And “our” District 24** State Senator Jesse Green is chair of the Iowa ALEC group. What’s more, representatives Phil Thompson and Carter Nordman of House Districts 47 and 48 - “our” representatives are also involved up to their eyebrows in ALEC!! We simply must be about replacing all 3 of them in this year’s election!!
(**Senate district 24/House 47 and 48 includes Boone, Greene, Guthrie, about half of Dallas and a dab of Story counties!! OUR IOWA is being usurped by charlatans masquerading as legislators.
Absolutely! I think that I read Phil Thompson is not seeking re-election. Definitely Jesse Green needs to go; did you read Bob Leonard's column about his recently-proposed legislation?
Thank you Cheryl. ALEC and others have resources and playbooks. Other national groups, including groups left of center, used to offer competing ideas and concepts for bills. The radical right (sounds like a quaint term these days) not only has greater resources, they have small, but committed followings. When Iowa started turning red, these extreme right groups saw and smelled blood in the water. These same groups were around in the 1980’s to 2000’s in other states; their bills would still be offered in Iowa, but would not be considered.
While this was not new information for me you did, as you always do, state the issues and back them up with (shock) facts. I do not have the time or ability to cull out all the bits of truth, but I do know when I am being bombarded with policies designed to aid select corporations and individuals and promote Christian nationalism. You always put the jigsaw puzzle together for me and I encourage all my friends to subscribe to your column.
Today we had a very skilled handyman come and do some work for us. His t-shirt said something about gun rights and how Democrats want to ban guns. We talked politics (he supported DeSantis but had no idea about any of his policies other than he thought "he got things done") and frankly have more in common than not. The state of ignorance and disinformation is so disheartening.
Diana, thanks so much, for your insightful comments, and your encouragement! We do need to take advantage of the one-on-one opportunities like the conversation with your handyman. Thanks again!
I blame the D's. Political incompetence in successive elections has enabled durable unified government by the R's' which inevitably leads to excess regardless of the party. Embracing coastal cultural memes and fielding weak or misplaced candidates (Reynold's coattails cost us the AG and Treasurer and who knows how many Legislators) won't play in Iowa, obviously.
We have gotten some good counsel lately and since I can't speak for him I will let him speak for himself: “If I were running for the Legislature in Iowa, there are only three issues I’d run on, no matter what part of the state I was in,” Harkin said. “First, no public tax money for religious schools, period. The second issue I would campaign on: government should not be able to take your private property for a private company, period. And the third issue would be reproductive freedom for women. I’d just do those three issues. I wouldn’t talk about anything else.” --Doug Burns' interview
Thank you for this expose’. I’ve been following ALEC for years and I wish more Iowans would pay attention to this rubber stamp, look alike legislation that is insidiously in Iowa
Yes, Denise. I hesitated to write this, for fear that I am only preaching to the choir. But, then again, I thought, maybe we are making a mistake by assuming that all Iowans know about this trend, and are OK with it!
Asked whether Iowans know about all of this, the answer is "no." (Thanks, Cheryl, for brilliantly telling us, but I'm afraid your readership is unalterably limited--I'm not suggesting that's your fault, or that your work isn't incredibly important, just that lots of Iowans impacted by all of this have been blinded and hypnotized). Another great question is whether Iowans care about all of this. That answer, too, appears to be "no." My pessimistic side has taken over, when Iowa kids are being shot, public schools are being undermined, and seniors in nursing homes are suffering while Gov. Reynolds and her Republican leadership are taking legalized bribes from the mostly for-profit industry, Iowa voters have lost their way. Where are Hughes, Culver, Harkin, et. al. when we desperately need them.
Thanks, Dean. Just suggesting that when journalists write about proposed legislation, there should be a paragraph or two pointing out the origins of the legislation, and what states we are emulating. Political leaders, too, may assume wrongly that Iowans know and approve. I agree that many Iowans with the most extreme mindsets don't care; but we need to inform Iowans on the margins. Thanks!
Thank you ! I wonder---Why isn’t the Democratic Party organizing its own agenda and priorities on the statewide level? Or is it too fraught with debate from within?
I am active in the Boone County Democrats. I won't apologize for missteps taken by the party, but since Rita Hart was elected state chair, there has been a seismic change. There is reasonable debate within the party; that is healthy but there is a much stronger sense of purpose. I see two issues: the Republicans are getting almost limitless amounts of money in return for favors (well outlined in Cheryl's editorial) and they have right wing media that spins so many lies they can't be counted. The party does have an agenda: improve conditions for workers, support public schools, and support reproductive freedom. I urge you to get involved with your county Democratic party. We do a lot but on a shoestring budget.
But the think tanks which are not right wing do not seem to have a national strategy which would filter into the state legislatures. I’m not sure any Democratic legislators can respond effectively when the ALECs and Koch Bros etc keep cranking out these bills daily.
Diana makes a good point. I think that one possible misstep has been too much of a focus on the national, and discounting the importance of getting out the message on the state level. It seems these ultra conservative think tanks are taking the path of winning over vulnerable states, and gradually turning the tide nationwide. Thank you!
Cheryl
Thank you for this informative column. I’m saving it as a resource.
Good job of researching, Cheryl!
Thanks for your persistence!
Arrrggghh!
Yes, I hope and pray to see the day! In the meantime, we need to roll up our sleeves, and do what we can!
