This week in Iowa organizing…

Written By Katie Bryan

Shout out to students and others at my alma mater UNI this past Friday who protested Governor Reynolds' actions and agenda that make Iowa and our institutions of education less welcoming, diverse, and honest.

The attacks on the things we hold dear seem to be driving some Iowans away from the place we call home. Yet it is our work to fight for the people and places we love, and to create an Iowa where folks from all backgrounds, identities, and abilities have an opportunity to succeed and thrive. 

So let's keep at it and get to it.

 

Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director

 

At the Statehouse

 

Funnel week pt. 2

This Friday, April 4, marks the second legislative funnel deadline. That means most bills not related to the budget or appropriating funds must pass one chamber (House or Senate) and a committee in the opposite chamber in order to remain eligible for consideration this legislative session. So now is a good time to weigh in with your Senator and Representative on the issues you care about - you can find their information here.

Here's two key bills we've been tracking this session and how you can help:

The Bad:

Last week the Cancer Gag Act passed the Senate with a 26-21 vote (which included 15 Democrats and 6 Republicans voting against this bill, an increase in opposition from last year). The next step is for Speaker of the House Pat Grassley to assign the bill to a committee in the House. And because this is “funnel” week, if the bill does not pass out of that committee before Friday it is considered “dead."

We’ve heard from some members of the House who say this bill is “DOA”. But we'll believe it when we see it and need all hands on deck to stop the Cancer Gag Act! Please email Speaker of the House Pat Grassley today asking him to oppose the bill and not assign it to committee. His email is Pat.Grassley@legis.iowa.gov and you can find talking points here to help you write your email.

The Good:

Last week two bills that would help protect us from the CO2 pipeline passed the House and were sent to the Senate Commerce Committee.

  • HF 639 would require Iowa Utility Commissioners to be present during hearings and informational meetings related to Summit’s proposed CO2 pipeline.

  • HF 943 would prevent the use of eminent domain on ag land for the proposed CO2 pipeline.

Iowans deserve more when it comes to stopping corporations like Summit from hijacking public dollars at the expense of our communities, land, and our water. However, both of these bills would be a significant step in the right direction.

There needs to be a committee vote on these bills this week to survive the funnel. Please email the three ranking members of the committee listed below today and ask them to advance HF 639 and HF 943.

 

Take action

 

April 1 & 2: Protect Mitchell County from CO2 pipelines

The work to protect our communities from CO2 pipelines is far from over. This week there are two important meetings in Mitchell County where decision makers will be discussing local ordinances that would protect the community from CO2 pipelines:

  • Tuesday, April 1 @ 8:30am: Mitchell County Board of Supervisors will be discussing a Right of Way ordinance. This ordinance would require Summit Carbon Solutions to communicate with local government officials, apply for a County Utility Permit Application, and abide by separation requirements for all road crossings. RSVP to join us here.

  • Wednesday, April 2 @ 6:00pm: Mitchell County Planning and Zoning Commission will hold their second meeting to discuss a setback and zoning ordinance for Hazardous Liquid Pipelines. There will be no public comment at this meeting but the more people who show up, the more support it shows the commissioners for this ordinance! RSVP here.

 

April 5: Hands Off mass mobilizations

Folks across the country are mobilizing this Saturday to push back against Trump and Elon Musk's radical takeover and gutting of government institutions that serve we the people.

This mass mobilization day is aimed to send a message that everyday people do not consent to the destruction of our government and economy for the benefit of Trump and his billionaire allies.

Learn more and find an event near you here.

 

Public School Strong at the school board level

Iowa’s public schools were once top ranked but we’ve fallen behind because of chronic underfunding and poor leadership. We're fighting back through a statewide, locally-led petition campaign for fully funded public schools.

The signatures collected will urge your local school boards to pass a resolution calling on the Governor and legislature to fully fund our public schools at a 5% annual increase and to phase out private school vouchers. Learn more and add your name here!

 

CCI's spring sustainer drive - 50 for our 50th!

We're at 20 new Sustainers so far! 40% to our goal in just 10 days - THANK YOU! Now is the time to become a sustainer! 

Iowa CCI celebrates 50 years as a people-powered organization this year! Given what’s happening nationally, our community-led campaigns are more important than ever, and it’s critical that we fund the work ourselves.

Will you help us reach 50 new sustainers by April 15?

Here’s why CCI Sustainers make such a difference:

  • It’s revenue we can count on. We know these donations will come in each month. 

  • It gives us flexibility to seize moments and take on emerging organizing campaigns. More importantly, it also allows us to plan, to be forward-looking, and to be strategic.

  • It builds our strength. Member contributions, especially monthly pledges, mean we have more control over our work. And it allows us to take powerful positions and action, backed by members, that foundations may not support.

Click here to become a CCI Sustainer today! It’s easier on your budget, your time, and you make an impact all year long.

Bonus -- sign up as a new sustainer today and we'll send you our "People Power" wool socks, pictured above.

**Big thanks to all the fabulous volunteers who helped us make calls last week! We had 19 members on the phones in the office and from home to help fundraise for the work we do together!**

 

The time to get baseline tests is now!

Getting this baseline data is important - that's the headline from our first water testing Zoom. Spring rains are coming so it is time to start testing for those pre-flush nitrate numbers! Learn more about this citizen science and order your Nitrate Watch test kit here!

Thanks to everyone who joined last Thursday to learn more about strategic thinking on where to test and forming regional teams. The enthusiasm for team building was great! We'll host a special Zoom to help facilitate that across the state soon - stay tuned!

And thanks to Heather Wilson from Izaak Walton League's Nitrate Watch program for joining to share about the program and answer questions. Heather and IWL are incredible partners in this water quality work. Click here to register for our next monthly meeting Thursday April 24 at 5pm.

 

Save the Date 

Early bird registration now open!

We're hammering out the details, but we know we're turning 50 this year! We've got the Iowa Events Center reserved for July 25 & 26, and we want to see you there!

Save the date and stay tuned in the coming weeks for more details - it'll be good! Know you'll be joining us regardless of the details? Then get the "early early bird" rate by signing up here today!

 

What We're Reading

 

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

Katie Bryan
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