April 2008 Archives

Between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. today, members of the Des Moines Police Department and the Iowa State Patrol completed the first of several traffic enforcement projects as a part of the "Alive on I-235" enforcement effort.

In the roughly six hours that law enforcement patrolled east and west traffic on I-235 in Des Moines between Pennsylvania and 2nd Avenue, officers issued 189 citations -- 31.5 each hour.

• 112 speeding
• 23 failure to move over or slow down
• 12 failure to use seat belts
• 7 driving without a license
• 10 no insurance
• 7 no valid registration
• 14 tinted windows
• 2 driving under suspension
• 1 failure to signal
• 1 possession of drug paraphernalia

The speeding record of the day belong to the driver traveling at 91 miles per hour in a 55 zone.

The project is intended to reduce accidents on the freeway through Des Moines. Today's activity is just one of several that will happen in the coming months.

[Commentary] -- By the time I returned home after attending meetings last night, it was nearly Thursday morning. I made my way slowly through the dimly lit house, wanting little more than to collapse in bed beside my husband. When I entered the bedroom, however, the bed was full. Whether by nightmare or stomach ache, our five-year-old slept peacefully on my portion of the bed. I sighed, picked up a nightgown and headed for the bottom bunk in the children's room. Quite frankly, I was happy just to be finding an empty pillow.

As I lay still, listening to the wind swirl outside before another spring storm, I let the previous day's events play behind my eyes, compartmentalizing those items that needed further attention and discarding those that were complete. As the scenes flickered, one dominated: the email sent by Iowa Family Policy Center President Chuck Hurley in response to the "Day of Silence" scheduled for Friday. The student-led event gives young adults an opportunity to call attention to an evil within their own community -- violence, harassment and bullying based on sexual orientation. It provides this population, so often left to suffer the consequences of adult actions in silence, a voice. Ironically, it is the student's refusal to speak that provides them the loudest of voices on this one day.

Hurley's prayer request continued to replay in my mind. "Pray throughout the day for the salvation and healing of 'openly gay' students." Now, I grew up in an extremely religious family. I take prayer requests seriously and fully believe in the power of asking for assistance from something/someone larger than myself. This particular prayer request, however, left me feeling both sad and frustrated. The emotions were so great that I got out of the bunk bed and fumbled through the house for the dictionary.

sal - va - tion (sāl-vā'shən) - noun

1. Preservation or deliverance from destruction, difficulty, or harm.
2. A source, means or cause of such preservation or deliverance.
3. Saving someone or something from harm or from an unpleasant situation.
4. The state of being saved or preserved from harm.
5. In Christianity, union or friendship with God and deliverance from original sin and damnation.

The "original sin" for Christians was the eating of the forbidden fruit by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The act led to their expulsion from Eden by God. The act also caused humans' fall from divine grace. Because of this event, most Christians believe that from the moment a child is conceived, he or she, as a descendant of Adam and Eve, is already in a state of sin. Most Christians also believe that the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross and his subsequent resurrection was atonement for original sin. So, any individual who believes in Jesus and accepts baptism is freed from the confines of original sin and experiences salvation.

One of the things I learned at an early age through my Christian upbringing is that salvation, in the Christian sense, is a gift. No one can earn it and no one deserves it.

Since salvation is a gift, neither earned nor deserved, everyone already has it. Hurley is not requesting we ask God to grant salvation to others, because God has already done that. He's requesting that we all ask God to make others behave in a way that Hurley (and not necessarily God) deems appropriate.

Looking at salvation in terms of the secular definitions, it appears that Hurley is actually praying for the success of the Day of Silence. Tomorrow students will refrain from speaking to draw attention to violence against LGBT students in their schools. If we are to pray for the salvation of gay students -- i.e., their protection from harm -- then we are praying for the violence, harassment and bullying to stop.

The second part of the prayer request still gives me pause. Hurley requests that we pray for the "healing" of gay students. Given Hurley's deliberate manipulation of the Gospel in the first part of his request, I'm not inclined to believe that Hurley is requesting we pray for the healing of those gay students who have been the victims of school violence. Hurley wants us to pray to God for gay people to be healed, much like we'd pray for a person suffering with cancer to have the disease eradicated and the body made whole.

As far back as 1901, however, Havelock Ellis joined Sigmund Freud in arguing that homosexuality was not immoral, that it was not a disease, and that many homosexuals made outstanding contributions to society. Those beliefs were backed up by the research of Evelyn Hooker, a noted psychologist, in 1957, but it took until the early 1970s before the American Psychiatric Association voted to remove homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Despite all of this scientific evidence and despite the fact that many religious institutions now welcome homosexuals into their congregations, Hurley affirmed his belief that being gay is the same as being stricken with a disease this morning in the Des Moines Register. "...I have a problem with an effort to legitimize behavior that is physically, socially and spiritually destructive. Promoting destructive behavior is not the job of our schools. They should be promoting healthy behavior," Hurley said.

Last night, after considering Hurley's prayer request, I decided instead to offer my own. I prayed for Hurley, that his eyes might be opened to the word of the God he professes to love so dearly. I prayed for him to be provided unconditional love and tolerance for all creation. Above all else, I prayed for peace -- deep, soul-calming and spirit-quenching peace to enter Hurley's life and allow him to see the value of all people, even those who do not share his Biblical interpretations. I closed with a request that next year there will be no need for the Day of Silence, that each young person who enters our schools will be treated with dignity and respect. Amen.

U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, joined Lilly Ledbetter Wednesday in calling for an end to the pay discrimination American women endure with every paycheck.

The Supreme Court ruled last year that Ledbetter, a supervisor at the Goodyear Tire plant, could not sue for pay discrimination because she did not file her claim within 180 days of her pay being set. Her visit to Capitol Hill came as the Senate plans to take up the Fair Pay Restoration Act, a legislative fix for the ruling that narrowed an employee's right to sue over employment discrimination. Harkin is an original co-sponsor of the bill.

"Sometimes discrimination is brazen and in-your-face, like with Jim Crow and apartheid. And sometimes discrimination is silent and insidious. This is exactly what is happening, today, in workplaces across America," said Harkin. "Pay discrimination is a harsh reality in the workplace, and it is not only unfair, it is also demeaning and demoralizing. Individual women should not have to do battle in order to win equal pay. We need more inclusive national laws to make equal pay for equal work a basic standard - and a legal right - in the American workplace."

Harkin also noted that passage of the Fair Pay Act would have prevented the problem in the first place because it would have required Ledbetter's employer to disclose pay scales. The Fair Pay Act would also require employers to provide equal pay for equivalent jobs - addressing the historic pattern of undervaluing and underpaying so-called "women's" jobs. For example, housekeepers (a female-dominated field) are paid less than janitors (a male-dominated field) even though both jobs require similar levels of skill, effort, and responsibility. The Fair Pay Act would ensure that when working conditions are similar, wages would also be similar.

"More than 40 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act, women's wages still lag behind their male counterparts' wages - women make only 77 cents for every dollar that a man makes. The average woman loses an estimated $700,000 over her lifetime due to unequal pay practices," said Harkin. "My Fair Pay Act would give women the information they need to identify discriminatory pay practices. While we can't re-write history for Lilly Ledbetter, we can ensure that American women working today are getting a fair salary."

Further details about the Fair Pay Act can be found on Harkin's site.

A man who was part of a man-woman team in sexually abusing another woman on the Meskwaki Settlement was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years in federal prison.

Lamont William Papakee, 36, from the Meskwaki Settlement in Tama, received the prison term after a June 2007 jury verdict found him guilty of one count of sexual abuse. The jury acquitted him on one count of aggravated sexual abuse.

Evidence at trial showed Papakee and Connie Frances Blackcloud sexually abused a woman in September 2006. The district court, in a sentencing order involving Blackcloud, stated that the victim was "brutalized ... in a sadistic attempt to rape her with a vegetable."

Papakee was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Linda Reade. Reade said Papakee is a dangerous offender who has repeatedly engaged in crimes of violence and is at high-risk to re-offend. Papakee had prior Iowa convictions for assaulting women.

Papakee is being held in the custody of U.S. Marshal's until he can be transported to federal prison. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison and fined $10,000. A special assessment of $100 was imposed, and he was ordered to make $6,066.75 in restitution to the Iowa Crime Victim Compensation Program. He must also serve a 15-year term of supervised release after his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was prosecuted by Asst. U.S. Attorney Ian Thornhill and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tama County Sheriff's Office and the Meskwaki Police Department.

The number of Iowans diagnosed with HIV infection last year rose to its highest level since reporting began in 1998.

In 2007, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports that there were 127 diagnoses, up from 113 in 2006 and the previous high of 117 in 2005. Of concern to state officials is the number of individuals who have been infected with HIV for months or years, but only recently underwent testing.

"Although Iowa has a relatively low number of HIV infections when compared with other states, the upward trending is something we take very seriously," said Tom Newton, director of IDPH. "We want to encourage testing because early diagnosis means early treatment and a better outcome."

In Iowa, men accounted for 83 percent of the 2007 diagnoses. This group increased for the fourth consecutive year. Of the 106 men diagnosed in 2007, 68 reported having sex with other males. Men having sex with men remains the number one risk factor in the state for HIV infection. Randy Mayer, the department's HIV/AIDS and hepatitis program director, said it's important for good prevention and education messages to be brought to that segment of the population. The department currently funds several prevention projects targeting men who have sex with men.

The Johnson County Public Health Department conducts formal outreach with a team of men who go to locations frequented by gay men to promote prevention. The program, dubbed "moMENtum," also includes peer-led group discussions.

The AIDS Project of Central Iowa is a Polk County group program for black men who have sex with men. Cultural, social and religious factors specific to African-American men and how these factors affect risk behaviors are a part of the discussions.

Mayer said the department would like to see more outreach and educational programs of this type.

More than 8,000 people were tested for HIV in 2007 via IDPH and affiliated organizations. In addition, more than 8,600 people were reached through community-level prevention programs, and intensive individual-level programs were delivered to 20 people.

HIV diagnoses among people age 45 or older have more than doubled since 2003. The median age of diagnosis was 40 for men and 37 for females. Iowa had no pediatric HIV diagnoses in 2007.

Diagnoses among black, non-Hispanic persons continue to be disproportionate to the size of the population. Blacks are roughly 3 percent of Iowa's population, but accounted for 20 percent of new HIV diagnoses in 2007. Overall, diagnoses among black persons were up 32 percent from 2006, but lower than the group's peak in 2002. Blacks are 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than are white, non-Hispanic persons in Iowa.

Hispanics are also overrepresented among those diagnosed with HIV -- roughly three times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than white, non-Hispanic Iowans. The group comprises roughly 4 percent of the state's population, yet accounts for 8 percent of the 2007 diagnoses.

Despite the population disparities among blacks and Hispanics, the largest proportion of the HIV and AIDS diagnoses in Iowa continued to be among white, U.S.-born persons. Such individuals accounted for 70 percent of HIV diagnoses and 65 percent of AIDS diagnoses last year.

If there is a silver lining in the statistics released by the IDPH it is that AIDS diagnoses declined by 18 percent last year. There were 66 AIDS diagnoses in 2007, down from 80 in 2006 and below the state average (from 2002 to 2006) of 75.

