Calls to Action
Senator Dennis Guth Goes On Anti-Gay Tirade
State Senator Dennis Guth – Republican District 4
[Note from BFIA: We don't know about you, but we've had just about enough of the stupid party. Please respond to this Action Alert from OneIowa.]
Today at the beginning of the Iowa Senate workday, Senator Dennis Guth of Klemme took advantage of “points of personal privilege” to make horrific comments about the LGBT community, describing how he feels he and his family have been hurt and how civilizations have fallen by what he describes as the “homosexual lifestyle.” Not only did Sen. Guth dismiss the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community as a “lifestyle,” he then went on to say that it was “a lie.”
In a vitriolic rant, Senator Guth spread lies and ignorance at the Iowa State Capitol today:
“There are health risks that my family incurs because of the increase of sexually transmitted infections that this lifestyle invites. For example, there are more and more medical tests required before giving blood or giving birth.”
Please donate $100 today to help us fight back against these ignorant and dangerous lies.
Senator Guth, how dare you? How dare you denigrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens of Iowa? How dare you hurt our family and friends with your public tirade? How dare you perpetrate the myths and the misinformation that have fueled the discrimination, prejudice and hostility that has for so long impacted our community?
Iowa has stood as a beacon of justice and fairness as the third state in the nation to embrace marriage equality. More than 6,000 gay and lesbian couples have been married in our state. We live here, we work, we pay our taxes, we VOTE, we raise our families, we go to church and we contribute a great deal to our neighborhoods and communities.
And, Senator Guth, today you chose to infect the business of the legislature with your painful and homophobic rant. Shame on you, Senator Guth! Shame on you!
Please call or email Senator Guth today and tell him that your family is not “a lie.” Demand an apology for his remarks and urge him to represent ALL of his constituents.
Senator Guth’s diatribe reminds us that even though we celebrate the freedom to marry in Iowa, even though we move equality forward every day, even though the world is changing and we are winning–we must remain vigilant. We must continue to use our voices and our stories to change hearts and minds. We must never forget where we came from or where we are going. As long as there is one person in Iowa who carries such fear and ignorance, our job is not over.
Please contribute $100 today to ensure that our fight against these attacks continues. One Iowa will not rest until despicable comments like these from our public servants are no longer accepted.
But we’re not the only people speaking out against Senator Guth’s shameful comments.
Married couple Heather Yeoman and Rachel Olson, Lake Mills residents, responded:
“It is clear that Senator Guth, our so-called ‘representative’ does not value our family nor the love and commitment we have for one another. I am disgusted and ashamed of my Senator for spreading such ignorant and hurtful lies about our family and countless other Iowa families. Make no mistake, Senator—our marriage and our love is not a lie.”
Joy M. Newcom, District 4 resident from Forest City, responded:
“As an Iowan, a former educator and a mother, I am ashamed of my Senator and his horrific comments about the LGBT community. LGBT people are a part of my extended family. They are my friends and have been my coworkers. They are students I have taught and continue to respect for the manner in which they live their lives today. These comments, parroted from erroneous ideology from anti-gay groups, are beyond outrageous. They are dangerous lies.
Senator Guth, we, the Newcom family, are your constituents and your fellow Iowans. You claim to be our public servant, but you are hurting our community by spreading lies posed as science. You are breeding a culture of injustice for people we live with and work alongside. Please stop. You were not elected to legislate your morality or to spread falsehoods.”
So we ask you to please take action today. Stand up for Heather and Rachel and the Newcom Family. They deserve a state Senator who doesn’t attack his constituents, but rather embraces all families.
Is that too much to ask?
Thank you,
Donna Red Wing
One Iowa Executive Director
Tags: Iowa, Iowa Legislature 2013, Klemme, LGBT, marriage equality, Senator Dennis Guth | 
4 Comments »
Do You Have Student Debt? Federal Regulators Want To Hear From You
Take Action: American Rights at Work and Jobs with Justice
If you have student debt, take a moment right now to write your concerns to federal regulators before April 8.
If you don’t have student loan debt, can you tell your friends and family with student debt to make their voices heard? Forward this message directly or spread the word on Facebook and Twitter.
