This week in Iowa organizing…
I hope you all had a chance to be outside over the weekend, or at least open some windows and let in some spring air. But before we look too far forward, let's take a look back! Last week brought us two major court victories in our work to protect family farmers and our water from the corporate factory farm industry.
On Monday, our legal team at Food & Water Watch reached an agreement with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through our 2017 lawsuit. EPA officials have been dragging their feet on our demand to apply the federal Clean Water Act to polluting factory farms. EPA acknowledged it and agreed they will announce their response to our lawsuit in August. Stay tuned for the next chapter in our fight for clean water!
Then on Tuesday, a district court agreed with CCI and our allies – USDA’s Farm Service Agency is now required to assess environmental impact of medium-sized factory farms (2.5k pigs, 125k chickens, 55k turkeys, 1k beef cattle) before approving “guaranteed loans”. Loans that are underwritten by taxpayers like you and me.
We believe that corporate ag should pay for their costs of doing business - not us, and that the corporate ag industry should be covered by strong environmental regulations that protect our water. The courts agreed, and we couldn’t be happier! But we know the industry will fight these steps - and we’re ready to take them on at every level.
Okay, please read on for more updates and ways to take action!
Onward,
Matthew Covington (he/him)
Strategic Operations Director
At the statehouse
Who cares about transparency, combating hunger, or what Iowans want
The legislative session is scheduled to adjourn toward the end of this month on April 28. But before that happens, lawmakers must come to agreement on the state budget, and Senate Republicans are making that hard to do.
Senate Appropriations Committee members advanced 7 spending bills last week - without any meaningful numbers attached to them. As Laurie Belin with Bleeding Heartland notes, the "unprecedented maneuver ensured that advocates, journalists, and Democratic senators will have no time to thoroughly scrutinize GOP spending plans before eventual votes on the Senate floor."
On the House side, lawmakers are likely to vote this week on whether or not to kick vulnerable Iowans off of SNAP benefits and Medicaid. Some lawmakers want to do this despite the fact it will cost the state money to administer a program that will remove people from safety net programs they in fact qualify for.
And there's still no word from Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver on legislation 78% of Iowans support. Though some lawmakers want the public to believe House File 565 is dead, Senate leadership can resurrect a bill at any time during the session. You can remind Sen. Whitver of this fact by emailing him here.
Take action
Last day to Register: April 15 - fundamentals of organizing training in Dubuque
Are you wanting to build people-power in your community to deepen relationships and win on the issues important to you and your neighbors? Then consider joining us this Saturday, April 15 in Dubuque for our second 'Fundamentals of Organizing' training.
In order to run an effective organizing campaign, we need to understand the power our opposition has and the dominant narrative they use to prevent people from challenging the status quo. At this training we'll dig-in on the dominant narrative, power, self-interest, and the art of one-on-one conversations to deepen relationships and move people to action.
Ready to build power for the people and places we love? Space is limited, so fill out this registration form to indicate your interest and an organizer will get back to you.
April 20 - drop by and say hi in Clear Lake!
We're excited to connect with more people in North Iowa on the issues they're facing in their communities and talking about how we can tackle those challenges together.
That's why CCI members will be tabling and talking with folks at the Clear Lake Green Expo on Thursday, April 20! Stop by the Surf Ballroom between 4-7pm to say hi, shop local, learn about energy efficiency ideas, and more!
Free and open to the public, hope to see you there!
April 29 - Happy Birthday Willie Nelson!
When we heard that Willie Nelson is turning 90, we thought: now that's a good excuse to get together.
Willie is not just a beloved American artist, song-writer and icon, he's played a big role in Iowa CCI's work to say Family Farms Yes!, Factory Farms No!
So...we're throwing Willie Nelson a birthday party, and you're invited!
On Saturday, April 29 we’ll:
Gather and enjoy Willie Nelson performances on a big screen
Celebrate Willie and Farm Aid’s role in the people's movement against corporate factory farms -- and for family farms and the environment.
Hear organizing stories from the mid-90s when Willie showed up time and again for CCI and the Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment, including an action in Clive, IA!
Enjoy a meal from Patchwork Family Farms and Gingko Goods. And, we'll have cake!
This event in Des Moines is open to the Iowa CCI community, fans of Willie Nelson, and others interested in the history of progressive, populist organizing in Iowa and the Midwest. More information and RSVP here.
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
Wisconsin Chooses a Progressive Justice in the Most Important Election of 2023 [The Nation]
Postpartum Medicaid expansion is the first step to maternal health equity, experts say [Iowa Capital Dispatch]
How Love of Money Replaced Love of Nation & Spirit [The Hartmann Report]
'Fascism, Full Stop': Progressives in Congress Condemn Expulsion of Tennessee Democrats [Common Dreams]
What Iowa Has Gotten Out Of Biden’s Infrastructure Law (So Far) [Iowa Starting Line]
US Fascism Is Spreading Under the Guise of “Patriotic Education” [Truthout]