14 Aug 2015

Former Congressman Jim Leach Joins Iowa Pays the Price

By Brad Anderson
Iowa Pays the Price bipartisan Steering Committee expands across the state
DES MOINES, Iowa - Today, "Iowa Pays the Price," a non-partisan organization highlighting the need to reform the issue of money in politics, is proud to announce former Iowa Congressman Jim Leach has joined the organization as a co-chair.  

Leach served as a Republican member of Congress from 1977 to 2007 and currently serves as a visiting professor of law at the University of Iowa.  Since leaving Congress he has expressed particular concern about the Supreme Court ruling referred to as "Citizens United" which he believes misreads American history and misunderstands our Constitutional heritage.  "In a linguistic gyration," Leach notes, "the Court holds that 'money' is 'speech' and that inanimate corporations have 1st Amendment rights to infuse in the political process unconstrained levels of funds.  Because the powers granted corporations by the Court now exceed the rights and capacities of individual citizens, the nature of the individual rights centered democracy that our founders envisioned and that successor generations refined is in transition," Leach contends.  "The case for reversing the corporatism that has taken hold and restraining the egregious role of money in politics is compelling.  'Iowa Pays the Price' is helping lead the way."

Iowa Pays the Price continues to gain momentum on both sides of the aisle across the state.  In addition to Congressman Leach's joining our organization we are pleased to announce our bipartisan, statewide steering committee made up of activists and leaders across Iowa who believe there is too much money in politics and the time has come for meaningful election reform.  

IOWA PAYS THE PRICE STEERING COMMITTEE:

•    Myrna Beeber (R-Guthrie): Myrna is a longtime GOP activist from Guthrie County. She currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Guthrie County GOP Central Committee and resides in Yale, IA.

•    Randall Ericksen (R-Buena Vista): Ericksen is longtime resident of Buena Vista County.  He currently serves as the County Chair for the Republican party.   Before retiring, he worked for a marketing firm as the political advisor for many local and national campaigns.

•   Laura Hubka (D-Howard): Laura is a Navy veteran and ultrasound technologist living in Riceville with her husband Kenny. Laura is Chair of the Howard County Democrats and Vice Chair of the Tri-County Democrats. She is also Co Chair of Iowa Veterans Outreach at Democratic National Committee.

•   Marlon Mormann (R-Polk): Mormann is a lifelong conservative Republican and 2012 precinct organizer for Mitt Romney.  Mormann earned his J.D. from the University of Nebraska and is a former unemployment judge who is now in private civil practice in Des Moines, Iowa

•    Penny Rosfjord (D-Woodbury): Penny is the chair of the Woodbury County Democrats and serves on the Iowa Democratic Party State Central Committee.  She is a medical secretary for Mercy Medical in Sioux City, where she lives with her husband Jim. 

•    Steve Sovern (D-Linn): Sen. Sovern has been a champion for campaign finance reform since his days in the Iowa Senate. Since that time, he has worked as a successful professional mediator. Sovern is involved in many organizations in his home city of Cedar Rapids.

•    John Stone (D-Cerro Gordo): John is the chair of the Cerro Gordo County Democrats. He is a lifelong resident of Mason City, where he has been involved in the community and in politics nearly his whole life.

•    David Yansky (R-Johnson): David is active in the political arena and is currently serving in the roll Co-Chair of the Johnson County Republicans and member of the Republican 2nd District committee. Dave is currently employed with a high tech firm in Cedar Rapids as a manager but with Diane also share a lucrative hobby that turned into a business - buying older homes in disrepair and rebuilding them into nice homes for families.  

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10 Jun 2015

Organization launched to address surge of money in Iowa politics

By Brad Anderson
"Iowa Pays the Price" Chaired by 2 Democrats, 2 Republicans and 1 Independent
DES MOINES, Iowa - Today, in the wake of the massive amounts of campaign money spent in Iowa during the 2014 elections, a new organization called Iowa Pays the Price has been launched to educate Iowans on the need for meaningful reform to address the issue of money in politics and mobilize support for this important issue.

Iowa Pays the Price is a project of Issue One, a national, bipartisan organization dedicated to countering the overwhelming influence of big money on our political system so we can solve the real problems affecting people's lives.

