Message From Ed Fallon

By Ed Fallon

As the first month of the 2007 legislative session ends, it’s encouraging to see the Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections (VOICE) initiative receiving serious attention.  More and more Iowans are weighing in on the issue.  About 75 people from 15 counties came to the Capitol on Monday, joining former Congressman Berkley Bedell to lobby the Legislature in support of HSB 105.  Coverage of VOICE by the media and interest among lawmakers continues to grow.  With a little luck and a lot more effort, 2007 could be the year that marks the end of Big Money’s dominant influence in Iowa politics.

In addition to legislative advocacy, Lynn, Jean and I remain quite busy juggling the concerns individuals continue to bring to our attention.  The steady stream of mail Jean receives from prisoners regarding a variety of prison problems keeps her quite busy.  After volunteering as my Legislative Aide on Criminal Justice for three years, she now works in the same capacity for representatives Ako Abdul-Samad and Janet Petersen.

Lynn has been trying to help a man at the state institution in Cherokee who has struggled to get assistance to have his teeth fixed.  She and I both worked with a mother who battled the Department of Human Services after her young son tragically passed away recently.  I have also been trying to help a city councilman figure out how to address a web of confusion surrounding recent planning and zoning decisions in his small town.

Last Saturday in Des Moines, I spoke at a rally calling for an end to the escalation of the war in Iraq.  A week earlier, I spoke at a meeting of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, who are raising funds to send disabled veterans on fishing excursions to northern Minnesota, a program called “Castaways.”

There were about 100 people at that event, including three young soldiers wounded in Iraq.  One had lost the lower half of both legs.  Another survived a bullet to his head.  A third, his entire left side partially paralyzed, bore a massive scar on his head.  I helped auction off a guitar that sold for about $700, and I threw in a couple of free lessons.

A lot of moving words were spoken that evening.  Yet not once did anyone mention President Bush.  Not once did anyone extol the glories of war.  And during my turn to speak, I drew a very positive response when I said:  â€śRegardless of whether you supported the war and regardless of what you think should happen next, we should all be united in support of the men and women sent to Iraq, both in the field and when they return home.”

Iowans of differing perspectives on the war need to reach out to each other, to build community.  There is nothing incompatible about both attending a peace rally and offering support to a soldier who has gone to Iraq, or to his or her family.  There is nothing incompatible about calling on Congress to not fund President Bush’s escalation of the war, yet demanding that those troops already stationed in Iraq have what they need to assure their safety and well-being.  And we need to make certain that both Congress and the Iowa Legislature adequately fund the programs and services essential to helping Iraq War veterans reintegrate back into society upon their return.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.  Please consider forwarding it to others, and feel free to write back.

Ed Fallon



UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, February 4, 5:00 - ?
SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!!
Ok, we’re trying to have a little fun here.  In the interest of building community with new constituencies, I and at least one friend, possibly two, would like to invite you to invite us to your Super Bowl party.  We promise to behave reasonably well, not eat all your food, play a tune on the accordion, and root for both the Colts and the Bears (whether you want us to or not).  And when it comes to beverages, we’ll even BOOS (Bring Our Own Swill).  Really, who could possibly refuse such an offer?

Wednesday, February 7, 2:30 – evening
Johnson County Local Foods Summit
Iowa City Public Library, Room A
Contact:  Leah Wilson at (319) 621-3009 or leah.wilson@netzero.com
Visit www.jclfa.org for more information