Iowa in the News: Nader, Outsourcing, GLBT, Health Care, & Tax Cuts


Bush backers helping Nader to get on Iowa ballot

Quad-City Times

DES MOINES (AP) — President Bush’s backers are gathering signatures on petitions to put maverick candidate Ralph Nader’s name on the ballot in Iowa.

With most polls showing the race between Bush and presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry a virtual tie, Nader’s presence on the ballot could be crucial in deciding where the state’s seven electoral votes land.

As they left a Bush campaign rally in Cedar Rapids Tuesday, activists were greeted by volunteers seeking help with “a project to help the president.”

The volunteers were seeking signatures on petitions to get Nader’s name on the ballot, carefully explaining that Nader’s presence would be helpful to Bush because the former consumer activist would drain votes from Kerry.

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Report: Iowa gives little business to outsourcing firms

Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier

DES MOINES (AP) -- Almost all 50 states are giving contracts to companies that send the work overseas, but agencies in Iowa have done little business with such outsourcing companies, a new report said.

Iowa has not awarded contracts to any of the 18 companies identified in the report as performing state government contracts with cheap overseas labor, according to the report.

The report was prepared by Good Jobs First, a nonprofit research center, for a union representing white collar workers that has fought outsourcing.

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Schools: Gay rights covered in policies

The Hawk Eye Newspaper, Burlington, Iowa

Southeast Iowa districts don't specify sexual orientation in anti–discrimination guidelines

While Burlington officials wrestle with whether to include a reference to sexual orientation in the city's anti–discrimination ordinance, southeast Iowa school district officials say even without that language in current harassment policies, homosexual students and staff are protected.

Only a handful of Iowa districts have specific language on the subject, and Burlington Superintendent Mike Book said he is surprised, given the sheer number of districts in the state, that more do not.

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Iowa Paraplegic Fights For Support

KWWL.com

The freedom of living at home is something most all of us take for granted.  However, for one 20-year old Iowa man, that freedom may soon be in jeopardy.  Tony Ramos of Oelwein is a paraplegic.  Ramos was injured in a car-bicycle accident in the mid-90's.  

Most people look forward to turning 21-years old. Ramos however is dreading his 21st birthday in September because that's when the state will recognize him as an adult.  That means he'll lose thousands of dollars in state grants, which enable him to live at home. He says, "I think its terrible. I don't want to go to a nursing home, that's for older folks. I still want to live life. I want to go to college and I want to make something of my life."

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Report says Iowa tops in cutting taxes

Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier

DES MOINES (AP) --- A new report says Iowa cut taxes by more than 1 percent of its expected revenue in the current budget year, the only state in the nation to do so.

. . . But Rep. Ed Fallon, a Des Moines Democrat, said Iowa cannot afford to continue cutting taxes and slashing the state's ability to provide basic services.

"We're, in fact, out of step with what legislatures across the country are doing," said Fallon, who earlier this year proposed repealing tax cuts to help pay for education. "The tax cuts are a big reason why our budget is having trouble."

"This report confirms what we've been saying all along, and that is Iowa doesn't need any more tax cuts," said Lana Oppenheim Schlapkohl, a spokeswoman for the Iowa State Education Association, which represents about 32,000 teachers.

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