa Students/Faculty Dismayed by Regents' Power Grab; Event on Monday
by
Linda Thieman
on Sat 28 Jan 2006 04:00 PM CST
 U of Iowa Students/Faculty Dismayed by Regents' Power Grab
by Linda Thieman
Iowa
City faculty/staff/student event planned for this Monday, January 30,
at 3:30pm, Terrace Room (Room 166) of the Iowa Memorial Union to share
their commitment to self-determination
With
University of Iowa president David Skorton leaving to take the post of
president at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, U of I faculty and staff
are faced with the long hunt for a new leader. At least, they
thought they were.
Come to
find out, according to a statement released on Friday by the University
of Iowa Student Government (UISG), how Skorton will be replaced is
fraught with controversy. For more than 40 years, any search for
a new president at the U of I has been led by faculty through a UI
search committee with input from “a sufficiently diverse array of UI
students, faculty and staff.” According to Radio Iowa, Skorton was actually chosen from the UI medical faculty just three years ago to fill the head position.
One
of the main concerns, the UISG message states, is that since the UI
“tradition of shared self-governance and engagement is strong and
getting stronger, [w]e deserve a leader who will continue these
traditions.”
According to the Des Moines Register, Michael Gartner, president of the Iowa
Board of Regents, intends to bypass the traditional UI system of
self-selection in favor of hiring an outside headhunting firm. It
is believed in some circles that this will cement the Board of Regents'
power grab as they are also at this time hiring out to replace
University of Northern Iowa president Robert Koob.
Once the universities go, it’s all over.
Saturday, January 14
Working Families Win - A Town Meeting in the Quad Cities January 17
by
Trish Nelson
on Sat 14 Jan 2006 11:00 AM CST
 Working Families Win - A Town Meeting in the Quad Cities January 17
Working Families Win
Higher Expectations for Iowa's Working Families!
A Town Hall Meeting for people concerned about good jobs,fair wages, and a healthy future for our community
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
7:00-8:30 PM
Rogalski Center
St. Ambrose University
Davenport, Iowa
We
know that too few of us connect the dots between public policies and
our pocketbooks, and too few of us believe that things can be different. Health care can be affordable. Jobs can pay good wages. Our communities can provide a safe environment for our children who want to stay and work here as adults. Join us to learn more and to take action! Info: dleshtz@ia.net
Featuring
David Osterberg, Executive Director, Iowa Policy Project
Jim Jontz, President Emeritus, Americans for Democratic Action
Sponsors
Progressive Action for the Common Good
Davenport NAACP Branch #4019
Quad City Federation of Labor
Democracy for the Quad Cities
Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economic Community
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 431
Churches United Justice Issues Committee
Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
National Catholic Rural Life Conference
Iowa Farmers Union
Communications Workers of America Iowa State Council
Iowans for Sensible Priorities
AFSCME Council 61
Iowa for Health Care
Immigrant Voices Project
Iowa Citizen Action Network
American Friends Service Committee
League of Rural Voters
Iowa Postal Workers Union
Women, Food and Agriculture Network
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
Service Employees International Union Local 199
Iowa/Nebraska Primary Care Association Working Families Win/Americans for Democratic Action Education Fund
Iowans for Better Local TV - IBLTV.Org
Friday, January 13
Author of What’s the Matter with Kansas? to speak in Des Moines January 18
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 13 Jan 2006 04:00 AM CST
 Author of What’s the Matter with Kansas? to speak in Des Moines January 18
 Who: THOMAS FRANK, author of What's The Matter With Kansas? - How Conservatives Won the Heart of America
Where: Drake University - Bulldog Theater, Des Moines
When: 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 18
Free and Open to the Public
One
of "our most insightful social observers" (Los Angeles Times) cracks
the great political mystery of our time: how conservatism, once a
marker of class privilege, became the creed of millions of ordinary
Americans. Frank explains why the populist right eagerly embraces a values-based agenda and votes against their economic interests.
Co-sponsored
by Drake University’s Center for the Humanities, Women’s Studies
Program, and E.T. Meredith Center for Magazine Studies.
