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Sunday, July 30
Bedell to Hold Meeting on Campaign Finance
by
Sam Garchik
on Sun 30 Jul 2006 06:37 PM CDT
 Bedell to Hold Meeting on Campaign Finance
By Ed Fallon
As many of you know, my primary goal during my campaign for governor was to get big money out of politics. Whether the issue is health care, the environment, education, agriculture or economic development, far too often wealthy special interests are able to buy their way into the process and influence the results. “Big campaign donors aren’t in it for altruism. They don’t consider their money a contribution; they consider it an investment. (And a pretty sound one, too.)” (Democracy’s Edge, p.62 )
While I did not win the Democratic nomination for governor, I’m not going away anytime soon, and campaign finance reform will remain one of my top issues. The influence of money in politics can be seen at every level, and it’s important that we keep fighting to take power back from special interests. “In the 2004 Senate race, 91 percent of winners outspent their opponents, and in the House of Representatives, it was 95 percent. For so many Americans, money in politics is such old news that even numbers like these hardly cause a stir.” (Democracy’s Edge, p.59 )
But those kind of numbers should cause a stir! Former Iowa Congressman, Berkley Bedell feels the same way about money in politics and, like me, he’s not just sitting around waiting for the change to happen. When elections become auctions, average citizens lose their right to a representative government. And that needs to change. With a significant outcry and call for reform, this deeply entrenched system can be changed. “In the four years after the 1998 clean elections law passed, the number of candidates and voter turnout in Arizona went up by a quarter, and the number of minority candidates rose substantially.” (Democracy’s Edge, p.60 ) “Now armed with proof of clean elections’ impacts, citizens are pursuing initiatives in more than thirty states and already crafting legislation in fifteen.” (Democracy’s Edge, p.63 )
Bedell is asking people to get involved in calling for reform at the national level and he knows he needs to do so early. He wants to work with people all over the state of Iowa in order to send a message to local, state and national politicians that “business as usual” is not acceptable. He will be hosting a meeting next Wednesday, August 2, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Polk County Senior Center, 2008 Forest Avenue, to listen to your ideas on how we can make this happen and to share some of his own thoughts. If you’d like to attend, please call Berkley at (712) 336-5070 or e-mail your RSVP to: berk.survey@gmail.com. We hope to see you there!
Friday, July 28
Chalk It Up! National Health Care Day of Action
by
Sam Garchik
on Fri 28 Jul 2006 09:00 AM CDT
Wednesday, July 26
Wal-Mart Backs Out of City Land Deal!
by
Sam Garchik
on Wed 26 Jul 2006 10:00 AM CDT
Wal-Mart Backs Out of City Land Deal!
Retailer will continue to explore options in Iowa City
By Mike McWilliams
Iowa City Press-Citizen
After more than a year of negotiations, Wal-Mart announced Friday that it would not build a supercenter off Ruppert Road in south Iowa City.
However, Ryan Horn, spokesman for the Bentonville, Ark.-based retail giant said Wal-Mart would continue to explore its options here.
"Basically, the city has been good to work with and has done everything appropriately, and we certainly understand and appreciate the council's need to move the transaction forward quickly," Horn said. "But we're not going to be able to close on the property by July 31 and thus continue the project."
Horn said the Iowa City Board of Adjustment's 4-0 vote last week denying Wal-Mart's request to fill in a floodplain for construction of the supercenter was the fatal blow.
"We felt fairly confident ... that we had a very good chance of being successful upon appeal," Horn said, "but the possibility of not being able to build based on that decision creates too much risk for us to close on the property without it resolved."
In March 2005, the council approved selling the land -- part of the 57.13-acre North Airport Development Subdivision -- to Wal-Mart for $3.1 million. Delays on closing the initial purchase agreement came after litigation by a local group, Iowa City Stop Wal-Mart, who challenged zoning decisions made by the City Council.
Iowa City Manager Steve Atkins said Wal-Mart would owe the city about $15,000 in fees and charges associated with the contract.
City councilors voted 4-3 Tuesday to deny a fourth request to extend the July 31 closing deadline and Friday's announcement came as a "delight," "shame" and "not surprising" to some city councilors.
"I'm disappointed. I thought it was a good location for Wal-Mart," council member Mike O'Donnell said. "There are thousands upon thousands of people who shop there every day and with the jobs lost, I think it's a shame."
Councilor Dee Vanderhoef said based on Wal-Mart's hesitancy for several weeks to close the deal, she expected Wal-Mart would back out.
"I am relieved that it's settled one way or the other so we can move on at this point," Vanderhoef said. "I wish them well, and I will certainly consider a proposal if they come back at another time.