The co-chairs of Iowa Pays the Price are:
  • Brad Anderson - Former Obama for America state director and candidate for Secretary of State;

  • Shawn Dietz - chair of the Franklin County Republican Party and former mayor of Hampton, Iowa. Dietz was the Republican candidate for a State Senate seat in 2014.

  • Amanda Loomis - Iowa State University senior in Liberal Studies - Pre-Law from Cedar Rapids, registered No Party

  • David Niffenegger - Nine-year veteran of the Army Guard and Reserve and former Operations Director for Republican state Treasurer candidate Sam Clovis;

  • Bev Strayhall - Democratic activist, nurse, social worker and community leader from Davenport.
"The enormous amounts of money spent in our Iowa elections affects us all," said IPP co-chair David Niffenegger.  "Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, from urban or rural Iowa, care about low taxes or low carbon emissions, we can all agree that our democracy should be controlled by voters and not by powerful special interests.  The interests spending all this money on negative political ads do not represent the interests of the people of Iowa, and that needs to change."

According to an analysis by Maplight, a nonpartisan research organization that reveals money's influence on politics, a record $111,770,953 in federal campaign spending was spent in Iowa in 2014. This represented a 350% increase in campaign spending when compared to the $31,901,404 in federal campaign spending from the previous 2010 midterm election.  In addition, for the first time in Iowa history a majority of the 2014 election spending was by outside groups rather than by candidates' campaigns.

"Last year's wall-to-wall attack ads, mail and nasty robo-calls was just too much," said IPP co-chair Bev Strayhall.  "Iowa voters were tired of it all and many were so turned off they didn't bother voting.  In Iowa we've always prided ourselves on grassroots organizing, door-knocking and civic participation, and we need to get back to our elections being driven by campaigns and volunteers rather than wealthy outside interests with hidden agendas."

Iowa Pays the Price supports increasing transparency in campaign contributions, accountability for those who break the rules, and increasing participation in our democracy.  Over the coming months Iowa Pays the Price will build a bipartisan coalition in support of addressing the issue of money in politics, call on presidential candidates to offer solutions to fixing the current system, and release detailed studies showing specifically how outside groups spending large amounts of money trying to influence Iowa elections do not represent the interests of Iowa.

"I can't think of a better place to start a grassroots movement to reform money in politics than the state of Iowa," said IPP co-chair Brad Anderson.  "Iowa is still a place where a small, dedicated group like ours can have a big impact, and it's our job to keep it that way.  Our goal is to make our case that there is too much money in politics using unbiased facts and data, and then bring people on all sides of the political spectrum together to call for meaningful change."

Please visit www.IowaPaysthePrice.org to view our initial launch video, learn more about our organization and to sign our petition.

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16 Apr 2015

Momentum builds for additional Iowa parks funding

By Brad Anderson
(DES MOINES) - Today, momentum continues to build for additional Green Ribbon Parks throughout the state and creating a 21st Century Iowa Parks system aimed at connecting Iowans to the outdoors for recreation, economic vitality, community building, health and happiness.

The Iowa Parks Foundation commends Sen. Bill Dotzler for supporting additional Green Ribbon Commission parks regions aimed at identifying regional park needs and bringing together public-private partnerships to support the projects.

In 2014 the Governor's Green Ribbon Parks Commission, along with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa Parks Foundation released "Vision: Parks to People," a 100-year sustainability plan focused on Iowa's state, county and city parks.  The plan called for increased collaboration of state and county parks, increased connectivity of trails and waterways, identifying dependable funding strategies, and a new era of parks cooperation and coordination among public and private entities.  

Last year a $2 million state grant was awarded to the Dubuque, Jackson and Jones county region to fund a pilot project under the Green Ribbon Commission.  The grant requires the counties to match the $2 million in state funds with $10 million in private cash, grants and in-kind contributions.

"We applaud Sen. Dotzler for his leadership and support for a healthy Iowa Parks and Trails system and additional resources for the Green Ribbon Parks Commission," said Mark Ackelson, member of the Iowa Parks Foundation and the Green Ribbon Parks Commission.  "Sen. Dotzler has always been a champion for economic development and preserving our state's natural resources, and he understands that strengthening our Iowa parks is critically important for our kids, our health and our state's economy."