Submit your comment to the CFPB by April 8
Student debt has exploded in recent years, quietly surpassing credit card and auto loan debt.[1] Last year, student loan debt surpassed $1 trillion.[2] Many experts have warned that the “student debt bubble” may burst and cause another economic crisis.
We have an opportunity to act before it’s too late. Federal regulators at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) are accepting public comments on how to create more affordable loan repayment options for private loan borrowers.
Please take a moment to submit your comment now. If you don’t have student debt, spread the word to your friends and family by forwarding this message or sharing it on Facebook and Twitter.
The average college senior graduating with nearly $27,000 in debt.[3] Meanwhile, job opportunities are scarce and wages have not kept up with the rising cost of tuition.
We know student debt affects far more than just students. If college graduates can’t pay off their debt, then they can’t contribute to the economy.
Moreover, parents and grandparents often cosign on student loans. In fact, parents over 60 are the fastest growing debtors on student loans. Many are forced to use their Social Security benefits to pay off the loans.[4]
It’s time for our voices to be heard about the student debt crisis. Submit your comment to the CFPB now, or spread the word to your friends by April 8.
Big banks are already trying to hijack this conversation and flood the CFPB with comments from their employees. They don’t want to solve this crisis because they’re turning major profits.
Make sure your voice is heard and not just the banks profiting from your loans. Submit a comment to the CFPB today and spread the word to as many folks as you can before April 8.
Don’t let the financial industry dominate this conversation. The CFPB needs to hear from the people paying off their student debt, not the ones profiting off it.
Thank you for fighting for an economy that works for all of us,
Jonathan, Liz, Emma, Sarita, Hilary, Ori, and the rest of the Jobs with Justice and American Rights at Work team
Sources:
[2] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303812904577295930047604846.html
[3] http://money.cnn.com/2012/10/18/pf/college/student-loan-debt/index.html
[4] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/12/parents-student-loans_n_2116677.html
Iowa Included In The Purple To Blue Project
Forget John Boehner and Paul Ryan — Republicans don’t need Congress to push their radical right-wing agenda. They’re doing it right now, state by state:
- Ending women’s right to choose
- Busting unions
- Deregulating industries and pillaging the environment
- Giving away huge tax breaks to big corporations and the super rich
Republican state legislatures are laboratories of right-wing extremism — and we need to stop their radical agendas before they go any farther.
That’s why DFA is launching the Purple to Blue Project, a new multi-year effort dedicated to winning state House and Senate chambers across the country — starting right now in Virginia.
Even as Democrats picked up wins nationally last year, conservatives continued to cement control of state legislatures — and they’re using states like Virginia to build momentum for radical, extreme agendas.
We’re seeing the damage they can do. Virginia’s newly-enacted restrictions on abortion have spawned a national assault on women’s right to make decisions about her own life: just this weekend, North Dakota’s Republican-controlled legislature passed a “personhood” amendment, effectively banning all abortions in the state.
Whether it’s stripping away labor rights in Wisconsin, restricting voting rights in Pennsylvania, or attacking a woman’s right to choose in Virginia, conservatives are growing bolder and reaching further than ever before.
It’s time to get back to basics. DFA is targeting five swing districts in Virginia to send a powerful message to Republicans: If you continue to wage war on our core values, progressives will defeat you at the ballot box.
This isn’t a process that will happen overnight, but we have to start now. We’re endorsing our first round of candidates — now we need to raise $10,000 to begin recruiting staff to join them in the field.
Even a gift of $15.00 or more will help get us to that goal — donate today.
Thanks for all you do,
- Howard
Governor Howard Dean, M.D.
Founder, Democracy for America
For more info., see interview and video on Huffpo:
Dean, former Democratic National Committee chairman and presidential candidate, stressed the importance of stopping what he described as extreme ideas being generated by lawmakers in state Capitols around the country. He focused on Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, the presumptive Republican nominee for governor, as well as lawmakers in Richmond but cited other examples, including the abortion bill signed Tuesday by North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple (R).
“What DFA’s effort to do here is stop the right-wing extremists,” Dean said. “This is about sane normal Americans taking on these extreme people with bizarre ideas.”