"I just hope we have interest in the land," Vanderhoef said of the property near the Iowa City Municipal Airport. "I look forward to someone coming forward sooner rather than later."
Councilor Bob Elliott said he was disappointed by Wal-Mart's decision.
"We could have benefited greatly from the expanded tax base," he said. "It's unfortunate that a few dozen or a few hundred people have made it impossible for Iowa City to have something that in recent years has been preferred by thousands and thousands of shoppers."
Connie Champion said it's better for Johnson County that Wal-Mart or any other large retailer does not build in Iowa City.
"I think we have enough big box stores. We have enough retail malls and now we have the (Catfish Bend Casino in Riverside) coming soon," Champion said. "I think we're going to have a tremendous amount of people with low paying jobs, and I don't think our social services can handle it anymore."
Wal-Mart will start from scratch and start looking right away for other locations in Iowa City to build a supercenter, Horn said.
"There's not a lot of developable land in Iowa City so it might take a while," he said. "We have thousands of customers who shop there everyday, and we want to be able to bring them a nice new supercenter."
Gary Sanders, of Iowa City Stop Wal-Mart, called the retailer's announcement, "a victory for Iowa City."
"Wal-Mart has proven to be a predatory corporation that we don't need, especially on public land that belongs to all the citizens of Iowa City," Sanders said.
Reach Mike McWilliams at 339-7360 or mmcwilliams@press-citizen.com.
David Leshtz
Working Families Win
319-621-4205
dleshtz@ia.net
www.workingfamilieswin.org
Monday, July 24
IPIRG Needs Your Help to Stop Offshore Drilling
by
Sam Garchik
on Mon 24 Jul 2006 10:00 AM CDT
IPIRG Needs Your Help to Stop Offshore Drilling
By Sam Garchik
Thank you to the 400 people who have already called your senators to stop new off-shore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The vote is likely to take place next Tuesday, and it's going to be close. If you haven't called yet please do so now!
You can reach your senators at 202-224-3121. Just tell the operator your state, and they will connect you.
Here's a sample message you can leave:
"Hello, my name is ____ and I live in _____. I'm calling to urge Senator ____ to oppose the Martinez-Domenici drilling bill to allow new off-shore drilling off the beaches of Florida and Alabama."
To report your call, click here, or paste this link into your web browser.
http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=831&id4=ES
Then, ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this message to them.
BACKGROUND:
Our coasts and marine waters are destinations for thousands of vacationing families each year, sanctuary for fish and wildlife and a critical part of America's "sea to shining sea" natural heritage. They are the economic lifeblood for thousands of tourism and fishing communities, providing billions of dollars of economic activity and millions of jobs.
Oil and gas drilling would ruin our coasts and beaches. From 1990-1999, 1.8 million gallons of oil were spilled from offshore drilling platforms and pipelines in U.S. waters--an average of almost 500 gallons a day.
Additionally, each offshore operation produces 214,000 pounds of air pollutants each year, and tens of thousands of pounds of mercury have been dumped around Gulf oil rigs.
There are cheaper, cleaner, faster, and longer-term energy solutions like efficiency and renewables that will start saving consumers and businesses money today and protect our coastal waters, beaches, and economies.
Adopting both energy efficiency and renewable energy programs would decrease natural gas prices by $2.05 per million cubic feet, or 37%, in the first year.
Meanwhile, offshore oil and gas would typically not be available for at least seven years. But we can immediately start saving money and energy by increasing the efficiency of our cars, appliances and buildings, and growing the amount of energy we generate from renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.
Unfortunately, on Thursday, June 29, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 232-187 to repeal the 25-year ban on new off-shore drilling and bring new drilling and spilling to our coasts.
The issue now moves to the U.S. Senate. Last week Senators Mel Martinez (FL) and Pete Domenici (NM) sided with the oil industry and announced a bill that would allow new oil and gas drilling in eight million acres of the eastern Gulf of Mexico near Alabama and Florida's shores.
The bill would do absolutely nothing to reduce our dependence on oil by making our cars go farther on a gallon of gas or generating more clean, renewable energy.
Please call your senators today at 202-224-3121. Just tell the operator your state, and they will connect you.
Here's a sample message you can leave:
"Hello, my name is ____ and I live in _____. I'm calling to urge Senator ____ to oppose the Martinez-Domenici drilling bill to allow new off-shore drilling off the beaches of Florida and Alabama."
To report your call, click here, or paste this link into your web browser.
http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=831&id4=ES
Then, ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this message to them.
Sincerely,
Alana Stamas
Iowa PIRG Field OrganizerAlanaS@iowapirg.org
http://www.IowaPIRG.org
P.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail with your family and friends.