"We have a proud history in the state of Iowa of bringing people together towards a common goal, and the years of strategic parks planning by local communities and the Iowa Parks Foundation truly embodies this spirit," said Sen. Bill Dotzler (D-Black Hawk).  "Employers take quality of life seriously when determining where to open a business, so those of us who want to attract new businesses and jobs to our state understand the importance of a strong, vibrant parks system.  We must protect Iowa's parks and natural resources for future generations, and funding additional Green Ribbon Commission regions across the state is a wise investment for our economy and overall quality of life of our citizens."

The non-partisan Iowa Parks Foundation recommends $6 million in state funding in 2015 to identify three additional regions across the state for Green Ribbon Parks Commission grants.  Similar to 2014, each region would be required to match each $2 million grant with $10 million in private cash, grants and in-kind contributions.

"We have all crossed party lines to come up with a strategic plan that will improve our state parks system for generations to come," continued Ackelson.  "This plan will strengthen local and far-flung communities of people, stimulate improvements in public health, raise the bar for park experiences and tourism spending, and become showcases for managing water, natural resources, and energy use.  Over the past decade the number of park visits by Iowans has increased dramatically, so we thank Sen. Dotzler and leaders on both sides of the aisle for making investing in our parks a priority."

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20 Aug 2014

IOWA WILDLIFE FEDERATION RELEASES TICK REPORT

By Brad Anderson
Climate Change Has Led to Increases in Ticks, Mosquitos & Poison Ivy

DES MOINES, Iowa - Today, in a statewide conference call with Iowa media the Iowa Wildlife Federation released a report detailing the increases in ticks, mosquitos, fire ants and poison ivy due to climate change.  The report, titled "Ticked Off - America's Outdoor Experience and Climate Change," was produced by the National Wildlife Federation, which includes 49 state affiliates and more than four million members committed to protecting wildlife and connecting Americans with nature.

Leading the call was Joe Wilkinson, past President of the Iowa Wildlife Federation.  Joining Wilkinson was Dr. Yogesh Shah, Associate Dean of the Department of Global Health at Des Moines University, and Frank Szollosi, Regional Outreach Manager for the National Wildlife Federation based in Ann Arbor, MI.

EXCERPT FROM REPORT: "Extreme weather is becoming more common. Droughts and floods are more severe and more frequent. Winter snow is melting away earlier in the spring and fall weather is slower and slower to come about. These and other aspects of climate change are impacting the plants and wildlife that are a central component of the American outdoor experience. We might like an early spring, but so do tiger mosquitoes with their bothersome presence and bites. An Indian summer may be welcomed by us, but it helps winter ticks survive in huge numbers...enough to suck more blood out of a moose than its body contains. Warm winters are a welcome mat for fire ants and deer ticks to expand their range northward where they can inflict pain or disease on unsuspecting people and wildlife. Poison ivy, which we always steer away from, is growing faster and becoming even more toxic, thanks to the rise in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere."

"Every increase in temperature by a degree or two increases mosquito populations by eight to tenfold," said Dr. Yogesh Shah.  "Just like mosquitos, ticks tend to grow faster when it is humid and warm, and last year we had a 40 percent increase in Lyme disease in Iowa compared to the previous year.  If we keep the status quo, climate change will get worse and we will start seeing diseases that we never dreamed about.  If we do what climate scientists recommend to mitigate climate change, mosquito and tick populations will eventually come down." 

"Climate change is not so subtle anymore," said Joe Wilkinson on today's press call.  "Now the question is what are we going to do about it and when.  I hope this report will raise public awareness and make sure Iowans understand the significant impacts of climate change to our wildlife and public health."

BIOS ON CALL PARTICIPATIONS:

Joe Wilkinson: Joe Wilkinson, President of the Iowa Wildlife Federation, is a lifelong Iowan from Solon, Iowa.  Wilkinson is an avid outdoorsman and a regular contributor to Iowa Outdoors Magazine.