He stressed starting at the grassroots level, and indicated the project would be in place for several years and would be part of DFA’s strategy to elect a Democrat to the White House in 2016.
The group plans to expand next year to Iowa, Pennsylvania and Michigan. The states were selected, he said, based on the amount of swing districts that could be flipped from Republican to Democrat, along with the actions taken by Republican lawmakers there.”
Hey Reince: Matt Schultz Ain’t Listening
Reince Preibus wants to start a love affair with all those people who rejected him and his friends in 2012. That is to say that he and the Republican party want to make up with people like the African American community, Latinos, women, gays and all those other people who just said “NO” to the Republicans last election. So Reince has extended his hand. He wants to be your buddy.
But whoa! what is this. While Reince says please join us, Matt Schultz, Iowa’s Secretary of State in training, continues on his Republican approved campaign to make sure that Iowa voters have the right kind of last name. His new rules were supposed to go into effect on March 13th, but he has been so quiet about it that even the press never heard. Maybe out of respect for Reince, Mr. Shultz just decided not to say a thing. It can be a Surprise! next election. Rumor has it that his rules are aimed at those Latinos that Reince wants to cozy up to. Maybe Reince should cozy up to Secretary Schultz and let him know the Party is changing direction.
Steve King Only A 3 Seed
Boy, the competition is tough over at Dailykos in their “Republican March to Madness” tourney. King is in the teabagger division facing Matt Kibbe in the first round. Remember Kibbe is the one who took down Dick Armey in real life. Going to be tough for King. Not sure if his hate of all things not white and male can carry the day with that bunch.
If you want to vote, you will need to sign on to Kos daily @ noon to catch that day’s matches.
Education Deform
There is a name that makes sense for the ALEC led, slow change over from public schools to charter schools run by private companies and paid for by the public. Imagine attending Walmart Grade School or Pepsi High. As Republicans keep defunding our schools and then blame the resulting mess on the teachers we will be seeing more and more call for “charter” schools as the fix. And the first thing they will do is bust unions and the second will be to demand more money. It’s already happening, folks.
Quotes for the week:
“50 yrs ago today Dick Cheney had his 1st deferment to avoid a war in Vietnam. That he supported. Happy Anniversary…Dick.” John Fugelsang
“I did express my regret in saying that he was a numbnuts because I didn’t — I probably shouldn’t have used the word ‘numb’, ” Gohmert said. “That was probably unfair.” Louie Gohmert apologizing for calling John McCain ‘numbnuts.’
Tags: reince preibus | No Comments »
Medicaid Madness – Medicaid Matters
Schedule of Events Monday, March 25th
A coalition of small business owners, health care providers, and citizen organizations on Monday will launch the Healthiest Iowa Initiative and call on Governor Branstad to accept the expansion of Medicaid in Iowa. Representatives from participating organizations will hold a press conference Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. at the State Historical Society to launch the Healthiest Iowa Initiative and the “Medicaid Madness” statewide press tour to be held on March 27th. More information about the Healthiest Iowa Initiative can be found at www.healthiestiowa.com. The “Medicaid Madness” tour will feature events in at least Mason City, Davenport, Cedar Rapids, and Waterloo
8:30 a.m.
Press conference launching “Healthiest Iowa Initiative”
Location: State Historical Society, Heritage Room B (first floor), 600 East Locust, Des Moines
We will launch the initiative with the press, and call on the Governor to support Medicaid expansion. Justin Anderson, a resident of Clear Lake and a cancer survivor, will speak about how Medicaid expansion will benefit him. Sue Dinsdale, Executive Director Iowa Citizens Action Network; Jan Laue, President of Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans and MAtt Sinovic, Director for Progress Iowa.
9:00 a.m.
Governor Branstad’s weekly press conference
Location: State Historical Society, 2nd floor, 600 East Locust, Des Moines
Details: After our press conference, we will encourage reporters to ask the Governor why he supports a plan that costs Iowa more, covers fewer Iowans, and has no guarantee of federal funding.
4:30 p.m.
Planned rally in rotunda of the Capitol prior to Senate Debates.
5:00 p.m.
