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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
Monday, January 30
Goodbye to Local News
by
Arron Wings
on Mon 30 Jan 2006 02:00 PM CST
 Goodbye to Local News
MediaCitizen
By Timothy Karr
In a final act of defiance, the anchor at Honolulu Fox
affiliate KHON-2 gives management a piece of his mind, before they pull the
plug.
THE BIGGEST THREAT to the type of broadcast journalism that
Edward R. Murrow championed in the 1950s comes today not from Congressmen of
the Joe McCarthy mold, but by way of the industry itself. Profit-driven
broadcast owners have strangled off local reporting to line their pockets with
more advertising dollars.
This crisis in journalism is explicitly tied to the dangers
of consolidated media ownership and speculation. We all suffer when media
corporations trample public service and local journalism in their drive for
larger profits.
Joe Moore, a veteran newscaster at Fox’s Honolulu affiliate, KHON-2, can speak well to
the issue. On Thursday, he anchored the station’s newscast as sweeping newsroom
layoffs were taking effect. As a small concession from management, Moore was allowed to
write and read his sign off to viewers. Courtesy of NewsBlues (a newscaster
gossip site).
The Transcript of the Final Newscast
Finally
tonight, this has been a difficult day for most of us here at KHON2. It
was the final day on the job for our general manager Rick Blangiardi,
who refused to carry out the mass firing of over one third of our
station employees as ordered by our new owners, who will take over
tomorrow.
The firings are not a matter of
cutting excess fat to improve efficiency; they will be a butchering of
an already lean workforce that will remove muscle, bone, and vital
organs.
(click here to read the rest of the transcript)
Don't let this happen in Iowa! If you would like
to be part of organized media reform efforts in Iowa, please consider joining
Iowans for Better Local TV.
To find out more, click
here
YOU Can Bring Air America Radio to Iowa!
by
Trish Nelson
on Mon 30 Jan 2006 04:00 AM CST
 YOU Can Bring Air America Radio to Iowa!
Air America Radio is coming to Iowa! Well, that is, if you follow this easy recipe.
There are just a few ingredients you need to bring progressive talk
radio to your town and your local station. Why let Rush Limbaugh
have the last (or only) word on everything? Davenport
was the first in Iowa to pick up Air America at WKBF-AM 1270 –
and the popular liberal talk-radio format is working for them, so why not have Air America Radio all across Iowa?
Progressive radio is just good business. According to the Portland Tribune,
since KPOJ switched from oldies music to the new Air America network in
March, 2004, the progressive format has made the station one of the
most
listened-to in Portland. The number of listeners jumped from an
average of 33,000 with the old format to almost 127,000 in the first
six months with Air America. “We got advertisers who don’t
normally
advertise,” says Mike Lulich, national sales manager for Clear Channel
Radio Portland, KPOJ’s parent. “In the end, advertisers come to
the station because they know their customers like the format.”
And, of course, because there are so many more of them.
So click here
or click on Blog for Iowa's Fight Media Bias sidebar (on the left) to download
the flyer called "How to Bring Air America Radio to Your Local
Community" and get started! [in Word doc format]
Click here for the original post on Daily Kos. Scroll down for additional comments and ideas that can help you in your quest.
Sunday, January 29
Call Harkin and Urge Him to Support a Filibuster
by
Linda Thieman
on Sun 29 Jan 2006 04:00 AM CST
 Call Harkin and Urge Him to Support a Filibuster
Mike Ganzeveld from the Green Tea Blog posted this in the Blog for Iowa comments yesterday:
Tom Harkin is on the fence right now
trying to decided whether or not he should vote for a potential
filibuster of judicial nominee and reactionary statist Samuel Alito. At
this moment Tom Harkin thinks that a filibuster would be a "waste of
time." Ted Kennedy informed bloggers and activists [yesterday] morning in a
coference call that supporting a filibuster would cost political
capital because of fear of the "obstructionist" label.
We need to call
Tom Harkin this weekend and let him know that slinking off in defeat is
a helluva lot worse than being labeled an obstructionist by the usual
suspects on the Sunday morning cable news yap-fests. We need to let him
know that it's important to future Americans that a man like Samuel
Alito *is* obstructed from taking a LIFETIME position on the Supreme
Court. If you have already called, faxed, thanks! If you haven't, then I
implore you to go ahead and take a minute to do so. Best wishes!
Senator Tom Harkin
Phone: 202-224-3254
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.
Bush Job Approval Ratings Take Another Dive
by
Trish Nelson
on Sat 28 Jan 2006 11:00 AM CST
 Bush Job Approval Ratings Take Another Dive
American Research Group, Inc.
If it's not on TV, is it real?
You would never know this if you get
your news from television, but "W" is not doing
so well with the American public. Is it possible that, contrary
to what the broadcast media would have us believe, the "brilliant"
Rove-ian strategy ISN'T WORKING?
George W. Bush's overall job approval rating has returned to
its lowest point as Americans again turn less optimistic
about the national economy according to the latest survey from the American
Research Group. Among all Americans, 36%
approve of the way Bush is handling "his job" and 58% disapprove.
When it comes to Bush's handling of the economy, 34% approve and 60%
disapprove.
A total of 14% of Americans say the national economy is
getting better, which is down from 30% in December and 52% say the national
economy is getting worse, which is up from 40% in December. When asked about
the national economy a year from now, 15% say it will be better, which is down
from 28% in December, and 62% say it will be worse, which is up from 39% in
December.
(click here for more results)
If you would like to be part of organized media reform efforts in Iowa, please consider joining Iowans for Better Local TV.
To find out more, click here
Friday, January 27
Elesha Gayman of DFQC Named DFA Rising Star
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 27 Jan 2006 04:44 PM CST
 Elesha Gayman of DFQC Named DFA Rising Star
Elesha Gayman, a member of Democracy for the Quad Cities, has been named to the Democracy for America Rising Star list.
Elesha,
former Dean Delegate to the Democratic National Convention, is running
for the Iowa House of Representatives in District 84. Elesha's
dedication to her community inspired her to enter the non-profit sector
as a grant writer, fundraiser and volunteer. Now, she is running to
bring new energy to the Iowa State House.
Click here to read Blog for Iowa's in-depth profile of Elesha written by Caroline Vernon.
Click here to visit Elesha Gayman's campaign website.
Click here to visit DFA's Rising Star page.
Most Offspring Died When Mother Rats Ate GM Soy Diet
by
Linda Thieman
on Fri 27 Jan 2006 07:00 AM CST
 Most Offspring Died When Mother Rats Ate GM Soy Diet
By Jeffrey M. Smith, author of Seeds of Deception
The Russian scientist planned a simple experiment to see if eating genetically modified (GM) soy might influence offspring. What she got, however, was an astounding result that may threaten a multi-billion dollar industry.
Irina Ermakova, a leading scientist at the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), added GM soy flour (5-7 grams) to the diet of female rats. Other females were fed non-GM soy or no soy at all. The experimental diet began two weeks before the rats conceived and continued through pregnancy and nursing.
Ermakova's first surprise came when her pregnant rats started giving birth. Some pups from GM-fed mothers were quite a bit smaller. After 2 weeks, 36% of them weighed less than 20 grams compared to about 6% from the other groups.
But the real shock came when the rats started dying. Within three weeks, 25 of the 45 (55.6%) rats from the GM soy group died compared to only 3 of 33 (9%) from the non-GM soy group and 3 of 44 (6.8%) from the non-soy controls.
Ermakova preserved several major organs from the mother rats and offspring, drew up designs for a detailed organ analysis, created plans to repeat and expand the feeding trial, and promptly ran out of research money. The $70,000 needed was not expected to arrive for a year. Therefore, when she was invited to present her research at a symposium organized by the National Association for Genetic Security, Ermakova wrote 'PRELIMINARY STUDIES' on the top of her paper. She presented it on October 10, 2005 at a session devoted to the risks of GM food.
Her findings are hardly welcome by an industry already steeped in controversy.
GM Soy's Divisive Past
The soy she was testing was Monsanto's Roundup Ready variety. Its DNA has bacterial genes added that allow the soy plant to survive applications of Monsanto's 'Roundup' brand herbicide. About 85% of the soy grown in the US is Roundup Ready. Since soy derivatives, including oil, flour and lecithin, are found in the majority of processed foods sold in the US, many Americans eat ingredients derived from Roundup Ready soy everyday.
The FDA does not require any safety tests on genetically modified foods. If Monsanto or other biotech companies declare their foods safe, the agency has no further questions. The rationale for this hands-off position is a sentence in the FDA's 1992 policy that states, "The agency is not aware of any information showing that foods derived by these new methods differ from other foods in any meaningful or uniform way."[1] The statement, it turns out, was deceptive. Documents made public from a lawsuit years later revealed that the FDA's own experts agreed that GM foods are different and might lead to hard-to-detect allergens, toxins, new diseases or nutritional problems. They had urged their superiors to require long-term safety studies, but were ignored. The person in charge of FDA policy was, conveniently, Monsanto's former attorney (and later their vice president). One FDA microbiologist described the GM food policy as "just a political document" without scientific basis, and warned that industry would "not do the tests that they would normally do" since the FDA didn't require any.[2] He was correct.
There have been less than 20 published, peer-reviewed animal feeding safety studies and no human clinical trials' in spite of the fact that millions of people eat GM soy, corn, cotton, or canola daily. There are no adequate tests on "biochemistry, immunology, tissue pathology, gut function, liver function and kidney function,"[3] and animal feeding studies are too short to adequately test for cancer, reproductive problems, or effects in the next generation. This makes Ermakova's research particularly significant. It's the first of its kind.
Past Studies Show Significant Effects
Other studies on Roundup Ready soy also raise serious questions. Research on the liver, the body's major de-toxifier, showed that rats fed GM soy developed misshapen nuclei and other cellular anomalies.[4] This indicates increased metabolic activity, probably resulting from a major insult to that organ. Rats also showed changes in the pancreas, including a huge drop in the production of a major enzyme (alpha-amylase),[5] which could inhibit digestion. Cooked GM soy contains about twice the amount of soy lectin, which can also block nutrient assimilation.[6] And one study showed that GM soy has 12-14% less isoflavones, which are touted as cancer fighting.[7]
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