Dr. Yogesh Shah: Dr. Yogesh Shah is the Associate Dean for Global Health at Des Moines University, a position created in 2006 to establish global health experiences that DMU students increasingly seek.  Dr. Shah has been instrumental in establishing the City of Des Moines as a member of the World Health Organization's network of age-friendly cities.  He also led the creation of the Heartland Global Health Consortium, and the creation of Heartland Climate Health Consortium, a collaborative of Iowa educational institutions to promote the effect of climate change on nutrition and human health.

Frank Szollosi: Frank Szollosi is the Regional Outreach Campaigns Manager for National Wildlife Federation based in Ann Arbor, and works with a team of public policy and advocacy professionals to build the power of the conservation movement to mitigate the risks climate change presents wildlife, habitat and communities.  Frank previously served as a Press Secretary on Capitol Hill for Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, and was elected twice himself to serve as a Toledo City Councilman.   He recently earned a Master's of Science and Master's of Public Policy from the University of Michigan.
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19 Aug 2014

ADVISORY: IOWA WILDLIFE FEDERATION TO RELEASE TICK REPORT

By Brad Anderson
Climate Change Has Led to Increases in Ticks, Mosquitos & Poison Ivy

DES MOINES, Iowa - Tomorrow in a statewide conference call with Iowa media the Iowa Wildlife Federation will release a report detailing the increases in ticks, mosquitos, fire ants and poison ivy due to climate change.  The report, titled "Ticked Off - America's Outdoor Experience and Climate Change," was produced by the National Wildlife Federation, which includes 49 state affiliates and more than four million members committed to protecting wildlife and connecting Americans with nature.

Leading the call will be Joe Wilkinson, President of the Iowa Wildlife Federation.  Joining Wilkinson will be Dr. Yogesh Shah, Associate Dean of the Department of Global Health at Des Moines University, and Frank Szollosi, Regional Outreach Manager for the National Wildlife Federation based in Ann Arbor, MI.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19TH:

WHAT: Statewide conference call with reporters to release the report "Ticked Off - America's Outdoor Experience and Climate Change"
06 Jun 2014

STATEWIDE CANVASS SUPPORTING NEW CLIMATE RULES KICKS OFF ON SUNDAY

By Brad Anderson
IOWANS GATHER SIGNATURES IN SUPPORT OF NEW EPA CLIMATE RULES LIMITING CARBON POLLUTION
(Des Moines) - This Sunday Iowans will gather in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport to go door-to-door collecting signatures in support of the newly announced proposal to limit carbon pollution from power plants, a major driver of climate change.

"As a parent of two young children, I believe it is my responsibility to ensure my kids are left with a sustainable climate, clean air to breath and an innovative, 21st century economy to start a career," said Des Moines parent William Rock, who will be knocking doors in Des Moines on Sunday.  "I refuse to stand on the sidelines during this important debate on climate change, which is why I'm going door-to-door to urge Iowans to support the new rules to limit carbon pollution."

The canvasses are open to the media and individual canvassers will be available to interview.

SUNDAY, JUNE 8TH:

DES MOINES:

•    What:  Launch of door-to-door canvass in support of new rules to limit carbon pollution.
•    Where:  Java Joes coffee, 214 4th St, Des Moines
•    When:  Launch is at 12:00.  Canvass is from 12:00 - 2:00 PM.
•    Media Contact:  Josh Skipworth, 319-499-0765, jskipworthlcv@gmail.com

DAVENPORT:

•    What:  Launch of door-to-door canvass in support of new rules to limit carbon pollution.
•    Where:  Java Joes coffee, 836 E River Dr, Davenport
•    When:  Launch is at 11:00 AM.  Canvass is from 11:00 - 1:00 PM.
•    Media Contact:  Kirk Cychosz, 715-630-9912, kcychoszlcv@gmail.com

CEDAR RAPIDS:

•    What:  Launch of door-to-door canvass in support of new rules to limit carbon pollution.
•    Where:  New Bo Market, 1100 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids
•    When:  Launch is at 4:00 PM.  Canvass is from 4:00 - 6:00 PM.
•    Media Contact:  Tim Mahern-Macias, 402-980-9399, tmahernmaciaslcv@gmail.com
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