The Senate Debates Medicaid expansion
Location: State Capitol
Details: Watch from the gallery as the Senate debates Medicaid expansion. We will want to be there to show our support!
There is an overflow room for this event – room 116.
Twitter on this issue at #medicaidmatters
Accepting Medicaid expansion would cover an additional 150,000 Iowans – uninsured young adults, veterans, the working poor, and mentally ill. Although he has objected to expansion because of a potential failure on the part of the federal government to honor its commitments, Governor Branstad’s alternative plan costs Iowa more and still relies on the federal government for funding.The 19 organizations participating in the Healthiest Iowa Initiative include Iowa Citizen Action Network, National Association of Social Workers, Iowa Chapter, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upper Midwest Chapter, Iowa Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC), Disability Rights Iowa, Passageway, Iowa Main Street Alliance, Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans, Iowa Human Needs Advocates, Iowa State Education Association, AFSCME Iowa Council 61, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa, Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, South Central Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Hawkeye Labor Council, Working Families Win, Americans for Democratic Action, and Progress Iowa. “Governor Branstad claims he wants Iowa to be the healthiest state, but he’s sure not acting like it,” said Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa. “The Healthiest Iowa Initiative will help to educate and empower Iowans to contact the Governor, and let him know the best way for a healthiest Iowa is to accept Medicaid expansion. The Governor has repeatedly refused to save the state money and provide health care security to struggling Iowa families, but we are hopeful that if he hears directly from his constituents – the people he’s supposed to serve – he will have a change of heart.”
In addition to learning about Medicaid expansion, Iowans will be encouraged to sign the following petition at www.healthiestiowa.com: Iowa has the opportunity to approve a Medicaid expansion as part of Obamacare. We call on Governor Branstad to take this opportunity to help thousands of Iowans rather than pursue a plan that costs more, covers fewer and has no guarantee of federal funding. There are no real reasons – only political rhetoric – for failing to support Medicaid expansion in Iowa.
Background/Quotes supporting Medicaid Expansion:
“[Medicaid Expansion] is a great deal for our state or any state, which is exactly why so many Republican governors are signing on.” – Senator Tom Harkin
“Because we believe the advantages to Medicaid expansion outweigh the potential for this one disadvantage, we urge Branstad to drop his opposition and agree to expansion of the program in our state.” – Sioux City Journal Editorial
“There is no reasonable excuse for Governor Branstad’s refusal to expand Medicaid.” – Sister Jeanie Hagedorn, CHM
“We would really like to see both (Legislative) houses working on this together and the governor’s office – just lay down the political banners on this and work to do what’s right for the patients of Iowa.” Iowa Health System Vice President Sabra Rosener.
“Medicaid expansion will reduce direct Medicaid costs to the state, and enable the state to draw down billions of dollars in additional federal funding that will support jobs and maintain the state’s health care infrastructure,” Report by George Washington University and Regional Economic Models, Inc.
Is Your Community About To Be Corporate Factory-Farmed? Find Out About “Rights-Based” Organizing
If your community is going to be “hydro-fracked, factory-farmed, used as a dumping ground for sewage sludge, drilled for corporate water withdrawals, used as a laboratory for genetically modified seeds; used for a transmission line, pipeline, or other energy project or any of a thousand other corporate projects your community doesn’t want” then you need to see this Community and Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) primer on “rights-based” organizing. Communities are using “rights-based” organizing and creating networks to protect themselves from corporate exploitation. Explained here is what you need to know and where to start. Click here to watch the video at CELDF.
Iowa GOP Wants Marriage Ban
We need you to take action!
35 House Republicans have introduced a marriage ban. House Joint Resolution 11 (HJR11) would exclude loving and committed gay and lesbian couples from the freedom to marry in Iowa.
We need you to call your Representatives TODAY and urge them to oppose this shameful and harmful marriage ban. We MUST defeat this bill in the House, but we cannot do it unless our Representatives hear from you!
The House switchboard phone number is 515-281-3221. Click here to find your Representative. Or, if you prefer to email your legislator, click here.
Here’s a few messages to get you started:
The introduction of House Joint Resolution 11 is a shameful attempt to politicize Iowa families. We deserve leaders who stand for true family values.