As of Dec. 31, 2007, a total of 1,910 people living with HIV or AIDS were believed to be residents of Iowa. The vast majority of those cases, similar to general state population distribution, are believed to be living in Polk, Scott, Johnson, Linn, Pottawattamie, Black Hawk and Woodbury counties. While deaths among persons with HIV/AIDS declined slightly in 2007, a departmental review of vital records data expected to be completed this summer may identify additional deaths.

Iowa lawmakers are meeting today in an effort to reconcile the 2008 health and human services appropriations bill, a necessary and traditional piece of legislation considered controversial this year due to the implementation of a new fund that would address family planning.

The fund, allocated up to $750,000 before House lawmakers stripped it from the bill and re-allocated the funds to county mental health services on Tuesday, is a focused effort of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, through the Healthy Families project. The monies would be used to aid low-income and under-served women in Iowa in obtaining contraceptives and accessing family planning programs that seek to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

Reducing and preventing unplanned pregnancy is typically a goal that can be embraced by both political parties serving in Des Moines. When it came to this particular fund, however, Republican lawmakers -- at the urging of conservative groups such as Iowa Right to Life -- became more focused on Planned Parenthood's proximity to the proposed fund instead of the end goal. Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan, offered an amendment that left the appropriated funds, but changed the language so that Planned Parenthood (or any agency offering abortion services) would not be eligible for distributions. In effect Johnson's failed amendment would have limited the funds to crisis pregnancy centers, the only family planning centers that receive Iowa Right to Life and National Right to Life approval.

"It's so Orwellian to see this project being called a healthy families initiative," Johnson told the Daily Iowan. "... Healthy families is certainly not the way I would characterize anything associated with Planned Parenthood."

As the appropriation was originally written a portion of the funds would be available for use by Planned Parenthood. The funds would also be available to many other family planning services throughout the state.

Rep. Ro Foege, D-Mount Vernon, is the legislator that put forth the amendment in the Iowa House of Representatives to dismantle the fund and re-allocate the money to county mental health services.

"I offered that amendment for a number of reasons," Foege said in a telephone interview this morning. "First, [the appropriation for family planning] was new money and we hadn't really addressed the mental health issue and the county shortfalls. Secondly, for me it was like we hadn't worked hard enough on putting up that new money in a way that could be leveraged. In other words, the question I had was if any of that money could be placed in the Medicaid system for family planning and receive a possible federal match. I wanted to stretch our dollars more and that question had not been answered.

"The third reason -- which is more of a political reason -- is that in the Iowa House it would have been turned into a two or three hour abortion debate, even though these funds aren't about abortion that's what this would have become. We were basically able to avoid a lengthy debate when we're trying to shut the place down."

In addition, Foege, who is one of the lawmakers assigned to the conference committee that will reconcile the House and Senate version of the appropriations bill, said he wasn't certain that there were the numbers in the House to ensure passage of the bill if the family planning appropriations remained.

"We could have lost it," he said. "I don't know if we would have had the 51 votes needed. You simply don't take something to the floor without knowing you can win."

Throughout the past few months, Iowans have been bombarded by marketing in relation to this fund. Bulk mailers, paid advertisement and phone banks have been just a few of the ways that Planned Parenthood has both educated and pushed supporters to rally around the proposed fund. The marketing plan has been labeled as aggressive by some Democratic lawmakers, but a Planned Parenthood spokeswoman said it was a solid marketing push and what was needed in this instance.

"Basically what we were trying to accomplish with this was public education to identify people who agree that there is a need for additional support in this area for low-income women,"said Julie Stauch, vice president of governmental affairs for Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa. "To me, what we did was meet the necessary threshold of what you do in order to get through to people who may not understand this issue, but would support it if they did. We think it was actually what a good program should be. Ask any marketing expert and they will tell you that a certain amount of repetition is needed."

If the fund survives the conference committee, it will be difficult to argue that the marketing campaign, which Foege described as a "political onslaught," was effective.

"*It's like [those running the Healthy Families project] hadn't done their homework," Foege said. "... Having said all that, we've sent the message to them and I anticipate that money will be restored."

The conference committee is meeting today and it is expected that a compromise bill will be reached by tonight.

If you meet Sharon Savage walking down the street go ahead and shout "Go, Granny, Go." While this greeting may earn you a firm smack with a handbag in a difference instance, with Savage -- the Democratic candidate for Senate District 40 -- it's likely to result in a wide grin and a thumbs up.

"I think this district is in need of someone who has a fresh approach," said Savage, who's quick to point to her two sons and one granddaughter when describing why she's tossed her hat in the ring. "We need someone who can approach decision-making from a different viewpoint that's based on rich life experiences. That's what I've got -- a multitude and broad range of life experience that I know I can use for the betterment of the people in this district and for the state as a whole."

The district, which includes all of Cedar County and portions of Muscatine and Johnson counties, has been served since 2004 by Republican Jim Hahn, a real estate and insurance salesman. Prior to Hahn the seat was held for 28 years by Republican Dick Drake, a Navy veteran that most in Des Moines knew as "Commander." Drake died in 2007.

The population distribution of the district has changed drastically since the turn of the century, primarily due to a large and growing Latino population in Muscatine County. Overall, Latinos make up 13.5 percent of the population in the county. When the lens is narrowed to the community of West Liberty, however, 41 percent of residents are Latino. The county and community boast one of the highest Latino population percentages in the entire state. Savage describes the diversity of the population as a challenge, but mostly an opportunity.

"I think I can better serve that segment of the population because I believe I'm more likely to listen and speak with them," she said. "Through my experience as an individual and family therapist, I learned family assessment and needs assessment. I believe that experiences places me in a good position to help assess what the needs are and to work to find solutions to those needs."

Health care, education and environment are issues, she said, that cross ethnic and economic boundaries. Because of that, she believes these are issues that should cross party boundaries as well.

"Health care -- particularly for children -- but also for people of all ages needs to be affordable," Savage said. "I've taught part-time at Muscatine Community College for several years and I'm also concerned about what I see happening with Iowa students. They carry an increasing load of debt and they have difficulty in obtaining health care. Iowa students hare having a difficult time getting through school and making ends meet. Many of them [upon graduation] feel they need to leave our state because they can't afford to stay here and pay off the educational debt they've acquired. Given a choice, I believe most recent graduates and families would prefer to find decent jobs and remain here."

Because of recent, more strict requirements, air quality is an issue that is already having an impact on the area.

"We're not having an issue because the area has become more polluted, but because standards have changed," Savage said. "We are no longer where we need to be in terms of air quality, and, I'm sure, there will be meetings in the future so that residents can develop a community action plan and return to a level of compliance."

Savage, 61, believes her experience as a social worker and therapist make her the best choice to help forge solutions.

"Because of my training, I have more of an emphasis on trying to work with both sides of any issue to reach a resolution," she said. "I see a real need for legislators who are able to do that, especially if we want to stall some of the problems we have currently. I think that we need to be able to work together and to reach across party lines and ideological boundaries. [Hahn] is not so inclined."

Although the area has had some women serve as mayors or on city councils, it hasn't been as generous in electing women to serve in state roles. In spite of that, Savage is optimistic.

"I'm thinking that [my gender] might play a role in the election. And I'm hopeful that it will in a good way," she said. "I'm a grandmother. I've been a mother. I'm a wife. Women have such rich backgrounds to draw from and I think those experiences give us just a little bit different slant on issues. I don't think I should be elected because I am a woman, but I do think that a woman's viewpoint adds something to the discussion and to the conversation. That's value-added information that needs to be included. We've had very few women in the Iowa Senate and it would be a benefit, I think, to increase those numbers and make the Capitol a little more representative of our population."

Above all else, Savage believes that state government should be representative of the people.

"I strongly believe that our Legislature needs to reflect us," she said. "Those serving cannot help solve our problems and help deal with our life struggles if they've not had some exposure to the way we live. I'm one of those people that is, you know, pretty much like everyone else you know. That is, I've been there. I pretty much know what people are living through and dealing with. I think that's an asset."

In addition to her previous experience in social work and being an adjunct professor at Muscatine Community College, Savage and her husband, Tom, own and operate Books n' More in Muscatine. She's partial owner of an Iowa Century Farm in Salem that has been in her family since the 1870s. Before beginning her campaign, she co-hosted a talk show on Muscatine's KWPC radio and published a weekly column in the Muscatine Journal.

Savage has been very active in the Muscatine community, stepping down earlier this year as president of the Greater Downtown Muscatine Association. She remains an active member with the group, along with the local Chamber of Commerce, symphony board, League of Women Voters, Foster Grandparents Review Board and other civic organizations. She currently serves as co-president of the Muscatine County Arts Council.

"I'm really excited about this new opportunity," Savage said before quickly ticking off details of an upcoming fundraiser. "I'm now at a point in my life where I have the time and energy available to focus completely on getting tasks done for this district."

The presidential campaign for New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared less than enthusiastic in its return to Iowa in March to battle once again for the state's delegates at county conventions. It was a costly mistake and one, it now seems, the campaign has no desire to repeat.

Yesterday, Iowa delegates who remain pledged to the suspended presidential run of former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards as well as those pledged to Clinton received a full-page, full-color reminder of the upcoming Democratic district conventions.

At county conventions held across the Hawkeye State in March, the campaign for Barack Obama improved on the 38 percent of Iowa's national convention delegates he won two months prior on caucus night. In part, the increase was credited to the Illinois Senator picking up many previous Edwards supporters. Obama ended the county conventions with an additional nine of Iowa's 45 pledged national delegates. Clinton's total was reduced by one pledged national delegate.

In previous years Iowa's paltry national delegates -- 45 pledged and 11 superdelegates -- have not been considered high-stakes commodities. Since the 1970s, the Iowa prize has always been considered the national push that could be provided by a good showing in the state's first-in-the-nation caucuses. In this Democratic primary, however, which has both Clinton and Obama battling toward the 2,035 needed to secure the nomination, even Iowa's few have become coveted.

In an obvious and direct nod to those convention delegates still pledged to Edwards, one side of the Clinton mailer reads:

"John Edwards ran his campaign with compassion and conviction and lifted this campaign with his deep concerns for the daily lives of the American people. He and I both put forth universal health care plans, not because it was easy, but because health care for every man, woman and child is vital to giving every American family the opportunity for the American dream.

Together, let's make universal health care a reality. I would be honored to have your support at your Congressional District Convention."

Heading into the five district conventions scheduled for this Saturday, barely 15 percent of Iowa delegates across the state remain pledged to Edwards or uncommitted. Only two conventions -- those being held in Iowa's 2nd and 3rd Congressional Districts, the two largest Democratic contingencies in the state -- are anticipated to have potentially viable preference groups other than Clinton or Obama. Any group with less than a 15 percent showing at the state convention in June will not be eligible for national delegates; however, at the district conventions this Saturday, a total of 29 national convention delegates will be selected from the preference groups there that meet the 15 percent threshold. It is likely that if the Edwards groups remain intact, the now defunct campaign could be awarded national delegates this Saturday.

While the Clinton campaign has primarily opted for mass mailing as a way of shoring up their supporters for the district conventions, the Obama campaign has left staffers on the ground in Iowa since the county conventions. The staff has continued to rally Obama supporters and organize alternates for possible seating as delegates on convention day. Few, if any, Clinton staffers have remained on the ground in Iowa. It appears the Clinton campaign is relying more heavily on volunteer county and district coordinators.