Saturday, July 22
DFA Night School
by
Sam Garchik
on Sat 22 Jul 2006 09:00 AM CDT
 DFA Night School
by DFA
We know that the right-wing has dominated the media for decades. It didn't happen overnight and it didn't happen by accident. Now, if we learn the tools, our nationwide grassroots network has a chance to take back our media.
Throughout the summer, DFA Night School will offer three online sessions that will help build your media skills. The sessions combine an online presentation with a live conference call and group discussion with our trainers to show you how to get a progressive message into the media. You can join any or all of the DFA Night School sessions from the comfort of your home or office today. Click here to sign up:
July 25: Working the Mainstream Media
August 1: Leveraging Blogs and Online Media
August 8: Sustaining your Media Presence
The events are free of charge and you don't need any prior experience working with the media. Media coverage is one of the best tools we have for spreading our progressive values -- and holding this administration and Congress accountable for their failures. Click here to find out more and reserve your spot:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/nightschool
We can change our country, but it's going to take a strong ground game and savvy media outreach. You have the power, now get the skills. Thanks for everything you do.
Sincerely,
Arshad Hasan
Training Coordinator
Democracy for America
P.S. If you missed the spring semester of DFA Night School on Campaign Tactics 101, you can purchase it on DVD at: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/nightschool_dvd
Thursday, July 20
A Pay Raise for Iowa?
by
Sam Garchik
on Thu 20 Jul 2006 09:12 AM CDT
 A Pay Raise for Iowa?
By The Iowa Policy Project A minimum-wage increase would benefit tens of thousands of working Iowans, the majority over age 20 and most of them female, according to a new report.
“Iowa’s minimum wage has remained at $5.15 since 1997,” said Elaine Ditsler, research associate for the nonpartisan Iowa Policy Project (IPP) and author of the report. “Back then, gasoline cost $1.22 per gallon and in-state tuition at the University of Iowa was $2,470. Those costs have more than doubled.”
Ditsler also noted rising prices for housing, health insurance and other consumer goods.
“The purchasing power of the minimum wage is at its lowest level since 1949,” she said. “A pay raise for Iowa’s working families is past due.”
According to the report, 21 states and the District of Columbia have raised their minimum wage above the federal level of $5.15. Seven of those states are above $7 per hour and four states adjust the wage every year for inflation.
“More than half the U.S. population is now covered by a state minimum wage higher than the federal level, including our neighbors in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois,” Ditsler said. “Low-wage Iowans have been left behind.”
The report also addressed the typical arguments made in opposition to a higher minimum wage. “Economic research shows that a modest increase in the minimum wage does not negatively affect employment, and may actually lead to higher productivity,” added IPP Research Director and economist Peter Fisher.
The report found a minimum wage increase to $6.15 would benefit 53,000 working Iowans. The average hourly pay raise would be 37 cents. Of those workers:
€ 57 percent are over age 20;
€ 61 percent are female;
€ 27 percent work full time; and
€ 12 percent are parents.
If the minimum wage were increased to $7.25 per hour, about 257,000 Iowans – or 18 percent of all workers – would receive an average hourly wage increase of 60 cents. Of those workers:
€ 75 percent are over age 20;
€ 58 percent are female;
€ 42 percent work full time; and
€ 20 percent are parents.
The report also found that Iowa’s more rural northern, western, and southern regions have the largest share of workers who would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage. Numbers were also available for Iowa’s six most populous counties (Polk, Linn, Scott, Black Hawk, Johnson, and Woodbury). If the minimum wage were increased to $7.25, about 24,000 workers in Polk County, or 12 percent of all workers, would benefit. In Black Hawk County, about 14,000 workers, or 23 percent of all workers, would benefit.
The report is available on the web at http://www.iowapolicyproject.org. The Iowa Policy Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization based in Mount Vernon.
Wednesday, July 19
Mini Grants to Change the Relationship Between Congress and the People
by
Sam Garchik
on Wed 19 Jul 2006 08:00 AM CDT
Mini Grants to Change the Relationship Between Congress and the People
By Ellen Rice, The Sunlight Network
This is a very interesting program. I received this email a few days ago. Some of you out there should totally try to get some of these grants. This ties in nicely with what Gordon from Community Media does. You might even think about getting some money to have him come out and work with you to get more attention from your Congressman/woman.
Hello, my name is Ellen Rice and I recently visited your blog and see that you cover various political issues. I have an exciting opportunity that your organization/blog or one you know may benefit from: MINIGRANTS for local congressional coverage. You’re perfect for them!