Thursday, January 12
Iowa Author Mike Palecek to Speak in Cedar Falls January 26
by
Linda Thieman
on Thu 12 Jan 2006 04:00 AM CST
 Iowa Author Mike Palecek to Speak in Cedar Falls January 26
"Mike
Palecek poses powerful questions. He has constructed a masterpiece in
[Looking for Bigfoot]. It deserves to be read. It's exhilarating and
terrifying. It's realer than real." — January Magazine
Iowa’s Mike Palecek, author of the critically-acclaimed Looking for Bigfoot, is slated to appear on January 26 as part of the University of Northern Iowa's Final Thursday Reading Series, 7:30 p.m. in Cedar Falls, at Bought Again Books/Vibe Cafe, 909 West 23rd Street [319-266-7115].
Palecek will be reading from his most recent novel, “LOOKING FOR BIGFOOT," published in 2005 by Howling Dog Press.
Looking for Bigfoot was named one of the Best in Fiction for 2005 by January Magazine. Here’s what they had to say:
 In my review
of this fine book I discussed my preference for fiction rather than
non. Mike Palecek had supplied an argument for me within the book, that
"good fiction ... is a more accurate way of saying the truth than the
actual stating of facts" and that the fiction writer "can say what the
reporters are too chicken to." Current events may be giving the lie to
these statements as the news has become just as strange as fiction.
However this enhances rather than diminishes the value of a book I
consider the best of the year. It's about survival and searching. It's
about truth, injustice and the American way. -- Chuck Gregory
In the
story, the Bigfoot phenomenon also serves as a metaphor for wondering
whether Oswald killed Kennedy, whether we actually walked on the moon,
whether Bush and Cheney were complicit in the attacks of 9/11 ...
whether the whole American Dream is just a bad nightmare.
BIGFOOT
tells the story of an eastern Iowa man who runs an Internet radio talk
show from his home, the rented farmhouse at the "Field of Dreams" movie
tourist site.
To order or read more about the book, click here.
PALECEK, 50, IS THE AUTHOR OF SIX NOVELS,
all from a leftist, progressive angle, five set in Iowa. He lives with
his family in northwest Iowa. He was the Iowa Democratic Party nominee
for the United States House of Representatives for the Fifth District
in the 2000 election. Palecek lost to the Republican incumbent, but was
able to gather over 65,000 votes [29%] in a conservative district on an
anti-military, anti-prison, pro-immigration platform.
Palecek
works at a group home for disabled adults in Hull, Iowa. He has also
worked as an award-winning reporter for the N'West Iowa Review and the
Cherokee Daily Times.
DURING
THE 1980S, PALECEK SERVED FIVE TERMS in county jail and federal prison
for acts of civil disobedience at Offutt Air Force Base in protest of
the United States military.
Also check out his book, The Last Liberal Outlaw, about a small-town Iowa reporter.
Tuesday, January 10
Joyce Schulte to Announce for Congress, 5th District, on January 14
by
Linda Thieman
on Tue 10 Jan 2006 04:00 PM CST
 Joyce Schulte to Announce for Congress, 5th District, on January 14
Blog for Iowa Proudly Adds the Indomitable Joyce Schulte to our Candidate Watch List.
Creston, IA – Joyce Schulte
will announce her candidacy to be Iowa’s next Congressperson from
Iowa’s 5th Congressional District, Saturday, January 14, in a six-stop
tour of the district. Schulte will address a different issue of concern
to Iowans and the American people at each stop.
Schulte talks about why she is running. "The people of western
Iowa work hard and contribute strongly to their communities, state and
nation. They want and deserve to be represented by the highest possible
level of integrity, compassion and knowledge in Congress. There is a
vacuum of leadership that leaves Congress to do and say things that are
not Iowa quality. Iowa quality, when implemented on all levels, would
not allow the FEMA disaster that happened after hurricane Katrina;
would challenge every policy of the presidential administration to be
honorable; and would not misrepresent history by hailing heroes where
there are none and deriding the every day hero."
