|
|
Saturday, September 3
Iowa to Accept Storm Victims
by
Linda Thieman
on Sat 03 Sep 2005 04:00 PM CDT
 Iowa to Accept Storm Victims
by Mike Owen, West Branch, Iowa
Iowans
should be proud to have Governor Vilsack speaking for them about the
state's interest in helping up to 5,000 victims of Hurricane Katrina
relocate to our state.
As he
eloquently stated, "In a situation like this, America becomes a single
community and every part of the community has to shoulder their portion
of the burden."
According
to an AP story in today’s Cedar Rapids Gazette, the first wave of storm
victims could arrive as early as today (Saturday). State officials are
working with the Red Cross. The governor said:
•
Victims, upon arrival, will receive food, clothing and medical care, as
well as a month’s rent in short-term housing – most likely in hotels.
•
For victims who want to stay longer, he has asked the Iowa Finance
Authority, faith-based organizations and the Internal Revenue Service
to find low-to-moderate income housing for up to one year.
•
He will sign an executive order directing the Department of Human
Services to help the families relocate to longer-term housing and make
them eligible for Food Stamps, Medicaid, financial aid and help finding
employment.
It is worth noting
that this is occurring at the same time Congress is preparing to whack
away at many of those very services, including Food Stamps and Medicaid.
We are left to ask:
Where will House Budget Chair Jim Nussle be on these issues now? Where
would a Gov. Nussle be on these issues in the same situation?
Do not
allow such questions to be dismissed as "political." Ask these
questions without apology. They are the nuts and bolts of governing.
They have everything to do with the choices about to be made in
Washington and our ability as Iowans and Americans to make them in the
future.
This report was written for Blog for Iowa by Mike Owen of West Branch, Iowa.
Speaking Truth to Power
by
Trish Nelson
on Sat 03 Sep 2005 11:00 AM CDT
 Speaking Truth To Power
The Prairie Progressive - A Newsletter for Iowa's Democratic Left
by Clara Oleson
Minnette Doderer was the political mother of the second wave
of feminism in Iowa and
defined feminist electoral politics in Iowa
for decades. She always faced tough elections because the right wing in Iowa
hated her guts. Many Democrats hated her as well for her fight for gender
equality in insurance and comparable pay, and for pointing out their
lack of commitment to women’s rights and their sexist behavior.
Doderer fought for Regents funding in a manner which puts to shame every present elected Democrat in Johnson
County. She did not take quietly any insult to women or to herself. She was tough and
aggressive. Every speech had a zinger, a point, and a plan for action.
She believed not only in Democrats but also in democracy.
Minnette’s legislative initiatives permeate the Code of
Iowa. There is not another legislator in the last 40 years who so shaped Iowa
law for women and children. Her programs saved thousands of lives.
In the current jargon, she spoke Truth to Power, and she let the
chips fall where they may. She was viciously attacked by many, but she gave
as good as she got, and she won more political fights than she lost. She
could be charming and funny, but it was her sheer courage,immense energy, and
moral vision that captured your imagination.
Every woman and man in Iowa
who believes in sexual equality owes Minnette Doderer an incredible debt. She educated us and she was there for every important fight for the advancement of women.
—Clara Oleson lives in West Branch.
__________
Most of the obituaries and tributes to Minnette Doderer omit one of her greatest contributions to the people of Iowa. As the 1995 legislative session began, Gov. Terry Branstad’s
cherished goal of reinstating the death penalty looked unstoppable. “Fervor
for death penalty remains high,” blared a Des Moines Register headline on
January 22. The Iowa House passed a bill to reinstate the death penalty, but
only after Doderer used every legislative delaying tactic in the book
while reminding the public why Iowa
abolished the death penalty in 1965.
As reported in the Prairie Progressive (Winter 1995),
“Doderer’s moral passion and political skill cut the margin of votes”
and gave backbone to the Iowa Senate, which on
March 2 soundly defeated the bill “in a stunning renunciation of capital punishment.” Later that
year, it was Minnette who persuaded Republican House leaders to take up a
resolution recognizing the Iowa Civil Liberties Union for 60 years of
service to Iowans.
Yes, she was a magnificent crusader for women and children,
but she will also be remembered as a brave civil libertarian who
fought for justice regardless of the odds.
—Dave Leshtz lives in Iowa City
__________
For more about Minnette Doderer’s indomitable career and
those of others who served in the Iowa
legislature, read Legislators and Politicians: Iowa’s
Women Lawmakers by Suzanne Schenken, Iowa
State Press, 1995.
__________
Win a free one-year subscription to the Prairie Progressive
by correctly answering the Prairie Pop Quiz: In 1928, which county
elected the first woman to serve in the Iowa House?
—Prairie Dog
The Prairie Progressive is Iowa's oldest progressive newsletter, available only in
hard copy for $12/yr. Co-editors of The Prairie Progressive are Jeff Cox and Dave
Leshtz. PP, Box 1945, Iowa City 52244.
 Click here to sign up for action alerts
from RapidResponse - Iowa.
The Looting of America - A National Tragedy
by
Linda Thieman
on Sat 03 Sep 2005 04:00 AM CDT
 The Looting of America - A National Tragedy
by Randall Rolph, Nashua, Iowa
In the
aftermath of the catastrophic hurricane that has inflicted great harm
on the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, the nation is
seeing and realizing the reality of what has happened to our country.
As we witness the looting of stores in New Orleans, mostly for food,
medicine, water, and clothing, the looting not
being discussed is the looting that occurred years ago - the looting of
the treasury by the Bush administration and the Republican-controlled
Congress.
As Bush
and the Republicans depleted the surplus left by President Clinton, as
well as cut funding to essential services while providing billions of
dollars in tax relief to the wealthy, the reality of their policies are
being played out before our eyes.
As
American taxpayers spend billions of dollars to rebuild Iraq, Bush
can't find the time or the means to provide water to those suffering in
New Orleans. While Republicans like Congressman Tom Latham of Iowa
regurgitate, "Stay the course in Iraq for as long as it takes,"
Republican House Leader Dennis Hastert of Illinois expresses doubt on
spending money to rebuild New Orleans.
Listening
to some Republican talking points, one is left with the impression it's
the fault of those suffering for not leaving. Their fault because they
have no car or transportation? Money for a bus ride; money for a hotel
out of the danger zone? Family to take them in?
The
truth is, their fault was believing that our government was going to
respond to the impending threat by sending the National Guard and
transportation to get them out. Oh, that's right. There is no Guard...
It's in Iraq!
Further, much in the manner of 9/11, Bush responds to the facts of his failures with lies.
During his interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America on
Thursday, September 1st, George Bush stated, "I don't think anybody
anticipated the breach of the levees."
Fact: Since
2001, the Army Corps of Engineers has requested $496 million dollars to
upgrade and fortify the levees, floodgates, and pumps that hold back
the waters around New Orleans. Bush budgeted only $166 million.
Reports
on the aftermath of a hurricane hitting New Orleans and the impact of
levees in current conditions breaching have been circulating for years.
Bush ignored these reports just as he had done with the PDB
(pResidential Daily Briefing) in August, 2001. [The PDB suggested planes
might be flown into buildings and Bush dismissed such a possibility
until 9/11.] Adding insult to our collective injury in the current
situation is Bush's further failure by allowing days to pass before
responding.
What is
happening to our country, what has happened to our nation is shameful.
It's a national tragedy that goes beyond Hurricane Katrina. And to
paraphrase Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield, "Our national crisis is
managed by the 'president' we got, not the 'president' we want."
This essay was written for Blog for Iowa by Randall Rolph of Nashua, Iowa.
|
|
