"The tenants evicted the landlords."
"Refused to allow the people to speak."
"Since when did applause become a protest?"
Let's step away from the spin machine long enough to evaluate the sorry spectacle that occurred last night in Des Moines during a public hearing on proposed legislation to eliminate federal deductibility.
The first speaker was Beth Pearson from the Iowa Policy Project. She voiced support for the idea, citing that it would be a benefit for low-income taxpayers. In response to her comments several individuals in the gallery -- most of them wearing red shirts and representing Iowans for Tax Relief -- protested. To be blunt, the same people screaming this morning about being removed from a public hearing booed an Iowan for expressing her opinion on a proposed piece of legislation.
The audience was warned at that point that the hearing was not to be confused with a sporting event and that such demonstrations were not allowed. But those present didn't stop.
When Lana Ross with Iowa Community Action Agency also voiced her support for the proposed legislation, the audience hissed its disapproval.
Ed Failor of Iowans for Tax Relief not only spoke in opposition of the bill, but said his organization is telling college students to "get out of Iowa." To this the audience erupted in applause.
Christian Fong, the vice chairman of Generation Iowa and with the Cedar Rapids Small Business Task Force, then spoke in opposition. Following his remarks the public was once again warned that continued demonstrations would result in the clearing of the chamber.
Kelli Soyer of Des Moines and with the National Association of Social workers spoke in support. Steve Kunert of SNK Enterprises in Cedar Rapids spoke against. Lyle Krewson of Iowa Human Needs Advocates spoke in support, and was given a chorus of boos and hisses in response.
Following a few more speakers -- most, if not all, in opposition to the proposed legislation -- and several more outbursts from the audience that had been repeatedly warned to stop demonstrations during the public hearing, the galleries were cleared so that the hearing could continue uninterrupted.
Those being ousted took offense, although their spirited and unison cries of "This is the people's house" told everyone that this is exactly what they were seeking in the first place.
Failor then took the whole incident to a new and shameful level by announcing that Pat Murphy, duly elected speaker of the house, was "a jack-booted Nazi." Interestingly enough the "Nazi" continued the public hearing for more than an hour after the gallery was cleared.
What happened last night in Des Moines was political theater, orchestrated to produce a reponse, with a pre-conceived counter-response.
It just goes to prove that in the world of politics, just as in the world of toddlers, even bad attention is still attention.
But while some choose to play political games for the benefit of the media and cameras so they can send out press releases about pretend outrage and political surges, we still have individuals in Linn County who can't rebuild their homes. We have young people terrified that their lives are going to be washed away again this spring in another flood. We have residents of Postville wondering how they are going to rebuild their shattered community. We have churches worried that they can't meet the needs of the uninsured and unemployed who are now knocking on their doors for help.
And, if the statistics bear any insights, none of these people who can't sleep at night because of real life drama will be impacted by federal deductibility.
"Refused to allow the people to speak."
"Since when did applause become a protest?"
Let's step away from the spin machine long enough to evaluate the sorry spectacle that occurred last night in Des Moines during a public hearing on proposed legislation to eliminate federal deductibility.
The first speaker was Beth Pearson from the Iowa Policy Project. She voiced support for the idea, citing that it would be a benefit for low-income taxpayers. In response to her comments several individuals in the gallery -- most of them wearing red shirts and representing Iowans for Tax Relief -- protested. To be blunt, the same people screaming this morning about being removed from a public hearing booed an Iowan for expressing her opinion on a proposed piece of legislation.
The audience was warned at that point that the hearing was not to be confused with a sporting event and that such demonstrations were not allowed. But those present didn't stop.
When Lana Ross with Iowa Community Action Agency also voiced her support for the proposed legislation, the audience hissed its disapproval.
Ed Failor of Iowans for Tax Relief not only spoke in opposition of the bill, but said his organization is telling college students to "get out of Iowa." To this the audience erupted in applause.
Christian Fong, the vice chairman of Generation Iowa and with the Cedar Rapids Small Business Task Force, then spoke in opposition. Following his remarks the public was once again warned that continued demonstrations would result in the clearing of the chamber.
Kelli Soyer of Des Moines and with the National Association of Social workers spoke in support. Steve Kunert of SNK Enterprises in Cedar Rapids spoke against. Lyle Krewson of Iowa Human Needs Advocates spoke in support, and was given a chorus of boos and hisses in response.
Following a few more speakers -- most, if not all, in opposition to the proposed legislation -- and several more outbursts from the audience that had been repeatedly warned to stop demonstrations during the public hearing, the galleries were cleared so that the hearing could continue uninterrupted.
Those being ousted took offense, although their spirited and unison cries of "This is the people's house" told everyone that this is exactly what they were seeking in the first place.
Failor then took the whole incident to a new and shameful level by announcing that Pat Murphy, duly elected speaker of the house, was "a jack-booted Nazi." Interestingly enough the "Nazi" continued the public hearing for more than an hour after the gallery was cleared.
What happened last night in Des Moines was political theater, orchestrated to produce a reponse, with a pre-conceived counter-response.
It just goes to prove that in the world of politics, just as in the world of toddlers, even bad attention is still attention.
But while some choose to play political games for the benefit of the media and cameras so they can send out press releases about pretend outrage and political surges, we still have individuals in Linn County who can't rebuild their homes. We have young people terrified that their lives are going to be washed away again this spring in another flood. We have residents of Postville wondering how they are going to rebuild their shattered community. We have churches worried that they can't meet the needs of the uninsured and unemployed who are now knocking on their doors for help.
And, if the statistics bear any insights, none of these people who can't sleep at night because of real life drama will be impacted by federal deductibility.
You may want to believe that it was political theater and orchestrated, but I can assure you that people are angry about this proposal. If the Democrats want to go ahead with this plan, they better be prepared to be saddled with this burden for a long, long time.