As Schulte told Blog for Iowa in September, "These are only a few of the reasons I'm running for Congress. Very
simply, the issues and concerns of the regular Iowan have been
forgotten, left behind and thrown overboard by my opponent and his band
in Congress.
I'm ready to work for regular people, our students, our families
and our family farmers. I'm ready to lift western Iowa up so our
strengths are seen. We have serious work to do.
We're into the 21st century, so we don't need people in Congress putting us down, or wanting to fence us in.
As a
very young widow in 1973 with 2 young boys to raise, I knew
what work was involved. I did not run away from it. I used all the
skills and talents I learned on the farm. Define the work. Do the work,
rest a bit between the work, and get ready to do it all over again.
Those two young boys are now men, married and one has a young daughter.
So the future is here and it requires the best we can give it.
I'm ready to see American Pride come alive."
Get out there and show your support on January 14 for Joyce Schulte!
Schulte for Congress Schedule for January 14, 2006:
- 7:30 a.m. – Press Conference – Creston, IA – Restored Depot – Schulte will address Economic Growth
- 11 a.m. – Press Conference – Council Bluffs, IA – Senior Center, 7th Ave and S Main St – Schulte will address Senior Issues
- 12:30 p.m. – Announcement Meet and Greet and lunch – Missouri
Valley, IA – Gurney’s Restaurant, 229 S 6th St – Schulte will address
why she is running for Congress
- 2 p.m. – Press Conference – Sioux City, IA – Sanford Center, 1700 Geneva St – Schulte will address Family Issues
- 5 p.m. – Press Conference – Storm Lake, IA – Location TBA – Schulte will address Education
- 7:30 p.m. – Press Conference – Denison, IA – Yellow Smoke
Park, Enclosed Shelter 2237 Yellow Smoke Rd. – Schulte will address
Security – Event to be followed by Candidate meet and greet with
supporters.
Joyce Schulte is Director of the Student Support Services program at
Southwestern Community College in Creston, where she sees on a daily
basis how government funding and policies can affect lives. She has a
long history in the mental health field, education and family farming.
Check the Schulte for Congress website for updates in the schedule.
Attend Your Iowa Caucus on Monday, January 16 by 6:30pm!
by
Linda Thieman
on Tue 10 Jan 2006 04:48 AM CST
 Attend Your Iowa Caucus on Monday, January 16 by 6:30pm!
In addition to the media-related information pertaining to the Iowa
Caucus that Arron posted yesterday, we have this just in from the Ed
Fallon campaign for Iowa Governor about how the caucus may influence
who is the Democratic nominee for governor.
IT'S CAUCUS TIME!
From Rep. Ed Fallon:
Precinct caucuses are less than a week away, and I'd like to
take this chance to encourage you to attend and participate. These
caucuses are particularly significant because the delegates elected
there and at the county conventions will determine the Democratic
nominee for governor if no candidate receives 35% of the vote in the
primary election on June 6th. If you'd like to help Fallon for Governor
organize your precinct, send an e-mail to FFGAdam@gmail.com and we'll get you started.
Also, if you're planning on attending your caucus, I would like to
encourage you to offer this resolution for the party platform:
Whereas campaigns at all levels have become more expensive and more
negative; and whereas large donors and wealthy special interest groups
exert far too much control over policies that affect all Iowans; and
whereas Arizona, Connecticut and Maine have enacted successful clean
election laws which provide for public financing of campaigns for local
and state offices; therefore, be it resolved that the Iowa Democratic
Party supports a clean elections law for Iowa.
Your local precinct caucus will be held on Monday, January 16 at 6:30
pm. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ARRIVE BY 6:30 IN ORDER TO BE COUNTED AS AN
OFFICIAL ATTENDEE. To find out where your caucus will be held, click
here.
And from the Iowa Democratic Party:
The 2006 Precinct Caucuses are an exciting opportunity for [progressive] Iowa
Democrats to help organize their local parties. There are over 1800
caucus locations in all of Iowa's 99 counties, so that every registered
Democrat can get involved. All precincts start at 6:30 P.M. [If you are late, you will not be admitted.] To find the
location where your precinct meets CLICK HERE.