Iowa's five district conventions will begin delegate registration at 8 a.m. Saturday morning at the following locations:

On Friday, April 25, many students in Iowa and throughout the nation will participate in a national "Day of Silence," an annual event held to bring attention to name-calling, bullying and harassment toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth in schools. It comes as little surprise that the passive activity has Chuck Hurley, president of the socially conservative Iowa Family Policy Center, encouraging Iowa's faithful to spend the day praying for the "healing" of gay students. It seems, however, that Hurley's call to action is merely the tip of the iceberg.

"I have received many phone calls and emails voicing understandable frustration about this event," Hurley wrote in an email to supporters. "Admittedly, the promotion (especially to children) of such a harmful lifestyle that is directly contrary to God's perfect design provokes righteous anger in me also. The question then becomes, what do we do with our anger that will bring glory and honor to God?"

While acknowledging that this year's Day of Silence event is being held in memory of Lawrence King, a gay 15-year-old Californian who died at the hands of a classmate in February, Hurley calls on supporters to not remain passive.

"By Christ's example, we are clearly not to remain passive," Hurley wrote. "Jesus did not throw his hands in the air and turn away when he saw sin in the world. Instead, he came into the world with his arms wide open. He made no excuse for sin, teaching that, 'Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.' (Matthew 5:19) Jesus was clear that certain behaviors are unacceptable to God, yet people flocked to him because he also made it clear that God loves them in spite of sin. Jesus' love for sinners does not equate to acceptance of sin, but to a deep and passionate desire to redeem them from it."

Students participating in the Day of Silence are encouraged to carry slips of paper that read:

Silent for Lawrence King

Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence (DOS), a national youth movement bringing attention to the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment. This year's DOS is held in memory of Lawrence King, a 15 year-old student who was killed in school because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward building awareness and making a commitment to address these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today.

Although King died outside of Iowa, a school climate survey released by the Iowa Pride Network in January showed that Iowa's LGBT students continue to feel unsafe in school and that they face verbal and physical harassment or assault daily. Nine in 10, or 91 percent, of LGBT students in Iowa reported hearing homophobic remarks frequently in their schools. More than a third of the students reported some incident of physical harassment (being pushed or shoved) because of their sexual orientation; while nearly 16 percent of students reported some incident of physical assault (being punched, kicked or injured with a weapon) because of their sexual orientation or gender expression.

"This is just really disturbing," said Ryan Roemerman, director of the Iowa Pride Network. "This email sent out by Hurley, if anything, just speaks to the issues that the Day of Silence addresses."

Roemerman said that because of calls he's received from youth throughout the state in relation to the Day of Silence, that he believes there is a "coordinated effort" aimed at preventing students from using their right to free expression.

"I received a call from a girl in a small town in the northern portion of the state who said that she's getting pressured from some within the community for her and 20-some youth not to participate in the Day of Silence," he said. "I've had similar calls from other Iowa communities, large and small. Iowa students need to know that they have a right to express themselves, provided it does not disrupt the educational environment."

The calls have come despite Carol Greta of the Iowa Department of Education using space in the April issue of School Leader Update, a monthly newsletter distributed to Iowa school administrators, to explain both the Day of Silence and the opposing Day of Truth. The latter is a project launched in 2005 by the Alliance Defense Fund to "ensure the free speech rights of Christian students" to present an opposing viewpoint to those organizations that they contend promote homosexual behavior in schools. The 2008 Day of Truth is slated for Monday, April 28. In her column, Greta cautions schools not to approve participation in only one of the observance activities.

"Violence, sexism and racism have no place in our schools," Roemerman said. "This student-led Day of Silence was built around drawing awareness to the fact that we have students in our schools who are being assaulted and harassed. If we don't educate homophobic students then they'll just grow up to be homophobic adults -- like Chuck Hurley."

Sen. Larry McKibben was one of several Republican legislators who took "points of privilege" this morning to voice distain with the current direction of legislation that aims to revise the School Infrastructure Local Option sales tax, commonly known as SILO. The plan now being considered by the Iowa Senate passed the House last week with 17 Republicans crossing the aisle to support it.

"We aren't here just to put a rubber stamp on what's passed by the House," McKibben told those in chamber this morning. "We don't have to pass this just because it has been a bipartisan effort. It's a bipartisan tax."

The plan calls for SILO, now optional by county, to become mandatory and no longer limited to 10 years. The legislation would replace existing sales taxes that expire every 10 years with a statewide tax that would expire in 2029. The plan increases taxes on consumers buying retail products and businesses that buy products from other states, but also decreases property taxes in some counties by roughly $30 million. Sales tax monies would go into one account for distribution to all school districts on a per-pupil basis.

Republicans have remained skeptical that the tax revenue will remain earmarked only for school infrastructure. This morning on the floor, however, Republicans discussed the impact on small businesses -- especially those in more rural portions of the state -- and the fact that the plan will no longer allow voters to approve the sales tax in their own communities.

Although the Senate passage of the bill was considered tenuous late last week, Republican Senators returning to Des Moines after attending District Conventions on Saturday seem especially energized to stop or change the proposed plan. McKibben said Senate Republicans are now more firmly united against the existing plan due to feedback they received at the conventions. At a press conference this morning, the lawmakers made a point of providing an alternative plan that they said was supported by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, the National Federation of Independent Businesses and Iowans for Tax Relief -- three traditionally fiscally conservative organizations.

The Republican alternative plan would allow local voters to decide whether or not to continue or end the one-cent sales tax. Local districts that continue would be guaranteed a minimum of $575 per pupil per year -- even if tax revenues do not provide for that amount. Republicans said the state would make up any difference in the revenues, ensuring the $575 per pupil figure. Also, if additional revenues were collected, districts could receive additional monies from the revenue stream.

"We are prepared to discuss this and will have our amendment available shortly," McKibben said. "We are prepared for a long day."

Shortly after the remarks on the floor, Senators broke into their respective party caucuses and are expected to reconvene as a group at roughly 1 p.m.

It's almost like déjà vu. Four years ago Lori Sokolowski knocked on doors and visited with neighbors in hopes of electing a Democratic candidate to Iowa House District 53. Four years ago, however, she was campaigning on behalf of her husband, Dick.

"I was his campaign manager," Sokolowski said. "We were both qualified, so we ran the campaign as a partnership. Although, at that time, he was the official candidate. When he lost, we both just looked at each other and we knew this wasn't over."

The Sokolowski couple knew it wasn't over because there was still a great deal of work to do if they were going to capture their primary goals of educating on rural affairs and advocating for northwest Iowa.

"I've spent pretty much my entire life farming in Cherokee County," Sokolowski said. "I grew up on a farm, and my husband and I started farming together in 1976. I also began my own livestock business in 1983. We've been able to ride out the storms of the 1980s and 1990s."

The farming crisis and the following commodity pricing concerns led Sokolowski to become more and more active in terms of shaping national and state agriculture policies.

"It was at least 10 years ago that I traveled to Des Moines to advocate for independent pork producers. We're members of the Iowa Pork Producers and Iowa Farm Bureau and had concerns at that time as to how independent pork producers were going to survive," she said. "I spoke with many agricultural organizations -- the Iowa Farmers Union being one of them. After I learned more, I ended up joining the IFU and deciding I was going to be a northwestern Iowa advocate for rural issues."

She organized and founded the Siouxland Chapter of the Iowa Farmers Union (IFU) in 2001 and has since received several National Farmers Union leadership awards. She became an IFU board member and was appointed to the legislative and membership committees, educating legislators in a bipartisan fashion and advocating for rural issues.

"I've covered a lot of legislation," she said with a quick laugh. "I've worked on agricultural to environmental issues, from renewable energy to trade policy. I've worked on two farm bills. I've advocated for rural health care. It was the legislators in Des Moines who have always encouraged me to become more politically involved."

In addition to the 2002 and 2007 farm bills, Sokolowski addressed the Rural Development Title, Farm and Nutrition Program. She participated in a coalition of agricultural organizations supporting a competition title and conservation security program. She has also advocated reforming anti-trust laws, and accepting fair international trade agreements. She contributed to a USDA feasibility study within a 100-mile radius of Sioux City to sell processed meat and fish produce in institutions. That study was expanded to help start the farmers market in Sioux City.

A spokesman in Congressman Tom Latham's office says the lawmaker voted against incentives for election verification because the bill would be a "costly redundant federal program."

The Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act of 2008 (HR 5036) encourages states to conduct verifiable elections by converting to a paper ballot system, offering emergency paper ballots, and conducting hand-counted audits. Two weeks ago, the legislation passed the House Administration Committee with unanimous and bipartisan support.

"Congressman Latham believes it is important to ensure the integrity and accuracy of our nation's election process," said spokesman Fritz Chaleff. "To accomplish this, he also supports the concept of providing voters with verification of their ballot choices. To that end, he applauds the State of Iowa for already addressing this by enacting legislation on April 1, which provides uniform voting technology to all 99 counties in the state that will make available voter-marked paper ballots that could be recounted by hand if necessary."

The state legislation that Chaleff cites requires Iowa's county auditors to replace existing touchscreen voting machines with systems that use a paper ballot. The federal legislation that Latham and Congressman Steve King -- Iowa's two Republican Congressmen -- voted against this week would have provided reimbursement to the state for the cost of replacing the touchscreens.

"This bill would represent a real step forward in our effort to protect the accuracy, integrity and security of the November elections," said Rep. Rush Holt, a New Jersey Democrat and one of the bill sponsors. "The bill that the House leadership scheduled for a vote today is the same one that passed two weeks ago without the objection of a single committee member. There is no reason why this should be a partisan issue, but the Republicans evidently have chose to make it so. The White House issued a statement opposing the bill and 176 of 203 Republicans voted that way."

Chaleff contends the objection to the proposed legislation centered around cost and redundancy.

"Congressman Latham also believes in the importance of protecting Iowa taxpayers' wallets from costly, redundant federal programs," Chaleff said. "HR 5036 creates a new federal program that is redundant with an already existing law -- the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which was signed into law in 2002. Among other reforms, HAVA set minimum requirements for voting systems used in federal elections, created a new federal agency to assist in the administration of federal elections, and authorized billions of dollars in election-related grants to states to upgrade their voting systems. To date, approximately $3 billion in federal grants have already been provided to states to upgrade their voting systems. And, the fund still contains more than $1 billion in unspent funds, which remain available to states. Creating a new and redundant federal program at an additional cost to taxpayers of over a half a billion dollars (CBO scoring sets the bill's price tag at $685 million for fiscal year 2009) is a reckless use of taxpayer dollars."

Holt noted that many of the Republicans -- even those who had previously approved the measure in committee -- cited cost as their primary reason for voting against the proposed legislation.

"I'd like to ask the opponents how much spending is too much to have verifiable elections in the United States," Holt said. "I note that many people who opposed this legislation supported spending almost $330 million in recent years to provide election assistance in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. I would have hoped those who supported efforts to export democracy abroad would be equally committed to strengthening democracy here at home."

Congressman King and his staff have yet to answer the media inquiry that was sent Wednesday morning in relation to this bill.

Service to community is nothing new for Pat VanZante, Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 71. Throughout her life she has volunteered and worked for the betterment of both her immediate community and the state at large. Being elected to serve in the state legislature, she said, is a way she can continue what she's already started and make a difference on a larger scale. Pride in the state and a want for it to be the best it can be is ingrained in both her and her husband, Arvin VanZante -- descendants of families that have long made Iowa their home.

"[Running for the Iowa House of Representatives] is very exciting, but also a little scary," she admitted. "I've lived in Iowa all my life. In fact, my ancestors homestead is near Prairie City. My father's people came from Ireland and had their homestead in Delaware County. I grew up in Des Moines, but my family has been a part of the Iowa landscape for many years.

