TIF For Tat: What is TIF and Why Should You Care

Most people don't know much about TIF, why they exist and who they are intended for, but the good people at New Rules (Hometown Advantage) do a really nice job of summarizing it below and the reason it needs reforming.

When used to off-set the high costs of redeveloping blighted sites in poor neighborhoods, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) can be an effective economic development tool. However, all too often, cities are using TIF to underwrite projects in affluent areas, to subsidize construction on undeveloped land, and to finance big-box retail.

TIF allows a municipality to issue bonds to pay for part of the costs of a new development. Property tax revenue (and sometimes sales tax revenue) generated by the development is then diverted from the public coffers and used to pay off the bonds. The diversion usually lasts for at least fifteen years and may last for as many as 30 or 40 years.

The original intent behind TIF—which has been established in 47 states—was to level the playing field between economically distressed and more vital areas by providing developers with an incentive to build in ailing urban neighborhoods. In order to use TIF, municipalities must declare the redevelopment site to be "blighted."

However, the definition of "blighted" and the rules governing TIF are so loose in many states that these subsidies are more often used to underwrite sprawling development in well-to-do suburbs—exactly the opposite of TIF's original purpose. TIF is commonly used to subsidize big-box stores and shopping malls.

Examples include:
The wealthy St. Louis, Missouri, suburb of Des Peres declared the West County Shopping Center "blighted" and provided $30 million in TIF incentives for the construction of a new mall.
West Des Moines, Iowa, created a $60 million TIF district to fund the development of the Jordan Creek Mall. Baraboo, Wisconsin, designated a cornfield and an apple orchard "blighted" and used TIF to help Wal-Mart build a supercenter on the site.

In addition to favoring development of greenfields in outlying suburbs over infill in low-income neighborhoods, these subsidies disadvantage independent businesses. Not only do local retailers rarely benefit from TIF, but they must shoulder a higher tax burden in areas where part of the city's property tax revenue is being diverted from city services and used instead to pay off bonds that financed competing shopping centers.
A growing number of states are considering legislation to reform TIF. We believe states should:
Establish stronger standards for defining blight. TIF should be limited to truly distressed areas marked by a high poverty rate and/or high unemployment rate.

Prohibit the use of TIF for retail development, except in areas where there is a demonstrable lack of basic goods and services, or for revitalizing historic Main Streets crippled by significant vacancy. Subsidizing retail produces no economic benefit for the community or the region, because the sales and jobs generated by the new store are invariably offset by declines in sales and jobs at existing businesses. This may leave the city worse off financially, because existing streams of revenue will decline, while new revenue is diverted to pay off development bonds.

Eliminate sales tax increment financing. Some states, including Missouri and Louisiana, allow tax increment financing through sales, rather than property, taxes. This is particularly poor public policy, because the basis for sales tax revenue is the community's disposable income, which is finite and cannot be increased by building new stores, only diverted from existing businesses.
Prohibit the use of TIF on undeveloped land. Subsidizing greenfield development contributes to sprawl and undermines downtowns and urban neighborhoods, exacerbating the very problem TIF was intended to address.

Join the One Corps

As John Edwards retraces the steps of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King in the South this week on his "Road to One America tour", he reminds us all that we can help alleviate poverty in our own communities by becoming members of his One Corp. Johnson County Has one, but you can find one in your area by going to the One America blog site and signing up.

Edwards is the only candidate focused on the issues that can make a real difference in ending poverty in our country: a living minimum wage, health care for all, support for union organization and negotiation.

For our country to live up to its values, we need all Americans to be in the game.

Tom Harkin's Statement Supporting Reed-Levin Amendment

Statement by Senator Tom HarkinOn the Levin-Reed Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act

July 16, 2007

Mr. President, it is time to chart a new course in Iraq, and to redirect our armed forces toward a more focused and effective campaign against the terrorists who threaten us. I am cosponsoring the Levin-Reed amendment because it offers the best prospect for accomplishing these goals.

For four long years, President Bush has said that as the Iraqis step up to their responsibilities, the United States will be able to step down. Today, it is painfully clear that the opposite is the case: The Iraqi military and government will only step up to their responsibilities once it is clear that the United States is stepping down.

Levin-Reed says that the U.S. will begin troop redeployment within 120 days and remove most American combat forces from Iraq by April of next year. This acknowledges what has long been obvious to our commanders: That there can be no military solution to the mess in Iraq. At the same time, by signaling our intention to redeploy by next spring, we will create powerful incentives to force compromise within the deadlocked Iraqi government, and to compel Iraq's neighbors to play a more active, constructive role in pacifying that country.

There is no guarantee that this approach will succeed. There is no guarantee that the Iraqis will be willing or able to compromise and come together in a genuine government of national reconciliation. The only certainty is that our current course is a formula for more failure, more deadlock within the Iraqi government, more death and destruction, both Iraqi and American.

Mr. President, new developments last week have driven home the urgency of the change of course proposed by this amendment.

Last week, we learned that we are now spending an astronomical $10 billion a month in Iraq. And, this morning, the administration issued the required progress report on benchmarks for Iraq. As expected the report shows that the government in Baghdad has failed to meet any of the benchmarks for political and economic reform. The Iraqis have failed to make progress in passing a law governing the sharing of oil revenues. They have failed to make progress in allowing former Baath party members to return to their jobs. They have failed to make progress in disarming militias. They have failed to make progress in organizing new provincial elections. Indeed, the only thing the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds in parliament can agree on is that will go on vacation for the month of August.

The one glimmer of good news in the report is that the U.S. military has had some success since January in improving the security situation, though overall levels of violence and mayhem are largely unchanged. This limited success should not come as a surprise to anyone. We all appreciate the professionalism, capability, and courage of our armed forces. And it would be astonishing if we deployed an additional 30,000 troops and didn't see at least some improvement in the security situation. Unfortunately, these modest gains are all being accomplished by U.S. troops, not Iraqi troops. And because the surge is not sustainable much beyond the end of the year, even these modest gains are ephemeral.

Meanwhile, a new report by the National Counterterrorism Center concludes that al-Qaeda has grown stronger than at any time since the 9/11 attacks, and is better positioned to strike the West. In other words, while the United States' military and intelligence assets have been massively sidetracked in Iraq over the last four years, al-Qaeda has been able to regroup elsewhere, mostly in Pakistan. As the CIA's deputy director for intelligence told a House committee on Wednesday: "We see more [al-Qaeda] training. We see more money. We see more communication."

Indeed, the U.S. invasion of Iraq has been the gift that keeps of giving to al-Qaeda. There was no al-Qaeda presence in Iraq before the invasion. Now, a homegrown organization loosely affiliated with al-Qaeda — al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia — has emerged.

What's more, as previous intelligence reports have concluded, America's ongoing occupation of Iraq has been a powerful recruitment tool not only for al-Qaeda but for many new Islamic extremist organizations, some of them sprouting up spontaneously in western countries including Britain and Spain.

So, Mr. President, we have reached an extraordinary juncture with regard to the current failed policy in Iraq. We have reached the point, frankly, where you either side with the President and his demand that we stay the course in pursuit of what he calls "victory," or you side with the American people and our military commanders, who have concluded that there is no military solution to the mess in Iraq.

You either support this endless, pointless war, or you support a smarter, more focused campaign against the terrorists who truly threaten us.

Those are the choices in the current Senate debate. The Democrats and the American people have made their choice — to chart a new direction. I am confident that, as more Republicans make that same choice in the days and weeks ahead, we will ultimately prevail.

The conflict in Iraq can only be solved through political compromise and reconciliation in Baghdad, and through aggressive diplomatic engagement with Iraq's neighbors and across the Middle East.

It is time to chart a new course. The approach embodied in the Levin-Reed amendment offers us our best hope for extricating ourselves from the quagmire in Iraq, and retaking the offensive against al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. I urge my colleagues to support the Levin-Reed amendment.

Redlawsk Gets a Mention From CNN

University of Iowa Political Science Professor and former Chair of FAIR! , David Redlawsk, was quoted on the CNN web in a story about polling that shows no true frontrunner for the Republicans.

"Democrats are reasonably comfortable with the range of choices. The Democratic attitude is that three or four of these guys would be fine," David Redlawsk, a University of Iowa political scientist. "The Republicans don't have that; particularly among the conservatives there's a real split. They just don't see candidates who reflect their interests and who they also view as viable."

School of Public Health Taking a Second Look at Gift Horse

Is the University of Iowa School of Public Health retracting its position or is it an attempt to smooth ruffled donor feathers?

