This week in Iowa organizing…
It's a good day when Bruce Rastetter is having a bad day.
In case you missed it, South Dakota banned the use of eminent domain for his CO2 pipeline last week. And we got word from CCI members and supporters up north in Hanlontown that their city council filed an objection to the pipeline with the Iowa Utilities Commission.
As we've said before and we'll say again, the only way to beat organized money is with organized people. Let's keep at it and get to it!
Read on for more,
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
At the Statehouse
Funnel proof
Last Friday was the first legislative funnel to winnow down what lawmakers will focus on as the session progresses. You can find a good recap of what survived and what didn't here.
As we get closer to the second funnel (April 4), we'll come together on Zoom on March 27 to recap where things stand, discuss what's behind the attacks on people, places, and institutions we hold dear, and dig-in on how to take action as the session winds down. Thursday, March 27 at 6pm, RSVP here.
A highlight of the good and the bad that survived the funnel:
The good:
HF 238: limits permits for CO2 pipelines to 25 years, HF 639: requires hazardous liquid pipelines to have adequate insurance to cover losses and injury, and HF 242: allows landowners to seek declaratory judgment from a district court if their property is subject to eminent domain. Read more here.
HF 861: requires water use permits be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in terms of “beneficial use.” Read more here.
HSB 241: removes Medicaid income and asset limits for Iowans with disabilities who work so they don’t jeopardize their healthcare coverage. Read more here.
HF 627: would cap interest rates charged by payday lenders at no more than 36% APR.
The bad:
SF 394: Bayer’s “Cancer Gag Act”. Read more here.
SF 311 and HF 641: would ban local governments from establishing citizen review boards for law enforcement. Read more here.
HF 796: would increase the purchasing power for SNAP users through the Double Up Food Bucks program, but also restricting what foods apply like only “real eggs”, “real meat”, etc. Read more here.
HF 880: would strip state aid from public libraries that are “dues-paying members” of a nonprofit organization that lobbies government such as the American Library Association. Read more here.
HSB 248: would place additional, unnecessary, and onerous work requirements on Iowans receiving public assistance. Read more here.
Take action
March 18 & 20: Protect Mitchell County from CO2 pipelines
The work to protect our communities from CO2 pipelines is far from over. If you are a Mitchell County resident please join us for one of two informational meetings we will be holding where we'll discuss local updates on the No CO2 pipeline fight and continue the work to protect the people and places we love:
St. Ansgar, South Square: Tuesday, March 18 from 6:00 – 7:30pm. RSVP here
Osage, Public Library: Thursday, March 20 from 6:00 – 7:30pm. RSVP here
March 18: Des Moines community meeting
Things can feel overwhelming these days, especially at the state and federal level. But we know that by coming together and taking action for the people and places we love we can make the changes we need.
Join CCI's Racial Justice Team and members of the community to talk about the issues we're facing in the Des Moines metro, craft solutions, and take action to make a difference.
The meeting will be Tuesday, March 18 at the Polk County Senior Center, 2008 Forest Avenue starting at 6:30 p.m. You can RSVP here or call 515-255-0800.
March 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.
Join our next orientation session on Tuesday, March 25 at 6pm over Zoom. More info and RSVP here.
March 29: Called to climate action conference
Join Iowa Faith & Climate Network for their annual Called To Climate Action Conference! This event is for anyone from college students new to the environmental scene to seasoned climate activists.
All of us are actively experiencing the rippling effects of climate change. We all carry a unique worry when it comes to our ever-changing world. As we come together, we can transform hope into practical action and tackle the climate crisis with others.
Read more about the conference and info to register here.
Public School Strong at the school board level
Iowa’s public schools were once top ranked - enough a source of pride to be on our state's quarter! But we’ve fallen behind because of chronic underfunding and poor leadership - especially from Governor Kim Reynolds.
We're fighting back and ready to take it to the next level. That's why we launched 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!
Testing season is here
This year we would like to be more strategic about water testing. We are looking for people willing to consistently test their tap and a body of water or stream in their area. We are looking to build regional teams across the state to work together on testing and collecting water quality data.
If this Citizen Science sounds like something you are interested in, join us later this month for the monthly Zoom reboot. Please click here to get registered for the 5pm March 27 Zoom!
Details about the water testing program are available on the Iowa CCI website. We look forward to seeing folks on Zoom March 27.
Save the Date
Iowa CCI is turning 50!
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 know we want to see you there! So please save the date and stay tuned in the coming weeks for more details - it'll be good!
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 Oligarchs can be beaten": Bernie Sanders responds to Trump's speech [In These Times]
Elon's chainsaw comes for the farm [Indianola Independent-Advocate] by CCI Board Member Barb Kalbach
Toward a sustainable planet [Medium]
Veterans are starting to mobilize against Trump's cuts [Jacobin]
With Democrats like these, who needs Republicans [The Left Hook]