This week in Iowa organizing…
Let's talk about ethics.
The Oxford Dictionary defines ethics as "moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity." And morals are defined as "a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do."
So it appears State Representative Dean Fisher believes it is acceptable to actively and aggressively promote legislation that in turn will financially benefit his own interests. We disagree. And that's why we filed an ethics complaint with the Chief Clerk of the Iowa House last week.
To give even the appearance of using public office to profit personally undermines Iowans' already fragile faith in democracy. A limitation that elected officials accept is that they should not profit from legislation they help to enact, because the public's faith in a non-corrupt government is crucial to the greater good.
Regardless of Rep. Fisher's beliefs, his current actions/plans with his private Christian school are unethical. If not, then we sure as heck don't know what counts as unethical. And Iowans across the state agree.
We'll file an addendum to our ethics complaint later this week with the names and towns of Iowans who support this complaint. If you want to add your name, go here to sign today. Then share with others who may believe that, you know, ethics should still count for something.
Let's keep at it, for ethics, our people, democracy itself.
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
At the Statehouse
What are they doing?
The party in power sets the agenda, I get it. But whatever happened to any semblance of governing for the common good? I'm interested in seeing what happens in the November elections as Gov. Reynolds and her lackeys drink the kool-aid pitcher dry.
Are they actually listening to everyday Iowans or legislating with the intent to make Iowa a more welcoming and prosperous state (not to mention stewardship of our natural resources)?
Just 20% of Iowans hold an unfavorable view of the state's AEAs, but that didn't stop lawmakers in the House from passing AEA reform (ie - cuts) last week. Over the next two weeks we'll see if Republican leadership in the Senate and House come to some sort of agreement (or not) before the 2nd legislative funnel deadline.
Speaking of education, while railing against politics in the classroom, some Republicans seem to be on a crusade to inject their politics into our schools' curriculum.
What water crisis or brain drain? Those things don't seem to matter as some creep ever so closer (and dangerously) to autocracy and fascism. Why address real problems, with obvious and doable solutions, when you stoke manufactured divisions over culture wars instead?
Speaking of water quality, Senate File 2371 is still alive, a bill to allow manure from an open feedlot to be applied to fields before the DNR has approved or denied a nutrient management plan. Take a minute to email your Senator here if you haven't already.
Oh, yeah, and speaking of ignoring the will of the people and being good stewards of the land, lawmakers in the House have yet to debate House File 2522 to restrict eminent domain abuse by CO2 pipeline profiteers. They have two weeks to send this bill to the Senate before the 2nd funnel, so if you haven't contacted your lawmakers yet, send them an email here.
That's it for now, let's see how lawmakers behave and legislate this week and who it appears they're working for - themselves and a narrow, partisan, and corporate agenda, Governor Reynolds distorted vision for Iowa, or the actual people of Iowa.
Take action
Tomorrow: March 5 - no CO2 pipelines in Mitchell County!
CO2 pipelines are a new and unproven technology being pushed by already wealthy, greedy corporations. They’re dangerous to our health, communities, and the environment - and are threatening to take Iowan’s land for private gain.
Join CCI members and local residents for the upcoming Board of Supervisors meeting in Mitchell County to urge them to pass an ordinance to protect our community from pipeline profiteers!
We'll be meeting at the Mitchell County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 5 at 8:30am. Let us know if you can join by registering here!
March 10 in Dubuque - come together for affordable housing, tenant protections
There is no one answer to how we make housing affordable in Dubuque. But one thing is certain, whether you live in a rental or a mobile home in Dubuque, the rent is too high.
From mobile homes and apartments to traditional single family homes, corporations are swallowing up housing through price gouging and poor management practices. We need our community united against corporate greed.
That's why on March 10th at Burkey's Bar and Grill we'll be meeting as renters, homeowners, and mobile home residents to talk about how we can move our city to action to protect all of us.
Let us know if you can join us by registering here!
March 19 - what is 'deep canvassing'?
Looking to engage with your community around deeply polarizing issues? Hoping to understand how to have compassionate, non-judgmental conversations across lines of difference? Or, have you heard about this thing called “deep canvassing” and curious to learn more?
Join our allies with People's Action and the Deep Canvass Institute on March 19 at 5pm to learn more about deep canvassing - what it is, how it’s used and why it works.
Deep canvassing was developed by organizers and volunteers in the LGBTQ rights movement as a way to turn the tide of a decade of losses around marriage equality. It has since become the one of the only tactics scientifically proven to be able to lastingly reduce prejudice, inoculate people against fear-based messaging, and change hearts and minds on divisive issues.
Kicking off March 26 - book talks w/ Austin Frerick!
Join CCI member Austin Frerick for a talk and Q & A based on his new book "Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America's Food Industry"
Austin's book is a deep dive into seven barons in the food industry, their rise to power, and the consequences for farmers, workers, eaters, and democracy itself. It prominently features Iowa and the stories of CCI members fighting in the trenches against Big Ag.
Check out our website here for details on the book talk closest to you!
Barons paints a stark portrait of corporate consolidation, but Austin also shows that a fair, healthy, and prosperous food industry is possible - if we take back power from the barons who have robbed us of it.
Updates
Water testing with Nitrate Watch
Iowa's water crisis is finally starting to get the attention it deserves. The partnership between Iowa CCI and Izaak Walton League's Nitrate Watch continues to make water testing kits available.
Information about the program and how to order a test kit can be found by clicking this link.
Nitrate Watch has a great worksheet you can use to create a water monitoring plan.
Let's keep getting loud about the water quality issue in Iowa!
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
Iowa primed for potentially 'epic' increase in stream pollution [Iowa Capital Dispatch]
We can't let Summit Carbon take our water (by CCI member Tom Mohan) [Cedar Rapids Gazette]
Republican who once proposed sunsetting Social Security floats leadership bid [Common Dreams]
Turning down food assistance for poor children is shockingly callous [Storm Lake Times Pilot]
The end of the future [Jacobin]