The faculty of the School of Public Health held an emergency meeting Monday morning and reversed its position, voting to "consider this naming gift at a collegiate faculty meeting" in the fall semester.

The Gazette reports that "Marvin Pomerantz, who resigned as chairman of the public health's fund-raising committee last week, said he's not sure Wellmark will hold the gift open that long."If it does go all the way to the fall, it would be doubtful in my mind that Wellmark would even let the gift stand," he said. "If a majority of faculty would vote for it and they do it now I think the gift could take place. But they have to do it now.""

While there are some who would be highly disappointed if the School of Public Health accepted the conditions of the donation, it would not surprise me if they accept the gift for several reasons:

1) The University of Iowa Foundation will be hurt by this P.R. disaster and is likely to be hurt more by other large donors threatening to withdraw their support.
2) Beyond the School of Public Health, the UI Hospital Center, which already has issues, is likely to experience dissonance from donors.
3) The pressure from state movers and shakers has got to be enormous and will land in the lap of incoming UI President Sally Mason. This will put her in the hot seat very quickly.

My "two cents" prognosis is that a face-saving arrangement will be arrived at and the donation will be accepted.

133rd Coming Home

While 3618 US Soldiers have died in Iraq, there is very good news for the families of the men and women of the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry. They are coming home to Iowa after sixteen months in Iraq. The 133rd lost two members, Iowa City's Spc. Kampha Sourivong and Staff Sgt. Scott Nisely of Marshalltown.

From the P-C

Originally slated to return in April, the 133rd, based in northeast Iowa and containing soldiers from all over the state, including about 25 from Iowa City and Johnson County, had its tour extended in January.

"If you look at the entire time, it's fairly remarkable," said Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood, spokesman for the Iowa National Guard. "I think if you look at this ... one of the longest serving National Guard units on active duty in the global war on terror. These folks have really distinguished themselves."

Soldiers, Welcome Home!

Vilsack Lists Worth $20,000 to Hillary

O. Kay Henderson Reports

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has helped supporter Tom Vilsack retire some of his campaign debt. Vilsack ended his own presidential campaign in February and soon endorsed Clinton's bid for their party's presidential nod.

Clinton's camp initially said she'd be helping Vilsack pay off his campaign debt, but Vilsack later said he'd taken out a loan and intended to pay off the debt himself. New records filed with the Federal Election Commission show Clinton cut Vilsack a $20,000 check for "list expenses."
A spokeswoman for Vilsack says Clinton purchased a "strategic document" and it's not "appropriate" to discuss the list publicly since it now belongs to Clinton. Radio Iowa initially contacted Clinton's campaign, but was referred to Vilsack's spokesperson for information about the list.

The document is likely Vilsack's list of campaign contacts in Iowa, and perhaps his list of donors here and elsewhere. Clinton rival Barack Obama has already converted one coveted Vilsack backer in New Hampshire.

Gary Hirshberg, president of Stonyfield Farm, a company that makes the top-selling organic yogurt in the U.S., had been one of Vilsack's key backers in New Hampshire.

Marcus Theaters Speaks: Sicko a Go for This Friday

The fine folks at Marcus Theaters tell me:

"The (sic) sycamore theatre will be playing "Sicko" starting this Friday. Theatres receive their bookings late on Monday afternoon and then the website updates after the theater programs their showtimes. Showtimes are usually all posted by Tuesday morning."

Why We the People May Be in Deep Trouble

A recent study by professor Jean Twenge at San Diego State University suggests that we use celebrities as a coping mechanism when we can't or don't expect to connect with others.

Take that and a recent book called "Fame Junkies" by Jake Halpern of teens. Halpern teamed up with several statisticians and orchestrated a survey involving three separate school systems and over 650 teenagers. Many of his findings were deeply troubling. For example – when given the option of “pressing a magic button” and becoming stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful – boys in the survey chose fame almost as often as they chose intelligence, and girls chose it more often. Among today’s teenagers, says Halpern, fame appears to be the greatest good.

According to Halpern, "even those teenagers who are not expecting to become famous themselves are very much caught up in this [celebrity] obsession. "

In his survey, Halpern asked teenagers to choose which profession they would most like to have when they grow up. Among girls, 43.4% indicated that they wanted to become assistants to a celebrity. They chose this option twice as often as “the president of a great university like Harvard or Yale,” three times as often as U.S. Senator, and four times as often as “the chief of a major company like General Motors.”

What’s so interesting about this statistic is that, among girls who indicated that they received bad grades in school (i.e., C’s or below), the percentage who opted to become assistants rose to 67%. What’s more, among both boys and girls who got bad grades – and who described themselves as being unpopular at school – the percentage who opted to become assistants rose further to 80%.

So beware people, Diddy is looking for a personal assistant (with a college degree only!) via You Tube and Paris Hilton may very well be planning to become the President of the United States.

Sicker Than Sicko

Ken Faberstein commented on the blog yesterday and pointed me to his "Patient Safety Blog - Telling Our Stories" blog wherein people tell their stories about medical care they've received. It's well worth checking out. Thanks Ken!

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Sicko Beats God and Bruce Willis

Okay, in fairness, "Sicko" was shellacked by wizard Harry Potter, the flexible Transformers, and the rodents in Ratatouille, but after 4 weekends, it is hanging in the top 10 movies on 754 screens. Not bad for a documentary (and one I still haven't been able to see). "Sicko" on a per screen basis did better than, "Live Free or Die Hard", "Evan Almighty", "1408", "Knocked Up", "Licensed to Wed" and new release "Captivity".

Hello Marcus Theaters??!!

Americans Fail to Measure Up

Apparently we the people are not towering over other nations as we have done since the end of WWII.

In the Netherlands, the tallest country in the world, the typical man now measures 6 feet, a good 2 inches more than his average American counterpart.

Many economists believe height is important because it is correlated with numerous measures of a population's well-being.The same things that make people tall -- a nutritious diet, good prenatal care and a healthy childhood -- also benefit them in other ways.

That makes height a good indicator for economists who are interested in measuring how well a nation provides for its citizens during their prime growing years.

Details from the News Tribune.

I theorize our decline comes from being hunched over computer keyboards and receiving massive doses of EMFs.

Habeas Corpus: What Would You Say to Harkin or Grassley?

The Bill of Rights Defense Committee wants to know.

If your senators were to call you this evening and ask how they should vote on habeas corpus on Tuesday, July 17, what would you answer?

Yes, I want habeas corpus restored for all people from whom the Military Commissions Act (MCA) stripped that right--including U.S. residents who are not full citizens? Or would you focus on the Guantánamo Bay detainees, who have been imprisoned for years without the benefit of this basic mandate of fairness? Unfortunately, Congress can't seem to get traction on any of the bills it's created to restore habeas and dismantle the MCA, so in desperation, two senators are trying to attach an amendment to a defense authorization bill just to restore habeas corpus. The bill number is SA 2022, sponsored by Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT).

Either way, you know that your senators will not call you up to ask your opinion. YOU must make the call. Though you may have already called during our recent National Call-In to Congress on Habeas Corpus, please take just a few moments to speak with the office staff of both of your senators in Washington, DC, to make sure they know how their constituents want them to vote.

The universal number to call is 202-224-3121, or you can click here for the direct number to your senators' offices. Enter your zip code, and your congressional representatives' information will appear.

The vote may come up as early as TOMORROW, Tuesday (Jul 17), so you don't have a moment to lose. Please forward this message to all friends, work associates, and others who care about basic rights for all. For talking points and more information, click here. To read the Sunday New York Times editorial, click here.

After your call, please let us know how your call went by filling out the brief survey at the bottom of the BORDC call-in page.Thanks for all you do!

In a related area, True Majority also has a petition for you to sign. And NPR has a great primer.

Road to One America Tour Begins in New Orleans

Update: Visit NPR for more on poverty.

From the Times-Picayune

Until Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards drove onto Delery Street Sunday night, the three children had been tossing a football in front of their grandmother's FEMA trailer. Flip-flops slapping on the concrete street, they ran down Delery, toward the moving huddle of cameras topped by three big fuzzy boom microphones.

"Who is he?" they asked, pointing at Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, who calmly walked in the eye of the huddle with Tanya Harris, an activist with ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

Just as the light was fading, the former North Carolina senator arrived at Delery Street in the Lower 9th Ward with two vanfuls of national and foreign reporters. The lightning-quick visit to Delery, followed by a tour of the nearby Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School, were the first stops in a three-day, eight-state "Road to One America Tour" that will focus on poverty in America, one of the senator's key issues. More

Lady Bird Laid to Rest

From CNN

Thousands of admirers, many clutching bundles of the wildflowers Lady Bird Johnson loved, lined streets in Austin and roads in the Hill Country as her body was taken from the state capital to the LBJ Ranch, about 70 miles west of Austin.

Members of the crowd applauded and cheered as the procession passed through downtown Austin, and a few women blew kisses.

Outside Austin, people gathered along highways and in little towns, many holding American flags, some clutching wildflowers and some holding umbrellas against the hot sun.
Wildflowers and a sign reading "Thank You Lady Bird" adorned a tractor. Another sign read "God Bless a Great Woman."

More people lined the streets of Johnson City, President Johnson's boyhood home, and the main street was lined with little Texas and American flags stuck in flower pots.

In Austin, retiree Kate Hill handed out sunflowers from her garden to people waiting for the procession. Hill said Johnson's work inspired her to convert her grassy lawn into an expanse of wildflowers and other native plants, and she wanted to thank the former first lady for the beauty.

Three days of ceremonies had started Friday with family prayer services and a public visitation at the LBJ Library and Museum. More than 11,500 people paid their respects over nearly 22 hours.

About 1,800 people, including family, friends and presidents, attended a two-hour funeral Saturday at Riverbend Centre overlooking the Hill Country. People in attendance included former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, first lady Laura Bush and former first ladies Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Feingold to Dane101: "Actually, keep your eyes open on Tuesday..."

Wisconsin's own Dane101 has this tidbit re: Senate Filibuster about Iraq troop redeployment

Submitted by Jesse Russell on Sat, 2007-07-14 13:07. Current Politics

I was having coffee with Russ Feingold's number three MySpace friend, Bessie Cherry, at In the Company of Thieves on Johnson Street this afternoon when who should walk in, but Wisconsin's favorite junior Senator. Cherry thought it would be a good time to actually meet her MySpace friend and invited him over to take a look at his page. Feingold smiled and said he can rarely keep up with all of the things happening on the internet.

I showed Dane101 to the Senator and figured I should ask him about the coming troop redeployment in the Senate. The Democrats need 60 votes to defeat a Republican filibuster and move the vote forward. I intended to ask "what do you plan to do in case of a filibuster?" but the words out of my mouth were "are you going to filibuster?" Thankfully, he seemed to get what I meant and replied:

"Actually, keep your eyes open on Tuesday, we're planning something big and important."
That really isn't all that revealing, but at least we know the Democrats who are for redeployment have something up their collective sleeves.

Edwards in CR

From the Daily Iowan

Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina used the old-fashioned, turn-of-the-century Ushers Ferry Historical Village in Cedar Rapids, which showcases the lives of past Iowans, as the setting for a new-fashioned political rally and barbecue on July 14. The Democratic presidential-nomination hopeful probably wishes he could go back in time and gain control of the Oval Office - he ran as Sen. John Kerry's running mate in 2004.A few hundred Linn County Democrats flocked to the village on the sunny day, stuffing themselves with hot dogs, burgers, and dessert, among other barbecue delicacies, before Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, introduced Edwards.

The crowd filled the grassy terrace surrounding the town gazebo, where the former senator stood, to hear the jean-clad father-of-four speak.He described President Bush as a "bullheaded" man who believes himself incapable of making mistakes - however, Edwards said, Bush has made many, particularly with Iraq. What Congress needs to do now is submit bill after bill, he said, each offering a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq."The president ought to be able to ask his country to be patriotic about something besides war," he said.

Edwards said that if he were president today, he would remove 40,000 troops from Iraq immediately, then swiftly pull the remaining soldiers out in the following months."Iraq won't get better until Iraqis take responsibility for their country," he said.Another theme Edwards emphasized was the U.S. image abroad, blaming the Iraq war for damaging America's standing with the rest of the world."Everything is so connected - what we do at home affects the rest of the world," he said.

Along with pulling out of Iraq, he said, the United States needs to regain its status as a "benevolent" force in the world again. He suggested three steps: helping to end genocide in Darfur, making an international effort to provide primary education for everyone, and taking on the HIV pandemic in Africa.

On universal health care, Edwards suggested it could come a step closer by nixing the tax cuts issued to those earning more than $200,000 a year. America, he said, could afford a plan that would be available to everyone.

More

News from Iowa Occupation Project

Peace activist David A. Goodner, 26, University of Iowa senior, UI Anti-war Committee, plead guilty in Linn County this morning [July 14, 2007] to counts of criminal trespassing and interference with official acts. Goodner was assessed the minimum fine on both counts: $65 for criminal trespassing and $250 for interference with official acts.

Goodner told the judge he would not pay the fines. "I consider my refusal to pay my fines an extension of my civil disobedience," Goodner said afterwards.

Goodner was arrested at the Cedar Rapids Federal Courthouse at 2:05pm on Friday July 6, during a public antiwar demonstration outside the federal building in Cedar Rapids where a district office of Senator Charles Grassley is located. After protesters were denied entrance to the building, Goodner attempted to access the building from a restricted side door.

Goodner read the following statement to supporters after the hearing:

"On Friday, July 6, I knowingly and deliberately broke the law on both counts of criminal trespassing and interference with official acts. I do not regret what I did and would do it again if I thought it would call attention to the war crimes and crimes against humanity our government is committing in the Middle East and around the world. Although I pleaded guilty to both counts, the issue at hand to me is the unlawful and Constitutionally-prohibited actions of the U.S. Federal Marshals who, on July 6, blocked the public entrance to the Cedar Rapids Federal Courthouse for over an hour and prevented a group of 75 citizens from entering a public building that is financed with our tax dollars.

"I would have never entered the restricted area if I wasn't denied my legal rights at the public entrance first.

"The interference with official acts charge is also without merit in my opinion because the "official act" of blocking 75 people from entering the federal building during normal business hours was itself an unlawful, illegal act. If we hadn't been denied our legal rights, crowd control would have been unnecessary."

The Gazette has more on Goodner's story.

Poor Choices For Public Housing

Not a big surprise to those of us in Iowa City who have been beating the drum for more affordable housing, but it is important to recognize that affordable public housing is lagging nationally and people in need have few options.

From McClatchy Newspapers

Growing numbers of the nation's poorest households are using more than half their earnings for rent while waiting years for federal housing assistance that may never come.

The phenomenon is largely playing out in urban and suburban locales, but has exploded recently in rural areas as coveted rental assistance becomes harder to get due to high demand and scant funding from Congress.

The lack of affordable homes for poor families is the nation's No. 1 housing problem and undermines the stability and security of families and communities nationwide.

A new report by the Department of Housing and Urban Development describes the startling growth of the problem since 2003. It found that 6 million impoverished households used most of their monthly earnings for housing or lived in substandard conditions in 2005. That’s an increase of 16 percent, or 817,000 families, since 2003.

The number of rural families facing this dilemma grew by 51 percent to nearly 1 million households over the same two-year span.

At the same time, these struggling households saw their average monthly incomes decline while their average rent payments increased.

Despite the considerable squeeze and growing need for help, these 6 million families received no federal rent assistance from HUD. In fact, federal housing assistance reaches only about one in four income-eligible households.


There’s simply not enough to go around, in part because for many years the Bush administration and a compliant Congress have diverted money from housing and other domestic programs to pay for tax cuts and the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.


“There definitely has been a diminution of federal support for low-income housing in recent years,” said Nicolas Retsinas, director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. "Clearly, it says there are other priorities, and this is not on the short list."
The lack of assistance, soaring rents, slow wage growth and a shrinking inventory of affordable apartments have made it nearly impossible for millions of low-income renters to adequately house their families.


“If you’re not one of the lucky 25 percent to receive assistance, you're very likely to have a very high rent burden or live in substandard conditions or in overcrowded conditions," said Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities. ”The demand for assistance goes significantly unmet.”


In fact, a family with only one full-time minimum-wage earner can’t afford a standard two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the country, the Harvard study found.

More

Waving the Public's Airwaves Goodbye?

Way too long to post on my blog, but a definite must read for those of you who are concerned about media consolidation and how the public airwaves are being managed.

How to Sell the Airwaves? FCC Must Choose Between Competing Network Visions
By Kim HartWashington Post Staff WriterFriday, July 13, 2007

The airwaves that carry billions of calls, text messages and e-mails have become one of the hottest corporate properties. Not only are they in demand by a nation of 240 million mobile-phone users, they are also in short supply.
Soon, one of the last available sections of airwaves -- and one of the most attractive -- will be sold, and the issue of how to manage that sale has become the focus of debate.

A Lesson in Economics

Teacher raises have been highly publicized in Iowa, but not so much has been said about administrators salaries. For instance ICCSD Superintendent Lane Plugge, whose teachers received a 5.4% raise, received a 7.5% raise which put him in the $163, 400.

With the number of teachers rapidly reaching retirement age, the salaries will undoubtedly change as schools are forced to raise salaries to compete for more teachers, but that is not today.

Today, according to the Gazette, the average salary of Iowa's full-time public school teachers was $43,713 in the 2006-07 school year, up 19.8 percent since 2000-01, according to a review of Iowa Department of Education numbers. The average pay of principals rose 22.6 percent in that same time period, to $77,765 last year.

State Sen. Brian Schoenjahn, D-Arlington and chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said he was aware of the pay disparity [between teachers and administrators] but said it's simply a matter of supply and demand."I don't think it has anything to do with fairness," he said. "I think what it has to do with is competition. Whether you agree with it or not, it's what you have to pay in order to get a highly qualified person in charge."

A New Direction: Loebsack Votes for Troop Withdrawal Beginning in 120 Days

This is a compilation of reports from the Press-Citizen and Radio Iowa
In a move that will likely face a White House veto, Rep. Dave Loebsack voted for a bill Thursday for a withdrawal of U.S. forces to begin within 120 days and move to a “limited presence” by April 1, 2008.

The troop-withdrawal measure passed the House on a 223 to 201 vote.The bill also requires the president to submit to Congress a comprehensive strategy for Iraq by Jan. 1, 2008, and justify “the minimum force level” necessary to protect U.S. security interests.

“It doesn’t go as far as I would like, but it’s an important first step,” said Loebsack, D-Iowa. “If I had my way we would begin to remove our troops tomorrow.

My goal was to have everyone out in a year,” he said. “I have concerns about this bill obviously because it says that an unspecified number of troops may be allowed to stay. I have a real concern about how President Bush would interpret that should this become law.”

Bruce Braley, US Congressman from Waterloo who also voted for the bill, said the bill gives the President benchmarks as the bill requires President Bush to come up with a "comprehensive Iraq strategy by January 1 of 2008, that report must include a discussion of U.S. national security interests in Iraq, a justification of the minimum force levels required to protect U.S. national security interests after April 1st of 2008, and also requires him to lay out specific diplomatic initiatives to engage U.S. allies and others in the region to bring stability to the area."

If Benchmarks Are All That and a Bag of Chips...

Since benchmarks are so helpful to decide national policy, I suggest the following benchmarks for the Executive Branch:

1.) By September 1st, reveal the truth about the method used to fire U.S. Attorneys.
2.) By September 1st, have the Vice-President release his records about the energy policy meeting he had in 2001 that he won't disclose the participants and what the recommendations were.
3.) By September 1st, decide what branch of the government has authority over the Vice-President's office.
4.) By September 1st, explain why I. Scooter Libby's sentence was commuted or be prepared to commute the sentences of each man and woman serving time for a non-violent crime (including the Iowans who were convicted of illegal trespass for protesting the war).
5.) By September 1st, explain coherently why you are continuing the war in Iraq given that other information you have used to invoke war policy has turned out to be, at best, flawed and , at worst, not true.
6.) By September 1st, restore habeus corpus to all persons who are being prosecuted or held in a US civilian or military prison and end rendition.
7.) By September 1st, Agree to close Guantanamo and the former School of the Americas.
8.) By September 1st, begin peace talks with "the axis of evil"--Iran, North Korea, and Iraq (you might want to invite Cuba and Venezuela too).
9.) By September 1st, enter into negotiations for a world treaty that seriously addresses global climate change.
10.) By September 1st, ask for higher CAFE standards from Congress that will increase fuel efficiency and reward manufacturers that do it with renewable resources.

If the executive branch should not meet these benchmarks, I recommend the complete withdrawal of the President and Vice-President by April 2008.

Reconstructing Public Opinion

"Public Opinion" is not truly the realm of the "public" as the name would imply. It is constructed, nay manuufactured, by opinion leaders-- often in very calculated and agenda-driven ways. For instance research shows, when the media covers a particular issue in depth, public opinion about the issue changes. Stop reporting about the issue, the importance or unimportance of it diminishes too. Whether it is climate change, immigration, or Paris Hilton's proclivities, you can expect what goes up to come down. The key is to have an reasonable idea of when it is up and when it is down.

Campaigns, 527 groups, lobbies, and PR firms understand this well and, more so, the art and science behind it. I suggest that you get to know it too. This keeps you (and me) from being a pawn in a game that you wouldn't want to play if you had more than one set of facts to rely on.

The Media Education Foundation has some pretty good materials (for free that you can study). This one, in particular, is useful to understanding how public opinion is made.

Now you decide if this entry is an attempt to sway public opinion.

MoveOn Members Say Edwards Wins Town Hall on Climate Change Plans

Largest MoveOn Event Since 2004; Over 100,000 People Joined at 1,300 House Parties and Online to Watch Virtual Town Hall

Former Senator John Edwards won MoveOn.org Political Action’s poll on the climate crisis which asked, “Which candidate’s position on dealing with the climate crisis do you prefer?” Of the field of eight Democratic hopefuls, Edwards received 33% of the total votes cast–more than twice the support of the next two candidates, Rep. Kucinich and Senator Clinton, who each garnered 15.7%.

MoveOn member vote results:
Edwards 33.10%, Kucinich 15.73%, Clinton 15.71%, Obama 15.03%, Richardson 12.60%, Biden 3.06%, Dodd 3.01%, Gravel 1.78%

“MoveOn members want leaders who will take on the oil and coal industry and create a clean energy economy. That’s probably why Sen. Edwards’ support of cap and auction systems – which force polluters to pay citizens—and his call for more green collar jobs received such strong backing,” added Ilyse Hogue, Campaign Director of MoveOn.org Political Action.

The membership vote began immediately after the organization’s Saturday night Virtual Town Hall and concluded on Tuesday, at midnight PST. The Virtual Town Hall, at which, the candidates answered members’ questions about climate change and global warming, coincided with the Live Earth concerts around the world.

MoveOn members who watched the Town Hall at one of the parties voted differently from those who did not.

Votes by MoveOn members who attended house parties:
Edwards 25.53%, Richardson 20.19%, Kucinich 17.55%, Clinton 13.80%, Obama 10.18%, Biden 6.15%, Dodd 3.63%, Gravel 2.96%

Bush and the Doting Press

Check out this video at Raw Story.

On Wednesday, President Bush appeared at the dedication of the renovated press briefing room at White House. As the reporters strained to get a few questions through his flow of jovial one-liners, Bush said, "Let's do this. Let me cut the ribbon ... and then why don't you all yell simultaneously. Like, really loudly. And that way, you might get noticed. I'll, like, listen, internalize, play like I'm gonna answer the question, and then smile at you and just say 'got it. Thanks. Thanks for such a solid, sound question.'"

Bush then cut the ribbon, waved, and immediately left.

Edwards' Headquarters Evacuated

According to the AP/CBS a short time ago, a suspicious package addressed to Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards forced the evacuation of his campaign headquarters Thursday, the third time authorities have responded to letters addressed to the office.

Capt. Bob Overton of the Chapel Hill Police Department said he did not know the contents of the package, but he said authorities have deemed it suspicious.

"We are investigating the package at this time," Overton said Thursday afternoon.
Postal employees in Chapel Hill intercepted another suspicious package in May after finding the letter contained a powdery substance. Edwards staffers also evacuated their office in Chapel Hill in March after an employee opened a package that contained a powdery substance and what Edwards later deemed "negative comments."

Both packages tested negative for anthrax, the powdery substance that accompanied letters in 2001 that killed five people and sickened 17 others.

Everything You Might Want to Know About the Iowa Occupation Project

Mona Shaw, one of the 20 people who occupied Chuck Grassley's office last week, and webmistress (I'm not sure that is politically correct, but if there are webmasters, surely there are webmisttresses) over at the School for Moral Courage has uploaded a web page for the Iowa Occupation Project. You can view at the link below.

http://www.schoolformoralcourage.com/iowaoccupationproject.html

P.S. The page can also has a link at the top of the School for Moral Courage home page at:

http://www.schoolformoralcourage.com/

Update:
Five people who were arrested on February 26 for occupying Senator Grassley's office in Des Moines were acquitted late yesterday when found not guilty by a jury in Polk County.

The five were

Kathleen McQuillen, Staff Person for th DM Regional based American Friends Service.

Dixie Webb, Catholic Just Faith and board member of the Des Moines based Catholic Peace Ministry.

Chet Quinn, Iowa Methodist Federation for Peace and Justice.

Brian Terrell, Maloy IA, Catholic Worker and Director of the Catholic Peace Ministry.

Elton Davis, former DM Catholic Worker and full time dad and peace activist.

A full press release sent by Catholic Peace Ministry as well as a photo of the five is available at this link.

http://www.schoolformoralcourage.com/desmoines5.html

Environmentalist Ladybird Johnson Passes On

Former first lady, Claudia Alta Taylor Johnson better known as "Lady Bird", died today, family. She was 94.

While seen by many as a "conventional" first lady, she was anything but conventional for her time. With a family inheritance of $41,000 over a five year period between 1937 and 1942, Lady Bird laid the foundation of the family broadcasting fortune over which she served as president and later board chair. She would eventually become the first multimillionaire to assume the role of First Lady

While her husband Lyndon was widely reviled during his presidency because of the Vietnam War, Lady Bird Johnson was seen as an advocate for the protection of the environment. She established a capital beautification project, worked to promote the Highway Beautification Act, and created the National Wildflower Research Center. In 1999, she was awarded the Native Plant Conservation Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of these accomplishments.

As a person who spent a number of years in Texas, her legacy is seen every spring when the blue bells bloom along Texas roads.

"Ugliness is so grim," Lady Bird Johnson once said. "A little beauty, something that is lovely, I think, can help create harmony which will lessen tensions."

She will be missed.

Good, But Will It Actually Report the News?

According to Editor and Publisher, The Chicago Sun-Times is turning left.

The tabloid that shifted toward political conservatism under the brief ownership of Rupert Murdoch more than two decades ago now says that it is "rethinking our stance on several issues, including the most pressing issue facing Americans today: Bush's war in Iraq."Under marching orders from Publisher John Cruickshank and Editor in Chief Michael Cooke, new Editorial Page Editor Cheryl L. Reed introduced a new Commentary section Tuesday with a promise to turn the tabloid back into the liberal-leaning paper it was for decades before the Reagan administration.

"We are returning to our liberal, working-class roots, a position that pits us squarely opposite the Chicago Tribune -- that Republican, George Bush-touting paper over on moneyed Michigan Avenue," Reed wrote.

"We're rethinking our stance on several issues, including the most pressing issue facing Americans today: Bush's war in Iraq."Reed, who did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment about the change, is the paper's former book editor who was asked by Cruickshank and Cooke to, she wrote, "conceive an editorial and opinion section that looked like the future.

"Her instructions: "'Don't be conservative,' Cruickshank urged me. 'We don't want you to hold back.'"Reed said the Sun-Times will be adding seats to the editorial board "so that board members -- the paper's brain trust -- reflect the ethnic and social diversity of our city."

This is all fine and good, as long as the paper also report the news factually!

Rockridge Nation: The Progressive Agenda

George Lakoff discusses the "Progressive Agenda".

RFK JR -- Live Earth

This is a Kennedy that needs to run for President.

Give the Voter a Chance

Iowans receive more than just a little attention leading up to the Iowa caucuses in January. This is both a blessing and a curse. In part, it does help for candidates to roll out their campaigns and issues in front of real voters, as opposed to the RNC or the DLC. And it is very helpful for the people to have an opportunity to talk to the Pols about issues that matter to them, so they know who best represents their views. So far, so good.

However, there is a line that needs to be drawn and that line is around national groups setting up shop in primary states to get their particular issue up on the toteboard of national consciousness at the expense of the people who live there having a chance to speak their piece.

Now I am not advocating against anybody's free speech, but I'm railing against "bought" speech. I'm not even talking just about advertising, I'm talking about lobbyists that are paid to follow campaigns, pass out slick brochures, and make comment to the press.

If you are a issues group, you want your issue to rise to the top of the heap and so advocacy is key, no question. However, if you are Joe Citizen and you want to ask Candidate Smith about what her/his view on farm subsidies is, it can be difficult when "bird doggers" are running around to every campaign event to get the candidate's take (probably for the 30th time today) on their issue.

Now many will disagree with me because they see this as a basic right (and believe me, I see the point too). I guess what I hope for is that those persons fighting the fight for their cause will take a step back for the potential voter so that they can get a word in edge-wise--who knows, maybe Citizen Joe will even do their work for them.

Health Has No Fury

On the light side...sort of...my sincere thanks to P-C opinion page editor Jeff Charis-Carlson for his editing prowess.

Health Has No Fury (Today's Poetic License)

Billions on anti-depressants each year get spent.
So what in the world's making us a "Prozac Nation"?
(Well, OK ... there's climate change, a war without end,
an energy crisis and the Prez's secretive administration.)

Still didn't one of our greatest presidents propose,
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself?"
Things on earth could be worse, I suppose,
And, if nothing else, at least I have my health!

But speaking of health, there's been a delay.
Michael Moore's movie "Sicko" has yet to hit town.
Is there some hidden agenda at play?
Or just not enough copies to go around?

Regardless, I worry for the 47 million of those
folks who need health insurance badly.
Because whenever "Sicko" comes, and long after it goes,
The uninsured will still be left without any -- sadly.

Maybe Wellmark should flout its university cynics --
those nonbelievers at the UI College of Public Health --
by offering $15 million to Iowa's free medical clinics.
That'll prove they're only out to help share the wealth.

And Then There Were Five

Some how this slipped by me, but it now means there will be at least one primary for the Iowa City council race.

From the P-C: Another contender has entered the Iowa City Council race.

Iowa City resident Tim Judd, 26, will run for one of two at-large seats in contention this election season. He will be up against Iowa City council member Dee Vanderhoef, neighborhood activist Mike Wright, MidAmerican Energy’s local operations manager Terry Smith, and attorney Matt Hayek. Iowa City Mayor Ross Wilburn and council member Regenia Bailey also will seek re-election in districts A and C, respectively.

Judd, who graduated from the University of Iowa last spring with a bachelor’s degree in political science and minors in sociology and psychology, is the youngest candidate so far. He grew up in Davenport.

“It doesn’t have anything do with age, only the issues,” he said Monday. “I feel like I have, in my time here, garnered a good perspective on what the city needs.”

Private Lessons

"Privatization does not mean you take a public institution and give it to some nice person...it means you take a public institution and you give it to an unaccountable tyranny."—Noam Chomsky

Often when people don't like what the government does they point to the splendors of the "private sector" who will make all things better. The only problem is, the private sector often is not equipped any better than the government and often only do things cheaper or worse.

Now before I go further I want to say that the private sector does a great job, for what it is capable of doing. You want a hot dog, the private sector can furnish you any number of them and at any price. You need a basic car, the private sector can do that too. However, if you want an education, or a highly fuel efficient car for that matter, the private sector is not necessarily the way to go.

With few exceptions, private education has not, on the average, produced better students. It is true that when better students go to better funded schools, these schools can (but not always) produce better student outcomes (e.g., students who graduate, are ready for college, do well in post-secondary studies, get good jobs). The same is true of public education. As a group, students who go to well-to-do suburban schools perform better than students who either attend rural or large urban districts. However, taking into account magnet and academy types of schools, students who go to rigerous schools, take tough/upper level courses no matter where, do well regardless of where the schools are located.

The issue is one of spreading the excellence around. This is where differences in students show up. If a student arrives at a school ready to learn, they learn. That is, if they aren't hungry, have done their homework, have foundational skills, and supportive parents who read to them, they succeed. There is no private company who can do this any better.

But we do not guarantee that our children have the same footing when they enter school. The single biggest detriment to our schools is poverty. Poor kids fare worse because they come from poverty. Unless the private sector wants to take over the poverty sector, it is likely that we will always have inequality in schools.

Think of it this way, if you were asked to bid on a contract to run a school and you had to feed kids not only lunch, but breakfast and dinner too, provide afterschool care, as well as tutoring and enrichment courses, how could you do that competitively?

Does public education fail our children? Yes, it does. But not for a lack of trying. Public education suffers from protectionism to be sure. There are teachers, principals, school boards, and parents who do a lousy job where students are concerned. Schools require change agents and failing schools don't have them. Why? You have got me. However, whether the government is doing the job or private concerns are, change doesn't come without a fight.

I believe that private concerns could help out a great deal in schools--feeding kids could be done better by private companies, so could cleaning schools and transporting kids. But when it comes to education of children, nothing will ever replace a highly skilled teacher--and we need a plan to develop more of them. Perhaps there is even an opportunity for private concerns out there to get into the teacher training business.

