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Friday, June 18
DFIA Is Proud To Announce 451°F: Hot Books!
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 18 Jun 2004 04:46 PM CDT
DFIA Is Proud To Announce
451°F: Hot Books!
Read The New Pearl Harbor by David Ray Griffin and discuss it with the author on July 18, 2004.
451°F: Hot Books – a monthly national political book discussion group – will kick off with a really hot book, The New Pearl Harbor.
Book discussion groups will meet at the same time across the country
and participate in a telephone conference call with the author. Each
participating group will also get a vote to choose between 3 books to
discuss in August.
Sign up to host a book discussion at http://www.451F.org
right now! You will find links to information about The New Pearl
Harbor and Professor Griffin, cool merchandise, and buttons. Coming
soon will be discussion points, press releases, suggestions for action
inspired by the book, bookmarks to advertise your book discussion, and
more. Book discussion hosts will also be able to purchase bulk orders
of the book at a significant discount.
Please spread the word through any channels available to you. Email me with comments or questions at aprice@democracyforiowa.com.
Thanks!
Alta Price
Democracy for Iowa
Bettendorf, IA
Iowa Values Fund Fallout
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 18 Jun 2004 12:30 PM CDT
Iowa Values Fund Fallout
John Drury, Democratic Candidate for Iowa State Senate, District 6, Comments on the Values Fund
This is indeed bad news for Iowans and points to the serious
problems that exist in the Iowa Legislature with partisan politics that
is harming Iowa. The loss of the Values Fund is a major blow for
economic development in rural Iowa. The Fund was already
seriously underfunded because of Republican politicking in Des Moines
and now it is completely lost. This could result in the loss of
thousands of new jobs for Iowa.
At a time like this when we are facing our own job problems in north
Iowa...particularly with the closing of the Armour Plant in Britt...it
will become increasingly difficult to develop new jobs.
The only good news out of this ruling is that the special interest tax
cuts the Republicans wanted that would have further increased local
property taxes will not come into play.
John Drury, Democratic Candidate for Iowa State Senate, District 6, North Iowa
Southeast Iowa lawmakers react
The Hawk Eye, Burlington, Iowa
What now?
The Iowa
Supreme Court's out–of–the–blue decision Wednesday overturning the
entire Iowa Values Fund had local lawmakers and economic development
pros wondering where the road leads from here.
Siding
with Republican leaders at the Statehouse, the court said Gov. Tom
Vilsack misused his line–item veto authority last summer when he
scratched out a series of tax cuts and regulatory changes tacked on to
the massive $503 million job growth fund.
But the
justices carried their ruling further than either side expected,
declaring "no portion of HF 692 became law because the entire bill did
not receive the affirmative approval of both the Legislature and
Governor" in the time allowed under law.
"What
that means is that both sides lost and, I would argue, the state of
Iowa lost," said Rep. Philip Wise, a Keokuk Democrat who serves on the
Iowa Department of Economic Development board of directors.
The
Supreme Court decision creates a potentially embarrassing problem for
the state, since much of the initial $100 million allocated for the
Values Fund has already been doled out for 36 different development
projects.
(more)
Can Iowa's political differences be resolved?
The Ames Tribune
Back to
square one. The Iowa Supreme Court ruling that threw out the largest
piece of legislation of the 2003 session most likely means lawmakers
will have to come back together to hash it out again.
Will they be able to agree this time?
The
ruling blind-sided both parties by throwing out the entire bill that
created the Grow Iowa Values Fund. Gov. Tom Vilsack had vetoed
Republican-sponsored tax cuts and regulatory reform added to the values
fund bill. Republicans who sued only wanted those cuts and reforms
reinstated. Neither side wanted the values fund thrown out, too. But
the court ruled that Vilsack's vetoes rendered the whole bill null and
void.
Both parties were quick to start finger-pointing.
From the
Republican side, House Speaker Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, said,
"We did not seek to invalidate the bill. Responsibility for this lies
squarely with the governor and his counsel."
And from
the Democrats: "Because of the political game-playing by Republican
leaders, the Iowa Values Fund has been jeopardized," Senate Minority
Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs and House Minority Leader Pat
Murphy, D-Dubuque, said in a joint statement.
(more)
Get Your Upcoming Local Iowa Events Here!
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 18 Jun 2004 05:04 AM CDT
Get Your Upcoming Local Iowa Events Here!
Friday, June 18th
Meet Paul Johnson, progressive Democratic candidate from Iowa’s Congressional District 4
Webster City
Reception at home of Art and Laurel Palmer
918 First St.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 19th
"Bridge the Gap" for Health Care events take place nationwide tomorrow.
Iowa City
Iowa for
Health Care, in conjunction with the University of Iowa and the
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, is taking part in the
national day of action by holding a "Bridge the Gap" bridge walk over
the Iowa Bridge in downtown Iowa City on Saturday from 11:00 am to 1:00
pm. The bridge, which spans the Iowa River and runs up to the Old
Capitol, will be the centerpiece of an event that will include a picnic
lunch at Hubbard park and a rally with special guests University of
Iowa Hospitals and Clinics CEO Donna Katen-Bahensky, University of Iowa
College of Medicine Dean Jean E. Robillard, M.D., University of Iowa
President David Skorton, and Iowa Lt. Governor Sally Pedersen.
Please
join us for this important event to show your support for quality,
affordable health care for all and your support for "Bridging the Gap"
in health care in this country. If you are interested in
attending or have any questions, please contact Kirsten Running at Iowa
for Health Care at 319.338.0353 or by email at kirstenrunning@hotmail.com. For more information go to www.iowaforhealthcare.com.
Saturday, June 19th
Meet Wayne Sawtelle, progressive Democratic Candidate for Iowa State Senate, District 22
State Center
Bar-b-que at the Rose Festival
Saturday, June 19 from 1 to 3 PM
Winterton/Kinnamon Home
202 2nd Street SE, State Center
Saturday, June 19th
Paul Johnson fundraiser
Pocahontas
House Party at the home of Sherri Williams
708 3rd Ave. NW
4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 22nd
Lunch with Paul Johnson
Garner
Mat's Place
235 State St.
Noon - 1 p.m.
Tuesday, June 22nd
HARRT, Johnson County's Hate Acts Rapid Response Team
Iowa City
The
regularly scheduled HARRT meeting is Tuesday, June 22 at 4 pm - Agudas
Achim Synagogue, 602 East Washington St., Iowa City, Iowa. This meeting
is
open to all interested parties. Lots of exciting things are happening for HARRT. Come to the meeting and learn first hand what is going on. Hope to see you there.
Faith Wilmot, co-chair
HARRT
Tuesday, June 22nd
Meet Paul Johnson
Fort Dodge
State Senator Darryl Beall fundraiser
The Peralta's
2905 South Soldier Creek
5-7 p.m.
Wednesday, June 23rd
"Dave Listens to Linn County over Breakfast"
Support Dave Franker, progressive Democrat for Congress in Iowa’s Congressional District 2.
Palo
7-8 am -- Palo Mini-Mart, 1204 1st St., Palo, 851-5291
Cedar Rapids
8:30-9:30 am -- Blue Strawberry, 118 2nd St. NE, Cedar Rapids, 247-2583
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