This week in Iowa organizing…
Yesterday while flipping through the TV channels, I noticed AMC was doing a Groundhog Day movie marathon. So of course I watched it (but only once).
But instead of reliving or learning from our past, too many elected officials in Iowa, D.C., and elsewhere are attempting to rewrite and erase our history. On this day in 1964, 464,000 New York City school children boycotted school as part of a protest against school segregation. This was one of the largest Civil Rights Movement demonstrations.
As we kick off Black History Month, it is as important as ever to learn from and understand the people’s history, our history. We must continue to tell the truth and be honest about who we are, where we’ve been, and where we are going.
Toward a brighter, and honest, future,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
At the Statehouse
Brought to you by the letter C (cancer and CO2 pipelines)
Last Tuesday Bayer’s Cancer Gag Act (SSB 1051) was introduced in the Senate and assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. It would make it harder for Iowans to take chemical manufacturers like Bayer to court if they get sick from using their products.
SSB 1051 was assigned to a subcommittee made up of Senators Bousselot, Bisignano, and Shipley – contact them today and urge them to oppose SSB 1051 (mike.bousselot@legis.iowa.gov, tony.bisignano@legis.iowa.gov, tom.shipley@legis.iowa.gov)
Here's some points to consider using:
In 2015 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the world's foremost cancer authority with the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, as a “probable carcinogen to humans”.
This legislation protects pesticide manufacturers that are worth billions of dollars at the expense of everyday Iowans.
Bayer has already paid out legal claims elsewhere for the harm it has caused. It’s the role of judges, not state legislators, to decide whether a lawsuit has merit.
This session we’re also urging our legislators to pass meaningful legislation to protect our communities, water, and loved ones from Summit’s CO2 pipeline. Introduced as Senate File 136, this bill would go a long way to protect our communities from the CO2 pipeline. SF 136 would:
Ensure local communities have a voice by giving counties the authority to enforce setback ordinances related to CO2 pipelines.
Require federal safety standards to be issued before a pipeline receives a permit from the Iowa Utilities Commission.
Require 90% voluntary easements from landowners before being allowed to use eminent domain for CO2 pipelines.
The bill is currently in the Senate Commerce Committee and Senator Mike Bousselot is responsible for moving the bill next. Email your Senator and Senator Mike Bousselot today with your support for this bill!
Take action
Feb. 10: Defeat the "Cancer Gag Act" day of action
Big Ag pushes some of the highest pesticide usage in the country on Iowa cropland. It’s no coincidence that Iowa ranks second in the nation for cancer incidence and is the only state where cancer rates are on the rise.
Now they want to make it even harder for Iowans to sue them if we get sick from using their products like Roundup. Join CCI Action and the Defeat the Cancer Gag Act coalition for a day of action on Feb 10! RSVP here.
Fact # 1 – Bayer is pushing a bill at the Iowa legislature that would make it harder for us to take them to court if we get sick from using chemicals like Roundup
Fact #2 – In 2015, an international research agency determined that Roundup’s main active ingredient was probably carcinogenic. And Bayer knew that when they bought Monsanto in 2018
Fact #3 – In a state with the second highest cancer rates in the country and the only state where rates are rising, now’s not the time to sweep this problem under the rug
Iowans deserve to be heard, not silenced. Join us on Feb 10 from 1 PM-4PM in Des Moines to take action!
Feb. 13: Join us for treats and thank-you calls
We're hosting TWO Thank-A-Thon phone banks this year - from 1-4pm and 5:30-8:30pm at our Des Moines office. Come by for some sweet treats, to socialize with staff and other volunteers, and help us make calls to show our appreciation for the people who make CCI such a powerful force for good!
These will be easy calls to thank folks that have been involved with CCI recently. We had some great conversations last year! Whether you only have time for a treat and a couple of calls or hang out for a full shift, we would love to see you on the 13th!
To RSVP, or if you have any questions, please give us a call at (515)255-0800 or email kim@iowacci.org. This helps make sure we have enough snacks for everyone. We look forward to having you jump on the phones with us to help thank our awesome members for their support!
Feb. 14: UIHC bargaining kicks off in Iowa City
Join our SEIU allies at the bargaining table February 14 at 9 am! This meeting is open to the public - no matter what you do and where you work, retaining experienced hospital workers at UIHC is essential for a healthy community.
Workers are coming to the table to bargain for standardized staffing ratios, better pay, increasing bereavement to be able to mourn a loved one longer than 3 days, increase the number of sick days a worker can take beyond 3 days per quarter without the threat of getting written up, parking, and much more!!
Help your local hospital workers ensure that the Board of Regents bargains fairly! More info here.
Feb 25: Public School Strong orientation
Everyday Iowans know that strong public schools are a cornerstone of our communities and democracy. By organizing in our neighborhoods and at local school board meetings, we can create positive, common sense solutions to address the real issues our schools are facing.
That's why we're part of Public School Strong - a national movement of parents, teachers, students, and community members pushing for honest, equitable, safe, and fully-funded public education. And we're growing the movement all across the state - check out some recent press from Decorah here!
Be a part of Public School Strong! Join our next orientation session on Tuesday, February 25 at 6pm over Zoom. More info 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!
Stop talking about Iowa's dirty water, or else [Cedar Rapids Gazette]
Heartland AEA begins dramatic restructuring following Republican's AEA changes and cuts [Iowa Starting Line]
'A publicity stunt': activists decry Trump's immigration raids marketed as 'entertainment' [The Guardian]
Encouraging mercy is not un-American [Bleeding Heartland]
When will the U.S. start competing for immigrants? Sooner than you think [Barn Raiser]