Recently in Iowa Senate Category

What do you do when your City Council changes a law without the public's input or even an official vote.  You contact the State of Iowa's Citizen's Aide/Ombudsman.  A group of citizens in Cedar Rapids were tired of what was going on in their community and had a meeting.  I was chosen to be the spokesperson.  I talked to the Ombudsman's office and told them of our concern.

A year or so after the flood of 2008 it was obvious to all that there were going to be many needs of Citizens that were not going to be met through FEMA and Jumpstart.  A couple of the communities that were hit with flood waters were working class neighborhoods.  Many of these people are retired and on a fixed income, many more live from paycheck to paycheck.

Discussions began about a local option sales tax.  As the discussions continued, many citizens were concerned that if the tax were passed there would be no guarantee that the money would be used by the council in the way it was meant to be.  A lack of trust in politicians is nothing new. 

On February 20, 2009, the City Council sent out a press release.   This is a portion of that release.

For Immediate Release: Friday, February 20, 2009

Contact: Cassie Willis

Phone: 319-286-5055

City Council Confirms Housing Buyouts & Rehab Priority

At Wednesday evening's work session, the Cedar Rapids City Council unanimously confirmed its decision to prioritize flood-damaged property acquisition and housing rehabilitation as the first investments for tax revenues from the 1 percent local option sales and service tax (LOST), if the initiative is passed by voters.

"Our number one priorities are buying out significantly flood-damaged homes and rebuilding and repairing all the other flooded homes," said Council Member Chuck Wieneke. "LOST will provide the funding we desperately need." The City has requested state and federal funding to provide a voluntary property acquisition program for approximately 1,300 flood-damaged properties in Cedar Rapids. So far, that funding has not been made available to the City.

Council Member Chuck Wieneke was appointed to be the liaison between the Council and flood victims.  He was quoted in the Press Release saying "... all the other flooded homes".

On March 3, 2009 the citizens voted and the L.O.S.T. became a new tax of.01.  We were believing the money would be spent helping out the flooded home owners.  Nothing could have been further from the truth.

Mayor Ron Corbett and Councilman Chuck Wieneke will tell you in no uncertain terms that they will NOT spend one dime on the properties of the Greenway and Construction Zones.  These self-drawn zones by the City of Cedar Rapids did not appear until 6 months or so after the vote.  All of a sudden we don't have "all the other flooded homes" we have "all the other flooded homes BUT those in the Greenway or Construction/Study Zones". 

This is not what we voted for.  How can they change it?  We don't know and that is why we contacted the Ombudsman's Office.  If they can change the meaning of this law what's to keep them from changing anything else their hard-hearted selves want to do?  Doesn't the rule of law mean anything?  If not, losing our homes is the least of our concerns.

Mayor Corbett told me that the City Council changed it (the law) and we could do nothing about it.  I told him to change it back.  He quickly told me he did not have the votes to do it. Can you believe that?  Ron Corbett saying he doesn't have the votes to do something and letting that stop him.  I asked him about it again and he lost his temper, in public.  Yes, he got that mad.  The group at www.crsmells.com is going to put up portions of the taped conversation with the Mayor.  I sure don't have anything to lose with it.  He told the other participants they needed to distance themselves from me.  He said I had burned all sorts of bridges.  Maybe, we'll have them post that part of the conversation as well.

Now we wait to see what the Ombudsman's Office has to say.  I've gotten nothing in writing but I have been told they are looking into the matter.  They have requested information from the City.

I hope we are able to get the City Council back to the original intent of the law and repair the homes before the City is able to demolish them all.

Wish us luck, or call the Ombudsman's Office and tell them you can't believe this is happening in Iowa!


  

Iowa Rep. Deborah Berry, a Democrat from Waterloo, provides great closing remarks on SF 2357, a bill that seeks to prevent domestic violence.

The House has passed the bill, which is now in the Iowa Senate.

What could be better than spending the evening with an exceptional group of Iowa Democratic women? For me, it would be getting honored by that same group of women for something I had a great time doing.

Last fall, I helped DAWN's List put together a seminar for Democratic women. My contribution included putting together materials on social networking and other tech things that I love and use on a daily basis, and sharing that information with some of the most dynamic women in Iowa. It was one of the most pleasurable activities I've ever undertaken and something I'd gladly do again. 

There will be a reception Monday night in Des Moines for my honoring (which I'm hoping will be kept to a minimum), as well as the very much deserved recognition of six other Democratic ladies. 

The full press release from DAWN's List is below, and I really hope to see you there.

Democratic Activist Women's Network Announces Honorees for Women's Appreciation Day Reception

Des Moines, IA - DAWN's List has announced the names of five Democratic women who will be honored at the Women's Appreciation Day Reception to be held Monday, March 8th, at the Grand Piano Bistro in Des Moines.

"We received nominations from all over the state for these awards," said Carole Kazmierski, President of DAWN's List. "The nominees are outstanding women who have made major contributions to the state of Iowa."

Award winners include Andrea Jansa, Des Moines (Rising Star Award); Rachael Grimes, McCallsburg (Special Recognition Award); Clara Oleson, West Branch (Activist Award); Peggy Huppert, Des Moines (Lifetime Achievement Award); and State Senator Amanda Ragan, Mason City (Elected Official Award).

During the reception, DAWN's List will also honor Lynda Waddington for her volunteer efforts in 2009 and will recognize Roxanne Conlin, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, for her many years of service to DAWN-supported issues.