"My immediate family and I grew up on the east side of Des Moines. So, we played in the state house as long as I can remember. ... My mother and my grandmother were there quite a bit. I know that during the depression, they use to sleep out on the grounds when it was so hot."

Although VanZante is sure she will be facing a Republican opponent come November, she's awaiting primary results to see if she will face incumbent Jim Van Engelenhoven or challenger Marc Held, a technician for Iowa Telecom. The challenger decided to primary Van Engelenhoven following a complicated child custody case that ended with an abandoned infant family member being removed from his family's care and returned to the child's biological father. Held has said publicly that his frustration from the case prompted him to make the bid for Iowa House.

Given Van Engelenhoven's track record with education and family welfare, VanZante said she can understand why someone who has gone through what Held has might want to enter the race. VanZante was "surprised" when she learned that Van Engelenhoven had supported the safe haven law that allows parents to leave infants at Iowa hospitals, no questioned asked.

"I'm very pro-family and, what's more, I'm extremely pro-child," she said. "[The existing incumbent] is very adamant and uses being anti-abortion to his advantage against anyone. He's not above calling people -- even people within his own party -- that take positions opposite of his own child murderers. But the truth is that once a child is born and is living here in our state, [Van Engelenhoven] really just doesn't do much to support that child or that family."

In addition, VanZante said she, unlike Van Engelenhoven, will pledge to be a representative to every individual and community within House District 71.

"Van Engelenhoven is backed, of course, by the Republican Party of Iowa as well as the Farm Bureau," she said. "He has a tendency to just service those areas of the district -- the large farm, the large agricultural operations. In contrast, I have every intention of serving every individual and every community in my district."

She knows that her gender may have an affect on the outcome of the race, but says she hopes that her active role in the community as well as her and her husband's family history will play a bigger role.

"My being a woman will probably play a role on some level," she said. "That's one of the reasons I chose to run as 'Pat' instead of 'Patty.' But I still think that in this district, that my last name and the history it brings with it, combined with my community activism, will play more of a role than my gender."

VanZante, who is currently employed by Capstone Behavioral Health Centers in Newton and Knoxville, has lived in Pella for 31 years. She co-founded Hospice of Pella after caring for a dying neighbor and seeing first-hand the need for such services. She has also worked as an adjunct professor, teaching various human services courses through Des Moines Area Community College. In addition, she has served on the board of Pella's community theater group, The Union Street Players, and has been a director, producer and costumer in numerous productions. She has volunteered as a member of the League of Women Voters on their corrections study committee and served on the Pella Friends of the Library Board.

"I'll bring a wide range of interests, knowledge and experience to the table for the residents of this district," she said. "All along, I've worked with diverse groups to find common ground. I've been in Christian Bible studies, and some of my closest friends in Pella are strict reform Christians. As a supporter of the arts, I've worked with many of the area's home-schooled young people. When people work toward common ground, instead of pointing to their differences, amazing things happen for everyone."

VanZante plans to advocate for:

• Diverse, renewable and responsible locally controlled stewardship of Iowa's natural resources.
• Fiscally responsible and diversified economic development.
• Pro-child initiatives for early childhood education, promotion of competently trained and adequately compensated Iowa teachers, and improved health care prevention and intervention programs and services.
• Providing veterans and Iowa National Guard members with the highest quality medical services and educational opportunities available.
• Parity, fair coverage, services and medication reimbursement for mental health services.

Because of her experience providing therapeutic service to clients with mental illness and substance abuse issues, VanZante knows medication parity is already becoming an issue for the state's mentally ill.

"It is now being mandated that individuals with mental illness cut down on existing medications or take older medications," she said. "There has to be proof that the older medications don't work before approval is granted for the individual to be placed on newer and better medications.

"I attended a conference where a gentleman from Tennessee informed us that his state has already has limited people on Medicaid to five medications. So, if an individual has a mental illness, is diabetic and has a heart condition, that individual is still limited to only five medications. Not only are individuals in state being forced to decide, at least in some cases, which condition will be treated, but I'm sure the individual is also being limited as to which medications can be approved to treat those conditions."

VanZante, who has worked as a clinical social worker for more than 20 years, said her training and experiences in that field will be one of the things that her future constituents in the district will see as positive -- and it won't just be limited to medical or mental illness issues.

"I'm a quick learner and I'm a good listener," she said. "I've been trained to listen to people and really hear what their problems are. My job is to find solutions -- things that will work. I think I can bring that experience to bear politically for just about any issue there is -- hog lots to transportation infrastructure."

[Commentary] It would be difficult to imagine the reaction if Americans turned on their television sets tonight and watched their favorite sitcom's leading characters debate and then decide, without regrets or "lucky" miscarriages, on an abortion. No doubt the various advocacy groups would draw their political swords, some calling for boycotts and federal regulation while others praised the modernization of television programming.

The abortion debate, for better or for worse, is one of the most divisive in America. But, to be honest, it hasn't always been that way. The debate and the divisiveness is by design.

In the 1916 silent movie "Where Are My Children?" a woman dies after a botched abortion. At the same time a sentimental district attorney, who loves children, discovers that his wife has had an abortion in order to preserve her social life. Despite all of this, however, the word "abortion" is never uttered.

That was probably the first time prior to the Sixties -- a time when overlapping organizations of women, medical professionals, public health administrators, legal scholars and religious leaders successfully convinced a third of all states to liberalize abortion statutes -- that abortion was featured in film or on television. The next time a semi-open segment on the topic happened was during the soap opera "Another World" in 1964. Fictional character Pat Matthews became pregnant by her tomcat boyfriend. He persuades her to have an abortion, although the word was never used. As the characters discuss the "illegal operation," the woman realized that the boyfriend never intended to follow through with his agreement to marry her. Matthews is driven mad and, in a fit of rage, murders the boyfriend.

Eight years pass between that soap opera storyline and the next time abortion is addressed on television. This time, however, the word is used and there is no dramatic aftermath of the decision to end a pregnancy. In the prime-time sitcom "Maude," the lead character, played by actress Bea Arthur, realizes she is in her late 40s and pregnant. Although the episode aired prior to the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, the sitcom was set in New York, where abortion was already legal. The family -- Maude, her husband and grown daughter -- have frank and thoughtful discussions about the decision.

"When you were young, abortion was a dirty word. It's not anymore," says Maude's daughter as she encourages her mother to have the abortion.

In the second part, when Maude decides not to continue the pregnancy, her husband Walter assures her, "In the privacy of our own lives, you're doing the right thing."

The sitcom, developed as a spin-off of the often thought-provoking "All in the Family," has remained possibly the only time the American public has had an opportunity to watch a realistic conversation about pregnancy and abortion.

As Rachel Fudge noted in a 2005 feature story, the episode of "Maude" was groundbreaking, but it also "inadvertently galvanized the anti-choice movement." It was that episode's unabashed treatment of the issue that led those who oppose abortion to petition the Federal Communications Commission for equal time under the Fairness Doctrine. Although the group did not win their case, the arguments began what many now feel is the application of the Fairness Doctrine, which was abandoned in the 1980s, on entertainment programming.

Once the episode of "Maude" aired, those opposed to abortion had their first flag to rally around. Although the two-part episode had been scheduled to rerun six months later (after Roe had been handed down), letters of protest pushed many CBS affiliates to refuse to re-air it.

In contrast, about 20 years later when similar, although unmarried, sitcom character Murphy Brown faced an unplanned pregnancy, the word abortion was never mentioned. The "dirty word" status was back in full force for television programming, a place it continues to reside to this day.

After Roe v. Wade, the abortion debate became more focused and public. Although both groups discuss the same things, they each choose their exact words carefully. It's a comparison so easily made that those few television shows that do enter into fringe discussions about abortion have ready made pluck and drop stereotypes for their actors.

Most television characters either spontaneously miscarry or discover a false positive pregnancy test. Two shows -- ABC's soap opera "General Hospital" and the Canadian produced "DeGrassi" series -- have had characters who actually opt for abortion. On "General Hospital," the character receives a moral lecture about the decision from nearly every other character on the show, including the mobsters who make a living by the barrel of their guns. It remains to be seen if the woman who had the abortion will be forced to suffer untold consequences of her decision.

"DeGrassi: The Next Generation," on the other hand, allowed a young woman to have an abortion without regret and without a "God's gonna get ya" follow-up storyline. The character says that she's just trying to make "the best decision." Networks in the U.S. found the story to be so potentially offensive to American audiences that the episode has never aired in this country.

No doubt there is something to be said about the June and Ward Cleaver days of television. Families today are often greeted with images of sexual violence, general violence, homosexuality, infidelity, alcoholism and drug abuse when watching nightly television programming. But throughout all of the changes, despite all of the "awakenings" that have been carried forward by civil-rights movements, abortion continues to be the only truly boycotted discussion on television and in film. When part of a storyline, it is rarely mentioned by name and even more rarely carried out as a solution. More offensively, the other possible pregnancy outcomes -- false positives, miscarriage, birth and adoption -- are placed before viewers in neat, pretty packages. Rarely do viewers witness the guilt and grief that follow miscarriage. I don't know of any television programs that have placed a woman in grief counseling after giving a child up for adoption.

On television we can watch as our neighbors devour bugs and worms for money. We can see what happens when a person is asked to answer personal questions in front of friends and family while connected to a lie detector. We can peek in the windows of biracial or homosexual couples. We can be an operating room observer as various surgeries are performed. Through our television sets, it seems, we get nearly every possible opinion and viewpoint on nearly every possible topic. Just not abortion.

Maude Screening & Discussion Scheduled for Tonight, April 15

The Public Issues and Education Committee of the Emma Goldman Clinic Board of Directors will host a screening and discussion of "Maude's Dileema." This is the two-part episode of the sitcom that dealt with abortion and originally aired in November 1972. The event takes place at 7 p.m. on the third floor of the Belin-Blank Honors Center in Iowa City.

Was the opinion issued Friday by the Iowa Supreme Court an expansion or a clarification of the state's existing residency requirements for sex offenders? At the end of the day, according to some members of law enforcement, it doesn't matter one way or another.

"The law does little to protect children and young adults," said a veteran Iowa Sex Crimes Task Force leader who requested a name not be used. "It was a 'warm fuzzy' law that made lawmakers look good, and let parents breathe easier. All it really does is provide a false sense of security. It's a farce that's difficult to enforce and probably has the end result of making the general public less safe."

On Friday the Iowa Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the state's residency law for sex offenders that requires those convicted of crimes with a minor to live at least 2,000 feet away from a school or child care facility. The case involved Polk County resident Floyd Wright, who was convicted of statutory rape in 1977. Wright served his sentence but never had to be listed on the state's sex offender registry because his offense took place nearly 20 years before the registry existed.

When the building Wright lived in was sold, he was forced to move to a new location. Since he was on probation for driving while barred, Wright informed his probation officer of the address change. It was the probation officer who informed Wright that the 1977 offense would prohibit him from moving to the new location, which was within the 2,000 foot buffer.

Wright filed suit in district court on the grounds that the residency restriction did not apply to him because he was never required to be on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry. He also argued that the residency requirement violated his constitutional right to find adequate and reasonable housing.

The district court ruled that the vague law included all who had ever been convicted of sex crimes with a minor. The Iowa Supreme Court upheld the district court ruling on appeal and added that Wright's constitutional claims were moot, given that he could live in areas not covered by the residency restrictions and continue to engage in many community events and activities.

