This week in Iowa organizing…

Written By Guest User

Okay, thanks to some of you astute readers who pointed out my incorrect use of undue last week (vs. undo). Thank you!

So let me take a minute to get this straight:

Governor Reynolds and some legislative leaders want to undo child labor laws, social safety net programs, independence of our Attorney General from the whims of the Governor, and so on. And they want to place undue burden on Iowans who fall on hard times, trans kids and public school teachers, and others who don't believe exactly what they do.

On the other hand, we firmly believe there are a substantial majority of Iowans who do want to put our communities before corporations and people before profits and politics. Iowans who believe we are due basic civil rights and opportunity regardless of race, gender, ability or background.

Alright, I think I've got the difference squared away now. And we'll always be at the ready to remind Governor Reynolds she may currently hold the reins of state government, she absolutely does not reign over us. We'll make sure of that.

Please read on for updates, especially on the CO2 pipelines and a key deadline approaching, because a whole heck of a lot of Iowans absolutely want all of our lawmakers to DO something about that.

For our people, planet, and proper grammar (most of the time),

Matthew Covington (he/him)
Strategic Operations Director

At the statehouse 

Let's talk about CO2 pipelines - and then add your voice  

The first legislative funnel deadline for most bills to stay alive for debate is this Friday, March 3.

So let's get to the meat of the matter, House File 368. You likely remember us beating the drum about Senate File 101, and HF 368 is a direct result of you and countless others who have weighed in with your legislators about the need to prevent eminent domain abuse by the CO2 pipeline companies wanting to tear through our land and communities solely in the name of profit.

HF 368 doesn't go as far as SF 101, but it sure does a lot. As opposed to completely banning the use of eminent domain for these greenwashing projects that do nothing to address climate change, it places numerous restrictions and obstacles for the projects to move forward. And that was only made possible by people calling for what we truly need.

Proposed by 22 House Republicans, HF 368 would:

  • require 90% voluntary easements on land proposed for the pipelines,

  • federal regulations to be issued (effectively a 1-year moratorium),

  • increased compensation for damages to landowners, and,

  • pipeline developers to follow county ordinances.

  • It is a large step forward, and the best legislation poised to make it past the March 3 funnel deadline.

It is a large step forward, and the best legislation poised to make it past the March 3 funnel deadline. But it's not a done deal yet - HF 368 passed out of subcommittee last week but must pass the full House Judiciary committee by this Friday.

PLEASE take a minute to email your Representative here to keep this legislation moving.

Elected officials represent all their constituents, no exceptions. Let's remind them of that, and the action they need to take for Republicans, Democrats, Independents, our communities and our planet.

Thanks for taking action, and stay tuned next week for a recap of what legislation survived, and failed, the first legislative funnel.

Take action 

Factory Farm moratorium NOW!  

Our Factory Farm Moratorium Bill, HF 164, has been introduced and assigned to the House Agriculture Committee.

Let's be clear. This bill wasn't introduced because our Representatives decided to do the right thing. It was introduced because people like you have been organizing for years to make this happen.

Representative Mike Sexton is the Chair of the House Agriculture Committee. It's his job to assign HF 164 to a subcommittee for a vote before March 3. But it's our job to elevate this issue and push it forward!

Take 3 minutes to call Representative Sexton and ask him to assign HF 164 to a subcommittee for a hearing and a vote before this Friday's legislative funnel deadline.

  • Phone: (712) 830-3960

  • Email: mike.sexton@legis.iowa.gov

Need help making a call? Find talking points here.

March 9 - Dubuque housing justice visioning session  

Members in the Dubuque area are fighting for housing justice, but what does that mean?

We're creating a vision for true housing justice and we want you to help us craft it! Who is included in this vision? What's most important to you? What are the barriers?

Join us March 9 from 6pm-7:30pm at the Multicultural Family Center in Dubuque to help build a vision together for a future where every person in the area is guaranteed good, quality, and affordable housing.

Let us know if you can attend by RSVPing here.

What's your story? 

We've spent much of February taking a moment to express gratitude and love to all of you for taking action for our people and planet and making CCI a tough and tenacious people's organization. Once more, many many thanks!

But what's your story? We'd love to know!

What brought you to Iowa CCI? What issues do you care most about? Is there a particular meeting, event, or action that you remember to this day?

Shoot us an email and let us know! We'd love to hear from you on what CCI means to you, why you keep fighting to put people and planet before profits and politics, and what you hold dear.

Movie recommendation: All The Beauty & The Bloodshed 

Nominated for Best Documentary (feature), the life of internationally renowned artist and activist Nan Goldin is told through her slideshows, intimate interviews, ground-breaking photography, and rare footage of her personal fight to hold the Sackler family accountable for the overdose crisis.

Why are we talking about it? Because as much as this film is about the artist, it is also about organizing. You see people willing to make their private pain public, those most impacted driving the solutions, holding those responsible accountable, behind the scenes planning meetings, persistence, and creative actions that apply much needed pressure and publicity. And, we also saw glimpses of VOCAL New York, a fellow member of our People's Action family. 

It's as beautiful as it is rage-making. It's playing at The Varsity Cinema in Des Moines until this Thursday and is also available to stream. If you've watched it or after you watch it - drop us a line to let us know what you think!

What We're Reading

These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!

  • The Root of Fake News Is the Corporate Lust for Profit in Media [Jacobin]

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