Often people want solutions to be simple and so to posit private concerns against public concerns is a natural debate. Perhaps the real debate should be what is best for our children and to find both public and private solutions that lead to a better educated nation.

Watch Michael Moore Go Off On Wolf Blitzer About Health Care

moore on cnn
Uploaded by dollarsandsense123

Iowa A Progressive Star State

State Senator Joe Bolkcom's Networker reports:

On June 14th, Progressive States Network and the Center for American Progress Action Fund hosted a panel in Washington, D.C to highlight the series of progressive victories being won in states across the country. I was invited to participate in a panel along with legislators from Maryland and Washington to discuss our Iowa legislative accomplishments.

I reviewed our accomplishments addressing climate change and energy policy as well as reviewed a series of other progressive accomplishments of the General Assembly and Governor Culver.

Iowa was one of six states that received a Star State designation. The report can be seen at Progressive States Network.

A long time ago, (April) I was also invited to participate in the Progressive States Network Gala. See a YouTube video of my comments at the Gala at YouTube Video.

Also check out this link if you wonder what folks like Joe are doing about health care.

It's Alive 2!

Tom Harkin has a new campaign site up on the web. Go see what our junior Senator is up to these days. Senator Tom, if you are checking in--Why is Ruth supporting Hillary?

It's Alive!

City council candidate Matt Hayek's Website that is.

Leaving Well (mark) Enough Alone

Wellmark gives 15 million reasons why it is withdrawing its support from the University of Iowa School of Public Health. According to the Gazette The Wellmark Foundation has withdrawn its offer of a $15 million naming gift to the University of Iowa College of Public Health, according to a letter sent to the college's Dean James Merchant.

The letter, to Merchant from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Chief Executive Officer John Forsyth, states “...[O]n behalf of the Wellmark Foundation, I am withdrawing the offer of a $15 million gift to the University of Iowa Foundation for use by the College of Public Health. Unless and until there is unwavering support from both the College and University administrative leadership for a major gift as originally solicited by the College's Capital Campaign Committee Leadership, our gift will remain withdrawn.”

College of Public Health faculty on Thursday overwhelmingly rejected the idea of naming their college after Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield with a vote during a closed-door faculty meeting.

But the faculty, and Public Health Dean James Merchant, said they were open to negotiating with the insurance company on a different name, perhaps naming the college after an individual of Wellmark's choosing or after the Wellmark Foundation, a separate, nonprofit entity launched by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Merchant said it was the “strong preference” of Wellmark officials that the name be the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield College of Public Health.

But in their resolution, the college faculty said they could not support naming the eight-year-old college after Iowa's largest insurance provider. They felt it could negatively impact how their research is viewed by peers and the public.



Perhaps the Viagra School of Public Health is still a possibility?

It's Depressing!

The most prescribed drugs by doctors, according to a new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study are anti-depressants. The US CDC looked at 2.4 billion drugs prescribed in 1.2 billion visits to 352 hospitals and about 1,200 physicians throughout 2005.

118 million of the prescriptions were for antidepressants or roughly 5% of all drugs prescribed. This number is equivalent to 39.5% of the entire US population being on anti-depressants at any given time.

High blood pressure medications followed at 113 million and arthritis or headache drugs were mentioned in 110 million patient records.

The study also found that hospital and doctor visits have surged 20% in the past five years.

The full CDC report is available online at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/as/ad388.pdf.

With fear and anxiety seemingly at an all time high, should any of us really be surprised?

The Candidates on Energy Policy and Climate Change

I'm sure everyone watched or attended Live Earth on Saturday and hopefully we all are thinking (and acting) about what we can do to lessen our footprint.

MoveOn has a nice collection of candidate statements on the environment and climate change controls. To me there is no clear "winner" on this issue, but any one of them is better than the Bush policies of the last several years. Certainly reducing emissions, developing better alternative and renewable energies, and carbon offsets are important, but the need for all of us to consider how we live and make changes that reduce our use of energy or to use it more efficiently is crucial.

This is Why We Have Free Speech

Note of Explanation: Rosemary Persaud was one of 11 anti-war protesters arrested for occupying the Cedar Rapids office of Senator Charles Grassley on February 26th. She was sentenced on July 6,2007. This was her statement read in Linn County District Associate court at her sentencing, and the sentencing of 10 others, on simple misdemeanor criminal trespass charges:

"Why did we do this act of civil disobedience? Because we want peace. If the state's prosecutor had asked every single one of the Cedar Rapids 11 at trial this question: Why did you do this civil disobedience? I think she would have heard 11 times, the answer: Because I want peace. Because I want peace. Because I want peace. And she would hear a chorus of the same from all of you sitting here today.

But is anyone else listening? I know I have the right and I believe I have a duty as a citizen of this country, to speak up when I see my government go so badly off course. But because the current president is not listening and has never listened to the American people, I'm more determined than ever to be heard and faithfully represented at least by my elected Congresspeople.

Congress has the power to end this unjust war and illegal occupation of Iraq. They can stop funding it. We're asking Mr. Grassley as a ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee to do everything in his powere to cease the funding of this war.

I want to ask Senator Grassley, as someone who has spent years of service investigating fraud and waste in government spending, why he sees no waste in human life as this war goes on and on, year after year. Is not a life worth more than a dollar? It seems our Congress has lost its ability and courage to measure what matters, and has lost its moral compass to find us home. The American people want our troops HOME, to live, and we want the Iraqi people to live. It was a crime for the United States to invade Iraq and it's a crime to continue waging a brutal war for oil. Congress must stop it. They must end it now.

Sen. Grassley has, I think, made a good effort to listen to and know the people of Iowa, so we hope that he will take seriously what we offer as our best qualities to help him do what is right. This is why we are all here today, why some of us were at his office on Monday, February 26, asking him to listen and to act. We refused to budge because we refuse to give up hope for a chance at peace. To Sen. Grassley we offer all our best qualitites because we want and demand a participatory democracy. So to start, I suggest Mr. Grassley take some of Megan's compassion and Tim's energy and Ryan's commitment. Let him have David's determination and Joshua's understanding. Let him know John Paul's heritage. Let him lear some of
Justin's ideas, and ask Andrew's questions, and use Conor's words. Also, he can take Frank's freedom if necessary. Because we want peace.

As a mother I have to speak out against this war and All wars. As a mother, I have the responsibility to teach my children to be understanding of other people and to find ways to solve problems and settle differences non-violently. It's hard to teach your kids these lessons when their government is provoking and waging war as a means to an end.

Our children grip our hearts. They girp our hearts so tightly and so unexpectedly at times that it transforms us somehow from citizens of our state into people of the world. It's been said that when you bring a child into the world you agree to let your heart walk around outside your body. Mothers and fathers -- everywhere -- want the world to know their children, to know their dreams and their potential and their inherent goodness. Mothers want peace for everyone, not just their own children, and mothers believe peace is possible because we've learned that it's through our hearts that we're all connected in the world. Our children teach us this. So I refuse to offer my children or anyone else's children as fodder for the war machine. Instead I offer my children's hope, and I offer some of my own time spent away from tending them to help tend our world as well. Because we want peace."

Cedar Rapids 20 Occupy Sen. Harkin and Grassley's Offices

Twenty anti-war protesters were arrested in Cedar Rapids for criminal trespass when they occupied the district offices of Senator Harkin and Senator Grassley. With the exception of one protester who was taken to the Linn County jail (and later released on bail), all were cited on the spot and released on their own recognizance.

While protesters were prevented to enter Senator Grassley's office en masse, a representative was allowed by Grassley's staff. Protesters were allowed enter Senator Harkin's office.

Below is the copy of the letter that was delivered to Senator Grassley's office. A similar letter was delivered to Senator Harkin's office.

Dear Senator Grassley:

We are members of the Iowa Occupation Project, a campaign of sustained civil disobedience to end the Iraq War, who were arrested in your offices in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines on February 26 while imploring you to pledge to vote against funding of the criminal war in and occupation of Iraq.

We are deeply disappointed that you did not accede to our request and that subsequently you voted to continue to fund the senseless slaughter that claims more and more lives of Iraqi civilians and of American soldiers. This letter is to offer you another opportunity to get yourself on the right side of history and to meet your basic responsibilities as a senator, a citizen and a human being by pledging to vote against any and all further requests from the president to fund more war in Iraq.

Please sign the enclosed pledge and return it to our Des Moines office before the July 4th recess.

In the event that the pledge is not signed and returned, we will deliver another copy to one or more of your offices in Iowa and wait for your positive response. As was the case of the occupations of your offices in February, we assure you that further occupations will also be nonviolent and be clearly within the confines of the unabridged rights assured in the US Constitution “of the people to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

This matter is extremely urgent and we hope to hear a positive response from you immediately. Please feel free to call us with questions.

Peace,


David Goodner
4649 Running Deer Court NE
Iowa City IA 52245 319-335-0151

Brian Terrell
108 Hillcrest Dr.
Maloy, IA 50836 515-255-8114

PLEDGE TO VOTE AGAINST FUNDING FOR THE IRAQ WAR


I, Senator Charles Grassley, pledge to vote against any further funding requested for the continuing war and occupation in Iraq.


Signed:



Date:




Please return to Brian Terrell, c/o Catholic Peace Ministry, 4211Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312

Sicko in Cedar Rapids

Well, Michael Moore's "Sicko" is here--sort of. If you live in Iowa City, you might wait a week and see if you can reduce your carbon footprint or better still, carpool with friends. If you live halfway between, get going--or better still, get one of your Coralville ot Iowa City friends to carpool with you.


THEATER NAME:
Wehrenberg Galaxy 16 Cine
THEATER ADDRESS:
6840 Council Street NE
52402
THEATER CHAIN:
Wehrenberg Theaters

How One Iowan Spent the 4th

Early, Ia. - If the weather cooperates, 78-year-old Mary Ringgenberg will celebrate Independence Day this afternoon by holding her homemade sign at the corner of East Second Street and U.S. Highway 71.

On one side, the sign says, in red ink: Stop this bloody war.The other side, in black ink, reads:LIES OILTORTURE DEBTCOLLATERALDAMAGE

The sign is attached with transparent tape to a broom handle, "because I can't buy a stick of wood here." Ringgenberg will wave to each passing motorist.

Johnson County Has New MH/DD Head

It looks like Johnson County Board of Supervisors has appointed a new director of Mental Health/Development Disabilities, or MH/DD.

According to the P-C Kristen Artley is currently the mental health director, Central Point of Coordination administrator and case management director for Franklin County. She will start her new role on Sept. 17.

Artley will replace former director Elaine Sweet, who retired on May 29.

Artley has worked in the mental health and disabilities field for 19 years. She also serves on the state's Community Services Legislative Review Committee.

We'll hope that she manages the program more skillfully than Ms. Sweet did. We'll also hope the state legislature funds the program and continues the move toward real mental health parity.

Where in the World is Bill Bradley?--The New American Story

Former Senator Bill Bradley has a new book out called "The New American Story." It is amazing how quickly politicians fall from grace, but Bill Bradley is a good policy wonk and if you have time to read one book this summer, this is the one--if you have time to read two, the Gore book is worthwhile too. In it, Bradley proposes some ideas that would strengthen our country and will not be likely what we hear from those folks running for "the Office".

For instance, he discusses a plan to strengthen Social Security--remember Social Security--he proposes a plan to move the retirement age to 67 by 2027, provide a $5000 "birthright" benefit to every child born in the US wich would compound interest until retirement. More controversially, he would put new city and state workers into the Social Security system. He offers sound reasons for doing so, but you'll have to pick up the book.

BlueCross City v. BlueShield City

From the Citizen-Press

Iowa City Waiting to Turn Blue?
(UPS) Iowa City
Dan Roberts

Iowa City council members, who have been discussing a possible name change in exchange for financial considerations, will have to decide between Wellmark BlueCross City or Wellmark BlueShield City due to the University of Iowa School of Public Health's impending decision to go with the Wellmark Foundation School of Public Health. "We are disappointed that we can't be Wellmark City," said Mayor Ross Wilburn, "but as long as we can be part of the "Blue Team", we are happy."

As part of the negotiations, city workers will be covered by a Wellmark HMO plan, as long as they do not have any pre-existing conditions.

In a related story, Jim Faucett, mayor of Coralville, said "I am urging my fellow council members to move on renaming Coralville "Wellmarkville." We don't want to miss this opportunity to collaborate with Wellmark and Iowa City to make Johnson County the Health Insurance Corridor.

Mayor Tom Salm of North Liberty could not be reached for comment, as North Liberty activists are considering seceding from Iowa.

Chris Dodd Wants You to Check Out DTV

It's almost like being there. DTV

In fact if you've never been to Ottumwa, you can spend 36 minutes there.

Media Matters Says We Are Winning

Justin Cole from Media Matters sent this and I appreciate it:

"I wanted to let you know that Media Matters and Campaign for America's Future have just completed a new joint report called, "The Progressive Majority: Why a Conservative America is a Myth."

The report uses non-partisan polling data gathered over the course of 20 years to show that conventional wisdom that Americans are overwhelmingly conservative is simply wrong.

It's a substantial report that will help drive home the point that America – regardless of how the media portrays it – is a progressive nation that is getting more progressive, including in Iowa.

We are hoping to get the word out about the report far and wide. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated. Here is the link to the report page: http://mediamatters.org/progmaj/

Also, below are some key statistics on progressive views in Iowa. We’ve contacted your state party and members of congress to let them know about the report and findings, so I’m sure it would be beneficial for them to have statewide blogs write something up on it.

STATE SPECIFIC POLLING:

* “Providing health insurance for people who do not already have it—should the federal government spend more on it, the same as now, less, or no money at all?”
o Percent answering “More”: 69%


* The federal government helping to pay for health insurance for all children—do you favor or oppose this?
o Percent answering “favor”: 72%


* “The federal government helping employers pay the cost of their workers’ health insurance—do you favor or oppose this?”
o Percent answering “favor”: 66%


* “Providing financial assistance to public elementary and secondary schools—should the federal government spend more on it, the same as now, less, or no money at all?”
o Percent answering “more”: 71%


* “The federal government trying to reduce the income differences between rich and poor Americans—do you favor or oppose the federal government doing this?”
o Percent favoring: 62%


* “The federal government banning all abortions—do you favor or oppose the federal government doing this?”
o Percent opposed: 62%


* “Would you favor or oppose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution saying that no state can allow two men to marry each other or two women to marry each other?”
o Favor: 42% Oppose: 48%


* “Restricting the kinds of guns that people can buy—should the federal government do more about it, do the same as now, do less about it, or do nothing at all?”
o Percent answering “more”: 55%


PRESIDENTIAL POLLING:


* KCCI Poll, May 2007 (http://www.kcci.com/download/2007/0517/13341581.pdf )
o Clinton vs. McCain (39% 40%)

Clinton vs. Giuliani (38% 38%)

Clinton vs. Romney (41% 35%)


o Obama vs. McCain (43% 38%)

Obama vs. Giuliani (44% 37%)

Obama vs. Romney (45% 34%)


o Edwards vs. McCain (41% 38%)

Edwards vs. Giuliani (41% 37%)

Edwards vs. Romney (44% 34%)





PRESIDENTIAL FUNDRAISING:


Democrats have raised $62,000 in Iowa
Republicans have raised $69,000

FURTHER INFORMATION:

* 06/13/07: U.S. News & World Report: "Progressives Claim Electoral Advantage"
* 06/13/07: USA Today - On Politics: "Liberal analysis: Conservative America is a myth"
* 06/14/07: Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Media play to worst instincts"
* 06/14/07: Scripps Howard Foundation Wire: "Politically, Americans, Talks Right, Leans Left, Study Finds"

The Other "Slim" Shady

Bill Gates is not #1 richest person in the world--there's a new kid on the global block and he is Mexico's telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim who is now worth $67.8bn, above Microsoft founder Mr Gates' $59.2bn. His wealth is in marked contrast to the 53% of Mexico's population that the World Bank says are living in poverty. His worth is equivalent to the average income of 6.3 million Mexicans or roughly the income of 5% of the entire Mexican population.

Not that he is in the Bill Gates class of philanthropy yet, but Slim infused his foundation last year with $1.8 billion dollars. And recently he's pledged $10 billion dollars to health and education programs over the next four years. He also pledged $100 million dollars toward Bill Clinton's Foundation to alleviate poverty in South and Central America.

Hayek Files with State

In an effort to keep faithful readers up to date with the candidates for city council and their teammates, here is a link to the state filing that Matt Hayek made to set up his council campaign. His website is being built, so check back.

Welcome to Wellmark City, Iowa

This from the Iowa City Citizen-Press

Iowa City Council to Vote Tuesday on Renaming City

(AP) July 4, 2007
Glen Stevens

The Iowa City council, in an effort to lessen the burden on residential property owners, is considering changing the official name of Iowa City to Wellmark City, thanks to a proposed contribution by the private, non-profit Wellmark Foundation (Not affiliated with Wellmark, Inc.). Said Mayor Ross Wilburn, "we'll finally be able to afford staffing the northeast side fire station and the police can get the forty police officers they need and tasers too."