We don’t support the passage of any marriage ban. Our legislators should be focusing on creating jobs, strengthening our economy, and making our schools better, not spending time passing legislation that hurts Iowa families.
If your Representative didn’t support HJR11: Thank you for representing ALL Iowa families. {SHARE YOUR STORY}
If your Representative DID support HJR 11: Ask them to remember that a majority of Iowans don’t support a marriage ban passing through the Legislature.
Remind them that LGBT people are their constituents, and are our coworkers, our friends, our family members, our spouses. Share your story and ask them to focus on the issues that matter to Iowans: jobs, the economy, and education.
Please DONATE to support One Iowa’s work to fight back against legislative attacks like HJR11.
The bill will be heard first in the House Judiciary Committee. After you contact your Representative, please contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee and urge them to oppose HJR11:
To contact any member of the House Judiciary Committee listed below click here
Chip Baltimore (R, District 47), Chair
Megan Hess (R, District 2), Vice Chair
Mary Wolfe (D, District 98), Ranking Member
Dwayne Alons (R, District 4)
Marti Anderson (D, District 36)
Mark Brandenburg (R, District 15)
Dave Dawson (D, District 14)
Julian Garrett (R, District 25)
Tedd Gassman (R, District 7)
Chris Hagenow (R, District 43)
Greg Heartsill (R, District 28)
David E. Heaton (R, District 84)
Bobby Kaufmann (R, District 73)
Vicki S. Lensing (D, District 85)
Jo Oldson (D, District 41)
Rick Olson (D, District 31)
Tyler Olson (D, District 65)
Mark D. Smith (D, District 71)
Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D, District 45)
Matt W. Windschitl (R, District 17)
Gary Worthan (R, District 11)
One Iowa strongly condemns the passage of any marriage ban including HJR11. Will you stand with us for justice TODAY? This bill must be defeated.
A marriage resolution sends a hurtful message to some families that they are not valued by their so-called “representatives,” and we urge our legislators to remember that LGBT people are their constituents, friends, neighbors, coworkers and fellow Iowans. Iowa is a better place when all families are recognized, supported, and valued by their state.
I hope you’ll take the time and make the call. We must defeat this bill.
Thank you,
Donna Red Wing
One Iowa Executive Director
Frac Sand Mines in Iowa
A friend from the fight against the coal-fired power plants in Waterloo and Marshalltown sent a note about mining companies wanting to move into Iowa to extract silica sand for hydraulic fracturing. There is a lot of silica sand laying in the Driftless Area of Iowa, and the growing presence of hydraulic fracturing in the country has created a significant demand for the product. Mining companies want into Iowa to extract what is being called “frac sand.”
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors declared an 18 month moratorium on frac sand mining to study the matter. The exploration and mining is ongoing in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, although this week, a bill declaring a one-year moratorium on new frac sand mines passed the Minnesota state senate. It seems, at least for the moment, there will be no new coal plants in Iowa, and no new nuclear power plants, so is the fight against silica sand mining the next environmental challenge?
The Allamakee County Protectors is a group of concerned Iowans leading the fight against frac sand mining in the state of Iowa. Check out their web site www.allamakeecountyprotectors.com to learn more about the group and their concerns. They scheduled a lobby day at the Iowa State House on Thursday, March 14.
The Iowa discussion about hydraulic fracturing is inevitable. There are limited regulations in Iowa for exploration and development of natural gas using this method, and the early debate over frac sand is a part of it. Stay tuned.
Tags: energy, environment, Frac Sand, Frac Sand Mines, fracking, Hydraulic Fracturing, iowa fracking, Iowa's environment, mining, Natural Gas | 1 Comment »
Join A Local Panel Discussion On The “Dirty Thirty” Corporate Tax Dodgers
There is a lot of talk about budget sequestration and federal deficit reduction happening in Washington D.C. What has been lost in the conversation is that there are scores of outrageously profitable U.S. corporations who pay little or no federal taxes. The panel of local experts will explore the damaging impact these cuts will have on our community as well as more progressive, revenue-focused approaches to tackling the national debt.