The Sunlight Network is announcing a series of four to six "mini-grants", in the $1,000 to $5,000 range, for nonprofit organizations and non-affiliated groups who have creative and innovative approaches to strengthening the relationship between members of congress and the citizens they represent. The focus of the work must be to enable a better, more open and accountable relationship between members of Congress and citizens. Ideally, this work will be executed on a local or regional level.
We encourage applications from existing small nonprofits, local or regional chapters of national organizations and groups of individuals. Grants are available to augment existing projects or to jumpstart new ones. Grants will be made available on a rolling basis starting July 15th. Apply early!
The Sunlight Network was founded as the 501 (c)(4) of the Sunlight Foundation in January, 2006. Both organizations are designed to foster a more positive relationship between lawmakers and their constituents, using technology, transparency, and local communities. Sunlight believes that open, honest, sincere representation is possible, and that only engaged citizens can make it happen.
Please send a one-page summary of your proposed project, a budget (including the amount requested from Sunlight) and contact information to Zephyr Teachout, National Director, Sunlight Foundation (zteachout@sunlightfoundation.com).
Feel free to call Ellen Rice at the Sunlight Foundation 202-742-1520 or email here sunlightuser3@sunlightfoundation.com if you have questions that you need answered before applying.
Projects will be judged on their creativity, their likelihood of success, and the degree to which they match Sunlight’s goals. We strongly favor efforts that are themselves open and democratic in their internal structure.
Grants will be announced on a rolling basis between August and September1. Sunlight will be available to provide consulting support to recipients of these mini grants.
Best Regards,
Ellen Rice
Graduate Intern
Sunlightuser3@sunlightfoundation.com
202-742-1520
P.S. please forward this notice to anyone who could benefit from a “minigrant”
Here are some hypothetical examples of the kinds of projects we might fund:
Local citizen journalism site seeks $1,000
An Austin, TX website that aggregates news and commentary on local issues and blogs about it seeks funding to do more work related to their federal representatives. The money is for travel, a video camera, lexis-nexis access.
Miami, Florida students want to investigate controversial landfill and moneyed-interests behind it seek $1,000
Students seek grant to pay for research (travel, small stipend) for four people to show how business interests may have previously supported local politicians and distorted decision making. Wants to do investigative report and post on the web.
Farmers in “Rural Pennsylvania” (an incorporated nonprofit) seek $1,500
A small nonprofit incorporated to represent farmers interests in PA seeks funding to send five people to Washington DC to meet with representatives and to attend hearings on agricultural issues. They plan to blog about their trip and their experience.
Citizen Porkbusters in Kansas seek $2,000
Creative “web heads” in Kansas have video idea that mocks the money interests behind ethanol. They want to develop the video to educate other citizens by placing the video on Utube.
Senior of Pasadena, CA seek $1,000
A politically active informal group that calls themselves the “Little Old Ladies of Pasadena” seek $1,000 to hold open houses at their Congressman’s office. They bake cookies and lemonade and give it away, camped outside Congressman’s local office to people who will come and meet their congressman. The money goes towards food funding and a website that details an announces the action. They hope to inspire all citizens everywhere.
Tuesday, July 18
ICCI Convention: Lewis Lapham, local food and progressive thinking
by
Sam Garchik
on Tue 18 Jul 2006 08:00 AM CDT
 ICCI Convention: Lewis Lapham, Local Food and Progressive Thinking
By Sam Garchik
Lewis Lapham spoke to a crowd of about 550 people last Friday night in Des Moines at the ICCI state convention. The speach and convention was covered by Gordon Mayer at his blog, NPCommunicator. Gordon works for the Communnity Media Center as their senior media trainer, and he was at the ICCI event to work with them on how to get media coverage. I will soon add a link to his organization on the main blog page.
Also, I was told at the event to check out this story about local food in Mother Jones. It mention's ICCI member and head of the National Family Farm Coalition George Naylor, who was interviewd in depth by Mother Jones. Both are very good reads, and emphasize the point ICCI was making when they produced menus for convention meals made from local food. As Hugh Espey, director of ICCI said, their focus is on family farms, and "it's important to practice what you preach."
I also had the chance to talk to Gary Klicker, who reminded me of the Meatrix movies. These are very funny, and kind of scary. It's nice to see folks like Gary avoiding some of the scary agricultural practices that are out there, and using internet resources to make that food available. ICCI has done a good job of making this page, which allows consumers to learn about meat producers around the state and purchase quality meat directly from them.
One more thing: Hugh gave me a list of questions ICCI is giving members so that the members can ask candidates how they stand on certain issues. I'll post the list as soon as I get it from ICCI.
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Chalk It Up!