"In my experience the sex offender residency restrictions have had the opposite of the intended affect," the officer said. "Our best defense against individuals with a higher re-offense risk assessment is to know where they are within the community. Because the residency requirement often severely limits available housing, many sex offenders -- even some required by law to be on the registry -- are choosing not to report their current location."

Because the law was written to include all sex offenders, even those who were convicted several years ago or those who have been dropped from the registry, the officer said that landlords and law enforcement are left with few tools to enforce the residency restriction.

"Anyone can view the Iowa Sex Offender Registry, and I know many landlords within the required buffer zones do check for potential renters on it," the officer said. "How does a landlord or a parent check if the offender isn't required to register? When we do find offenders living in restricted areas, it is often a result of a secondary offense -- drug possession, disorderly house."

When asked who could be held liable if someone convicted of a sex crime against a minor moved into a restricted area and then committed another offense against a minor, the officer couldn't provide an answer.

"I don't know," the officer said. "The perp, of course, would bear the criminal burden. But, I don't know if there is grounds for a civil suit against the property owner or against local jurisdiction. That's another question for the court."

It was many of these same types of concerns that led Iowa County Attorneys Association Executive Director Corwin Ritchie to issue a statement against sex offender residency restrictions in December 2006. Citing statistics that 80 percent to 90 percent of sex crimes against children are committed by a relative or acquaintance; research showing no correlation between residency restrictions and reduction of sex offenses against children; and observations by law enforcement that residency restrictions cause offenders to become homeless, change residences without notice, register false address or disappear, Ritchie argued that the restriction should be replaced with "more effective measures that do not produce the negative consequences that have attended the current statute."

The more effective measures, according to the ICAA statement, are:

• A statute creating defined protected areas that sex offenders would be prohibited from entering except in limited and safe circumstances. Such areas might include schools and child care facilities. Entrance to these areas would be allowed only for activities involving the offender's own child and only with advance notice and approval.
• The restriction should cover offenses against "children" (under age 14) rather than "minors" (under age 18).
• The statute should specifically preempt local ordinances that attempt to create additional restrictions on sex offenders.
• Any restriction that carries the expectation that it can be effectively enforced must be applied to a more limited group of offenders than is covered by the current residency restriction.
• Sex offender treatment both inside and outside of prison should be fully funded and improved.
• Measures should be enacted that aim at keeping all young people safe from all offenders. This should include programs that focus on the danger of abuse that may lie within the child's family and circle of acquaintances.
• Recognize that child safety from sex offenses is not amendable to simple solutions by creating a Sex Offender Treatment and Supervision Task Force to identify effective strategies to reduce child sex offenses.

"These observations of Iowa prosecutors are not motivated by sympathy for those committing sex offenses against children, but by our concern that the legislative proposals designed to protect children must be both effective and enforceable," Ritchie wrote. "Anything else lets our children down."

Parents who worry about sex offenders harming their children should do at least two things, according to the Sex Crimes Task Force officer: "Parents need to consider that sex offenders don't just sit, looking out their front window, and waiting for a child to walk by. They are members of the community and are perfectly capable of getting in a car or on public transportation and traveling to places throughout the city or neighboring city. Parents also need to understand that people who sexually abuse children don't have 'a look' or 'a way' about them. Most children aren't snatched from a public place. Unfortunately, most sexually abused children suffer the crime at the hands of someone known to them."

While the Supreme Court action clarified which sex offenders are restricted by the current residency requirements, it did not impact those sex offenders who lived within the "safe zones" prior to the law being passed. Those sex offenders, under "grandfathering," can continue to live at their current residences, regardless of proximity to protected facilities.

Although I'm sitting in a meeting, I wanted to share the following press release from Congressman Bruce Braley that just hit my inbox. I've written extensively about the "plain English" bill and am personally very happy to see this pass and by such a huge margin.

On Eve of Tax Day, U.S. House Passes Braley's Plain Language Act

Bill Would Require Government to Write Tax Forms, Other Documents in Easy-to-Understand, Simple Language

Today the US House passed Rep. Bruce Braley's (D-Iowa) Plain Language in Government Communications Act (HR 3548), a bill that would require the federal government to write documents like tax returns, federal college aid applications, and Veterans Administration forms in simple, easy-to-understand language.

Braley's bill passed by an overwhelming bipartisan margin, 376-1.

"This week, millions of Americans are finishing a confusing and often-times frustrating annual ritual: filing their federal tax return," Braley said. "My hope is that the House's passage of the Plain Language Act today will make this task a little bit easier in years to come.

"The Plain Language Act requires a simple change to business-as-usual that'll make a big difference for anyone who's ever filled out a tax return or received a government document. This bill shows what bipartisanship can accomplish when we put aside our differences and work together for the common good.

"There's no reason why the federal government can't write forms, letters, and other public documents in a way we can all understand. Requiring government agencies to write in plain, easy-to-understand language will make the government more accessible and accountable to American taxpayers."

Rep. Bill Sali (R-Idaho), a fellow member of the House Oversight Committee who worked with Braley on the legislation, said, "Congressman Braley is to be complimented for his efforts to make government less complicated, and for working to put aside party labels to accomplish the best result for taxpayers. This effort proves Republicans and Democrats can work together and foster a culture of civility in Congress."

The Plain Language in Government Communications Act (HR 3548) requires the federal government to write all new publications, forms, and publicly distributed documents in a "clear, concise, well-organized" manner that follows the best practices of plain language writing.

Braley introduced the bill last September. A companion bill introduced by Hawaii Senator Daniel Akaka was passed by a Senate committee last week.

Braley's opening statement from today's House debate is attached to this message.

Examples of Plain Language in Use:

Here are three before-and-after examples of how plain language was applied to federal documents to make them easier to understand. For more examples, see plainlanguage.gov.

Example #1: Medicare Fraud Letter

Example #2: FDA drug warning label

Example #3: IRS form (before and after)

Phyllis Thede, a Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 81, is just two years away from a close but disappointing bid for the Iowa Senate, which she lost by just 436 votes. She says, however, it's that campaign, despite its unfortunate ending, that has given her the drive to try again.

"When I lost the last time, it was a bit of a blow," Thede said. "But I think once you get bitten by this political bug, you say to yourself, 'Hey, you know what? I know I can do well as a representative of Iowa.'

"I developed lots of ideas when I ran last time -- ideas on how I could serve the people of Iowa. I don't want to let those ideas go. They need to happen because there are too many things that Iowans and our state need. If we don't get out there and fight for them, these ideas will just sit. That inaction makes people frustrated. I know this because I'm one of the people who have become frustrated. I want to see action on the things that I've talked about and that I've heard talked about. Of course, I won't be out there doing it all by myself. There are going to have to be a lot of people helping. "

Thede will face Republican incumbent Jamie Van Fossen, who has served in the Iowa House since 1995. In the 2006 election, Van Fossen defeated Democratic candidate Lauren Phelps by 567 votes, leading many to believe he may be vulnerable.

Education, Thede says, is the primary issue where she and Van Fossen differ and where she believes she can pick up voters in the district.

"I think [Van Fossen] is lacking in the education department," she said. "Education is the key to everything. If we don't have students doing well and succeeding in their educational arena, what's going to happen is these children will not be able to succeed when they go on to college or even going into a workplace. So we want to make sure children are well-read and being serviced very well in the education system. This is an area that has been quiet on Van Fossen's plate."

Thede, who began a career in education as a paraeducator with Davenport Community Schools and is now a secretary in the media center at North High School, believes this is an area where her experience and expertise will pay dividends for Iowa's youth and schools. During her time with the school district, she has served as union president, vice president and as a contract negotiator and grievance chair. She has also served on the state Minority Action Committee for 10 years.

"There are a lot of people who are concerned about education, but my concern stems from the fact that I work in a school system now," Thede said. "I see a lot of things that I believe need to be changed."

Two of those things are No Child Left Behind and class advancement on merit.

"When it comes to No Child Left Behind, I see so many teachers working so hard to try to teach to a test," she said. "It's very frustrating. While [NCLB] is a federal mandate, we're seeing it on a local level -- where people are just struggling to help kids learn.

"Another thing I want to take a look at is the junior high. In Davenport currently, a lot of our students are passed even though they may be failing. I've developed some ideas that may be solutions to that problem, but it is definitely an area where we need to take a harder look so that we can help these young people succeed."

In addition to education, Thede, a wife and mom to three daughters, hopes to bring a case for adult health care to the table in Des Moines.

"I know the state and our legislators are really trying hard to do something about our health care," she said. "We know kids are covered, but if we look further, we see that there are adults in need of coverage too. Some of those adults are unemployed; others just don't have many options in terms of insurance. I want to take a look at the issue of adult health care. How can we help the people of Iowa? There's no doubt it is a difficult thing to look at. It's expensive. But we have to take a look and see what can be done to help those in need of assistance."

A third key issue is the Iowa economy. Thede believes a more proactive approach to tourism might be helpful for Iowa businesses.

"When I attended a City Council meeting in Davenport, one of the things that came before the body was money that was earmarked for tourism. Unfortunately it simply wasn't much money," Thede explained. "How are we going to promote Iowa if we don't do a better job promoting tourism? Since then I've looked at Michigan and some other states that have had success with tourism. I'd like to see advertisements of our state -- some sort of a national ad campaign. Of course there need to be discussions on what should be done and on what scale, but I believe we need something that will put Iowa on better competitive market footing."

Above all else, Thede says she wants to have active communication with the people of the district. She says that if elected officials will listen, people will talk about their experiences and needs.

"It is so interesting that when you get out into the community and just talk to people," Thede said, "people are really good at telling you what they need. One lady told me how nice it would be if she could just keep her entire paycheck just for one pay period. She said, 'Wouldn't it be great if just for one day they wouldn't take out any taxes?' We just started talking excitedly about that. Wouldn't it be great? One day without any taxes? Now is that realistic? Probably not. But she was thinking about what would help her situation. For her that came down to keeping her full paycheck -- even it was only for one check.

"This one woman is not the only one. People are thinking. They are trying to put something out there that will benefit their situation and that of their friends and family. It's not that they want handouts. What they want is something they are earning, that they can keep. There are lots of good people out there and lots of good ideas out there. I just want to help them as much as I can."

Cayla Baresel is the first to admit that a successful campaign against Republican incumbent Pat Grassley in Iowa House District 17 is going to take a lot of work, but she says that she has the energy and dedication to get the job done.

At age 23, Baresel is the youngest woman currently seeking a legislative seat. She's also an Iowa native and a 2007 graduate of Wartburg College where she obtained her bachelor of arts degree in political science. Most recently, she's put shoe leather to asphalt in Butler and Bremer counties as a field organizer for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign. Baresel says expanding the voter and supporter grassroots network she's already helped forge will be key in her upcoming campaign.

"When I was working on the Clinton campaign, I developed even more of an attachment to this area and the people who live here," Baresel said. "As I met people and listened to their experiences, I became inspired and motivated to do all I could to make a difference for them. That's why I'm running. I really feel that things need to change and that the concerns of the people in this district need to be heard. Their concerns need to be addressed at the state level."

Before Baresel can go to work for constituents, however, she has a significant hurdle to overcome in Pat Grassley, grandson of long-standing U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley. In 2006, the House seat was vacated by Bill Dix when he decided to pursue an unsuccessful bid to represent Iowa's 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Grassley and Democratic candidate Alek Wipperman faced off in the state race. Of the nearly 12,000 votes cast, Grassley netted 55.5 percent.

