Hundreds of Iowans Protest at Terrace Hill July 19
By ICCI

Iowa CCI Tells Governor to Get to Work on Critical Issues

As the election season heats up in Iowa, more than 200 Iowans gathered at Terrace Hill Saturday, July 19 to rally, protest and deliver a letter [letter and photos attached and below] to Governor Culver, telling him to end his vacation and get to work on critical issues affecting thousands of everyday Iowans: local control, Voter Owned Iowa Clean Elections (VOICE), the rights of all workers and consumer protections. The protest was part of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement's annual statewide convention, of which the theme was, "Real People, Real Power, Real Change."

"It's up to Governor Culver to use the power of his office to make things happen - he's the state's Chief Executive," said CCI member and Board President Barb Kalbach from Dexter. "But he is failing Iowans who elected him and who he is supposed to represent. He has been 'on vacation' for the last two legislative  sessions, and his ignoring of everyday Iowans and our issues has to stop - it's time for him to get to work."

CCI member Misti Craig of Des Moines said, "We deserve as everyday Iowans to govern what happens at the statehouse. We will show the governor and our legislators that we are a powerful voting bloc on these issues and cannot be ignored."

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement also launched its Count on Me Voter Campaign, which aims to build pledged support from more than 5,000 Iowans to vote on these critical issues in the coming statehouse elections.  

July 19, 2008

Dear Governor Culver:

You have the privilege of living at Terrace Hill because everyday Iowans voted for you and trusted you with helping to shape Iowa's future. You are Iowa's top elected official - our Chief Executive Officer. We expect you to work day and night for the common good and to serve the public interest.  It's up to you to use the power of your office to make good things happen on crucial issues facing our state.  But for all practical purposes, you have been "on vacation" - absent from your job as Iowa's CEO - for the past 2 years.

Today, we come to Terrace Hill and demand that you "get to work" on these issues that matter most:

* Deliver on your campaign promises and use your power to push the legislature to pass local control and fight against the factory farms that ruin Iowans' quality of life.

* Stand up for the rights of all of Iowa's workers and push for enforcement of workplace safety, wage/hour and anti-discrimination laws. Say "no" to ICE raids and use your influence to pressure Congress to provide a real, fair fix to our immigration system.

* Stand up for the rights of Iowans as consumers and push for the passage of the Consumer Rights Act in the '09 legislative session. Iowans need the protection of the Consumer Rights Act, and we are the only state without it.

* Build support for Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections and campaign finance reform amongst legislators and the public, and include the VOICE bill in your legislative package and this coming January's state of the state address.

Now is the time to take action on these issues, commit to those actions and follow through. Meet with us and begin the process of addressing these issues. Be the governor we need.

Sincerely,

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement