28 Feb 2012

Iowa Legislative Update

By Peggy Huppert

Nearly 100 advocates - staff and volunteers -- from across the state gathered in Des Moines this week for our annual Day at the Capitol.  Attendees, you blew me away with your energy and commitment to learning and interacting with legislators!

We were especially glad to have the Above & Beyond Cancer folks (the mountain climbers!) join us with their red jackets and passion for fighting cancer.  Members were honored with a resolution and recognition on the floor of the Iowa Senate, thanks to Sen. Pat Ward, R-West Des Moines. Thanks to Dr. Dick Deming and Charlie Wittmack for organizing the group!

The big draw for the day was our keynote speaker, Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the Society.  Dr. Brawley did not disappoint, offering frank and eye-opening data and stories during his presentation. He then went to the Capitol and visited with legislative leaders and the governor and did media interviews.  Radio Iowa and the Des Moines Register both had great stories.  Dr. Brawley also headlined a breakfast event that raised nearly $2,000 for ACS CAN.

Also presenting at DAC was Anne Kinzel, who helped attendees understand a crucial ACS legislative priority with her talk titled "What is a health care exchange and why should I care?"

I think it's safe to say that everyone finished the day with a better understanding of our priority issues and an increased commitment to advocacy. If you weren't able to join us this year, be sure to put it on your radar for 2013.

It was a very busy week at the Capitol, the busiest so far this year, because today was the first funnel deadline of the session. Legislators were in subcommittee and committee meetings, trying to get bills passed out of committee to beat the deadline.

The bad news is two of our priority bills - radon and casino smoking -- did not pass this hurdle, so are dead for the session.

The good news is most of our issues live on because of the chance to get them considered through amendments to other bills or because they are still eligible for consideration.  That is true for casino smoking, K-12 tobacco-free property and the health insurance exchange bills. You will continue to hear from us about opportunities to get these issues considered and possibly passed.

The Legislature will be in session until early to mid-April. We have many miles to go. As always, feel free to contact me directly with any questions or concerns - peggy.huppert@cancer.org.

21 Feb 2012

Iowa Legislative Update: Funnel Deadline Next Week

By Peggy Huppert
A comprehensive radon bill - SSB 3169 - was introduced yesterday in the Iowa Senate and assigned to the State Government Committee with a subcommittee of Jeff Danielson (chair), D-Cedar Falls, Bill Dix, R-Shell Rock, and Jack Kibbie, D-Emmetsburg.

We need you to contact members of the State Government Committee today and ask them to support this bill. If you know one of the members of the subcommittee it is particularly important that they hear from you.

Time is of the essence because the first "funnel" deadline is rapidly approaching. All bills except ones dealing with taxing and spending must pass out of committee by next Friday, Feb. 24th. For this bill to remain alive it must pass out of committee next week.

Here are some points to make with your senator:

  • Iowa has the highest incidence of radon in homes in the nation.
  • Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking.  It kills about 400 Iowans a year - more than are killed in traffic accidents.
  • We know how to detect radon and how to get rid of it. All we need is the will to make it happen.

SSB 3169 includes important strategies for protecting Iowans from radon, requiring:

  • Radon testing and disclosure for all real estate transactions
  • Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC) in all new residential construction
  • A state income tax credit of up to $500 for home radon mitigation
  • Testing and disclosure for all rental housing and K-12 school buildings

Tobacco control advocates were proud of testimony given to the Health & Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee this week by Cathy Callaway of Des Moines and Christopher Squier of Iowa City, members of the Iowa Tobacco Commission.

The subcommittee requested information about how the substantial cuts to tobacco control funding last year have affected critical state programs. Cathy told subcommittee members that although the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that Iowa spend $36.7 million, we are currently spending only 9 percent of that amount ($2.8 million). Both Cathy and Chris spoke about the aggressive marketing being done by tobacco companies in Iowa, spending more than $100 million per year. They predicted that if Iowa does not increase its investment soon, smoking and smokeless tobacco usage will start to increase.

Sen. Jack Hatch, D-Des Moines, co-chair of the subcommittee, announced at the conclusion of the meeting that he intends to recommend increasing funding for tobacco control by $2.5 million for the next fiscal year for a total of $5.3 million.

13 Feb 2012

Iowa Legislative Update: Radon

By Peggy Huppert

Many of you are aware of the danger that radon gas poses to our health and the work that we've been doing to raise awareness through the Iowa Radon Coalition over the past year. (Radon is a naturally occurring gas that comes from the ground. Iowa has the highest incidence of radon in homes in the nation.)

I'm happy to report that legislation is in the works to protect Iowans from this deadly threat, the second-leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking.  Radon kills about 400 Iowans a year - more than are killed in traffic accidents.

Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls, and Rep. Peter Cownie, R-West Des Moines, chairs of their respective chambers' State Government Committees, have submitted requests for study bills dealing with radon. The bills will include important strategies for protecting Iowans from radon, requiring:

  • Radon testing and disclosure for all real estate transactions
  • Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC) in all new residential construction
  • A state income tax credit of up to $500 for home radon mitigation
  • Testing and disclosure for all rental housing and K-12 school buildings
  • Earmarking all funds collected by the state from radon mitigation professionals for radon education through the Dept. of Public Health.

Please take action by contacting Sen. Danielson and Rep. Cownie today to thank them for requesting these bill drafts and ask them to do their best to get a bill passed out of committee before the first funnel deadline, February 24th.

Our most exciting day of the year is rapidly approaching! Day at the Capitol is Wednesday, Feb. 22nd. We will inform and inspire you, feed you and transport you to and from the Capitol for meetings with your legislators. And it's all free!

As many of you know, we have a very special guest as our featured speaker that day - Dr. Otis Brawley. As the chief medical officer and executive vice president of the American Cancer Society, Dr. Brawley is responsible for promoting the goals of cancer prevention, early detection, and quality treatment through cancer research and education. He champions efforts to decrease smoking, improve diet, detect cancer at the earliest stage, and provide the critical support cancer patients need. Dr. Brawley is a key leader in the Society's work to eliminate disparities in access to quality cancer care. It is this area that Dr. Brawley will focus his remarks on at our event.

You do not want to miss the chance to hear Otis Brawley. Sign up TODAY and help spread the word about this event to friends and colleagues.

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