"I'm excited about the opportunity, but I'm not suffering from any delusions. It's going to be tough, but I'm willing to work for it," Baresel said. "I know how tough this district is -- not just for me, but, historically, for any Democratic candidate -- and I'm going to use my energy and determination to give it my best shot."

While in most districts Baresel's age might play more of a role, it would be difficult for it to be factor against the 24-year-old Grassley. When first elected to office, he was younger than Baresel is now. One thing he has that she does not, however, is name recognition.

"I am a woman and I am young," she said. "I don't know how that will be initially perceived. What I hope is that people will see how hard I'm working -- that they'll see my motivation and the reasons for it. I've got to get my name out there."

Getting her name out there is going to be part of the learning experience, she says, and also something she's sure will "open a lot of doors" despite the fact that she never really pictured herself running for public office.

"I've always been interested in politics," she said. "I majored in it in college because I had an interest. But running for office? Not really. My friends would say to me, 'Oh, Cayla, you are so smart and I just know you're going to be president one day.' I'd roll my eyes and tell them, 'Oh yeah.' So, I guess it was something that I joked about, but never seriously wanted to pursue it until I became more involved after college graduation. Just talking to so many people in Bremer and Butler counties really motivated me to want to help. It also gave me the confidence I need to seriously think, 'I can do this.'"

Having grown up in a single-parent household in Iowa, Baresel says the issues she feels most deeply about are education and health care. Those are followed closely by concerns for the economy and a need for more biofuels technology and environmental issues.

"It was a challenge for my mother, but she did an excellent job [raising my sister and me] and working two jobs most of the time," Baresel said. "Higher education can sometimes feel as if it is out of reach. It's expensive now and it gets more and more expensive every year. I also know there are people in this district who can't afford health care premiums so they do without insurance. We've got to create more opportunities. We've got to give young Iowans a reason to remain in our state. Those are big concerns not only for the individuals in those situations, but for the district as a whole."

When the election is said and done, Baresel says she wants the voices and needs of the people to be the driving force in Des Moines.

"I've had the opportunity to hear the stories of the people in Butler and Bremer counties. I've heard what's important to them," she said. "I know I would represent them and this area well. I know I would be a good representative because I would always represent the people."

Former Iowa Congressman Edward Mezvinsky is scheduled to be released from prison this weekend after serving more than five years for fraud.

Mezvinsky, a lawyer by trade, served Iowa's 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms, from 1973 to 1977. He was ultimately defeated in 1976 by Jim Leach. After serving in Congress, Mezvinsky worked at the United Nations Commission for Human Rights until 1979. He moved to Pennsylvania, married then NBC news reporter Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, made an unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, and served as chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee. Mezvinsky made two more unsuccessful bids for statewide office in Pennsylvania -- attorney general in 1988 and lieutenant governor in 1990.

Margolies-Mezvinsky served in Congress from 1993 to 1995, and was the Pennsylvania Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 1998. Her autobiography, "A Woman's Place," was published in 1993. The couple lived an affluent life in an 8,200-square-foot mansion in Narberth, a Philadelphia suburb. The couple raised 11 children, some internationally adopted. Both filed for bankruptcy in 2000 when various lawsuits alleged they owed over $7 million to banks and individuals.

On Sept. 27, 2002, Mezvinsky admitted that he had bilked investors -- including friends, law clients and even his late mother-in-law -- out of more than $10 million. The 129-page indictment was filed in March 2001 and alleged Mezvinsky committed fraud "by misusing attorney escrow accounts held in his name, engaging in schemes involving worthless checks deposited at banks, creating forged bank statements, using false financial statements, tax returns and accountant's letters and giving false testimony under oath." The indictment followed a two-year investigation by the FBI, Internal Revenue Service, Postal Service and other agencies. Mezvinsky was sentenced to seven years.

Margolies-Mezvinsky was not charged with any wrongdoing. In fact, Mezvinsky's schemes dipped into her inheritance, her mother's accounts and most of the family's financial resources.

The Mezvinsky's son, investment banker Marc Mezvinsky, has often been spotted on the arm of Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who continues to struggle for the Democratic presidential nomination. The families have been close for some time, the two older women basically double-teaming the 1995 United Nations Conference on Women. It was Congresswoman Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky who cast the the crucial 1993 vote that pushed Pres. Clinton's budget package through the House -- a move that most likely cost her re-election. Both Chelsea and Marc attended Stanford and have been close for many years. There is no evidence the Clintons knew of any illegal activity on the part of Mezvinsky.

Mezvinsky, now 71, is currently finishing his sentence in a Pittsburgh halfway house.

The Iowa Court of Appeals has ruled that a homeless man now serving a life sentence in connection with the 2005 kidnapping and molesting of a toddler in a Des Moines library restroom should be granted a new trial because his request for a lawyer was disregarded by law enforcement.

In a swift 2006 jury decision James Carson Effler, 35, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the first-degree kidnapping of a 20-month-old girl that took place in a Des Moines Public Library in October 2005. The arrest and conviction stemmed from an incident in which Effler, a previously convicted sex offender who had neglected to register in Iowa, was discovered in a library bathroom with the nude girl, his own shirt removed. The girl had been in the company of a babysitter who was using a computer terminal at the library when the toddler went missing. Workers and the babysitter heard the girl scream from behind the locked bathroom door. A library worker opened the door with a screwdriver and exposed the scene within. Library workers then held Effler in the restroom while police were summoned to the library.

The girl was transported to a local hospital and seen by a doctor that specialized in sexually abused children. After conducting a visual exam of the girl's genitals, the doctor found "nothing remarkable," but noted that her labia were "a little bit red."

Effler was transported to the police station where law enforcement video taped an interview with him. The detective noted the suspect smelled strongly of alcohol and stated that Effler "clearly had been drinking." A urine test later showed Effler had a 0.094 blood alcohol level. During the course of the interview, prior to Effler's video taped confession of molesting the the girl, Effler said, "I do want a court-appointed lawyer." The detective affirmed he could have one and then Effler stated, "If I go to jail."

The detective, after providing Effler with a cigarette, continued the interview in which Effler described how he locked the bathroom door, took off the girl's clothing and touched and licked her genital area. He also told the detective that he had masturbated and tried to place his penis inside the toddler's vagina.

Effler's counsel attempted to suppress the video confession and all statements made during the interview on the grounds that Effler's right to counsel had been violated. Polk County District Court Judge Artis Reis heard the argument and concluded that Effler's request for counsel had been "conditioned upon his going to jail" and allowed the tape and statements as evidence.

In the opinion handed down this morning, Judge Robert Mahan wrote, "In sum, we conclude Effler's Fifth Amendment right to an attorney was violated and the district court erred by not granting Effler's motion to suppress the statements he made to officers after he had requested an attorney. In addition, we conclude such error was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. We therefore reverse the district court's judgment of conviction and sentence and remand the case for a new trail."

Once it was revealed that Effler had previously used computers at the library to view pornography over the Internet, the case sparked a firestorm of calls for Internet filtering of content at public libraries. The American Library Association opposes Internet filtering as do many libraries throughout Iowa. Libraries that choose not to filter are subject to federal funding being withheld under the Children's Internet Protection Act.

The following are the statements distributed by Iowa's congressional delegation in relation to the testimony of Gen. David Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Congressman Leonard Boswell, 3rd District (added 4/9/08, after the House hearings):

"After two days of testimony, it's clear that the Administration still has no end game. The purpose of the surge was to move towards a political reconciliation, but this still has not occurred. It's unfortunate that our brave young men and women in uniform are being put at risk, without any clear strategy.

"I, along with others have repeatedly asked for their 'plan' for an orderly withdrawal of our troops, but none exists, nor does there appear to be any strategy to do so. This Administration seems determined to participate in what has become an internal Iraqi civil war."

Sen. Tom Harkin:

“I, along with millions of Americans, waited today to hear General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker propose a clear strategy for our nation’s mission in Iraq - something we have been waiting to hear from this Administration for years. Unfortunately, we heard more of the same.

“The simple truth is that keeping our brave soldiers mired in the Iraqi civil war is breaking our military, bankrupting our treasury, and making our country less safe. Iraq needs a political solution, which only Iraqis can provide, to bring real stability and security to their country.

“There will be more troops in Iraq this summer than when the temporary surge began more than a year ago. Even General Petraeus admits there is no military solution in Iraq, so keeping 142,000 troops there is not the answer. The current strain on our troops is unsustainable – we simply do not have enough trained and ready troops to indefinitely sustain such high troop levels in Iraq. Pentagon officials have acknowledged that the great demand on our forces has diminished our military readiness and hindered our ability to respond to any new crisis.

“We have lost more than 4,000 of our men and women, with almost 30,000 injured, many severely. Brigades are not being allowed sufficient time to regroup and retrain, placing enormous strains on our soldiers and their families. Last year, suicides among active-duty soldiers reached their highest level since the Army began keeping records 28 years ago.

“While the American taxpayer continues to pour $12 billion a month into Iraq, the Iraqi government’s oil revenues are skyrocketing due to soaring oil prices. When the war in Iraq began, the cost of a barrel of oil was $33.51 and the Bush Administration claimed that the Iraqis would pay for most of the reconstruction and basic needs of its people. It has been estimated that Iraq will earn $100 billion in oil revenue in 2007 and 2008. Yet the Iraqi government has billions of dollars sitting in bank accounts collecting interest, while American taxpayers are being forced to foot the bill.

“If we pursue the Bush stay-the-course mentality, we will quickly reach the decade mark for our military occupation in Iraq. I stand with the millions of Americans who are ready for a new direction.”

Congressman Bruce Braley, 1st District

“While there have been recent security gains on the ground in Iraq, we are no closer today to a political solution for Iraq than we were last September when General Petraeus first testified before Congress. General Petraeus himself acknowledged as much last month when he said that ‘no one’ felt there had been ‘sufficient progress’ at Iraqi national reconciliation.

“Like he did last fall, General Petraeus today asked for more time for the President’s surge to work. But all the time in the world won’t get the Iraqis to come together and reach a political solution for their country unless they are willing to commit to it.

“General Petraeus also expressed concern with setting a timetable for redeployment. But we can’t stay in Iraq forever: our troops are spread thin across the globe, our military readiness is dangerously depleted, and we have lost our focus on the war on terror in Afghanistan.

“It’s time to show the Iraqis that we are serious about them taking control of their own country. We need to follow the advice that the Iraq Study Group gave long ago: it’s time to set a timeline to redeploy our troops and turn Iraq over to the Iraqis.”

Congressman Dave Loebsack, 2nd District

“I have twice visited our troops in Iraq, and am always inspired by their service, sacrifice and commitment. However, after today’s hearing I continue to be troubled over the Bush Administration’s inability to provide a clear definition of success in Iraq and what conditions it believes must be met in order to bring our men and women in uniform home. These are the questions I will seek answers to when General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker testify in front of me and my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee tomorrow.”

Iowa's two U.S. Attorneys kicked off a new effort this afternoon that is aimed at raising public awareness of human trafficking.

"Human trafficking -- the use of force, fraud or coercion to compel the labor or services of another person -- is a terrible crime," said Matt M. Dumermuth, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa. "The criminals prey on some of the most vulnerable members of our society. They often target children and foreign nationals, including illegal immigrants, who think they have no place to turn for help."