City Manager Steve Atkins said, "This is an unusual move, but since I will be retiring to Arizona, I'm really not too worried how it turns out."

Council member Dee VanderHoef said, "I think this is very exciting and will protect our bond rating, which is fiscally responsible."

Another council member, Bob Elliott, who will be stepping down in November, said, "We can agree without being agreeable that this is a good move. I think it is fair that the Wellmark Foundation select the new city manager or be named by the Board of Regents."

Mayor Pro Tem Regenia Bailey questioned the move, but agreed that if it meant making Iowa City more of a cultural corridor destination, she would support it. "Iowa City is the most vibrant city of all the vibrant cities in Iowa," she said, "and calling it Wellmark City will make it even more vibranter--if that is a word."

Council member Amy Correia who wants more affordable housing said, "I have asked the Wellmark Foundation to consider taking over the City's public housing program so it may be as efficient as an HMO."

Longtime council members Connie Champion and Mike O'Donnell could not be reached for comment as they were allegedly taking a smoke break when the announcement was made.

Developers expressed their concerns, but were relieved to hear that they would have more TIF coming their way. Said Mark Moen, "The timing couldn't be better, I have a plan to build a 40 story condominium and hospital complex next to Starbucks. I know some worry that we'll close the Mill, but actually it will be relocated to the 40th floor of the complex to preserve it for the next generation." Glen Sider said, "I always hoped Iowa City would be called South Gate City, and if there weren't so many zoning and building regulations, it probably would."

This news was the second shocker in as many days as The University of Iowa College of Public Health may become the Wellmark Foundation College of Public Health.

Sicko Loses to a Rat

As a person who fiddles with statistics, I like to compare apples to apples. So, based on a comparison of this week's movie grosses (based on the number of screens each movie was shown on), "Sicko" which opened in 441 theaters, averaged $10,204 per screen. This was second only to the cooking rat (not shown above) in "Ratatouille" ($11,986/screen). Bruce Willis "died hard" with $9729/screen (Although as an ex- cop, he no doubt has good health insurance thanks to the union) .

This is why we need universal health care right now, the rats are winning.

Hillary Clinton = Scary Spice?

"Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want,
So tell me what you want, what you really really want,
I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want,
So tell me what you want, what you really really want,
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really
really really wanna zigazig ha." -- Wannabe (the Spice Girls)

Pop culture and politics, two of my favorite things.

With the Spice Girls reuniting, "girl power" abounds this summer. Essential Estrogen speaks to this as it relates to Hillary.

I think of Hillary as sort of like a hybrid between Posh and Sporty. She would perfect to vocalize these lines (although having heard her sing, maybe she'd better emcee the mike)...

"If you want my future forget my past,
If you wanna get with me better make it fast,
Now don't go wasting my precious time,
Get your act together we could be just fine."

Latest Poll Shows Edwards and Obama 1 and 2 in Iowa

From Strategic Vision: 600 likely Democratic cacus goers, aged 18+, and conducted June 22-24, 2007. The margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points.

If the 2008 Democratic presidential caucus were held today between, Joeseph Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson, for whom would you vote? (Democrats Only; Names Rotated)

John Edwards 26%
Barack Obama 21%
Hillary Clinton 20%
Bill Richardson 11%
Joseph Biden 4%
Chris Dodd 2%
Dennis Kucinich 1%
Undecided 15%

Do you favor a withdrawal of all United States military from Iraq within the next six months? (Democrats Only)
Yes 83%
No 6%
Undecided 11%

When making your selection for a presidential candidate, what are you looking for most in the candidate, charisma, experience, or ideology? (Democrats Only)

Ideology 35%
Charisma 28%
Experience 23%
Undecided 14%

ED in 08: Vilsack Speaks

ED in O8, an organization focused on education, kicked off its campaign June 26 in Des Moines. The purpose of the group is to make education a focus in the 2008 presidential election. Speaking at the event were former Colorado Gov. Romer, and former Iowa Govs. Ray and Vilsack.

Bill Moyers on News Corporation's Rupert Murdoch

After talking to my brother about the appalling state of the mass media, I thought this editorial touches some points I wish I had been more eloquent in making to him. Rupert Murdoch is the chairman of News Corporation which is the 3rd largest global media company in the US behind Time-Warner and Walt Disney Corp with a market value of $56.4 billion and is currently bidding to take over the Wall Street Journal.

A Bill Moyers essay on Rupert Murdoch (Chairman of News Corporation) and The Wall Street Journal.

Moyers has said in the past: "I've learned from you not to claim too much for my craft, but not to claim too little, either. You keep reminding me that the quality of journalism and the quality of democracy go hand in hand. Or as a character says in one of Tom Stoppard's plays, 'People do terrible things to each other, but it's worse in the places where everybody is kept in the dark.' "


"The greatest thing that'll come out of [the Iraq] this War is $20 a barrel for oil."

--Rupert Murdoch

Libertarians and Progressives - Strange Bedfellows?

According to the Libertarian Party website, a Libertarian is "A person who upholds the principles of individual liberty especially of thought and action. Capitalized: a member of a political party advocating libertarian principles."

"Libertarians believe in, and pursue, personal freedom while maintaining personal responsibility. The Libertarian Party itself serves a much larger pro-liberty community with the specific mission of electing Libertarians to public office.

Libertarians strongly oppose any government interfering in their personal, family and business decisions. Essentially, we believe all Americans should be free to live their lives and pursue their interests as they see fit as long as they do no harm to another.

In a nutshell, we are advocates for a smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom."

On the other side of the coin, according to the Center for American Progress, "progressives believe that America should be a country of boundless opportunity—where all people can better themselves through education, hard work, and the freedom to pursue their dreams. We believe this will only be achieved with an open and effective government that champions the common good over narrow self-interest, harnesses the strength of our diversity, and secures the rights and safety of its people.

Real progress will be achieved only through innovative solutions borne of open collaboration.

To realize our vision we must:

Build an opportunity nation where every hard-working person, regardless of background, can realize their dreams through education, decent work and fair play.

Reawaken America's conscience, our sense of shared and personal responsibility, to build healthy, vibrant communities.

Reform government so that it is of, by and for the people: open, effective, and committed to the common good.

Use America's strength to bring the world together, not pull it apart."

So are Libertarians "Progressives without a moral compass" or are Progressives "Libertarian-lite"?

It's an interesting question because there are some common beliefs. For instance, Libertarians, like Rep. Ron Paul, believe that the government should not interfere with our civil liberties, same with Progressives.

Libertarians think the government should stay out of our bedrooms and let us make our own decisions about our bodies, so do Progressives.

Libertarians believe in a liberal immigration policy, as it should not be up to the government to get in the way of the free market, Progressives believe in human rights and support a liberal immigration policy too.

Libertarians don't believe in corporate welfare, neither do Progressives.

Libertarians believe in smaller government and rights for individuals, so do Progressives (albeit, for a Progressive smaller government applies to the Department of Defense).

Libertarians believe in personal responsibility and don't think drugs should be criminalized for consenting adults, neither do Progressives.

Where Libertarians and Progressives do part ways is the balancing act between small government and effective government.

Libertarians think that the invisible hand of the government should stay out of the marketplace---Progressives do too, only not in cases, where oligopolies or monopolies prevail, 0r where human beings are harmed or mistreated.

Libertarians are for school-choice, Progressives believe that public education needs to be fixed.

Libertarians believe that welfare should be eliminated entirely, Progressives believe that a social safety net is appropriate and just, for as long as the underlying causes of poverty remain in place.

Libertarians would eliminate income taxes, Progressives are for the elimination of regressive taxes that cost the middle class and poor more proportionally than the top 10% of income earners.

Libertarians believe in strong defense, but limited foreign policy, while Progressives are for limited defense and strong foreign relations.


So it is clear, Progressives and Libertarians are very different, but it is equally clear that there is common ground to work on issues--some might say more so than between liberals and conservatives.

Say Hello to SILO and Consider This 6% Solution

It's July 1st and the local sales tax went up an extra 1% in Linn and Johnson counties to upgrade schools. Since folks want to do good things to help improve people's lives (like better schools), I say instead of having the traditional "tax free" weekend as back-to-school approaches, let's give the "extra" 6% in savings from purchases to low-income families in Johnson county living at or below the poverty line who will feel more pinched than they already are with the new tax. Seems fair enough, don't you think?

This should help alleviate the sense that this is a regressive tax and do some good for folks who could really use it.