The purpose of a non-presidential year caucus is to:
1) Discuss and adopt proposed resolutions to be added to the county platform.
2) Elect Delegates and Alternates to County Convention
3) Elect Precinct Committee Persons to the County Central Committee
The precinct caucuses are a great way to promote progressive grassroots activities within the Iowa Democratic Party.
Monday, January 9
This Week in Media
by
Arron Wings
on Mon 09 Jan 2006 11:00 AM CST
 The Iowa Caucuses Are Here
Caucuses
of the Democratic and Republican Parties will be held Monday January
16th. This is a great opportunity to raise awareness of media
issues that affect all of us. The National Black Caucus of State
Legislators has passed four resolutions that are model planks for Party
platforms. These resolutions were proposed by Iowa State
Representative Wayne Ford.
1. A Resolution In Support Of Increased Funding And Federal Support For Public Broadcasting
2. A Resolution Supporting Municipal Provision Of Community Broadband
3. A Resolution To Encourage Competition And Speed The Deployment Of Advance Communications Networks On A Non-Discriminatory Basis
4. A Resolution In Support Of Diversity In Media Ownership
Resolutions can be found here (pages 85-93) and article from Free Press is here.
The Resolution in Support of Diversity in Media Ownership reads:
"WHEREAS, freedom of the press and public access to diverse media are prerequisites for a functioning democracy; and
WHEREAS, the broadcast airwaves are owned commonly by the public and should be managed to serve the public interest; and
WHEREAS, adherence to the highest journalistic principles is a public trust; and
WHEREAS, the public interest is best served by the availability of a broadly diverse range of viewpoints; and
WHEREAS,
media diversity is seriously threatened by further consolidation of
media ownership in an already highly concentrated market; and
WHEREAS,
increased consolidation has made it more difficult to expand minority
ownership of broadcast media outlets, a key driver of diversity in news
and cultural programming; and
WHEREAS,
deregulation of radio ownership rules under the 1996 Telecommunications
Act caused unprecedented consolidation, dramatically decreasing
competition, reducing local accountability and content diversity; and
limiting access to the airwaves for local artists, community groups and
public officials; and
WHEREAS,
the Federal Communications Commission approved an unprecedented
loosening of public interest limits on media ownership in June 2003
only to see it overturned by the Courts after millions of people across
America from every political orientation voiced opposition; and
WHEREAS,
despite the fact the courts rejected these rules, the Federal
Communications Commission will soon reconsider an unprecedented
rollback of media ownership regulations which protect competition,
content diversity and local accountability in our media; and
WHEREAS,
the elimination and weakening of these regulations are likely to reduce
competition, the quality of local media coverage, local accountability,
diversity of content, diversity of voices, and the amount
and quality of news coverage in broadcast and print media across the
country, while providing windfall profits for a small handful of
corporate media owners; and
WHEREAS,
we recognize that as citizens in a democracy, we require public access
to a diverse range of media voices and messages in order to participate
fully in our community's shared social, cultural and political life;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE 29TH ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE OF THE NATIONAL BLACK CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS, ASSEMBLED IN WASHINGTON, D.C., DECEMBER 7 - 11, 2005, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators supports the following measures:
-We urge the Federal Communications Commission
to resist attempts to loosen public interest limits on media ownership
and further urge the Congress and the Federal Communications Commission
to protect content diversity and press freedom by retaining and
strengthening existing media ownership regulations, including
regulations that limit the number of broadcast stations one owner may
hold; and
-We urge the Federal Communications Commission
to hold public hearings scheduled by the Localism Task Force to truly
understand how media consolidation has adversely impacted communities
across the country; and
-We urge the Federal Communications Commission and the Congress to take necessary steps to encourage and facilitate increased minority ownership of media outlets."
Media
Ownership rules are also at issue in Springfield Missouri where a
small cable company, Cable America, challenged the broadcast licenses
of stations that it says are functional duopolies. Story is here.
Media Minutes from Free Press are here.
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