Dummermuth stood with Matt G. Whitaker, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, to announce a plan that will impact Johnson, Linn, Black Hawk and Dubuque counties. Initially, posters and brochures will be distributed through the counties in an effort to bring more public attention to the crime. A web site has also been launched that includes information about human trafficking, resources for victims, contact information for victim service providers and a link for reporting suspected human trafficking cases.

"Although slavery was outlawed in the United States more than 140 years ago, a modern-day form of it still takes place in our country," said Whitaker. "We need to make sure we do all we can to help reach out to those who are victims of this crime."

Human Trafficking Cases in Iowa:

• In June of 1999, Igor Voyitenko, a Russian national, was charged with bringing four Russian immigrants to the Quad Cities to work in his contract cleaning business and live in an inadequate apartment. The work was to be done in exchange for their passage to the United States. The case was handled by immigration authorities who deported the four workers back to Russia. Voyitenko was also later deported.
• More recently, Demont Bowie of Wellman kidnapped a 13-year-old girl from Minneapolis. The girl was forced to work in an eastern Iowa prostitution ring run by Bowie's father. The case was prosecuted as a kidnapping.
• The Iowa Council for International Understanding reports that a Chinese national was brought to Ames by a relative under false promises of work. While in Ames, the young woman was forced to work in a restaurant and abused by physically and sexually. Once her situation was discovered, she fought to remain in the country legally.

Representatives of the Northern Iowa Human Trafficking Response Team (HTRT) and its group of eastern Iowa partners were also available at the afternoon press conference. The HTRT was created last year to deal with human trafficking crimes and consists of representatives from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Internal Revenue Service. Goals of the team are to develop plans for responding to the crime of human trafficking, develop and outreach campaign and provide training to both team members and victim service partners.

Members of the eastern Iowa partner group are representatives from the Black Hawk County Attorney's Office, Cedar Valley Friends of the Family in Waverly, Dubuque Community Y - Domestic Violence Program, HACAP of Iowa City, the Johnson County Attorney's Office, Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault, St. Luke's Child Protection Center in Cedar Rapids, Seeds of Hope in Waterloo, and Waypoint in Cedar Rapids. The partners are the agencies dedicated to helping provide services to victims of human trafficking and community awareness of such crimes.

Human trafficking was not monitored in the United States until 1994 -- it wasn't until June 2006 that Gov. Tom Vilsack signed a law that made Iowa the 14th state to outlaw human trafficking. Today, it is estimated that the crime affects roughly 20,000 people, bringing them into the United States either against their will or under false pretenses. Roughly 1 million individuals are estimated to be trafficked globally -- over 70 percent of them female. The U.S. Department of State reports that human trafficking is the third most profitable criminal activity, following only drug and arms trafficking. An estimated $9.5 billion is generated in annual revenue from all trafficking activities, with at least $4 billion attributed to the worldwide brothel industry.

As you may have already read on Around Des Moines and Blog for Iowa, I was selected as one of the 10 finalists for the Women's Voices Making History Favorite Female Blogger contest at Women's Voices. Women Vote. Although I know this will sound cliche, the truth is that it has been an amazing honor just to be nominated and selected to stand with the other nine amazing, intelligent and opinionated women.

I'd be remiss here if I didn't send some thank you shout-outs to Seth, Debi, Kay, Debby, Lori, Dave, Chris, Sam, Rose, Carol and all the other friends and readers who have already passed this wonderful news along through their email lists and blogs. In as much as I find the national attention an honor, your personal notes of appreciation and endorsement have left me humbled beyond measure... and even a tad speechless, which I'm sure all of you will find hysterical.

Thanks also to my co-workers and friends at Iowa Independent, RH Reality Check, and Huffington Post. It is in large part due to their help, deadlines and inspiration that many of the posts you read here were written. I'm blessed to be a part of such a diverse and wonderful professional network.

Voting for your favorite of the final 10 women selected will continue through Friday. Regardless of which blogger you choose, please take a moment to visit the site and cast a vote for one of the women listed there. As the Essential Estrogen mission statement reads, "Throughout history every significant societal shift toward a more equitable community has taken place because either a woman or a group of women took action. ... History has not only shown women in politics to be beneficial to society, it has shown such influence to be essential to society."

My thanks and congratulations to all nominated. Our voices are essential.

SHeDAISY singing Get Over Yourself:

Over the past few weeks I've been confronted with the "Why do you blog?" question. And, before anyone asks: "Yes, it is different for girls and women." There is an odd and sometimes scary ugliness that comes from allowing others a sense of anonymity while you, the blogger, have little.

While I'm not sure I've come up with an answer to the question that adequately fits for me, I did look over at some other women's blogs to see why they might feel compelled do this. One particular post on Blogher, written by Jennifer Satterwhite discusses her celebration of being eight years passed a drug addiction and what she finds by reading blogs and being a blogger. (There are also some great links in her post, so go read it.)

There is one thing I know: I have a split-blogging personality. One side of me writes traditionally, describing events and gathering quotations from those in attendance. That side also writes the statistical pieces readers find here from time to time. The other side of me, however, writes these Sunday posts and discusses life, emotions and ideas. I know how to write both ways and, so I've been told, I have a certain amount of talent for each. What I've yet to develop... actually, what I've questioned could be developed... is a way to merge the two. Is it possible to bear your soul to readers while following the journalists' mandate of "just the facts?"

I was happy when I saw that Jack and Jill Politics had been featured on Anderson Cooper. Then I read what the blog author(s) thought about it.

This problem illustrates perfectly what seems to be happening in the traditional media. Blogs and online news sites are gaining more credibility, but are often not afforded the same considerations that are given to fellow journalists and traditional pundits. That is, often our words are taken, read out of context and then discussed by individuals who rarely (if ever) have read our thoughts as a whole.

No doubt you've probably heard at least something about Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius by now. If nothing else, you should know that she's considered to be on the short list of vice presidential contenders.

If you head over to Mom's Speak Out, you'll read a post about Sebelius possible green leanings. (She recently vetoed expansion of a coal-burning power plant in her state.)

Did you see the piece Students of Virginity in the New York Times Magazine? It's about the outbreak of abstinent-until-marriage groups at institutions of higher learning. The article especially focused on such groups at Ivy League schools.

Some snippits:

In a follow-up study to a 1995 national survey of close to 12,000 students in grades 7 through 12, two sociologists, Peter Bearman at Columbia University and Hannah Brückner at Yale, found that while those who took virginity pledges preserved their technical virginity about 18 months longer than teenagers who didn’t pledge, they were six times more likely to engage in oral sex than virgins who hadn’t taken a pledge. They were also much less likely to use condoms during their first sexual experience or to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. Disease rates between those who pledged and those who didn’t were actually similar. The authors, who published their findings in 2005, concluded that the emphasis on premarital abstinence was insufficient to fend off disease and “collides with the realities of adolescents’ and young adults’ lives.”

...

A voluntary online survey showed that students at Harvard were less sexually active than undergraduates elsewhere, says Dr. David Rosenthal, director of University Health Services, which conducted the survey. But perceiving a sexualized culture, members of True Love Revolution went to war. The group did not require an abstinence pledge, nor concern itself with drawing specific boundaries. Its one stated purpose was to discourage premarital intercourse, but by declining to endorse gay marriage, the group left gays, just as Princeton did, with no option but to abstain forever. Since True Love Revolution did not condemn gay marriage, Murray hoped no one would feel “personally attacked.” “We just wanted it to be kind of humorous and lighthearted,” he said.

True Love Revolution was denounced, however, after its first big outreach effort, on Valentine’s Day 2007. Members had sent out cards to the women of the freshmen class that read: “Why wait? Because you’re worth it.” Some interpreted the card to mean that those who didn’t wait until marriage to have sex would somehow be worth less. One writer for The Crimson concluded that “by targeting women with their cards and didactic message, they perpetuate an age-old values system in which the worth of a young woman is measured by her virginity.”

There's much more at the link. The paragraphs I pulled above are the ones with which I had the most issue. First, we know that "just say no" doesn't work. It never has and it never will. While I believe we could teach our young people that sexual intimacy should be sacred and coveted, we cannot just leave sex itself sitting out as some mysterious bottle of goo (good or bad goo). It is important for us to give our young people all the information available so that when decisions are made, the decisions are educated.

Finally, I'm still a bit disgusted with the Valentine's Day stunt. Why is a woman who has sex a slut while a man who has sex is a stud? And, no, I don't buy the fact that "that's the way it's always been." Further, for a woman to be the instigator of both demeaning women and applying the slut label... well, I find that all the more distasteful.

At his blog A Fly Bottle, Will Wilkinson pulls some interesting statistical data from the book "Gross National Happiness" that seems to show that having children actually makes adults less happy.

The more children you have, on average, the unhappier you get — up to a point. The average happiness of adults — correcting for all the factors mentioned above — falls as more children are added to the family.

For the record, I've met certain people who found their most happiness through raising and caring for children. But those people -- of whom I am not one -- are few and far between. Truly raising and caring for children is non-stop work. While I write this post, I can think of literally hundreds of things I *could* be doing that would all fall under the category of child-rearing. Don't believe me? Well, I could be checking out colleges for my oldest daughter. I could sew the hole in my son's favorite piggy. I could be pulling too small clothing from the drawers, or unpacking the summer things I packed away last fall. I could be disinfecting door knobs. (This is still the flue season.) I could be playing a game with them. I could be taking them to the park. I could be making sure homework is done. I could be preparing baths. I could be doing the dishes left in the sink. I could be brushing the now-shedding cat, since I know her loose fur will be play havoc with my middle daughter's allergies.

As I said, there are hundreds of things I could be doing. I'm doing this, however, because it is something I find enjoyable. It is something that makes me happy. I'm not sure if that makes me a horrible person; however, I am quite sure that I'm not a lonely parent in this regard. Most parents I know rejoice in the few hours of solitude they can find away from their children. This does not mean we aren't happy to return home or that we don't miss our children while we're away. It just means that humans are typically selfish creatures and the work of raising children is primarily selfless.

Every so often I read something on a blog that has me literally jumping up out of my chair to applaud. Such is the case with the Why Democrats Soliciting Religious Voters is Silly, Stupid and Suicidal post at the Watching Those We Chose blog. Bravo!

Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa's five-day spring book sale raised $197,000 -- a new record. When combined with proceeds from the fall sale, a total of $388,000 was raised during the fiscal year. That's the largest total in the book sale's 48-year history.

Kudos to June Harris and Chuck Kolb, co-chairs of the sale, for their hard work and success. Kudos also to everyone who donated, volunteered and, of course, shopped.

Emma Rocks!, a musical competition held at the Englert Theatre on Saturday with proceeds benefiting the Emma Goldman Clinic, gave awards to three artists. In total, 11 performances were voted on by the audience before the top three popular vote getters were handed to a panel of judges for placement.

Blue Cat Alley, a blues rock band comprised of Kate Thompson, Tim Laughrin, David Bordow, Steve Jeffries and Mark Soth, earned first place honors. They performed an original piece written by Soth, entitled "That's What I Find." The band chose the production prize, which consists of a demo compact disc produced by Dave Zollo in the studios at United Action for Youth as well as a music video produced by Community Television Services.

Second place winners were Greg and Jean Thompson, a folk duo. They chose the promotion prize that includes 45 minutes on the main stage of the Iowa Arts Fest and a feature article in Creative Crossroads magazine. They performed "Drive to Fargo," written by Greg.