Guest speaker at the reception will be Christie Vilsack, Executive Director of the Iowa Initiative and former Iowa First Lady. The reception will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Grand Piano Bistro, 506 E. Grand Avenue, Des Moines.

Tickets may be reserved on the DAWN's List website (www.dawnslist.org) or may be purchased from a DAWN's List steering committee member prior to the event. Ticket requests may also be e-mailed to dawniowa@gmail.com, Please include your name, contact information, and number of tickets needed.

With a prior reservation individual tickets are $20 or two tickets for $35. Individual tickets purchased at the door will be $25 for one ticket or $40 for two tickets.

Since 1992, DAWN's List has been dedicated to the election of Democratic pro-choice women in Iowa. Today, DAWN's List is the only Iowa group dedicated solely to the support, recruitment, mentoring and election of progressive women.

Thursday, February 18
Candidate for Governor, Bob Vander Plaats will be at the Pizza Ranch, 1005 Linden Drive, Marion, from Noon to 1:30 PM to talk about his bid to unseat Governor Chet Culver and outline his priorities for the State.

Friday, February 19
Candidate for Iowa Attorney General, Brenna Findley will be at a Coffee at 4:00 PM, Mr. Beans in Marion, 1080 East Post Road.

Saturday, February 20
The League of Women Voters will be hosting a Legislative Forum with all Legislators in the area.  10:30 AM - 11:45 AM, Hallagan Center, Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids.

Wednesday, February 24
Former Governor Mike Huckabee will be joining gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats at the Marriot Hotel, Cedar Rapids from 5:30 - 7:00 PM.

 

It never pays to insult others.  Sarah Palin was speaking at the Tea Party Convention and made several negative remarks about President Obama using a teleprompter.  It wasn't too long afterward she was seen with writing on her hand.  So, we're going to make fun of the President for using the latest technology and we are going to do what we did in elementary school?  Give me a break! 

Did you see Chairman Steele of the RNC explaining that the leadership of the RNC was in Hawaii for business and not a vacation while wearing a floral shirt with a lei around his neck.  Nice move there Mr. Chairman.  The comedians appreciate material being handed to them.  It makes their job like Fox News, they just report it.  We look stupid all by ourselves.  It must be nice to be a rich Republican and not live in the real world with all of the rest of us dealing with a poor economy, high gas prices, a lack of job growth, etc.

Are there any Log Cabin Republicans in Iowa?  If you are here would you please speak up LOUDLY!!!  I am tired of hearing about the marriage issue.  I know that not all Republicans want a vote on marriage.  I am not interested in forcing my religious beliefs on anyone.  I don't want my government enforcing religious beliefs period.  Freedom of Religion matters. 

Kathy Potts

It's been said that women become involved in politics when they are invited to participate. Please consider this your invitation.

Today, at 1 p.m., Iowans from all walks of life will meet in school gyms, churches, community centers and household basements. They will gather to begin a very important process that too often gets lost in political punditry and campaign jockeying. At these small gatherings, individuals will be selected as delegates to county conventions and as precinct leaders for local central committees.

You can be one of those convention delegates. You can take an active role in your county. You can place your fears about politics being "too nasty" aside long enough to imagine a better way. Most importantly, by jumping into the fray at the local level, you will have a very real opportunity to manifest what you have imagined.

Recent events have taught us -- taught women a lesson. For far too long we have allowed men to hold a vocal majority in our local, state and national politics. They have primarily catered to their own historic interests of business, war and finance without sufficient tempering by women's historic interests in child welfare, equality and education. Without a doubt we have reaped what we have sown, and our next generation can look forward to the dismal harvest of our own inattention and lack of concern for anything other than the possibility of dirtying our hands in the soil.

Iowa politics at all levels not only needs but is screaming out for a groundswell of female participation. We see it in our existing budget crisis, and the mandates by our governor to cut costs across the board. Women, who have balanced grocery, Girl Scout troop and church budgets, are much better positioned by right of their hands-on experience to understand that such cuts not only adversely impact the most vulnerable, but have the potential of leading to further expenses in the long run.

When a woman is faced with an especially tight week financially and knows she must reduce household expenditures, does she automatically decide that despite a need to commute to work that she will cut the fuel expenses by 10 percent? Does she enter the grocery store and purchase 10 percent less fruits and vegetables so that she can continue to purchase 90 percent chips and soda?

While a state budget is much more complex than a grocery list or even a family budget, there are common sense approaches that apply. When funds are tight we seek out and purchase the best food available to nourish and strengthen our families. We do so because we understand that inadequate or junk foods can lead to disease, which can lead to further household expenditures.

When state leaders cut essential services -- education, child protection, emergency services, juvenile justice, health care -- they are feeding their citizens junk food that will eventually cost our state 10-fold more than the initial savings.

The fiscal realities at all levels of government are stark challenges that demand thoughtful debate and well-considered policy. There is no longer time for the luxury of partisan bickering or grandstanding. There is only time for sincere individuals from every section of our society to place their heads together in good faith to map out solutions.

It's time to understand that even if the worst of your fears in connection with personal political involvement manifested themselves, your situation would still not be as bad as what you are going to confront if you don't become more active. 

Whether you more closely identify with Democrats or Republicans, there is location today where you can go, meet new people, see old friends, and begin a new journey. Spend an hour or two today at your precinct caucus. Spend the next week listing needs in your own community. Spend the next month identifying and befriending allies to address those challenges. Spend the next year making a difference.