WHO: A group of concerned citizens
WHAT: Panel discussion on the “Dirty Thirty” corporate tax dodgers
WHEN: Wednesday, February 29, 2013 6:30 pm
LOCATION: 220 E 4th St. Waterloo, Ia. The 220E Retail Incubator.
This event is free and open to the public
Panelists:
Chris Schwartz (moderator) – Working Families Win/ADA
U.S. Congressman, Bruce Braley (invited)
Pastor Belinda Creighton-Smith – Faith Temple Baptist Church in Waterloo
Jan Laue – President Iowa Alliance of Retired Americans
Rudy Jones – Director of Community Development Office, City of Waterloo
Steve Abbott – Iowa Federation of Labor Board Member.
Sponsored by: Americans for Democratic Action; Working Families Win; Iowa Alliance of Retired Americans; Iowa Federation of Labor ; Black Hawk Union Council; Communications Workers of American Retiree Chapter 70901; UNIFY for Education Coalition and the Iowa Citizen Action Network.
The “Dirty Thirty” are; Pepco Holdings; General Electric; Paccar; PG&E Corp; Computer Sciences; NiSource; CenterPoint Energy; Tenet Healthcare: Integrys Energy Group; American Electric Power; Con-Way; Ryder System; Baxter International; Wisconsin Energy; Duke Energy; DuPont; Consolidated Edison; Verizon Communications; Interpublic Group; CMS Energy; NextEra Energy; Navistar International; Boeing; Wells Fargo; El Paso; Mattel; Honeywell International; DTE Energy; Corning; and FedEx. (source: Citizens for Tax Justice)
Tags: corporate tax dodging, Dirty thirty corporations | No Comments »
Medicaid Expansion Will Be Good For Iowa
BFIA Action Alert: We must not let Governor Branstad and the Iowa GOP throw away federal funds that would benefit tens of thousands of people in Iowa by providing access to affordable health care. Public pressure is the only way they will be persuaded. Please write a letter to the editor of the Iowa newspaper of your choice. And click here to write to the governor, lieutenant governor, your representative and senator with one click. Or sign this ProgressIowa petition asking Governor Branstad to expand Medicaid in Iowa.
CCI lays out why this is so important here:
What’s at stake:
Nearly 400,000 Iowans relied upon Medicaid coverage last year, and that number is growing.
Medicaid is the second largest health care payer in Iowa behind Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Roughly 20% of all Medicaid dollars goes to pay solely for nursing home care in Iowa. Enacted on the same day as Medicare in 1965, Medicaid provides much needed health insurance to the nation’s most vulnerable, and over the years has been expanded to cover the mentally and physically disabled, as well as some children and pregnant mothers.
Medicaid expansion
The Affordable Care Act passed by the US Congress aimed to expand access to health care coverage to the millions of Americans still without health insurance. The primary way that was to be achieved was through an expansion of Medicaid to cover those with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level.
Here in Iowa, that would mean up to 150,000 more individuals would have access to affordable health care insurance. And, expansion would cost the state of Iowa very little, if anything, to cover these individuals. That’s because the federal government will pick up the tab for 100% of the costs for the first two years beginning in 2014, and by 2019 they will cover 90% of the costs for expansion into the future.
Even with the state picking up 10% of the costs of expansion, all indications point to the state of Iowa saving taxpayer money through expanding coverage. For starters, the federal match for expansion covers more than it does for current Medicaid recipients. Iowa will also save money through more people being covered by Medicaid which means less emergency room visits by those on the margins leaving taxpayers to foot the bill of unpaid medical costs.
Expanding Medicaid to provide much needed coverage to more Iowans isn’t only the moral thing to do, it’s good public policy that makes economic sense. Governor Branstad and the Iowa legislature should embrace this move immediately.
- Cheating Determines Iowa’s Elections, Schultz Implies
- Cownie Unconvincing
- Too Many Little Elections?
- Like Iowa, Like Armenia
- Who Can Vote?
- Schultz Vindicated: Voter Fraud Proven!
- Schultz Raises Dead Voter Scare Again
- Repubs Stage Crime at NH Polls
- Wondering About GOP Caucus Count
- Judge Fires Voting Machine Investigators