Family Van, a "noise-pop" improvisation group comprised of Laura Kelley, Liz Preciado, David Luthor and Lisa Kattchee, earned third place honors. They performed their original song "Nice Guys Get Funked." The group received an acoustic Arbor guitar with backpack case provided by J Frahm Music and guitar lessons by Bill Hook, co-owner of The Guitar House.

"This event was really fun for the clinic to organize, for the local musicians to perform and for the community to participate," said Karen Kubby, executive director of the Emma Goldman Clinic. "It reminds me how artistically rich we are in Johnson County."

Judges for the event were Mayor Regenia Bailey, musician Nikki Lunden and Sam Schliesinger, volunteer with United Action for Youth.

The Emma Goldman Clinic, the first women owned and operated health care center in the Midwest and the first out-patient abortion clinic in Iowa, was founded in September 1973 by a group of dedicated community women. Today it is one of the most highly regarded non-profit health care facilities in the country.

Two recent studies, both judging the state's ability to provide children a safe environment, have Iowa listed at opposite ends of the spectrum. The discrepancy has some parents questioning the long-held belief that Iowa is a great place to raise a family. Are current state policies doing enough to keep children living in our state safe? Is it an argument of parents versus policy?

Readers of Parents magazine learned this month that editors ranked Iowa 43rd in the nation while assessing potential child safety in each of the 50 states. A separate study pioneered by the Washington D.C.-based nonprofit Every Child Matters Education Fund, however, drew immediate praise from Gov. Chet Culver when it placed Iowa as the No. 1 Midwestern state in terms of child well-being, and seventh nationwide.

"This report proves that in Iowa we are doing things right," said Culver. "Iowa's children hold the keys to our future, and this is why the Culver/Judge Administration has worked hard to give our children a brighter future. I am committed to building upon the progress we have made so that every Iowa child can reach their fullest potential."

The report that ranked Iowa high looked at 10 child well-being indicators such as infant mortality rates, the numbers of child and teen deaths, access to prenatal care, and number of uninsured children.

In contrast, the editors of Parents analyzed state-level data on more than 30 criteria that impact a child's safety, including bike helmet and booster seat laws, sex-offender tracking and the number of emergency services providers per capita. The Parents study judged each state on all criteria, the final score being based half on accident prevention and half on violence prevention.

"I'm not sure what to believe or what is really being assessed by these studies," said Amy Relanote, an Iowa mom to 8-year-old twin boys and a 5-year-old girl. "I think the Parents study took many more statistics into account, but much of what they viewed could fall under 'nanny' government. Is it the government's responsibility to make sure that my boys are wearing their bicycle helmets or is it mine? I think it's the state's responsibility to watch out for my children in ways that I cannot. The rest is up to me."

Karen Cicero, editor of the piece for Parents, said that she can see both sides of that issue.

"Some parents really appreciate the booster seat and bicycle helmet laws because it makes those instances a nonissue in their household," she said. "Parents feel it gives them both more power and, in a way, removes pressure from them. A statement like, 'No, this is the law,' makes the issue a nondebatable one."

Cicero also points out that while parents have control over what happens in their own vehicles and in their homes, such controls are removed when children move into public spaces.

"[Parents] don't have control over the installation of seat belts in school buses," she said. "The seat belts have to be there for the kids to use them -- parents, obviously, can instruct their kids about the importance of using them."

Cicero said that because state laws are constantly changing, she doesn't see the study reported in the magazine as a snapshot in time. She also said that she didn't see the findings as political in nature, despite the fact that the statistics often took into account state laws and policies regarding safety issues.

"I don't see this as a political issue at all," Cicero said when asked if the magazine's assessment included information relating to the political or gender make-up of state legislatures. "This is a safety issue. This is a chance for parents to see what their state has done, what other states have done and decide if there are things that could be done in their state that will result in a safer environment for their children."

While Parents magazine preached to its choir (the nation's parents), the study from Every Child Matters preached to its predominantly politically charged base by calling for congressional hearings, policy positions from presidential candidates and disparity examinations at all levels of government and in the private sector.

"As Americans, we need to ask ourselves: 'Does every child in the U.S. deserve an equal opportunity to be healthy and survive to adulthood?'" said Michael Petit, author of the study and founder of Every Child Matters. "Is there a floor below which no American child should fall, regardless of the accident of geography that accounts for where they are born and raised? It should no longer be politically acceptable to permit -- or simply ignore -- the vast differences in life chances that exist for children today."

While shuffling through the email that had accumulated in my inbox while I was away from the computer, I found the following note (changed slightly to protect the writer):

... I am 23 years old. I just lost my daughter on March 27... Nothing changes the fact that my daughter is gone. And no matter what I would do, it doesn't change my broken heart and the feeling of emptiness. I was hoping you might have some advice for me. I'm at a loss and just daze off into nothing a lot. I have a support system and they are doing all they know how to do... I need someone who has been here before. I found your poem to your son and I thought you might be able to tell me something. Anything you can offer would be deeply appreciated...

Without fail, at least once a week, I not only receive, but read and answer email messages written by women who have suffered some form of pregnancy loss. No matter where the women who contact me are within their own grief, I feel compelled to tell them up front that they will never again feel whole. While time has done a remarkable job of healing the edges of the hole that has been placed through my stomach -- and it feels as real as a shotgun blast -- even time cannot fully close the gap.

I've been through three pregnancy losses -- the first mid-term, the second full-term and the last in early pregnancy. The first loss happened nearly 13 years ago. Three years later, the unthinkable happened again. The final blow came just months after the full-term stillbirth. Since that time I've been open about what happened in each of the pregnancies and about the details of the losses. Because of that openness, I'm sure many believe that I'm "passed it" or that I've "moved on." The truth is that I haven't. More importantly, I've come to understand that despite the fact that I've had two more healthy children following the losses, I will never be fully passed what happened. There will always be that unexpected smell, tune, flower, color or something that triggers an unhappy memory.

I think this path more than anything else is what places me, as well as other women who've had similar circumstances, in a precarious position. I can honestly and truthfully say that I've never met a woman who has gone through pregnancy loss who was not in favor of a woman's right to choose. I think that's because we have a greater understanding of the true emotional and physical toll that can come with a pregnancy. By that same token, we've all had starring roles in the grief process. We know how much hurt and misery follows the loss of a wanted and loved child. It's a tightrope walk through egg shells that leaves us without comfortable footing at either end of the reproductive health debate.

On one hand, those who refuse to see abortion or birth control as ever being a necessary or moral choice do not grasp the real and true danger we know exists within pregnancy. There are times that pregnancy feels more like a blindfolded walk across hot coals on the edge of a cliff than an occasion to celebrate and await the joyous arrival.

On the other hand, women who have been through pregnancy and child loss never want another woman to experience what they have. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the choice a woman has made -- regardless of what that choice may be -- is the one she wants. Choice is a serious responsibility, and with responsibility comes risks and consequences. While this rarely puts us at odds with others within the pro-choice community, there have been instances.

We are either the loose cannons or the peace makers, depending on your point of view. But our stories are powerful, honest and raw. To put it bluntly, we cut through the crap of protesters, lawmakers shifting in their seats, Supreme Court appointments, and clinic bombings to arrive at the only thing that really matters -- the family, the woman, the specific situation. That scares the hell out of those on either side of the issue who line their pockets with the misfortune of others.

A few years ago, I was invited to come to a predominately anti-abortion conference to share the story of my first pregnancy loss. It was a pregnancy that I very much wanted, but it was never meant to be. Due to several severe neural tube defects, the child I was carrying would die. It was also doubtful that I'd ever make it to term. Roughly 26 weeks into the pregnancy, and after visiting several doctors, we made the decision to terminate. I think because of that experience, I somewhat understand what families go through as they debate if a loved one should be removed from life support. Although I never want another family to be placed in that spot, I will say that I'm very grateful the decision was ours -- not the doctors' and, definitely, not the government's.

The organizers of this particular conference, at my prodding, also invited another woman I'd been corresponding with for several months. She had lost a daughter to anencephaly -- one of the terminal defects that also took the life of my son -- but she and her family chose a different path. Absent other major defects, she was able to carry to term and gave birth to a daughter, who lived for 13 minutes after birth.

Although I hadn't considered it before arriving that day, I think many in the audience were prepared for what they thought would be a heated exchange between my friend and me. At the end of our part of the program, however, I don't recall there being a tear-free face. I confessed that I always assumed the other woman -- not to mention the general public -- thought less of me because of my decision to terminate. She then admitted that she had felt somewhat obligated to carry to term, and did so more out of fear of what people would say and think than out of a real want or desire. She wanted her older children to have a support group around them, and worried that a decision to terminate might keep some from giving that type of grief support to them.

She said, given the social climate, she took the "easy way out." Ironic, isn't it? Carrying a child for nine months -- knowing for most of that time that once you give birth the child will die, if he/she doesn't die during birth -- then birthing and spending 13 minutes before watching your daughter take her last breath is considered the "easy way out."

On the other hand, because of my decision to terminate, I lost the support of both family and friends. Our family was pushed from our church because our "situation caused a rift within the congregation." On the day I chose to remove life support on someone I knew so briefly yet loved so dearly, I walked through layers of protesters who screamed that I was a murderess. Once inside, I learned that my son had already died a few days earlier, and that I'd spend the next weeks fighting a serious infection.

I need to close this post because I know there is a woman somewhere out there who won't sleep tonight... or maybe will sleep for hours and hours, trying to ignore the emptiness that's been left behind. I don't know the exact circumstances of her loss. In all honesty, it doesn't matter... and it shouldn't ever matter.

If it is possible to get jet-lag without actually getting on a plane, that's exactly what I've got. After adding up the distances between the various destinations I've visited (by car) since last Friday, I estimate that I've traveled at least 625 miles.

Over the weekend sexy husband and I traveled to the Mississippi River and on over into Galena, Ill. We tried our luck at the casino (and left with a little more jingle in our pockets), sampled Belgium chocolates, browsed the shops and just had a great and relaxing time.

After a brief stop back at home, I left for Des Moines on Monday and was able to spend quality time with some of Iowa's hard-working state legislators and elected officials. Things are busy (as usual) under the golden dome. Appropriations seemed to be on everyone's plate and I heard there are beau coups of great things coming down the pipe for women and families. As a side note, my special thanks to Rep. Swati Dandekar for accepting me as her guest. Thanks as well to Rep. Art Staed. After realizing I'd never had my "official" photo taken in chambers, he and Dandekar put me in the Speaker's chair just like a tourist. It's so cheesy that I must share:

Two quick items:

1. Iowa's Olympic athletes were honored in both chambers yesterday. What an amazing group of individuals! They received many good wishes from legislators, clerks, lobbyists and visitors during their time at the capitol.
2. I watched as a bill aimed at providing a hand-up to war orphans passed the House nearly unanimously. (Vote -- 99 yea, 1 abstain) Congratulations to Staed for his leadership with this bill.

There was also some sad news reported yesterday during a point of personal privilege by Rep. Elesha Gayman. The person in Scott County who has served the longest amount of time as an elected official -- Scott County Auditor Karen Fitzsimmons -- was taken off life-support. Karen, who had served for over 30 years, actively mentored women to take a more active role in politics. My deepest condolences to her family and friends.

Last night I had another great dinner and received a car tour before returning home -- arriving shortly after midnight. It was a long trip, but an excellent time. Now it's back to work. This week we'll start featuring the women challengers. It's a series that will continue over the next few weeks.