And “our” District 24** State Senator Jesse Green is chair of the Iowa ALEC group. What’s more, representatives Phil Thompson and Carter Nordman of House Districts 47 and 48 - “our” representatives are also involved up to their eyebrows in ALEC!! We simply must be about replacing all 3 of them in this year’s election!!
(**Senate district 24/House 47 and 48 includes Boone, Greene, Guthrie, about half of Dallas and a dab of Story counties!! OUR IOWA is being usurped by charlatans masquerading as legislators.
Absolutely! I think that I read Phil Thompson is not seeking re-election. Definitely Jesse Green needs to go; did you read Bob Leonard's column about his recently-proposed legislation?
Thank you Cheryl. ALEC and others have resources and playbooks. Other national groups, including groups left of center, used to offer competing ideas and concepts for bills. The radical right (sounds like a quaint term these days) not only has greater resources, they have small, but committed followings. When Iowa started turning red, these extreme right groups saw and smelled blood in the water. These same groups were around in the 1980’s to 2000’s in other states; their bills would still be offered in Iowa, but would not be considered.
So true, Ralph. They are relative newcomers to Iowa, sensing the opportunities offered by one-party rule.
Ralph- Do those groups, the other national groups, simply not exist anymore? I’m puzzled.
Thank you, Cheryl. All Iowans need to be aware of what is happening here. I want Iowa to be Iowa again.
While this was not new information for me you did, as you always do, state the issues and back them up with (shock) facts. I do not have the time or ability to cull out all the bits of truth, but I do know when I am being bombarded with policies designed to aid select corporations and individuals and promote Christian nationalism. You always put the jigsaw puzzle together for me and I encourage all my friends to subscribe to your column.
Today we had a very skilled handyman come and do some work for us. His t-shirt said something about gun rights and how Democrats want to ban guns. We talked politics (he supported DeSantis but had no idea about any of his policies other than he thought "he got things done") and frankly have more in common than not. The state of ignorance and disinformation is so disheartening.
Diana, thanks so much, for your insightful comments, and your encouragement! We do need to take advantage of the one-on-one opportunities like the conversation with your handyman. Thanks again!
I blame the D's. Political incompetence in successive elections has enabled durable unified government by the R's' which inevitably leads to excess regardless of the party. Embracing coastal cultural memes and fielding weak or misplaced candidates (Reynold's coattails cost us the AG and Treasurer and who knows how many Legislators) won't play in Iowa, obviously.
We have gotten some good counsel lately and since I can't speak for him I will let him speak for himself: “If I were running for the Legislature in Iowa, there are only three issues I’d run on, no matter what part of the state I was in,” Harkin said. “First, no public tax money for religious schools, period. The second issue I would campaign on: government should not be able to take your private property for a private company, period. And the third issue would be reproductive freedom for women. I’d just do those three issues. I wouldn’t talk about anything else.” --Doug Burns' interview
Thanks, Bob! 100%. I also agree on the three issues, too! Thanks again for your insights.
Thank you for this expose’. I’ve been following ALEC for years and I wish more Iowans would pay attention to this rubber stamp, look alike legislation that is insidiously in Iowa
Yes, Denise. I hesitated to write this, for fear that I am only preaching to the choir. But, then again, I thought, maybe we are making a mistake by assuming that all Iowans know about this trend, and are OK with it!
Asked whether Iowans know about all of this, the answer is "no." (Thanks, Cheryl, for brilliantly telling us, but I'm afraid your readership is unalterably limited--I'm not suggesting that's your fault, or that your work isn't incredibly important, just that lots of Iowans impacted by all of this have been blinded and hypnotized). Another great question is whether Iowans care about all of this. That answer, too, appears to be "no." My pessimistic side has taken over, when Iowa kids are being shot, public schools are being undermined, and seniors in nursing homes are suffering while Gov. Reynolds and her Republican leadership are taking legalized bribes from the mostly for-profit industry, Iowa voters have lost their way. Where are Hughes, Culver, Harkin, et. al. when we desperately need them.
Thanks, Dean. Just suggesting that when journalists write about proposed legislation, there should be a paragraph or two pointing out the origins of the legislation, and what states we are emulating. Political leaders, too, may assume wrongly that Iowans know and approve. I agree that many Iowans with the most extreme mindsets don't care; but we need to inform Iowans on the margins. Thanks!
Thank you ! I wonder---Why isn’t the Democratic Party organizing its own agenda and priorities on the statewide level? Or is it too fraught with debate from within?
I am active in the Boone County Democrats. I won't apologize for missteps taken by the party, but since Rita Hart was elected state chair, there has been a seismic change. There is reasonable debate within the party; that is healthy but there is a much stronger sense of purpose. I see two issues: the Republicans are getting almost limitless amounts of money in return for favors (well outlined in Cheryl's editorial) and they have right wing media that spins so many lies they can't be counted. The party does have an agenda: improve conditions for workers, support public schools, and support reproductive freedom. I urge you to get involved with your county Democratic party. We do a lot but on a shoestring budget.
But the think tanks which are not right wing do not seem to have a national strategy which would filter into the state legislatures. I’m not sure any Democratic legislators can respond effectively when the ALECs and Koch Bros etc keep cranking out these bills daily.
Diana makes a good point. I think that one possible misstep has been too much of a focus on the national, and discounting the importance of getting out the message on the state level. It seems these ultra conservative think tanks are taking the path of winning over vulnerable states, and gradually turning the tide nationwide. Thank you!